Vol. 2: The Doll's House, The Sandman

The book arrived a lot sooner than the estimated date and I was very happy. It was a in perfect condition, and I was very happy to receive this wonderful piece of art published by Neil Gaiman. Anyone who has ordered Neil Gaiman's "Preludes and Nocturnes" in the Sandman series, you HAVE to order this one!

Great story, so the review is only for the delivery format.
As has already been mentioned, the panels don't always appear in order. Some of the pop outs have tiny text. First comic I've read in digital format. Colors are great. It's hard to go back and reread without exiting the pop ups. I suppose I'll give Kindle comics one more try before going back to hard copies.

Dear the store, what is the deal with graphic novels on the Kindle Fire?

You know what size the screen is, so you should know what the _MINIMUM_ text size should be. There are many panels in this book you need a magnifying glass to read, even after the panel is magnified by the Kindle App.

Also, it looks like there are several pages in which the kindle thinks the panels are in the wrong place, so it is magnifying random places on the page.

I dread to see what this would look like on anything smaller, like a phone!

I would like to review this graphic novel I really would. I purchased the first volume using the kindle app on my Samsung tablet and both read and was delighted with it. Then I purchased the second edition anticipating working my way thru all Neil's Sandman series. Imagine my surprise and dismay when I found out I couldn't read it on my tablet. Apparently I can buy and read Volume one and eight but not the others. Now I know that the store likes us to buy their kindle's but really does it matter much since I pay them for the products either way? This is lame, even the kindle fire has too small a screen to read these graphic rich books which is why I went with a 10.5" tablet. Guess I will have to find a different way to enjoy this medium & pay someone else.

First of all, you can't zoom in the pages, you can only go with the "panel view", it's main function is to allow a bigger panel while reading. In my humble opinion is not a very good system for reading this great graphic comic.
Second, the panels that use two pages look weird in the screen, very small, and since you can't pinch to zoom in, it's very frustating, and "The Doll's House" uses a lot of unconventional panels.
I recomend Comixology to read graphic novels.

I had a hard time with this graphic novel. Since this is the second book in the series, this novel takes right off where the first novel ended and I had no problem following the beginning of this story as Lucien is counting the arcana in the dreaming world for the Dream Lord. Lucien finds there are four major subjects missing and that there is a new vortex who happens to be girl. Dream is already aware of this new vortex as he has seen her watching them and her name is Rose. Rose has been in their dream world yet she is not aware of who these individuals are. Rose and her mom got free tickets to England and on their way, Rose has been napping, experiencing unique dreams that she cannot explain. When Rose arrives in England with her mother, they were whisked away to meet an elderly woman who is later revealed to be Rose’s grandmother. I am thinking something sinister is about to occur as Rose’s dreams are starting to become reality.

Then it happens…… the book becomes jumpy and I am not sure what really happened. Another storyline comes into play and I am thrown off. New characters come out of nowhere and I turn back the page to see if I missed something but there is nothing. I continue reading and again, I think I have stumbled into different characters and another storyline. Finally, I find Rose and she is somewhere different. She is in a hotel room, alone and she trying to locate her brother whom she hasn’t seen in years. New characters are added and I am following her story again but later, I am lost again. This was frustrating but I did continue reading, hoping it would all come together. In the end, it was hopeless for me. I did love some of the illustrations. These illustrations were bizarre, distorted and really unique. The characters looked lost to our world, dark and wanting out. What they meant I have no idea. I tried to picture walk this novel: trying to read the pictures to figure out the nature of the book but I got nothing. I’m throwing in the towel for this novel and the series. Why the stars? For the illustrations and the how the book came full circle.

Just as good as the first one, if not better. I am absolutely loving this series and cannot recommend it enough!

In this volume, we continue Dream's journey as he works to make up for his long absence. In doing so, we also get an eye-opening glimpse into his backstory, allowing us a further and deeper understanding of this character as Neil Gaiman presents us with a younger version of Dream...in love. We are introduced to Nada, a beautiful young woman who fell in love with the King of the Dreamworld, not realizing the sacrifices she'll need to make to be with him until it's too late. Nada plays a significant role in Dream's storyline and in shaping him, and we discover that he can be possessive and hurtful when he doesn't get his way. We are also introduced more thoroughly to Dream's older sister, Death, as she goes about her day doing her job and sending people to the afterlife.

The highlight of this volume, however, is the story of Rose - a human dream vortex, who happens to be the granddaughter of Unity Kincaid (a character we met in the first volume, who was asleep for most of her life during Dream's captivity), and who is on a mission to find her little brother.

Intertwined are all these different stories introducing different characters, each seemingly unrelated to one another, each seemingly, random and curiously strange and nonsensical, and although you are enjoying each and every one of these stories in isolation, you are confused as to what it has to do with the Sandman, and how it is all related.

But in the end, Gaiman brilliantly brings together all the subplots making you unable to react in any other way except to say "ahhh...I get it now", as he sets the stage for what's to come in this bizarre and dark journey of his.

What do you do when you encounter a run of bad comics? Return to the ones you’ve read and loved before for a re-read! So it’s doubly disappointing when a comic you thought you enjoyed way back when turns out to be kinda crappy – even more so when it’s an acknowledged classic like The Sandman!

Morpheus has returned to the Dreamtime after being imprisoned for 70 years (see the first volume for how that came to be and how he escaped). He begins putting things to rights and sets off to round up his Nightmares who have escaped to Earth – among them is his most lethal creation, The Corinthian. Meanwhile, young Rose Walker discovers her grandmother is Unity Kincaid, the woman who slept most of her life in a side story from the first book. What Rose doesn’t know is that she’s also the Vortex – a being that could potentially destroy Morpheus’ Dream kingdom. And, to save his world, Morpheus must kill the Vortex…

The first chapter sets the tone of this book, ie. rambling and overlong. A pair of African tribesmen go into the desert where the younger of the two is told the story of Morpheus’ forbidden love with an African queen. It does have a point but, my goodness, does Neil Gaiman take his sweet time in getting there! In the meantime we’re told a very banal fairy tale to fill the void.

From there the story plods its way through, primarily focusing on Rose Walker. Rose isn’t a particularly interesting character but we spend an inordinate amount of time with her anyway. Rose goes back to America to look for her long-lost brother, Jed. She rents a room in a house that feels like a prototype for the house Gaiman will use in his later book, Coraline. Rose meets Gilbert aka Fiddler’s Green and they bizarrely team up. Her whole storyline was so boring and it takes up so much of the book!

Morpheus and the Nightmares’ storyline seems straightforward but it’s teased out to be extra-long because that’s Gaiman’s style. The Corinthian repeatedly kills young boys and pulls out their eyes, and there’s way too many sequences where Rose’s brother Jed is abused in the basement of a house. That’s the other thing that really bothered me about this book: how utterly dark it was. Gaiman in this book is still doing the Alan Moore thing of “dark = art” and I hate it.

I do understand why it’s there: to show the dark side of Dream’s world presenting a more rounded view of it, while also highlighting humanity’s savage side. The Endless are, after all, there to serve living beings like humans, not influence them to do anything (though they sometimes do regardless!). This aspect of the book just comes down to a matter of personal taste – seeing mutilated dead young boys felt like a bit too far, especially in an otherwise whimsical comic.

After too many chapters Morpheus rounds up the Nightmares except the Corinthian who he eventually gets around to during the Cereal Convention, which is a disguised serial killers’ convention - which seems like a funny idea at first but makes no sense when you think about it. Why would serial killers have a convention?! They’re all loners by nature – that’s part of what made them serial killers to begin with! Even this concept is run into the ground by Gaiman and FINALLY the Corinthian gets his when Morpheus appears.

But wait, there’s MORE! Honestly, this book goes on and on! The “real” ending follows when Morpheus has to kill Rose Walker - what a cop out! I was expecting a tough decision to be made that would change the character but a deus ex machina takes Morpheus off the hook.

There was one chapter in the book I liked when we’re introduced to Hob Gadling. As we already know about Death and Dream, they’re both kinda playful at times despite being Endless and they overhear Hob boasting that he doesn’t believe in Death therefore he’ll live forever. An unspoken agreement is made between Death and Dream as she allows Hob to live an eternal life and Dream meets up with Hob in the same pub in the same spot every 100 years. Seeing the ups and downs of history mirrored through Hob’s extended life is fun and I like that it opens up Dream’s character more – that someone of the Endless could be friends with a human.

One good chapter though out of many – that’s not a great ratio! So much of this book is padding that it makes for the most laborious of reads. The storylines could’ve been tighter and Gaiman’s numerous ramblings curtailed to much better effect.

I had it in my head that the first book was mediocre but the second book was where the series began to take off – but that idea is at least 10 years old. Re-reading it now, I found the second book much less driven than the first – and the first didn’t feel that fast-moving either – nor is it as engaging. A Doll’s House is Gaiman at his overindulgent worst.

*Book source ~ Library

I’m not really understanding this series much better, but I am enjoying it. Does that make sense? No? Too bad, that’s how I feel. LOL There’s a lot going on in these stories. It centers around Rose Walker and the fact she’s a Vortex. A Vortex happens about once an era and that person can destroy the world, so Dream (or Morpheus) can kill the person to protect the Dreaming and the world. Yeah, I don’t get it either, but it’s creative. During the stories about Rose though there are other stories. Such as what’s happening to her brother Jed and where the missing four entities (Glob, Brute, the Corinthian and Fiddler’s Green) from the Dreaming are. There’s the weird people who live in the house Rose’s rents a room in and the insane people who attend the Cereal Convention. Clever name for a convention considering they’re actually serial killers. That is just too bizarre and shudder-worthy. I don’t understand about Hob Gadling, but I take it he’ll be a recurring character. And the ending is confusing, where Dream talks to his sibling Desire. Maybe things will clear up as I go along. Also, I love the artwork. Especially Dream and I love how his word bubbles are so distinctive. I’m looking forward to starting the next volume.

In this volume:
Tales in the Sand ~ A story handed down from man to man.
The Doll’s House ~ Introduces Rose Walker
Moving In ~ Rose in search of her 12-yr-old brother, Jed
Playing House ~ Jed’s situation
Men of Good Fortune ~ Robert “Hob” Gadling doesn’t die
Collectors ~ Serial Killers convention
Into the Night ~ Rose becomes the Vortex
Lost Hearts ~ wraps up Rose’s story

Now that Morpheus has reclaimed his throne and his power, he sets his sights on his next challenge.... a vortex. This vortex comes in the form of Rose Walker, a young woman who has the ability to enter into and tear the walls down between people's dreams. This ability has the potential to rip the Dreamworld apart and also drive a world to madness.

Responding to the hype and all the critical acclaim, I am just now reading through this comic for the first time, so I have no knowledge of what comes next or how this series will build throughout the subsequent volumes. I have only read Volumes 1 and 2 by this point, but I can tell you that I am thoroughly hooked. The storyline in "The Doll's House" is fantastic, and there are some interesting characters. Characters from the first arc return with new spins, like Unity Kincaid. References are made to others that help tie up some dangling questions I still had from Volume 1, and it was really cool how some of these storylines tie together. We also meet some of the other "missing" servants that Morpheus has been looking for since being released from his prison in Volume 1.

The plot is rich and multilayered. You have Rose and her mother dealing with unexpected news that changes not only their family dynamic but also what they think they know about themselves. You have a serial killer convention meeting that happens to put Rose's life in danger. Then you have a sibling rivalry between Morpheus and his sister Desire that spills over in the lives of people on earth.

Morpheus himself takes a bit of a backseat for the majority of this arc, which is fine, because part of what I find most interesting about him is how he operates from behind the scenes, and only gets directly involved at the most specific of times. Over-exposure could rapidly take away some of his charm and mystique in this series, so I am glad that his appearances are sporadic but always meaningful.

Another little gem in this volume is an apparent one-shot issue. I don't know if this will tie in later to future storylines, but there is an issue thrown in the middle here that has no bearing on the story of Rose Walker or anything going on with her. This story deals with a chance encounter (or is it a chance encounter?) that Death and Dream have with a man in a tavern in the 1400s who argues, quite vocally, that he will never die because he absolutely refuses to die. Intrigued, Death and Dream allow him his wish, on one condition - every 100 years, they meet at that same tavern and go over the events of the last century together. If he chooses to go on living, he may have another 100 years, on the same condition. The tale then chronicles Morpheus's subsequent meetings with this man in the tavern, highlighting the ups and downs of his experiences watching the world evolve around him. It's a fascinating story, and my favorite single issue of Sandman so far.

So, in other words, go ahead and jump in if you are thinking about reading this. It is very much worth your time.

“The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House” is the second in Neil Gaiman’s newly recolored 10 part Sandman epic graphic novel. In this volume Gaiman and crew really hit their stride with outstanding art and novelistic storytelling that leaves the reader wanting more.

In this volume Morpheus (“Dream”) jumps through history in a series of amazing, thought-provoking and sometimes appalling stories definitely for the adult audience. I particularly liked part four, “Men of Good Fortune,” where Morpheus grants a mortal immortality and reconnects with him every hundred years. My favorite story of the collection, and perhaps the most disturbing one here, is “The Collectors,” featuring the Corinthian and the “Cereal Convention.” I will not spoil it for you, except to say that it is these types of stories that show what graphic novels are capable of and are what make the Sandman great.

One of the best things about The Sandman is that there are no superhero battles, and Morpheus often takes a back seat to other characters in any given story, letting the narrative play itself out in the best way possible without forcing the typical formulaic story arc on readers. I am looking forward to volume 3.

Continuing the energy of the first collection, this 1989-90 set that encompasses the second story arc of the Sandman series, "The Doll's House," focusing on the occasional vortex of dreams that threatens to plague humanity once again.

Once again led by a Robert-Smith-esque Morpheus, who Neil Gaiman has identified as not unlike himself, this collection is much stronger than the first - that the writers and artists had hit a stride that was a great deal clearer and more pointed in the addressing of the characters, style, and approach to the overall execution of this masterful story.

What is the most remarkable about this volume is how wonderfully exact the execution is in terms of the overall series so far. As I mentioned in my previous review of Volume I, the piece is an amazing conflagration of postmodern art and writing that was astronomically ahead of its time for its publication in 1988-90 (in this case). Gaiman is a master storyteller, and it is so absolutely clear in this - but the artists also have a great deal to be praised for this time around. The mastery and awe I had for the writing has not changed, however the execution of the art, coloring, dizzying effects, and unreal and unnatural approaches they took in this particular arc was just breathtaking.

From the beauty of the storytelling as we are introduced and then left from "Men of Good Fortune" to the vertigo felt from the art in "The Doll's House", part 5 (is it "Welcome Cereal Convention"?), and "Into The Night," we were given a glimpse into what the future of storytelling and design would be for the next decade. The team that created this were simply visionaries, and it is no surprise that this collection will remain a classic in not only the comics universe, but in the realm of fantasy literature as well.

I look forward to continuing to read the entire series.

Volume 1 of The Sandman was great. I loved the premise and I thought there was a lot of potential for the series. However the story wasn't all that impressive and it didn't really try to be anything more than an introduction. I fell like Volume 2: The Doll's House was where Neil Gaiman finally started to figure out what he wanted The Sandman to be. The King of Dreams himself only appears a few times each chapter, the story instead being focused on a girl named Rose Walker and a small group of people she meets during the story.

The Doll's House tells the story of a young women named Rose Walker who, at the beginning of the story, meets the grandmother she never knew she had (her grandmother being one of the many people trapped in a coma during Dream's seventy-year imprisonment in Volume 1). Rose then sets out to find her younger brother who she hasn't seen in several years, meeting some interesting people along the way. Meanwhile the Dream King Morpheus is still trying to fix all the trouble caused by his creations during his absence as well prepare for a mysterious vortex on its way. My favorite part of the book, however, was a side-story half-way through that introduces the character Hob Gadling. In 1389 Hob claims that he will never die, and for unknown reasons Death decides to grant him immortality. The chapter shows Dream and Hob meeting at the same bar every one-hundred years. It was a really interesting and memorable story and I hope Hob makes more appearances later on. The story as a whole was surprisingly good and as previously stated this is clearly where Gaiman started to figure out what he wanted Sandman to be.

We also finally get to learn more about Dream himself. Despite not having as many appearances as he did in Volume 1, The Doll's House actually expands on Dream's character quite a lot. The book starts with a story of Dream falling in love with a Queen named Nada hundreds of years earlier. This along with his actions throughout the rest of the book provide a better understanding of what Dream is like. We are also finally introduced to two more of his siblings, Desire and Despair. The appearances are brief but it was interesting to see more of the Endless and what they are like.

I read the original version of The Doll's House, meaning the artwork wasn't re-colored or updated like this new edition being sold. That said, the original artwork was fantastic so I can only assume that the new edition's artwork is fantastic. If the new edition of Volume 2 is anything like the new edition of Volume 1 (which I do own) then it is most likely very good quality, but I can't say for certain.

Overall The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House was a big improvement over the first book. Preludes and Nocturnes was a good introduction, but it was essentially just Dream walking around getting his tools back. The Doll's House finally shows us what Dream's life is like and what his role is in the world.

"and then she woke up."

Sandman Vol. 2 defiantly was a pretty epic sequel. Honestly, I didn't know if this volume was gonna live up to the first volume. But it did in full force. The Doll House was twisted, sick and freaking crazy!!!
The time around we learn a lot more of the Sandman's back story and let's just say it's a pretty interesting tale. I just was kinda lost at first because I wasn't expecting it to take that route, and felt at times it came out of left field. But in the end it was really enjoyable. I think I just need to learn that's the way Neil Gaiman weaves his stories.
As I mention before the Sandman is not meant for children and is meant for a mature audience. I highly recommend this to any fans of the horror genre.

Continuing the energy of the first collection, this 1989-90 set that encompasses the second story arc of the Sandman series, "The Doll's House," focusing on the occasional vortex of dreams that threatens to plague humanity once again.

Once again led by a Robert-Smith-esque Morpheus, who Neil Gaiman has identified as not unlike himself, this collection is much stronger than the first - that the writers and artists had hit a stride that was a great deal clearer and more pointed in the addressing of the characters, style, and approach to the overall execution of this masterful story.

What is the most remarkable about this volume is how wonderfully exact the execution is in terms of the overall series so far. As I mentioned in my previous review of Volume I, the piece is an amazing conflagration of postmodern art and writing that was astronomically ahead of its time for its publication in 1988-90 (in this case). Gaiman is a master storyteller, and it is so absolutely clear in this - but the artists also have a great deal to be praised for this time around. The mastery and awe I had for the writing has not changed, however the execution of the art, coloring, dizzying effects, and unreal and unnatural approaches they took in this particular arc was just breathtaking.

From the beauty of the storytelling as we are introduced and then left from "Men of Good Fortune" to the vertigo felt from the art in "The Doll's House", part 5 (is it "Welcome Cereal Convention"?), and "Into The Night," we were given a glimpse into what the future of storytelling and design would be for the next decade. The team that created this were simply visionaries, and it is no surprise that this collection will remain a classic in not only the comics universe, but in the realm of fantasy literature as well.

I look forward to continuing to read the entire series.

Volume 1 of The Sandman was great. I loved the premise and I thought there was a lot of potential for the series. However the story wasn't all that impressive and it didn't really try to be anything more than an introduction. I fell like Volume 2: The Doll's House was where Neil Gaiman finally started to figure out what he wanted The Sandman to be. The King of Dreams himself only appears a few times each chapter, the story instead being focused on a girl named Rose Walker and a small group of people she meets during the story.

The Doll's House tells the story of a young women named Rose Walker who, at the beginning of the story, meets the grandmother she never knew she had (her grandmother being one of the many people trapped in a coma during Dream's seventy-year imprisonment in Volume 1). Rose then sets out to find her younger brother who she hasn't seen in several years, meeting some interesting people along the way. Meanwhile the Dream King Morpheus is still trying to fix all the trouble caused by his creations during his absence as well prepare for a mysterious vortex on its way. My favorite part of the book, however, was a side-story half-way through that introduces the character Hob Gadling. In 1389 Hob claims that he will never die, and for unknown reasons Death decides to grant him immortality. The chapter shows Dream and Hob meeting at the same bar every one-hundred years. It was a really interesting and memorable story and I hope Hob makes more appearances later on. The story as a whole was surprisingly good and as previously stated this is clearly where Gaiman started to figure out what he wanted Sandman to be.

We also finally get to learn more about Dream himself. Despite not having as many appearances as he did in Volume 1, The Doll's House actually expands on Dream's character quite a lot. The book starts with a story of Dream falling in love with a Queen named Nada hundreds of years earlier. This along with his actions throughout the rest of the book provide a better understanding of what Dream is like. We are also finally introduced to two more of his siblings, Desire and Despair. The appearances are brief but it was interesting to see more of the Endless and what they are like.

I read the original version of The Doll's House, meaning the artwork wasn't re-colored or updated like this new edition being sold. That said, the original artwork was fantastic so I can only assume that the new edition's artwork is fantastic. If the new edition of Volume 2 is anything like the new edition of Volume 1 (which I do own) then it is most likely very good quality, but I can't say for certain.

Overall The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House was a big improvement over the first book. Preludes and Nocturnes was a good introduction, but it was essentially just Dream walking around getting his tools back. The Doll's House finally shows us what Dream's life is like and what his role is in the world.

"and then she woke up."

Sandman Vol. 2 defiantly was a pretty epic sequel. Honestly, I didn't know if this volume was gonna live up to the first volume. But it did in full force. The Doll House was twisted, sick and freaking crazy!!!
The time around we learn a lot more of the Sandman's back story and let's just say it's a pretty interesting tale. I just was kinda lost at first because I wasn't expecting it to take that route, and felt at times it came out of left field. But in the end it was really enjoyable. I think I just need to learn that's the way Neil Gaiman weaves his stories.
As I mention before the Sandman is not meant for children and is meant for a mature audience. I highly recommend this to any fans of the horror genre.

The Sandman has returned to his country of dreams, but his long absence is still showing -- he's gotten his magical items back, but not all of his followers. "The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House" picks up some threads from the first collection of Sandman stories, and while the story is often confusing and scattered, Neil Gaiman's writing is a glittering jewel of sadness, horror and beauty.

Among the current-day stories, we get some Dream backstory. As part of his coming-of-age ritual, a young boy is told of how a beautiful woman fell in love with Lord Kai'ckul, king of the dream realm. And we see a story of a man untouched by Death, and his ups-and-downs over the centuries as he keeps meeting with his Endless friend.

In the present, Dream learns that a dream vortex has appeared. That vortex is Rose Walker, the granddaughter of Unity Kinkaid (who has slept most of her life), who is searching for her imprisoned little brother. She goes to live at a boarding house full of eccentrics, and is taken under the wing of the mysterious Gilbert (who looks a lot like G.K. Chesterton, and is named "Gilbert").

Additionally, some of Dream's creatures have escaped -- the horrifying Corinthian, who is the guest of honor at a serial-killer convention; Brute and Glob, who have made their own "New Sandman" out of a dead superhero; and Fiddler's Green, who is already close to the dream vortex...

"The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House" is a somewhat messy story -- the two "past" stories feel disconnected from the rest of the book, and it takes awhile for some of the subplots to fully flower. Additionally, I was a little confused by the sudden inclusion of a pair of DC superheroes who have been folded into the world of Dreams -- although their story is the beginning of a much larger, more pivotal one.

And as the story winds on, Neil Gaiman's spellbinding style draws you in -- he fills these pages with bloody horror, love, sorrow, and the occasional glimpse of the lonely lives of the Endless. His style that is all glassy edges and lush poetry, and he pops in some moments of ghastliness (the Corinthan finally taking off his glasses, revealing empty sockets lined with teeth) as well as some moments of warmth (Unity's final shared dream with Rose).

Similarly, Gaiman's characters are a mixture of the lovable and the horrifying -- we get to see Morpheus as he has been throughout the centuries, as well as his flaky, devious sibling Desire (whom I desperately want to sock in the mouth) and the ghastly Corinthian. And he spins up the down-to-earth Rose, as well as a motley band of eccentric characters -- the lace-shrouded lesbians and the creepy yuppies spring to mind, as well as the genial Gilbert.

While some parts of it are clunky, "The Sandman Volume 2: The Doll's House" gradually twines together its many subplots, and sets the stage for what is to come.

This second volume of Gaiman's highly acclaimed Sandman series opens with a legend told by a primitive man to his grandson of how a beautiful woman fell in love with one of the Endless. I don't know if it was supposed to be Morpheus (a.k.a. the Sandman, Lord of Dreams) or not, or even if it matters which of his brothers it was so long as we get the message that the Endless are figures of myth, and that they lead an ultimately lonely existence. What does matter is that I don't like these open-ended endings very much; it isn't cool when John Barth does it and I don't care for it here either. Either make an artistic decision and stick with it, or don't bother telling that story at all.

That out of the way, we move on to the main story of this volume. Rose Walker is a "dream vortex", and as such a person who threatens the world of the dreaming, thus leaving Morpheus no real choice but to destroy her. Given the whole mystical nature of this book, I don't think we're ever told much more than that. I really liked the off-beat characters who Rose lives with in the rooming house (especially Gilbert) and would have liked to see more of them. Instead Gaiman digresses onto a kind of buddy story about a man who doesn't want to die, and so lives to meet Morpheus once every 100 years in the same pub, describing the ups and downs of his immortal existence. But once we get back to the main story, Gaiman really amps up the juice with a suspenseful, fascinating, funny, and eerily intense look into the world of serial killers. Gaiman clearly means to shock here as well as entertain, and in that he's very successful.

Despite some excellent moments, I found the plot very confusing with lots of questions left unanswered, which I, as a reader who leans more toward sci-fi than fantasy, found disappointing. The art wasn't really much to my taste either, although I suppose you could say it fits the mood of the book. I wasn't overly impressed with Preludes and Nocturnes, and I would suggest that this one is about the same level of quality: three and half stars.

This installment introduced Death, Morpheus's (aka the Dream King) sister and other siblings. The Endless, as Death, Destiny, Dream and the others are called, are featured in this installment, giving a little backstory on their existence and their purpose in this world and others. I particularly enjoyed the character of Death, if for no reason other than she quoted and misquoted "Mary Poppins." Extra points to her for that!

This particular installment was somewhat gruesome and dealt with serial killing and some of the more questionable facets of that. Overall, this was an entertaining(and sometimes uncomfortable) read. Some might be a little squeamish with some of the subject matter, but I personally think it's a testament to Gaiman's writing to interject things that make you squirm yet keep you turning the pages for more just to see how it ends.

What I particularly enjoy about Neil Gaiman is his ability to build a story from the foundation going forward. So many times, we have authors or illustrators that take the campy way out by using flashbacks, amateurish jumps, or just plain forgetfulness as they attempt to keep the reader's attention by quickly arriving to the climax or resolution (or better yet the gasp of a twist ending). Gaiman does no such thing with his "Sandman" stories. While this second collection of his graphic novels doesn't quite match to the standard of "Preludes & Nocturnes", it is because it is a building block for future stories. What I especially love about Gaiman's writing and choice of stories is that he is not afraid to take us away from our comfortable characters and begin planting the seed for more interesting events going forward. It is like the television series "Lost", events happen for a reason, and Gaiman is very willing to dedicate just as much time to those smaller stories as he does our overall story because he knows the value of amazing (and concise) storytelling. I love this series, but this collection "A Doll's House" is a sampling of smaller stories that will obviously be used as bigger events in the future.

Those that drooled over the first collection (as I surely did), may be in for a bit of a shock with this one because he isn't using pop culture techniques as he did with the opening, he is instead building his characters. Gaiman pulls you into this chapter with an opening that transcends time. He uses simple natives to tell an ageless story that builds the foundation for this story. He frames it well, and then pushes us deep into the constantly changing world of Rose Walker. We follow Rose through a majority of this story as she is re-introduced to her life. She has powers she is unaware of, and guardians that her in place to protect her. Gaiman is not afraid to get dirty and gritty with this story. He takes us to a "Cereal" convention, where all darkness confines itself to one hotel. He demonstrates the emotional level of his title character by giving him a lifelong friend Hob Gadling. He even gives us some sibling rivalry with a shocking ending that begins to set the stage for future family squabbles.

This is second collection is meaty, because if you are not reading it as future possibilities, then you may see this collection as nothing more than jumpy tangents. When I first read it, I was utterly disappointed because I had trouble following the path Gaiman was building. I walked into this one expecting the same from the first collection, but it was completely different. Again, at first I was not as rejoiced, but as I read it a second time, it clicked in my mind. I saw the full circle that Gaiman was headed; I saw his clues set early in the book, and I was able to see the path much clearer. This collection will push those that really want to be engulfed with the Sandman world deeper into the rabbit hole, or it will push those casual readers further away. I had to read this twice to see the brilliance behind Gaiman's words and world, but it was well worth it. I cannot wait to see where we are guided next.

Overall, I am giving this book one star less not because the quality was anything less, but merely because Gaiman did change direction on us rather quickly, but by my second reading it worked. I loved the ties into the first book and the hints of future conflicts. A question I have running through my mind is, "Is this book better or worse than the first collection?" After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that neither are better or worse, but both stand on their own. Gaiman doesn't pull as much from the DC world (like hints of the JLA or John Constantine), but I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it were just a rehash of the first book. I liked this book because it challenges you more than the first. The artwork is brilliant, the stories are far superior than anything I have read before, and it is one of those graphic novels that pulls both your emotions, or eyes, as well as your mind, and that is a difficult combination to find out there. I highly suggest this book to those that are eager to see where "the Sandman" is headed next, but beware, this is a foundation book, and what it builds for next will leave you chomping at the bits!

Grade: **** out of *****

Having established the basis for his world in The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes, Gaiman starts to stretch his wings a little, introducing us to more inhabitants of Morpheus's strange world, including some of his siblings, his servants (of a sort), and waking nightmares like The Corinthian. Gaiman ties it all together in a fascinating arc involving a young girl descended from a minor character in Preludes who is on a search for her missing brother, himself a victim of Morpheus's escaped nightmares. If there's a flaw in The Doll's House, it's certainly not in the scope or the imagination on display. Gaiman effortlessly conjures nightmares and dreams, spinning together styles and ideas in such a way to dazzle the reader all while illuminating the psyches of his characters. And it's not in his willingness to take chances. The middle chapter of The Doll's House, entitled "Men of Good Fortune," leaves behind the main story for a short tale about Morpheus's recurring meetings with a man who chooses not to die - and the gamble pays off magnificently, creating the best and most compelling moments of the book. To be fair, it's not like there aren't other standouts - where else can you read about a serial killer convention that manages to be so hilarious and so frightening all at once? No, if there's a flaw, it's some gaps and difficulties with the specifics of the plot, but even the characters seem a little bewildered...and in dreams, isn't that okay?

It is finally with this collection that Gaiman demonstrates his (immense) potential and the Sandman series deserves its acclaimed reputation. Gone are the awkward - and sometimes boring- story arcs and borrowed characters from other titles. <The Doll's House> takes place almost entirely in a parrallel universe constructed by the imagination of the narrator: a fascinating place where dream and day are closely intermeshed. Each narrative in the collection adeptly stands on its own, unlike some stories in the previous collection (<Preludes and Nocturnes>), which seemed to demand a prior knowledge of the DC comic universe; an unfortunate circumstance, really, seeing that none of these references had the complexity and originality of Gaiman's own creations. <The Doll's House> is ample proof that Gaiman works best with an empty canvass.
I generally agree with many of the other reviews that complement the complexity of the characters, or applaud Gaiman's ability to tell a great story. However, one feature of the Sandman series that is often overlooked is Gaiman's wicked sense of humour. Indeed, Gaiman is often at his funniest when he really has no right to be - when describing moments of horror. In <Preludes and Nocturnes,> "24 Hours" adeptly balanced horror with humour, and Gaiman does the same in this collection with "Collectors," a story which concentrates almost exclusively on serial killers. While, on the surface, mass murder wouldn't appear to be particularly amusing, Gaiman contrives a scenario where famous serial killers attend a "Cereal" convention at a hotel. The story is a hilarious send-up of the features of conventions as well as the cult of serial killers. His usage of humour at such times is a brilliant rhetorical tool that questions and interrogates what is funny. Unlike other writers in the genre, Gaiman skilfully uses humour to underpin the motifs of many of his narratives.
At times, however, the narrative seems to assume that we're on the same page as Gaiman, and able to navigate our way throughout his universe as adroitly as him. Complex ideas are barely explained, or not explained at all. Although some of my difficulties were resolved near the end of the collection (especially what constitutes a "dream vortex"), others never were. Whether this was a failure on my part or a flaw of the narration, I can't tell for certain. Perhaps the narrative was even meant to disorient and overwhelm us, as strangers in a strange dream.
That small (potential) criticism aside, this is great literature, no mere comic book. Gaiman transcends the graphic novel medium with this collection and delivers a terrific and brilliant read.

I had the entire hardcover volumes of The Sandman series sitting on my bookshelf for about the last six years or so, having only read PRELUDES & NOCTURNES (I was first introduced to Gaiman's Sandman back in the early 90s, starting with issue 50 and then stopping right before the final KINDLY ONES, story arc - hoping to read it all in a few chunks, but that never happened) and planning on getting around to the other volumes soon -- well, soon stretched on to a several years, but I started reading again - choosing vol.2 THE DOLL'S HOUSE as my new jumping on point.
Gaiman's story unfolded like a weird experience, much like reading his American Gods or Coraline, and it became more fascinating with each pasisng issue, then ultimately becoming disturbing in the episode called "The Collectors" where Gaiman satirically addresses a Serial Killer Convention, that is remarkable as it is unsettling. Not to mention the first appearances of additional members of The Endless family.
After I closed the final pages, I immediately wanted to pick up DREAM COUNTY (the next volume)- but it was 3:45 in morning, and I need to my own sleep!
Seeming all the little pieces of later story that Gaiman laid the foundation for in these early adventures with his version of Morpheus is quite astounding, as if he had a masterplan all along -- and mabye he did! But I kind of think that Gaiman, like many a great storyteller, created an immense landscape and that he then saw could be a fanatastic tapestry for creative output; where any and every idea could be explored with the confines of The Dreaming. And the characters he created were too juicy not to continue to weave complex and LARGE story around.
Gaiman succeeds brilliantly, as the rest of the series will surely attest.
A lot of Gaiman's work for THE SANDMAN can't be catergorized, nor should it - it effectively evades being ghettoized (eventhough it's a comic book) and that's why it's all the more winning as a piece of late 20th Century literature. Please read.

I belong to that great unwashed mass of people who have not yet read every Sandman comic collection in existence. I came to the series only recently, and as such I decided to systematically work my way through each chapter in the Sandman Chronicles. Thus far, I have finished two (count `em) two collections of the series. The first was the well-known and regarded "Preludes and Nocturnes". The second is the less regarded, "Doll's House". Before I picked up this collection I was informed by my husband that with this collection he no longer felt the necessity to read any more Sandman comics. Something in this book turned him off the series for good. Bearing that in mind I went into "The Doll's House" with some trepidation. It is a difficult book at times, and probably has a small flaw here and there. Nonetheless, I found it just as enticing and well-written (better illustrated even) than its predecessor. "The Doll's House" does not, contrary to the opinion of some, disappoint.

The last chapter in "Preludes and Nocturnes" is included at the beginning of this book, allowing people who skipped the first to still understand the second. And if THAT wasn't enough then Neil Gaiman himself has included a helpful introduction that sums up everything that has come before. The first official story of this collection is a little bleaker. An elder African man tells a story to a younger of the only woman the Sandman ever loved and the consequences that arose from that loving. It is a good way to telling the reader right off the bat that our hero is not, at times, much in the way of a good guy. In fact, he can be downright evil and petty. Other stories are less disturbing (in that particular way). We meet Rose and view her adventures as she attempts to locate a long lost little brother. We find that the Sandman, while he was imprisoned for so many years, has lost four of his major arcana dreams and he must personally track them down. As he does so, his destiny and the destiny of Rose herself become intertwined.

Gaiman does a couple things with this book that I highly approved of. For one thing, he finally makes a direct reference to the great "Little Nemo" comics of Winsor McCay. You would think the greatest dreaming comic strip (until "The Sandman", of course) would have earned itself a mention before now. As it is, Gaiman does a spot-on imitation of McCay's style. Other elements in the collection are especially good. There is a storyline about a man who wishes to never die, and who meets with Morpheus in a pub every one hundred years throughout the centuries. There's a rather amusing convention of serial killers who tell the hotel hosting them that they are a cereal convention. And then there's the fact that Gaiman is constantly bringing elements from previous plots into current ones. The dreams in this book are remarkably similar to those you've had in your sleep. His nightmares, however, are worse. Much worse than anything you might conjure up from your own unconscious.

I don't think this collection is quite as strong as its predecessor, but it doesn't have to be. It's just a well-written exciting fantasy about a nicely mysterious protagonist. It's amazing how Gaiman can take a hero who basically has all the powers of the world at his command and still keep the plotline interesting. It's also not every graphic novel that ends with you mentally pleading for the hero NOT to kill someone. A nice touch. Overall, a strong companion to previous Sandman efforts.

It's never too late for a good story, and the Sandman saga is very good. This collection moves that story forward, mostly in the person of Rose.
This book compiles a sequence of regular-sized comic books. The first story here stands by itself - a tribal tale of a place that could, some day, descend from our own time.
The rest of the book takes a very ordinary young woman and puts her in an extraordinary world. Taken part by part, it sounds fragmentary and disorganized: a nursing home, a bizarre convention, befriending a place, and facing mortal threat in an immortal world. The pieces all fit, though. They sustain a pace and a visual variety that makes this book hard to put down.
Best, however, is the glimpse of intrigue in the Sandmnan's world. We see a little of his own realm, and the plotting of his own minions. We also see his larger world, his sisters, and their covert push against the walls of his domain. This is just the second of a dozen or so collections - there is enough material here to drive that many volumes or more.
If you're new to comics, or just new to the Sandman, give this a try. If you already know the Sandman, you're in for one of the best books in the series.

I read this because it is a classic, beloved comic book, but I'm still not loving it. I enjoyed it more than Volume 1, but I wouldn't call myself a fan yet. I feel obligated to keep reading it so I can see what all the hype is about.

Although there was disturbing imagery in this book, it wasn't as heavy as in Volume 1. That was a plus for me. Also, we got more information about the family of the Endless. Those are some of my favorite parts. I basically like every scene that Morpheus is in. All of his words seem to have weight.

This is one of the best story's I've ever been prevy to. It makes use of classical, timeless elements of storytelling to hip, new contempo storytelling with sylized visuals. This book from the incomparable mind of Neil Gaiman is the one that made sure I'd follow through with the rest of the series. Morpheus begins to take shape, and "The Sound of Her Wings" was beautifully written and a great installation, as was the story of the man who got his immortal wish, which while it may not have contributed much to the main story arc, it definetely let us peer a little deeper into the king of dreams and his sister Death. The prelude to the Doll's House was extremely well told and extremely believeable. Also, the continuity Gaiman managed to keep between the first book and this one makes one wonder if Gaiman's not a supernatural being himself...This book is filled with all the elements of a great story: Strong characters who never reveal too much, a chiling story, witty dialogue, and thought provoking statements that keep your mind busy long after you've read the last panel. Not to mention the fact that the chapter dedicated solely to Rose, Fiddler's Green, and the "Cereal Con" was genuinely frightening! A great read, and also a perfect introduction to Sandman, Gaiman, and the world of comics in general.

What will continue in third trade paperback, started here.

After we saw capturing of Morpheus in first volume, it was about time to show us something else. And here Gaiman kicks in. He veawes a tale of dreams and mysteries, he tells a story of growing up and nightmares that lurk beyond. We find modern epic in these pages, filled with interesting characters, dark villany (whichi is somewhat lighter here than in the first paperback) and old fashiond heroes. We are learning of Dreams past, friendship gained and loves lost.

In this volume you'll find one of the best stories that Gaiman ever written, story that spans centuries of lifetime but loses its sense for humanity, for ups and downs of human intelligence, and essential loneliness that rest in the hearts of every sentient being out there.

Maybe somewhat rough on the edges, and even too mundane (grand epics, clashes of entities will follow later up) in its finishing touch, Doll's house still remains one of the best Sandmans ever written.

The Sandman has returned to his country of dreams, but his long absence is still showing -- he's gotten his magical items back, but not all of his followers. "The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House" picks up some threads from the first collection of Sandman stories, and while the story is often confusing and scattered, Neil Gaiman's writing is a glittering jewel of sadness, horror and beauty.

Among the current-day stories, we get some Dream backstory. As part of his coming-of-age ritual, a young boy is told of how a beautiful woman fell in love with Lord Kai'ckul, king of the dream realm. And we see a story of a man untouched by Death, and his ups-and-downs over the centuries as he keeps meeting with his Endless friend.

In the present, Dream learns that a dream vortex has appeared. That vortex is Rose Walker, the granddaughter of Unity Kinkaid (who has slept most of her life), who is searching for her imprisoned little brother. She goes to live at a boarding house full of eccentrics, and is taken under the wing of the mysterious Gilbert (who looks a lot like G.K. Chesterton, and is named "Gilbert").

Additionally, some of Dream's creatures have escaped -- the horrifying Corinthian, who is the guest of honor at a serial-killer convention; Brute and Glob, who have made their own "New Sandman" out of a dead superhero; and Fiddler's Green, who is already close to the dream vortex...

"The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll's House" is a somewhat messy story -- the two "past" stories feel disconnected from the rest of the book, and it takes awhile for some of the subplots to fully flower. Additionally, I was a little confused by the sudden inclusion of a pair of DC superheroes who have been folded into the world of Dreams -- although their story is the beginning of a much larger, more pivotal one.

And as the story winds on, Neil Gaiman's spellbinding style draws you in -- he fills these pages with bloody horror, love, sorrow, and the occasional glimpse of the lonely lives of the Endless. His style that is all glassy edges and lush poetry, and he pops in some moments of ghastliness (the Corinthan finally taking off his glasses, revealing empty sockets lined with teeth) as well as some moments of warmth (Unity's final shared dream with Rose).

Similarly, Gaiman's characters are a mixture of the lovable and the horrifying -- we get to see Morpheus as he has been throughout the centuries, as well as his flaky, devious sibling Desire (whom I desperately want to sock in the mouth) and the ghastly Corinthian. And he spins up the down-to-earth Rose, as well as a motley band of eccentric characters -- the lace-shrouded lesbians and the creepy yuppies spring to mind, as well as the genial Gilbert.

While some parts of it are clunky, "The Sandman Volume 2: The Doll's House" gradually twines together its many subplots, and sets the stage for what is to come.

It is hard to describe the major story arc in this collection. In fact, at one point Morpheus himself admits that he doesn't fully understand it. That's alright though, any time you fully and completely understand a plot without working at it, and wondering at it, you are probably wasting your time. You would be better off sticking to T.V.... As it is, we have Mystery in it's deepest sense. Moreover, we have mystery populated by the best developed, most believable, cast of unconventional characters in graphic literature. You get sucked into the Vortex because you care about the people you are reading about- not unlike life, really. What is the Vortex? It is a person, and a phenomenon, that breaks down the barriers between individual dreams and leaves a black hole in it's wake. It is also a young woman by the name of Rose Walker. How appropriate....
Oh yes, as for the Corinthian, the escaped nightmare, and his fellow "collectors", well I can believe that he was the finest nightmare that Morpheus ever created. He has certainly made himself at home in my nightmares.

I'm pretty sure that Neil Gaiman is going to ruin me for all other comic books/graphic novels. Holy crap.

As Dream/The Sandman regains control of his realm, he realizes some of his minions are missing, that there is a living Vortex named Rose Walker, and that his little sister, Desire, is up to no good. The story is deeply engaging, but transcends being "just" an exciting, brilliant, and imaginative story due to Gaiman's trademark brilliant storytelling style and his ability to flawlessly and enchantingly weave mythology and fairy tale into creating his own brilliant story. He is a master storyteller, the likes of Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville, authors who also could blur the worlds of dream, reality, and literature. Grade: A+

The Sandman series got off to a good start with the eight issues included in the first collection, "Preludes and Nocturnes," but the series really hit its stride with the storyline collected in "The Doll's House."
The story focuses on Rose Walker, a young woman whose life has become completely tangled with events in the Dreaming (she just doesn't know it yet). It's a great self-contained graphic novel, with themes of death and rebirth, and it also sets up things that will come back to haunt Morpheus several books later.
There are moments of genuine terror, like the serial killers' convention, and some great laughs too, like the snarky reference to the 1970s DC Sandman (who is vastly different from Morpheus).
Even if you read the first collection and didn't like it, you haven't really given Sandman a chance unless you take a look at "The Doll's House."

What does a conference of serial killers have in common with escaped dreams, and a girl who is looking for her brother? Nothing, or (if you're Neil Gaiman), everything. In the Doll's House, Dream begins to rebuild his kingdom, seeking down four missing major arcana (dreams) and dealing with the threat of a dream vortex. In this book, you start to see Gaiman's consummate talent as a storyteller emerge. Multiple threads rise out of a seemingly simple story of a girl looking for her lost brother, and many of the threads will not resolve until much later in the Sandman series. Gaiman also introduces us to two people in the Dream Lord's life--Nada, the woman who spurned his love, and Hob Gadling, whose eternal life offers Morpheus the most precious of gifts, friendship. With perfect synchronicity, the story begins and ends with the beautiful and scheming Desire of the Endless.

As with all Gaiman's work, the story is compelling and draws you on. It is unquestionably dark (but what did you expect out of a convention of serial killers)? The Doll's House is not for the faint of heart, but it is ultimately a story of both sacrifice and betrayal--truths that ring close to every human heart. Enjoy it! I know I did.

One of the things that amazes me, reading through the reviews of the various volumes of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, is how each one seems to have, somewhere in it: "This is the best volume of the series!", "Here, Gaiman really hits his stride!" or something similar. The truth is that each volume has its own timbre, its own shading, but they are *all* masterful in their own ways.

This particular volume appeals to me quite a bit (though most of them do)--it contains the brilliant story of a man who doesn't die (and an actual friendship for Dream), a hilarious/terrifying serial killer convention, the introduction of the charming Fiddler's Green, the seeds for a later masterwork with Barbie's dream, and the excellent introduction of some of Morpheus' family, the Endless.

It is best to begin reading The Sandman from the start of the series--it makes sense and offers some rewards--but I suspect that it is not required. This is a truly excellent series that will best your expectations. Enjoy!

I'd read a few of Gaiman's novels and had always really enjoyed them, though he gets lazy and sloppy in spots. This was the first of his comic book collections I'd read, and the the first comic book I'd read at all for a very long time.
The artwork is pretty good. Kind of traditional, servicable comic book stuff. It doesn't compare well with the Amano illustrations from Gaiman's collaboration with him a few years back(though that was more an illustrated fable than a comic book).
It's consistent with other Gaiman books I'd read, in that doesn't let inconsistencies in the plot and unresolved characters and situations get in the way of telling a good story (for instance: if Rose is 21 in 1991, and her grandmother was pregnant with her mother in 1916, then Rose's mother was how old when she gave birth to Rose and then Rose's 14 year old brother?) That's more quibbling than anything else, though. None of these things ought to interfere with your enjoying the story, as I very much did.

Possibly the best set of short stories ever, and the artwork is beautiful.

also, someone not dying because he said it's a waste of time? and Lady Death overheard, and said "Let's see what happens"????? how is that only a short section of the book????

this book is now on my re-read stack.

In the second Sandman collection, the reader starts to realize that Gaiman has some long range plans for this series. The tale of Rose Walker, the dream vortex who must be killed to save The Dreaming, is a complex one. The Doll House introduces the reader to many of the characters who would have a major effect on Gaiman's plans for the series. Particularly excellent is the tale of Hob Gadling, who becomes Dream's friend when he becomes the man "Death will not touch." Their meetings each century are little history lessons so well executed they make you wish for more. The "Cereal" convention, with special guest lecturer the Corinthian, is a scary look at the fascination with serial killers and the final twist involving Desire gives the reader some insight into the relationship of Dream with his siblings. This book really shows what a truly original creation The Sandman is.

The Doll's House is my favorite still out of all the other books in the series, and the first one I read. Gaiman has a way of crafting the human characters so they're unrealistically realistic (simple yet complex, childlike and cynical, insightful and ignorant, with an eternal late '80s - early '90s-ish air). Rose Walker has always been my favorite among those. Also Gilbert and the Corinthian make it more memorable (the serial killers' convention, Zelda and Chantell and the others, etc....) Morpheus never appeared kinder or more human(e?).

It means that we're just dolls. We don't have a clue what's really going down, we just kid ourselves that we're in control of our lives while a paper's thickness away things that would drive us mad if we thought about them for too long play with us, and move us around from room to room, and put us away at night when they're tired, or bored.

-- Rose Walker, in The Doll's House

Gaiman continues his epic narrative of the dream lord with this second volume. I say epic because both of the volumes find the Sandman moving through a series of realms and plots, through time and space, his character developing through and exploiting with panache with subplots of Gaiman's comics. In this sense, he has begun to develop into a truly otherworldy entity. 'The Doll House' finds Gaiman really engaging his character and discovering his place in the history of mankind. It's the sort of book you want to read in one sitting.

Second in the Sandman comic book series, The Doll's House is much better than its predecessor, Preludes and Nocturnes. I find that with most Sandman stories, you read the whole thing just going "wow, this is really cool"...and then just when you thought it couldn't get better, at the end Neil Gaiman suddenly ties it together and leaves you absolutely breathless.

The Doll's House is probably the most disturbing Sandman, along with P&N, but it's also one of the most beautiful, one of the best. It features the first appearance of Dream's sister/brother Desire, and the story of Dream and Nada, and this guy called the Corinthian who's going to a Cereal Convention. There's something kinda weird about his eyes. You'll see... <g>

There are several threads in the Doll's House. Morpheus must clean house as he realises several of his more important servants are missing. He must deal with two of them who have set about creating their own Sandman using a dead man, and his live wife and child. Another is keynote speaker at a serial killers convention.

On a lighter note, Dream and Death are amused by Hob when they find him declaiming he will not die, so Dream offers to meet him for a drink every 100 years to see if he has changed his mind, and realises that they have become friends.

I enjoy some graphic novels -- not the standard "Marvel" type but those with original content and approach, and Gaiman is about as original as they come. This is the first of the "Sandman" series I've read and I was quite taken with both the story and the art, though it seems to suffer (as so many graphic novels do) from narrative discontinuity. The Prologue, "Tales in the Sand," is a memorable retelling of what purports to be an African tribal legend, "Collectors" is a terror tale that will jangle your nerves, and the six centuries of "Men of Good Fortune" is worth the price of admission all by itself.

The story of Dream's love with Nada is told, and we're introduced to the "other" dream king, which is how Lyta Hall comes into the story, pregnant with Daniel, who has a surprising fate in store for him. Rose, who is a dream vortex of some kind, tells her story, and meets her "grandmother." The plot thickens!

The only thing that would do fair justice to this book it's not fancy words about the psychologic insights of mr Gaiman's writting style...or the state of the art artwork gracefully diplayed here....or the baudelerian dialogos betwen the characters...no the only thing that could do justice to this book is that giant "wwwwwwwwwooooooowwww" exclamation when you are reading the book and the final words given to it "it was incredible" and that's it

Considerably better than preludes and nocturnes, this is where the Sandman line began to delve into the strange and beautiful. This contains several character introduced in preludes and nocturnes. the best stories however, had nothing to do with the main running plotline. The opening story "A tale in the Sand" and a later story about a man who refused to die. But the main plotline is also very interesting, and this book allows to sandman mythos to slowly begin developing.

The Doll's House of the title could be the house where Rose and her roommates live. It could be the antique dollhouse belonging to Unity. Or just maybe it's our universe, or maybe it's every universe. Gaiman makes you think with this one. The "Cereal Convention" is surreal, spooky, and just plain fantastic. And it's so great to look at, as SANDMAN novels tend to be. Neil and Co. are good people.

This is a direct sequel to the first volume, following Morpheus on his path of reclamation in the wake of his absence and reign over his presided over kingdom and duties. I dare say, in some ways, it's better than the first volume - in some ways.

This is one of the most interesting works that I have read. Gaiman's mastery of the English language, his creation of complex characters, and ability to weave stories throughout space and time is almost unmatched in recent years. This volume has aged well and had me catching my breath throughout.

Well I liked this book, loved it even, but I have to wonder just how Neil Gaiman gets away with straying from the path of his main plot so often. The Doll's House is literally a seven-part story called The Doll's House, but this is totally misleading. It is, in fact, a four, maybe five part story called The Doll's House, the rest being stories that must have just appealed to Neil at the time of writing. And, honestly, the stories that stray from the path are the best in the book. This is much better than the first Sandman book, but [contrary to what another reviewer said] is not as dark. This lacks a truly incredible chapter, such as the chapter in Preludes and Nocturnes when Morpheus travels to hell, but the whole book is excellent all in all. Definitely worth reading.

Vol 2 is still early in the series and Gaiman is still feeling out the character and what all is possible in this series. It's really good, but I don't think it's quite at its zenith yet, to deserve the reputation it has, but I'm looking forward to the next volume to see how Gaiman and the Sandman grow.

This is the best of the Sandman collected volumes. It is frightening, lyrical, and moving all the same time. Gaiman really knows how to tell a story, and the occasional cliched language in some of the other volumes is not apparent here. This is sharp writing--- and gorgeous artwork--- from beginning to end.

The characterization and storytelling is amazing. Great. If you never read the entire series, at least read this one. You should read every book though because it's all amazing. The second best is probably A Game For You (I think that's the name of it).

This 2nd Sandman volume was hands down one of the best things I've ever read.(I'm through Vol.4 so far) I know Vol. 3 won awards and was also a good read, but a Cereal convention for serial killers, a 70's Sandman etc. This volume was truly amazing. I had planned to buy, read and resell the series when I was done. This vol. changed my mind. I'll keep and reread them forever.

Following a decent beginning Neil Gaiman truly shines in this second volume of his acclaimed series, The Sandman. Taking the second incarnation of the Sandman (who he completely reformed for the series), Gaiman spins a story seamlessly around his first volume and introduces elements that will affect the title the remainder of it's 75 issues. Even bringing in William Shakespeare in one issue, Gaiman uses elements of fact and fairy tale along with some of our worst fears to write an extraordinary story.

Gaiman has written a wonderful set here. Except for the prolouge and the part with Hob Gadling, the story is knitted together incredibly. It leaves you with questions about the Endless and how they actually view mortallity

What can I say. This book crushes everything you know. It shows that everything that we see, everything that we hope, is meaninless. It replaces what you believe with somethings else. it is devestating information, but also hopeful at the sametime. Gaimans writing is at its best here. It touches you and makes you feel like you are part of something bigger. At first the art seem immature, and looks like there was little effort put into it. But once you get to understand the characters, and the story, everything look beautiful.

I read volume 1 of the Sandman series and didn't understand the hype that surrounds the series at all. I luckily decided to give Sandman another go and read Volume 2 which is really great. I found the character development to be a thousand times better than it was in the first volume and the stories connected to one another more coherently.

Sandman even after being written 10+ years ago is still as clever and dark as it was then. Showcasing Neil Gaiman's fantastic writing and complex plot threads, scary and wonderous at the same time Vol. 2 is the first time we actually start to see what Gaiman is truly capable of. I highly recommend to anyone who loves horror and fantasy.

I liked 'Preludes & Nocturnes' a lot (minus the superheros) but this was really bland. The overall story is a great idea but all the subplots that make up the story just seem like filler or a reason to be shocking. I missed all the demons and magic of 'Preludes...'. I really hope this series gets better, I had really high hopes for it.

If you're new to Gaiman, you might not be used to his style but this volume is a great accompaniment to Vol I - Preludes & Nocturnes. It follows Rose, who was first introduced in Vol I through uncovering secrets to the whereabouts of her missing brother & meeting long, lost relatives. A truly great graphic novel.

Neil Gaiman has an amazing imagination. I love all of his books that I have read so far. American Gods, Anansi Boys, Neverwhere, and now the Sandman series. Fabulous! The creativity and beautiful visuals never cease to amaze me.

The author dwells in a world of silly feelings that a healthy individual will not be able to relate to. This whole series is nothing but immaturity disguised as intellectual deep stuff. Stay away from it.