I really enjoyed reading this. It was my first Neil Gaiman book and I didn't really know what to expect. This book really captures the feeling of a childhood fairytale, but for adults. It's sort of difficult to explain that I suppose. But the writing really evokes for me the same feeling I had as a child reading fantasy novels. 
 (view spoiler)[Ursula has to be one of the evilest characters I have read in the longest time. The way she carries herself reminds me eerily of J.K. Rowlings character Dolores Umbridge. She isn't a character you can forget easily. The unnamed boy is a character most bookworms can relate to I think. The feeling of becoming engrossed in a book. It makes you wonder if this whole story was made up in his mind as he daydreamed in the backyard looking at some sheets drying on the clothes line. (hide spoiler)] Every character in here was just painted so vividly for me that it was completely enjoyable to read.