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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Wonderful story beautifully told
Clive Barker, master of horror, tells a children's tale of the ages with important advice on a life well lived for all of us.
Clive Barker, master of horror, tells a children's tale of the ages with important advice on a life well lived for all of us.
If you’ve never read Clive Barker, this is a very good place to start. This short novel is a difficult one to pigeonhole as it is both a horror story and an adventurous children’s novel. It’s neither a children’s book per se, nor an adult book but without a doubt it does belong on most everybody’s bookshelf. And as an added bonus, the book is packed with black and white drawings by the author, an extra tilt to the horrors and intrigues that lay within.
Harvey Swick is a 10-year-old boy who is bored with life, especially at school. In response to his wish for change, a man named Rictus flies up to Harvey's window and tells him about a kid's paradise, the Holiday House. At the Holiday House, there are all the sweets a person could ask for, four seasons in a day, Halloween every evening, Christmas, with whatever gifts you could wish for, every night, and everything else you could dream of.
Sounds like paradise indeed.
Of course all is not as it seems and as we get introduced to other characters, both friendly and not-so-much, young Harvey begins to discover just what is wrong with Holiday House and the truly evil things that happen there.
You’ll have to discover the rest of the plot on your own because experiencing this story as it winds its way to its conclusion is great fun, even if you spend part of that time huddled under your blankets chewing your nails. It’s a tale that works on many levels, including the theme of discovering the dangers of wish fulfillment. And that’s why it works for both children and adults. It’s sort of like an unabridged fairy tale along the lines of [b:The Phantom Tollbooth|378|The Phantom Tollbooth|Norton Juster|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388181422s/378.jpg|1782584]. I’ve seen many reviews from people who have read this when they were young, only to pull it out and re-read it every few years.
I have a feeling I will be doing the same.
Harvey Swick is a 10-year-old boy who is bored with life, especially at school. In response to his wish for change, a man named Rictus flies up to Harvey's window and tells him about a kid's paradise, the Holiday House. At the Holiday House, there are all the sweets a person could ask for, four seasons in a day, Halloween every evening, Christmas, with whatever gifts you could wish for, every night, and everything else you could dream of.
Sounds like paradise indeed.
Of course all is not as it seems and as we get introduced to other characters, both friendly and not-so-much, young Harvey begins to discover just what is wrong with Holiday House and the truly evil things that happen there.
You’ll have to discover the rest of the plot on your own because experiencing this story as it winds its way to its conclusion is great fun, even if you spend part of that time huddled under your blankets chewing your nails. It’s a tale that works on many levels, including the theme of discovering the dangers of wish fulfillment. And that’s why it works for both children and adults. It’s sort of like an unabridged fairy tale along the lines of [b:The Phantom Tollbooth|378|The Phantom Tollbooth|Norton Juster|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388181422s/378.jpg|1782584]. I’ve seen many reviews from people who have read this when they were young, only to pull it out and re-read it every few years.
I have a feeling I will be doing the same.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
one of my favourite books ever. reminds me of year 7 as well and happy nostalgia from year 7 english BUT i also love this because it’s amazing
the descriptions are honestly a treasure, all the descriptions of the scenery and the magic are delightful, and the plot is amazingly fast paced. rereading this was honestly like entering another world, and was such a nice throwback to year 7 english lessons
the descriptions are honestly a treasure, all the descriptions of the scenery and the magic are delightful, and the plot is amazingly fast paced. rereading this was honestly like entering another world, and was such a nice throwback to year 7 english lessons
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had never read this book, but I felt like I'd read it a thousand times before - it heavily reminds me of Something Wicked This Way Comes, A Wrinkle in Time, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Promised Neverland, and every other book about children who discover dangerous other worlds and have to figure out how to conquer the monsters and find their way home using omniscient intellect that no ten-year-old should logically possess.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Wow, the parents actually believed the kid in the end..