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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
This is top-shelf teen fantasy to me, the kind that existed before the YA boom made so many YA authors household names and led to blockbuster movies based on their works. If I had read this book when it first came out, I would have been an absolute fiend for it I'm sure, just like I was for Tamora Pierce and Christopher Pike. However I'm kinda glad I didn't read it when it first came out because it would have been maddening to me that it's still not finished over twenty years later. This would have been my Game of Thrones and I don't need that in my life. I'm a big Clive Barker fan in general but I don't think his books for children are well known compared to his adult horror and that's a shame because I think he's really good at it. He strikes a good balance between scary enough that you feel like the good guys are in real danger without being so scary that you just feel sad about it. Your mileage may vary on that of course. I could see people finding Carrion and his grandmother way, way too much for a young adult novel on the younger side of young adult. I liked it but I really liked Return to Oz, a movie that I think hits a lot of the same emotional notes of wonder and horror for me. Anyway, great book and I hope Barker finishes the series someday, preferably before I read the next two and get too invested in what's going to happen next.
I am rarely disappointed in Clive. The thing I love about him the Most, is his Artwork. I remember an interview where he showed some of the works that would end up inspiring ABARAT, and I was truly blown away.
An Illustrated story doesn't have to be a Children's book. I would have to say that this particular story is More of a Children's piece, than The Thief of Always. That was listed as a fable, Anyway, so it was Truly a more hard Edged piece of Fantasy.
When I heard that he was working on a 4 part series, I jumped for joy. My mom worked at a bookstore, and bought me ABARAT as soon as possible.
I didn't put it down.
Yes, there are things that are more Juvenile; some passages are a little light handed, for Clive. We like to put our favorite people on high horses, don't we? Careful that you do not see them get knocked down. No one is perfect, and I do think that some bits were a bit rushed. However, in the second book, I feel like the story jelled together much more.
There are tremendous elements of previous works of his (like IMAJICA) in this series. Is that a bad thing? Hardly...at least for me. :) I think that it is a way to bridge the gap between the generations. A 9 yr. old should Not be Reading IMAJICA, but they certainly can read ABARAT, and be taken on a wild ride thru a magical world.
I look forward to the last two books, if he gets the chance to write them. I suppose MISTER B GONE will have to do for now.
An Illustrated story doesn't have to be a Children's book. I would have to say that this particular story is More of a Children's piece, than The Thief of Always. That was listed as a fable, Anyway, so it was Truly a more hard Edged piece of Fantasy.
When I heard that he was working on a 4 part series, I jumped for joy. My mom worked at a bookstore, and bought me ABARAT as soon as possible.
I didn't put it down.
Yes, there are things that are more Juvenile; some passages are a little light handed, for Clive. We like to put our favorite people on high horses, don't we? Careful that you do not see them get knocked down. No one is perfect, and I do think that some bits were a bit rushed. However, in the second book, I feel like the story jelled together much more.
There are tremendous elements of previous works of his (like IMAJICA) in this series. Is that a bad thing? Hardly...at least for me. :) I think that it is a way to bridge the gap between the generations. A 9 yr. old should Not be Reading IMAJICA, but they certainly can read ABARAT, and be taken on a wild ride thru a magical world.
I look forward to the last two books, if he gets the chance to write them. I suppose MISTER B GONE will have to do for now.
Book is full of colorful, dark illustrations. One of my all time faves.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If I could buy these in a beautiful, gold-leafed box set, I would. This series is my favorite from childhood, more than any other fantasy or series that I read.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Clive Barker has a truly unique imagination. Abarat can be best summed up as Narnia on acid. It is a hidden world full of the fantastical, but Mr Barker does not rely on standard fantasy tropes with a wild array of fantastical creatures and places. The very idea of Abarat where each island represents a different hour of the day is very different to the standard. This creativeness is almost overflowing - there is so much pouring out of the authors pen that the pace is breathless. The different islands are intriguing and I almost wish that the book would slow down a bit to allow me to enjoy this amazing whimsical world he has created.
The story itself betrays its YA ambition through its black and white characterisations. The villains are a little one dimensional, but the sheer fun and inventiveness of the world more than outweigh this
The story itself betrays its YA ambition through its black and white characterisations. The villains are a little one dimensional, but the sheer fun and inventiveness of the world more than outweigh this
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Look, i gave Lord of the rings series 5stars ok? As a horror/fantasy book lover i barely give books 5 stars. But this book was so good i can’t even describe it. It felt like Clive Barker was on drugs while writing this book. I suggest it to everyone i like, and i’m definitely gonna continue reading the next two volumes.
tök jól indult a regény, aztán amikor már a háromnegyedénél tartottam, kezdett gyanús lenni, hogy ennek itten aztán nem lesz vége. Egyre több új ismerős, helyszín, eseménysor tűnt fel és semmi se mutatott arra, hogy itt hamarosan csúcspont lesz. S utánaolvastam, hogy valóban ez biza egy sorozat első része, amit Barker 5 részesre tervezett, de még angolul is csak 3 jelent meg. Úgyhogy csalódtam, mert azt hittem olvasok egy jó kis "stand alone" ifjúsági fantasyt, de a sorozat már nem érdekel.
Részletesen: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2009/05/15/clive_barker_abarat/
Részletesen: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2009/05/15/clive_barker_abarat/