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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I read this book when i was in middle school and liked it mostly as much as i did then this time around. the imagery and storytelling were just as fantastical and i think everyone has a little part of them that hopes to be a “chosen one” in a magical word - harry potter, ever heard of him?! however, i forgot how “unfinished” this book seems...there are 2 more that follow out of a planned five total books, but it really seems like the author realized halfway through that he wouldn’t be able to tie up all the ends he started in this book and needed to extend the series - so he just *stopped* the story. i was definitely left wanting more but not in a wholly good way! still looking forward to continuing the series and leaning into nostalgia/comfort reading :)
Fun fantasy reminiscent of older things like Narnia or A Wrinkle In Time, although slightly lacking coherence- the plot is a little all over the place, but the world is a trip.
Clive Barker is amazing, I love the Abarat books. These books have beautifully weird art and a great story. Although the first time I read it it was a book with the art. I own a paperback copy of this book and your really don't get the full effect of the books if you read it without pictures, but its still really good.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a strange and fun journey!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was suggested this book by a friend so I really wanted to like it, but I just feel like nothing happened? The world is really cool and there’s a lot of fun imagery, but the entire book I just felt like nothing was going on that I cared about. It was okay
Candy lives in Chickentown USA: the most boring place in the world, her heart bursting for some clue as to what her future may hold. She is soon to find out: swept out of our world by a giant wave, she finds herself in another place entirely...
The Abarat: a vast archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day, from the sunlit wonders of Three in the Afternoon, where dragons roam, to the dark terrors of the island of Midnight, ruled by Christopher Carrion.
Candy has a place in this extraordinary world: she has been brought here to help save the Abarat from the dark forces that are stirring at its heart. Forces older than time itself, and more evil than anything Candy has ever encountered.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: awesome story telling; unique, creative, inventive world and characters; never done before themes and ideas; descriptive, detailed account; quick, easy read
When I picked this book up, I was expecting something....Different. I mean, c'mon, it's the creator of characters the likes of Hellraiser and Candyman. I wasn't expecting to ENJOY it as much as I did.
This novel is just... GAH. I don't even know where to start, so let's start here: Candy Quackenbush, from Chickentown, Minnesota. I mean really...who even THINKS of names like that?! The writing is descriptive, informative, and entertaining without cramming TOO much information at the reader. There are plenty of chuckle-inducing, laugh-out-loud moments.
The cast of characters found here are both intriguing and inventive, because, you see--Abarat is NOT like our world. In fact, it's about as far from our world as possible. John Mischief is one of nine brothers....the rest of whom live on antlers sprouting from his head. There are so many other mind-boggling, creative ideas seeping from the pages--it's as if Clive Barker gathered a bunch of elementary school kids around a table, handed them crayons and paper, and asked them to draw him some monsters.
The plot is intense; the action starts on page one and doesn't stop until the story comes full-circle, tying up all the loose ends along the way, leaving readers awed by Barker's writing skills. For a first dip into his written world, I think this might have been the best choice I've ever made; we have other novels from him, but I don't think I'd have been quite as mystified and awed by those as I was this book--and there's still TWO MORE in the trilogy to read! I'm blown away.
I definitely recommend this to lovers of alternative fantasy, YA, or mid-grade stories. This one comes together so beautifully; I can't wait to see what the rest of this series has in store!
The Abarat: a vast archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day, from the sunlit wonders of Three in the Afternoon, where dragons roam, to the dark terrors of the island of Midnight, ruled by Christopher Carrion.
Candy has a place in this extraordinary world: she has been brought here to help save the Abarat from the dark forces that are stirring at its heart. Forces older than time itself, and more evil than anything Candy has ever encountered.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: awesome story telling; unique, creative, inventive world and characters; never done before themes and ideas; descriptive, detailed account; quick, easy read
When I picked this book up, I was expecting something....Different. I mean, c'mon, it's the creator of characters the likes of Hellraiser and Candyman. I wasn't expecting to ENJOY it as much as I did.
This novel is just... GAH. I don't even know where to start, so let's start here: Candy Quackenbush, from Chickentown, Minnesota. I mean really...who even THINKS of names like that?! The writing is descriptive, informative, and entertaining without cramming TOO much information at the reader. There are plenty of chuckle-inducing, laugh-out-loud moments.
The cast of characters found here are both intriguing and inventive, because, you see--Abarat is NOT like our world. In fact, it's about as far from our world as possible. John Mischief is one of nine brothers....the rest of whom live on antlers sprouting from his head. There are so many other mind-boggling, creative ideas seeping from the pages--it's as if Clive Barker gathered a bunch of elementary school kids around a table, handed them crayons and paper, and asked them to draw him some monsters.
The plot is intense; the action starts on page one and doesn't stop until the story comes full-circle, tying up all the loose ends along the way, leaving readers awed by Barker's writing skills. For a first dip into his written world, I think this might have been the best choice I've ever made; we have other novels from him, but I don't think I'd have been quite as mystified and awed by those as I was this book--and there's still TWO MORE in the trilogy to read! I'm blown away.
I definitely recommend this to lovers of alternative fantasy, YA, or mid-grade stories. This one comes together so beautifully; I can't wait to see what the rest of this series has in store!