Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think this book is poorly written but it's interesting enough to make me want to read the next one.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
Welcome to the Abarat, an amazing archipeligo where each island is stuck at a certain hour of the day, where amazing creatures live that we have never imagined. But strange things are beginning to happen in the Abarat and dark forces are starting to come alive.
Candy Quakenbush lives in the most boring town in the world, Chickentown, USA. A chance encounter with John Mischief in an empty field, and Candy's life will never be the same. She's swept away into the Abarat and it is her job to help save the Abarat.
I loved this book. When I saw Barker's name, I thought that this was going to be some sort of horror something, based on his other books that I've read (The Hellbound Heart, Mister B. Gone). This was very different from what I was expecting.
All of the characters had crazy names, and just the premise is a little crazy, islands that are stuck at one hour of the day? The creatures were so fantastic that it was hard to imagine. John Mischief and all of his brothers, Malingo, the crazy wizard, everything was so fantastic.
Candy is kind of a crazy heroine, there is some definite foreshadowing throughout the book and little clues are given to Candy's destiny on the Abarat. The other character that I was absolutely loved was Christopher Carrion (pictured on the cover). He is the villain of sorts in the book, but there is a lot more to him, but you don't learn it all in the first book.
The thing that I disliked the most was there were crazy adventures throughout the book, but once again, as it always is in a series, there was so much left that was unresolved. Of course there are 2 other books and one in the works, but I just hated how he just left off. Also there was no major crisis or anything, at this point, its just cat and mouse, but you can feel something coming. I'm just impatient so I want to already know what it is!
Anyway, I enjoyed this book, I know I'm going to enjoy the next two. Can't wait to get through book 2! 4 out of 5 stars.
Candy Quakenbush lives in the most boring town in the world, Chickentown, USA. A chance encounter with John Mischief in an empty field, and Candy's life will never be the same. She's swept away into the Abarat and it is her job to help save the Abarat.
I loved this book. When I saw Barker's name, I thought that this was going to be some sort of horror something, based on his other books that I've read (The Hellbound Heart, Mister B. Gone). This was very different from what I was expecting.
All of the characters had crazy names, and just the premise is a little crazy, islands that are stuck at one hour of the day? The creatures were so fantastic that it was hard to imagine. John Mischief and all of his brothers, Malingo, the crazy wizard, everything was so fantastic.
Candy is kind of a crazy heroine, there is some definite foreshadowing throughout the book and little clues are given to Candy's destiny on the Abarat. The other character that I was absolutely loved was Christopher Carrion (pictured on the cover). He is the villain of sorts in the book, but there is a lot more to him, but you don't learn it all in the first book.
The thing that I disliked the most was there were crazy adventures throughout the book, but once again, as it always is in a series, there was so much left that was unresolved. Of course there are 2 other books and one in the works, but I just hated how he just left off. Also there was no major crisis or anything, at this point, its just cat and mouse, but you can feel something coming. I'm just impatient so I want to already know what it is!
Anyway, I enjoyed this book, I know I'm going to enjoy the next two. Can't wait to get through book 2! 4 out of 5 stars.
Started out with a great premise - an ocean in Minnesota? - and fantastical travel to another world. Fantasy, with little bits of horror evident. Then, Oz-like, it became a series of small adventures. Then, it rather abruptly ended.
High marks for fantastic setting and prose, middle marks for no solid plot visible, and very low marks for not making this a standalone book. Clearly Clive Barker can write for the young adult audience.
High marks for fantastic setting and prose, middle marks for no solid plot visible, and very low marks for not making this a standalone book. Clearly Clive Barker can write for the young adult audience.
I think, perhaps, this is overrated. It could just be me though. It seems a bit like a horror-skewed Voyage of the Dawn Treader, but with less interesting characters all-around, and a two-dimensional heroine (not at all an accurate term for Candy). I could continue, but I respect that a lot of people really enjoy this story without needing to understand why. I'm guessing the world building is the major draw, and it's pretty interesting, but I'd rather read a fanfic set in Abarat.
Aside from the Alice in Wonderland vibe, which just isn't for me, there are segments of this book that I really enjoyed as individual stories but I can't recommend Abarat as a novel. It felt like I was getting a sampler of different ideas. Some were brilliant but they were gone before I could get invested.
Rereading. I’d forgotten what a fun trip this series is! My edition didn’t have the art but I enjoy the writing and the detail each character is given. Looking forward to reading the next two with the art though. :)
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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