The Thief of Always: A Fable
by Clive Barker
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Read in November, 2006
So, when I reviewed Coraline, I mentioned that, in terms of "Young-person-casts-off-illusions-and-outwits-a-vastly-more-powerful-otherworldly-entity-and-comes-to-appreciate-the-realities-of-life" stories, I thought this book was vastly superior. So I jumped onto Bookmooch to see if anyone had a copy. Lo and behold, a nice person in Israel was giving his copy away, so I snagged it. And I stand by my judgment.
Plus, this book has one of ...more
Plus, this book has one of ...more
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Read in April, 2007
I think this one is a wonderful, fast packing read. I read that book in less than 3 hours! I was into that book. I really enjoy it very much. I have read another book by Clive Barker. He wrote fantasy books. Different. I like his novels so far. I am supposed to read his sequel to Abarat called Abarat: Days Of Magic, Nights Of War. I will read that book eventually soon. :-) I think I will read more of his books in the near future.
Back to to The Thief of Always. I learned that it is a fable...more
Back to to The Thief of Always. I learned that it is a fable...more
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Read in May, 2007
This is pretty good. Its a fairly typical children's story motif: Child lured to apparently happy magical place by a character who's intentions are at first unclear. And with all in the genre, you get the sense that things are going to go bad and get dark, with the brunt of the suspense stemming from the all-important question: how bad and dark are they going to get.
Given that it is a classic idea that has been done a million times, this really isn't half bad. The art for the most part is ...more
Given that it is a classic idea that has been done a million times, this really isn't half bad. The art for the most part is ...more
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Read in February, 1994
recommends it for:
fourth/fifth graders; fans of fantasy, imagery, juvenile fiction
My older sister handed this book to me one day, when I was complaining about being bored. I was 11, and have read the book pretty much annually since. It's a pretty fast read, but is filled with lovely imagery, a little mystery, and a story that most anyone should be able to identify with.
My favorite part is that it's not written at you (like a lot of juvenile fiction) - it's not all spelled out for you, and the vocabulary does not assume that you are an idiot. It flows very well, ...more
My favorite part is that it's not written at you (like a lot of juvenile fiction) - it's not all spelled out for you, and the vocabulary does not assume that you are an idiot. It flows very well, ...more
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The Thief of Always transcends the trappings of a child's fable and comes mighty close to literary perfection. The story is appropriately simple (good versus evil), but the temptations, wonders, dangers and dark miracles present in Mr. Hood's Holiday House are morally ambiguous and anything but simple.
Illustrated with truly inspired pen and ink drawings by Barker, this book screams to be read aloud and simply MUST be read by children of any age. There is a reason I've given copies of this b...more
Illustrated with truly inspired pen and ink drawings by Barker, this book screams to be read aloud and simply MUST be read by children of any age. There is a reason I've given copies of this b...more
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"The great gray beast February had eaten Harvey Swick alive."
Every time February rolls around, this line, which opens the book, comes to mind. And I think, "Yes, I can relate."
I love The Thief of Always. A true modern-day fairy tale, in the tradition of the original dark, disturbing works of Andersen or the Grimms, it's a fable that has that very rare quality of being completely accessible to people of all ages. I get as much out of it reading it now as I di...more
Every time February rolls around, this line, which opens the book, comes to mind. And I think, "Yes, I can relate."
I love The Thief of Always. A true modern-day fairy tale, in the tradition of the original dark, disturbing works of Andersen or the Grimms, it's a fable that has that very rare quality of being completely accessible to people of all ages. I get as much out of it reading it now as I di...more
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If Clive Barker could make his ABARAT series contain as much mystery and wonder as this book, they would all be smashing. From front to back, the THIEF OF ALWAYS has you mystified with all of the plot turns, characters, and events contained therein. You end up empathizing with the main character through all of his trials, be it leaving home, finding the Holiday House, or even running from it. Front to back, this book is filled with magic. I read it as an eigth grader, and still read it now a...more
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Read in January, 1993
This book was recommended to me many years ago, when I was still in high school I think. IT was definatly not the first time I had heard of the infamous clive barker, but I will say that I enjoyed a book of fairy tale persuasion. It ultimatly is a children's story, and for those who are not familiar with this particular author's work, it is a fine introduction. It has many twists, the story is well developed along with the characters, and it has a healthy pace. Well done!!
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A wonderful story filled with dark fantasy and magic, The Thief of Always follows a young boy as he is lured to a mysterious house, which at first seems to be like a dream, but soon turns into a slowly simmering nightmare. Filled with both chilling and gentle characters and creatures, and weaving through a thrilling and often moving plot, The Thief of Always is a classic that not enough people are familiar with.
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone old enough not to have nightmares
Now, this is not a typical Barker book, I'm no Hellraiser fan. But, I heard him on NPR one day and he talked about this book, I believe it was one of the first, if not the first book he ever wrote. He was quite young, and it has that feel to it. It is a well written book by a man with a vivid and facinating imagination. For all of those escapists out there, you will enjoy it, and learn to appreciate the normal every day.
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Grade school level boys (and even girls!)
I read this book in the hopes that it would be a good book for a 4th grade boy. My sister is a 4th grade teacher and always has trouble finding books that boys would be interested, and I think this book is perfect. It has mystery, excitement, suspense, and certainly something boys can relate to. Who wouldn't want to leave the world of cleaning bedrooms and going to school for a place that has Christmas every day!
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recommends it for:
Edgar Allen Poe as a 10 year old
Though this book can be blown through in a few hours, I still had to keep putting it down for the many ways it creeped me out. The menacing, sinister parts of the story just were too much for my already-weakened sensibilities (see the note in Fast Food Nation re: the ways CAFOs have been making me cry lately). Kids who are a bit on the macabre side will probably love this story, but for me it was only okay.
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Read in January, 1994
recommends it for:
Everyone who loves fantasy and morals.
This was one of the first books I'd ever read all the way through. I hated reading, cause I was so slow at it. But this book caught my attention. And I read it in about two days. I ate it up. Yummy. It's got a good general plot, and the characters are supremely dead-on in being goofy, aloof, confident, scary, charming, and witty all at the same time...Plus some messed up stuff happens.
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I think I read this book in 7th grade.. all I really remember is that it was incredibly creepy, but I couldn't put it down.
Clive Barker is a master at freaking me out, but I still love this book. In a very general sense, it's about a little boy who finds a place that he thinks is everything he's ever wanted.
What have we learned over the years about things that seem to be perfect?
Clive Barker is a master at freaking me out, but I still love this book. In a very general sense, it's about a little boy who finds a place that he thinks is everything he's ever wanted.
What have we learned over the years about things that seem to be perfect?
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Read in December, 2006
I have recently been returning to the books that really got me into reading as a kid, to really see if I remembered what it was that drew me in. This one from Clive Barker was almost as good as I remember it. I admit the the language was not as captivating as I have originally thought, but hey it is a kids book. The story and the imagery is still just as intriguing.
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone looking to read an adventure
This is a great book written by Clive Barker. It starts out about a boy named Harvey Swick, who is bored with his life. He is then visited by a stranger who takes him to a house where he is very happy and that is where his adventure begins. It is a very good book and is very interesting. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to read an adventure.
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Read in February, 2001
recommends it for:
mature kids and fantasy fans
This is a darker sort of fantasy for kids, but adults will be enchanted, too. A bored young boy is lured to the Holiday House, where kids play all day and every morning is spring, every afternoon is summer, evening is autumn - Halloween! and night is winter. Eventually he realizes this comes with a catch, as he can't leave...terrific storytelling.
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Read in January, 1991
Read this one around 6th grade, and read it twice in a row. It is a great, fanciful tale about growing up. This was the first Clive Barker I read and I have continued, more than ten years later, to be impressed with his imagination and vision.
And the house itself, in this story, is featured prominently almost as a character unto itself.
And the house itself, in this story, is featured prominently almost as a character unto itself.
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
urban fantasy fans
A vampiric house steals the souls of bored and lonely children- until one soul shines brighter...
Delightful! Clive is a master of my favorite genre -urban fantasy/ horror. Nobody does it better= this is a twisted fairy tale - a fable - complete with moral, though you have to figure that out for yourself.
Delightful! Clive is a master of my favorite genre -urban fantasy/ horror. Nobody does it better= this is a twisted fairy tale - a fable - complete with moral, though you have to figure that out for yourself.
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Read in January, 2002
When my teacher read this book to me in 6th grade, I was introduce to the wonderful world of Clive Barker. This book is one a re-read every chance I get. The artwork is spectacular (all done by Barker himself) and really hels to suppliment the story. This si a wonderful book for tweens to seniors.
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