The Thief of Always
by Clive Barker
published
February 1st 2002
(first published 1993)
by HarperTrophy
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binding
Paperback, 224 pages
isbn
0064409945
(isbn13: 9780064409940)
description
Mr. Hood's Holiday House has stood for a thousand years, welcoming countless children into its embrace. It is a place of miracles, a blissful rounds o...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1974)
A good, interesting, spooky book--just right for October, although it certainly could be read at any time of the year. There are plenty of scary and creepy scenes, but also some thought-provoking bits; it made me feel more appreciative of what I have when I'd finished it. As an animal-lover, I did find one scene rather distressing, but it was brief, and on the whole, while it is a "scary" book, I didn't think it was too grisly or gory.
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8 comments
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...more
Plus, this book has one...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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A great book for readers of all ages. Can't believe this hasn't been made into a film, as it is already perfectly paced to be a great movie.
Barker writes honestly to young readers about death, and doesn't spare them some serious scares. And when I was a kid, that was exactly what I always wanted.
The story is all about mortality. The Holiday House, an entity that steals children from the world and offers them days of endless pleasure at a terrible cost, is a perfect metaphor for the way...more
Barker writes honestly to young readers about death, and doesn't spare them some serious scares. And when I was a kid, that was exactly what I always wanted.
The story is all about mortality. The Holiday House, an entity that steals children from the world and offers them days of endless pleasure at a terrible cost, is a perfect metaphor for the way...more
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1 comments
Read in March, 1996
read this as a kid of 14 or 15 and loved it. this got me hooked on Clive Barker and it's probably the only story of his suitable for children [it is a fable after all:]
file this one in "young boy finds out magic is real category" with Harry Potter and Timothy Hunter
although i read this originally from my uncle's personal library, i recently bought a very fine copy of my own at The Curious Book Shop in East Lansing, MI.
if/when Clive Barker ever comes back to Chicago, i'm get...more
file this one in "young boy finds out magic is real category" with Harry Potter and Timothy Hunter
although i read this originally from my uncle's personal library, i recently bought a very fine copy of my own at The Curious Book Shop in East Lansing, MI.
if/when Clive Barker ever comes back to Chicago, i'm get...more
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recommends it for:
anyone
In this story, there is a boy that represents most kids like us in America; we do not like to go to school and we want to play. Until he meets this enchanting place and some kids just like him, he later on learn to cherish what he has.
This might be a childish book, but I like it. A very short story that would keep you at the edge of your seats despite the reading level. It also have a universal theme which is to love your family and those things. Not everything which you like seem to ...more
This might be a childish book, but I like it. A very short story that would keep you at the edge of your seats despite the reading level. It also have a universal theme which is to love your family and those things. Not everything which you like seem to ...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 September, 2008
It took me a while to get through this as I was reading it to my kids when I could. They seemed to enjoy it, though it's more for ages 10+ as Barker uses a lot of words that would send a more proactive child (or adult) running for the dictionary. Then again, my vocabulary is, admittedly, a bit more lacking than it should be. Had I read this at a younger age, I'd have likely sworn everlasting allegiance to Clive Barker and his writing. It's a dark, fantastic tale with plenty of intriguing ideas a...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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Read in November, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone with an appreciation for the strangeness and wonder of childhood
I love love love this book. It's so strange and different. I periodically read it just to keep a belief of wonder in my life.
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Lena by:
Charlotterecommends it for: Evee and Fayla
it was one of the best books i have ever read.It is a great story.
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2 comments
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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Read in August, 2008
I read this for my Children's Book Club at the library. It's OK. This is the first time I've read a Clive Barker book. It is supposed to be for children 10 and up. It's definitely not for those who scare easily so I won't use it with my kids. The concept is a good one and the characters are likeable. It's a good choice want something to scare them.
An addendum - three of the kids loved this. The fourth didn't until we discussed it. She came around. I, too, came around. This has one ...more
An addendum - three of the kids loved this. The fourth didn't until we discussed it. She came around. I, too, came around. This has one ...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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