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Summary: Clive Barker is a literary genius!
Review: The Thief of Always was the first novel by Clive Barker I ever read, having before known of him only as the man behind such movie greats as Hellraiser (which was a Barker book first). Anyway, it totally blew me away, and Barker is now one of my top authors, and the book is now one of my favorites (which is saying a lot because I'm quite an avid reader). The story centers around a ten-year-old boy named Harvey Swick, who becomes bored with his life and begins to wish the days away. In answer to his prayers, he is taken to a mysterious place called the Holiday House, supposedly built for children who want to have fun. Questions come up in Harvey's mind about what is really going on behind the House's happy-go-lucky exterior, and he is pulled into a horrific adventure beyond his wildest dreams (or nightmares).I won't give anything more about the story away, you'll just have to read it for yourselves. But there are many pros in this novel, and not one con as far as I see it. The plot is unique and interesting, so much so that you won't want to put it down. It is certainly not slow-paced, and although it is almost 300 pages long it is almost over as soon as it begins, which is really the only bad thing about it. But as soon as you finish you can't help but want to read it again. The characters are in depth and believeable, the bad guys are majorly cool, unique, and interesting. And they aren't the kind of villians that are super-strong and seemingly impossible to beat, even the worst of them has believeable weaknesses and vulnerabilities. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, and I can assure you that it won't be a disappointment.
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Summary: A wonderful fantasy for everyone
Review: I love Clive Barker's works: his books, his art, his movies. OK, now with that said let me try to give an unbiased review of this book. I loved it!! Once started I could not put it down. The whole story was interesting and fun and very exciting to read. The book is meant to appeal to all ages and for the most part it does. It is a tale involving magic, fantasy, fun, and children. Harvey, our ten year old hero, finds himself whisked away to the Holiday House where all the solutions to a bored afternoon are given to him. He later discovers the price he is paying and bravely proceeds to battle with the House. A good tale told in the vein of a fairy tale but in modern, magical times. It also comes with illustrations as done by Clive himself which perfectly match the story. They add to the wonder of discovery as you read. In case you are worried, the illustrations are pretty tame compared to a lot of his other work. The illustrations from The Thief of Always do not come close to the graphic nature of the pictures found in Clive Barker Illustrator. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, including young children.
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Summary: Fun for Young and Old!
Review: Prior to this novel, I had only read Mr. Barker's short stories in the combined volume of his Books of Blood. Many of those stories were pure genius, with riveting plot twists and original premises, but I must admit that I wasn't sure how that would translate into a novel suitable for all ages... It turns out that I had nothing to worry about. The Thief of Always is a classic fable with enough originality to make it fresh. I was hooked as soon as I read the first paragraph. Mr. Barker shows an insight into the mind of a child that I don't think I expected from a man who made his mark with tales of gruesome horror. Then again, I probably should have known better given the amazing insight into the human psyche that was apparent in many of his short stories. (Take, for instance, his commentary on mob mentality in "In the Hills, the Cities.") Like many children in such tales, Harvey's downfall is his boredom and his desire for something different, something fun. He finds himself drawn into a world of wonders that quickly becomes a world of horrors. Barker's supporting cast, the good and the evil, are flawlessly executed with just enough surreal charm to make you fear what might really be going on in Holiday House. The evil in the story is horrifying (without going too far for a younger reader) and Barker's message is clear. Harvey learns that nothing comes without a price and that time is precious. He learns to appreciate each moment he has with his family and friends, no matter how dull those moments may sometimes seem. In the process of making these discoveries, he also proves himself to be a hero as he overcomes his own weakness to defeat Mr. Hood. I highly recommend this book for young and old alike ... I've recommended it to my husband, since he's been looking for a light read and this one is well worth the time.
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Summary: The Thief of Literature
Review: From the opening pages of this novel, the reader is swept into a world from every kids childhood fantasies. An escape from everyday life to a world that seems limitless. Clive Barker lets the reader join along in the bizarre life of Harvey Swick. Reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, Harvey is taken from his dull life and brought into a world of unique characters and strange events. The bright perfect world that Harvey is swept into comes not without its dark shadows. Soon Harvey must face his demons to try to recapture his youth in a heart pounding climax that leaves the reader in awe. This book is not without a lesson, something that few novels are able to capture in this day in age. The lesson is simple: There is no place like home. Clive Barker's imagination and stlye of writing should put this novel on everyone's list of 'books to read in my lifetime'.
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Summary: A book for ALL ages!
Review: It is a story of a young boy named Harvey, who, like any 10-year-old, wants to have fun, be careless and carefree--but at what cost? We never see the dangers of our actions that can lead to horrifying revelations. Harvey is sitting quietly in a bus, minding his own business, whe the mysterious Mr. Hood come into play. What does he want? What does he offer? It leads Harvey to a new and what seems to be a perfect place: a place of fun and nothing to worry about. But what is real and what is true at Mr. Hood's House? Nothing, except you. You can only enjoy something for so long, and at Mr. Hood's House, more is happening than just games and diversion. Harvey soon learns... This book will be enjoyed by anyone at any age. Although the concept might be a little hefty for younger readers, but if you're older, well, you'll understand what else Barker is trying to say. I'm not exactly 12 and I've read it several times. I highly recommend it. It's one of Barker's best and I've read all of them. It's such a short book, yet has a huge impact.
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Summary: Great - and not just for kids.
Review: The intended audience for The Thief of Always is not exactly clear. Is it for the YA market, or is it a tale for adults? It doesn't really matter. As an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Barker's illustrations are wonderful (does the paperback version have the illustrations in it?). I won't go on about the plot; it's already been explained in-depth. Don't make the mistake in thinking this is ANOTHER cliché haunted house story - which I must admit I thought it would be, when I first picked it up - it really isn't.
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Summary: Pretty good, as long as you keep it in perspective.
Review: Someone who is only familiar with Clive Barker's more graphic adult horror novels and stories may be surprised by the lighter tone of this book. That's because it's intended more for younger readers, with the emphasis on adventure and frights. It's a very basic story of good versus evil, with a definite moral. That doesn't mean that adults can't enjoy it, however. I loved it, as it reminded me stylistically of the works of Ray Bradbury. You won't get any grand character development, but Barker does a great job of mixing senses of wonder and terror, as well as keeping the reader in a constant state of suspense. Almost every chapter ends with some type of hook that will keep drawing you deeper. The author's illustrations perfectly capture the mood of the story, as well. It's quick reading and won't take up too much of your time, so give it a try!
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Summary: What Dreams Are Made Of...
Review: I encountered this book in the 6th grade as part of a class reading project and fell in love with it. 'Thief' is an incredible tale laced with Barker's one-of-a-kind imagery and craft. This book is both memorable and instantly re-readable. Fans of Barker's other masterpieces ('The Great and Secret Show,' 'Everville,' etc) will not be disappointed by the attention he lavishes on his characters, who are all completely fleshed out and believable. The evil menace of the story, Mr. Hood, is described in chilling detail, but the story never wavers from its intended audience: children. Though not what you might expect in a children's book (mild profanity, isolated scenes resembling a horror movie), the story is at once powerful and memorable, and the evil force at work here, Mr. Hood, ranks with some of the greatest villians in literary history. The book has a "movie" feel in that the plot moves swiftly to its conclusion--almost leaving you trying to catch your breath. In short, a tour de force! Lovers of Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" and Norton Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth" will find much to appreciate here.
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Summary: Clive Barker for a younger crowd? Yes, its true!
Review: I have always been a fan of horror, and this was the book I actually read to my son that finally started him on his own road of reading for pleasure. A young boy is unhappy with his life; he doesn't like school and doesn't like his parents, and wishes for a place where he can play all day long and have no responsibilities. He finds that place when creepy Rictus leads him through the mists to a place he has always dreamed of. Kindly old Mrs. Griffin runs a quaint little house, cooking marvelous meals for the boys and girls with her cats. Harvey soon finds that this place is magical, every morning is Spring, every afternoon Summer, every evening is Autumn, and every night Winter. The children play in the warmth of summer, have Halloween every evening, and Christmas every night. He makes friends with Wendell and Lulu, and meets some freakish inhabitants. But when he finally finds the lake with the strange fish, and witnesses Lulu changing, that he realizes this wonderful place is a trap and he cannot leave. He seeks a way out, and with the help of Mrs. Griffin's cats he makes it through the misty barrier, only to find that for every day that passes in the House, a year passed in the outside world. Harvey must set things to right again, and that means returning across the misty barrier and confronting the dreaded Mr. Hood. A very enjoyable read, and surprisingly good to read to older children, especially those who may be unhappy with school. Sometimes, you get what you wish for, only to find out its not what you really wanted....
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Summary: a horrifying fairy tale
Review: The diction is written like a child's faerie tale, completely descriptive and abundant in lush similes, metaphors, colors, sounds, smells, shapes, sizes, feelings, textures, creatures, people, and sights. Beneath the candy-coated exterior lies a truly horrific story of a boy trapped in a world where there is no escape, where children are taken and used for food and torture, where the value of life is "less than a penny". Filled with completely memorable and imaginative sequences, this novella (it takes no longer than 90 minutes to read) can be argued to surpass Clive Barker's other masterpiece, Weaveworld.
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