Abarat

Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter doesn't deserve a mention in comparison!
Review: You can tell from the other reviews what this book is about, but Abarat is the most creative, wonderful book written since the twenties rolled out The Lord of the Rings-- at true epic! If some adults would consent to read it, they would instantly know that this is not the "kid's book" everyone is calling it. In fact, it could be called a much more sophisticated version of the Phantom Tollbooth, but with much more of an interesting plot and loveable characters. I found myself even being able to get in the minds of the evil characters. Everyone of Barker's characters has a purpose, feelings of love and hate, and are NEW! I've heard many people praise the inventive names of Harry Potter (which,after reading Abarat, suddenly seems boring), but names are a grain of pepper next to the importance of colourful characters... which in fantasy lately, ONLY barker has pulled off.
The ending seemed unsatisfying until I realized Abarat is part of a series. An ending that gives away none of the secrets that are hinted throughout the book is an excellent ending for a series. I can't wait until next year for the second book to appear... and I am so frustrated by the lack of information on these books! The whole world should have the heads ducked behind the delightful purple cover and silky pages of this book ASAP!

Rating:
Summary: Abarat... What else is there it say?
Review: I saw this book and the only thing that seemed really appealing was the artwork. You have to admit, when you see this book, it just looks so different you know that the story with be just as different. The whole time I was reading it, I just wanted more and more. The art is wonderful. It gives you that picture that your mind sometimes has trouble making, and it is from the author so you know that you are seeing what he saw when he was writing the book.

The book is about a girl named Candy Quakenbush who lives in Chickentown, Minnesota. Now that name alone makes you think, boring, yawn yawn yawn. But it isn't. You see that Candy just wants a change, no matter what it brings. One day she gets in an argument with her teacher over an assignment and she just walks off. She doesn't know quiet where she's going, but she ends up in a place you could only imagine. Abarat. It is made up of 25 islands, each with different inhabitants and highlights. Every one is a different hour of the day.

When you reach the end of the book, it leaves you wondering where the rest is. That's it? No, it can't be. But for now, we just get to sit back and wait for the next book.

Rating:
Summary: I fell in love with the characters
Review: Barker does an excellent job of making the characters come to life, both through his words and the paintings. He gives you enough information, so as to let your imagination fill inthe rest. It's a wonderful book and reccomeneded it to all my friends.I'm 19 years old, and i just love this "kids" book. I'm looking forward to the next three books and the movie in 2005.

Rating:
Summary: Wicked Strange
Review: Clive Barker is my favorite author, hands down. Despite the bits of homosexual propoganda laced into this book by the author himself, and allowed by the publisher Disney, this is a fine piece of work indeed. The promise of 3 more books only makes it better.

Clive Barker is not new to the children's book scene. The Thief of Always was fantastic. The first book of the Abarat quartet begins in a similar vein, a jaded youth whisked away to a fantastic world, but that is where the similarities end. The Thief of Always was much more scary and psychological, where Abarat veers straight off into Fantasy/Adventure. Let it be known, Abarat is more commercial and significantly easier to swallow than the former children's book. However, that doesn't detract from this fantastic tapestry of storytelling that draws on numerous influences.

First, Clive Barker draws on influences from the Hobbit. This is obvious even by looking at the cover of the book which almost matches the Hobbit cover to a T, but with Clive's own artwork of course. Second, there is a lot of Alice in Wonderland here (see John Mischief as the Rabbit, Kaspar Wolfswinkle as a twisted Mad Hatter, Brother Julius and Brother Tempus as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and the Tarrie cats as Abarat's very own breed of Chesire). Third, Clive Barker draws on his own works. The first two of three Books of the Art (The Great and Secret Show and Everville) have a Dream Sea with mystic islands as a central piece of the stories. The following quote is taken from The Great and Secret Show, and it pretty much shows Abarat in the making of the artist's mind. "Memory, prophecy and fantasy- the past, the future and the dreaming moment between- are all one country, living one immortal day." Everything that unfolds between these pages, even the more predictable bits, unfold in a distinctively Clive Barker fashion (for example: a lanky, menacing, otherworldly assasain who wears nothing but a pair of striped shorts). Fourth, I had always seen a lot of the Phantom Tollbooth in The Thief of Always, but even more so in the islands of the Abarat!

But the influences don't end there! When you read the breathtaking scene with the dragon, you won't help but hope that Disney chooses an animation style similar to the Japanese 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke' when executing this series. There are even subtle similiarities to the great Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy anthology with Abarat's own Klepp's Almenak, which ongoingly offers helpful information about the bizzarities and less-known history of the islands to our characters and we the readers.

Clive Barker is still the most original and startling author of our time. He is an artist in every sense of the word; with a brush or with a pen. This is a wonderful story for Clive Barker fans as well as for the younger reader's it was meant for. Don't wait for your ship to come in... pick up this book and travel to a brave old world today!

Rating:
Summary: A little scary
Review: When I was reading ABARAT, I consumed almost half of it in a day. I must say that I was surprised because by then not much had happened. But if you like books with a spooky and semi-morbid twist to them, this the book for you. If you didn't like the way the fourth Harry Potter book got a little gory, this is DEFINITELY not for you. Not for the timid.

Rating:
Summary: A (young) reader¿s treat not to be missed
Review: If you are looking for the most boring place on earth, you can stop your search right now: Chickentown, U.S.A. is just that kind of place. The only thing that is of any importance in this small American city is, you guessed it: chickens. But that was not always so: Candy Quackenbush, a young girl living together with her mother and her alcoholic abusive father, is preparing for her school project and about to discover the 'real' history behind Chickentown. But when Miss Schwartz, her hateful school teacher, sees the final results, she is utterly disappointed: "You have not mentioned any chickens!" It is not surprising that Candy gets a very bad score. Enraged by her teacher Candy leaves school and ends up in this field right outside of town. There she meets a strange man called John Mischief, who takes her to the fantastic world of Abarat: an archipelago where every island is a different hour of the day. Not much time goes by until Candy realises that not everyone treats her as friendly as her friend John.

Abarat is the first instalment of the quartet The Books of Abarat. And that is maybe the only weakness of this book. When you finish this episode you are left with a hunger for more. It seems as though the characters were all introduced, the setting explained and the real story-line is about to start, when you discover that this is really is all you get in the first instalment. It is clearly not intended as a stand-alone book.

But that is all the negative comment I can give, because Abarat is a reader's treat. The imaginary is mind-blowing; the characters are wonderfully fascinating and the atmosphere honours Clive Barker's exceptional talent for the "fantastic". Once you enter the world of Abarat, it is not likely you will put this book down; so reserve a few hours before you start reading...

Rating:
Summary: Good, but a little cliche
Review: Something about Abarat was a bit off. Otherwise it was a very well put-together book. The art and poetry were amazing and the story was interesting. If I were just reviewing the overall look of the book I would definetly give it five stars. The story seems to be original at first but as you progress you see that it's the same basic misunderstood-character-who-is-excepted-in-a-new-world storyline that has been perfected by C.S. Lewis, Carroll, and now Mrs. Rowling. It does have it's moments, but a lot was very predictable. Which is really sad because so many things like this have been done before that when something (like Abarat) that is similar but not exactly like the others people always compare it to, say, Harry Potter which is the main one. Things can't be original anymore if they are even remotely like Harry Potter. I've pretty much already figured out who Candy is in the whole Abarat scheme of things because well, it's very obvious if you pay attention to Barker's not so subtle hints. Oh well, if you are looking for something to keep you entertained while waiting for Harry Potter or if you haven't read HP, I'd read Abarat most definitely, but my advice to you is to wait for the paperback if you can or get it out of the library. The art is amazing though and I really do want to read the second one.

Rating:
Summary: Abarat can be tough going!
Review: Clive Barker, where are you going with this series? I read the book-on-tape version (missed the great illustrations so doing) and right up to the end I still cannot figure out where Barker is going with this story. Barker is very capable of writing a great childrens story: The Thief of Always is wonderful and a must read for all of Barker's fans of any age. I kept waiting for the great revelation/resolution in Abarat, but it never came. Perhaps in the sequel?

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Book
Review: I love fantasy, especially children's fantasy, and I've read many books of this genre. Abarat is deffinately high on my list of favorites. Candy is likable, all the characters are great, and, as the many other reviewers have mentioned, I couldn't put it down once I started reading. Enlightening, truely. If you feel like you were meant for more than the mundane, or are hoping to fulfill you're destiny, this book may give you valuable advice. Read it if you have found truth in these words.

peace

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I loved this book I couldn't put it down by any means. I would absolutely advise buying the book, especially since fantasy books like this are so hard to find. I can hardly ever find a fantasy book thats not cheesy, but I loved this one. It was not almost impossible to follow like some are, and the picture in it were beautiful. I would advise anyone that enjoys fantasy books to buy this one. I can' wait for the next one comes out I can't wait to buy it and read it!