Lost in Abarat
March 13, 2003 | 
24 Comments
Last night I spent a few hours in a wonderful new world. After a long stint working in Flash on a project I decided to reward myself by sitting down and finishing Clive Barker’s Abarat. I’ve had it for a few weeks but have only had time to get a few chapters in and was anxious to continue.
So I sat down, fully expecting to read a few chapters and move on. I ended up getting caught up in the story and I finished the book in one last sitting. Abarat is a creative masterpiece. I’ve always known that Barker had a wicked strange imagination, and I’ve been a fan of his books, but here he really turns it on and the outcome is a fresh, vibrant story that comes alive in your mind.
Barker spent four years painting the artwork to illustrate the book, and it’s sequels, and while I’m not a big fan of his art (I find it a bit off-putting — which could be by design) I can say it fits the overall feel of the story very well, and it abstract enough to allow the reader to paint their own image in their minds eye, using the paintings as a palette of sorts.
I’ll leave it to you to dig more to find out what the story is all about, you can start at the Web site. I will say it’s very engaging and full of some of the most colorful characters you’ll ever come across. You’ll find it in the kids section, but it’s really not a kids book. I put it in the same class as Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series.
If you’ve heard of Clive Barker, and maybe tried on of his more “adult” books but found them just too “out there” for you, then try Abarat, you’ll not be disappointed. It’s a really great read and one I think will go down as a classic. And I’m not the only one, looks like Disney picked up the Movie rights. Can’t wait to see how that comes out, I am a bit skeptical, but hey, I’ll always have the book.
Filed under: Life and Such
Comments
1. Meena said:
Three month ago I bought Abarat from book fastival
because I like The pictures that covers this book
and I put it on the shelf and forgot it. Two weeks later when I’ve got nothing else to read so
I pick it up and then I sure that I can’t wait to follow the adventure of Candy in the next chepter.
Posted on May 15, 2003 12:22 AM | #
2. Erik Tinnith said:
Abarat is an amazing book. Superb illustrations, astoundingly odd writing and the most bizzare charecters you will ever see[ at least until book 2]. I can’t wait til the next book comes out so I can re-experience Clive Barkers genius again.
Posted on June 29, 2003 06:37 PM | #
3. Asher Hudson said:
This book is excellent! I can not believe how good this book is! R.E. to Keiths’ post: they’re making a movie out of it! This is not agood idea! The book has all of these wonderful illustrations already and they could never fit in an animated feature…sigh.
Posted on June 30, 2003 04:36 AM | #
4. shadow said:
I have read a lote of books and Abarat is one of my vaforit. I found my self in a deferent world when I read this book and that is what I look for in a book.I hope ther is a lote more bookes to this story One day this book could get as big as Harry potter The charicters on yhe cover would prpbably be good on the end of a pencel ho knows but thi book was grait out of 5 I would give it 5.
Shadow
Posted on July 7, 2003 04:04 PM | #
5. Sean said:
It is the best book in the world. If anyone has any information about the second book, e mail me at abarat_sean@hotmail.com
Posted on December 8, 2003 04:50 PM | #
6. kirsten said:
I absoultely LOVED this book. the illistrations are amazing along with the writing. my librarian friend recomended it to me but i was a little unsure untill i started to read it. i could go on and on about it, but i won’t. Please, if anyone has ANY info on when the second is to be released please e-mail me at RIKAMAS@aol.com
Posted on January 31, 2004 03:49 PM | #
7. Robin said:
I, as everyone else, loved this book and if ever that person (who knows about the second book) comes to this site, email me too! jimbobthethug@yahoo.com
Posted on February 15, 2004 06:05 PM | #
8. Cellel said:
A friend of mine more or less thrust Abarat into my hand one night, looked me in the eye, and said “READ IT!” I at first refused, as I’m in the middle of packing and don’t have much spare time, but then one evening as I was trying to relax, I picked it up and read the first chapter. I havn’t read a book this good since Peter S. Begal’s The Last Unicorn. Not that there’s much to compare the two with, but it grabbed me from the start. I can’t wait until the next one comes out. Any information, anyone? I must admit I AM nervous about Disney having it…and I find it a little ironic that he sold them the rights. They’re like the Commexo City of Earth in a way. Here’s hoping that they don’t pull a Little Mermaid on it. Orrigional story of the Little Mermaid was quite different then theirs…
Posted on March 9, 2004 05:39 PM | #
9. Richard said:
I’ve been a fan of Clive Barker since the Books of Blood, I thought the idea of him writing a “childrens” book was fantastic and couldn’t wait to get Abarat.
Took on holiday, started reading and didn’t put it down, then after careful thought (some of the content is a litte dark) gave it to my 9yr old daughter who did the same. I didn’t think he could surpass Weaveworld but Abarat is certainly his finest work to date in my opinion.
as for the movie, Disney’s name on the project doesn’t concern me too much as long as they get a good studio involved, “Spirited Away” being a great example.
Posted on March 11, 2004 02:12 AM | #
10. Chelsea said:
I picked Abarat up in a book store and I had never heard of it before. I usually read reviews and then get it at the library but for some reason I couldn’t put this one down and I bought it. I love the artwork in the book. It is so beautiful. Besides the story, I love how Clive Barker also wrote a few poems and songs to go along with it. It’s magical; a great story.
Posted on March 19, 2004 04:22 PM | #
11. Hannah said:
I’m only in the sixth grade and my friend and I bought this book from the bookfair in my school. I read it in a week ;my friend read it in four days. The Abarat was one of the best books I have ever read. I can’t wait for the second book!!!!!!
Posted on March 26, 2004 05:30 PM | #
12. Lindsey said:
Picture this, 15 year old girl. Had read every fanticy book in my school libary. Than the libaran one day called me out of class and said “The book order just came in”. I was estatic. It was the bok Tith and Abarat. I read Tith (which is a very good book), then read Abarat. I got los tin the story. I couldn’t help but constantly think about the book. Than i moved to a new school and the libary didn’t have the book. I wanted to cry. So for my birthday my father got me the book and pre ordered the 2ed book. I can’t wait till October to read the second part of the story. And find out what Candy’s “business in Abarat” is. THe characters are amazing and the art work is unmatichable. Clive Barker is in my opion knows how to capiture a persons mind and make it explore another world. And feel like their really there.
Lindsey E.
Posted on March 31, 2004 08:54 AM | #
13. Melissa said:
I agree with all of you. I checked Abarat out of the library, I was curious about the very name of the book. I had it finished in a day and a half! I went out and bought it so I could read it again and again. I’m trying my best to find somewhere on the internet that might give me a clue about the next book in the series. Wish me luck!
Posted on April 5, 2004 09:31 AM | #
14. kay said:
My mom bought ‘Abarat’ for me last year, and my first impression of it (being the surly thirteen-year-old) was… ‘Gee, mum, this looks… interesting’. Stupid, more like, I thought.
How wrong I was.
‘Abarat’ is an insanely imaginative realm, a swirling vortex that sucks you in and won’t relinquish hold til you’ve read the last sentence. Weird to be sure, but with enough pizazz to make your hair stand on end.
The cast is memorable and vividly described; and the heroine and her sidekicks are all well-rounded and appealing, though my personal fave would be the bad guy, Christopher Carrion. The Barker-esque imagination shines in the Lord of Midnight, a man who literally breathes nightmares, surrounded by gallow gardens and rocky crags. His psyche is intriguing: a quietly cruel character with pefectly beastly inclinations, but one with the capacity to be driven almost insane with fascination over the intrepid Candy Quackenbush. You have to feel sorry for the guy.
I hope this is enough to make non-believers wander down to the library and at least skim the pages of Abarat. I can say with certainty that at least a few of them be captivated.
Trust to the waters of Izabella, and make your way to the archipelago.
Posted on April 12, 2004 08:29 PM | #
15. Jess said:
does anyone know what the second book is called and when it will be released???
Posted on April 18, 2004 12:03 AM | #
16. jaime said:
I just finished reading the second book- i managed to get an advance copy. It says the tentative release date is 9/21/04- it’s called days of magic, nights of war. By the way- it’s incredible.
Any other questions about it, feel free to ask me.
Posted on May 4, 2004 01:10 PM | #
17. ian said:
I just finished Abarat last night and thought it was wonderful. It’s nice to see Clive Barker gaining some optimism over the years though I liked his other works as well. Alot of the creatures in this remind me quite a bit of the characters in ‘Nightbreed’ the movie (which was entertaining but not excellent).
I am a huge Neil Gaiman and Tad Williams fan, and felt some similarities with their work in this new book.
I too am vastly curious as to the title and release date of the second book; if anyone has this information, please contact me and I will be eternally grateful.
-ian
Posted on June 3, 2004 12:12 PM | #
18. Richard said:
second book - Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War
is due in October (can’t wait!) we’ve just name our new cat “Tarrie”
would also suggest “The Thief of Always” as another good book for younger readers, I really enjoyed it but think it is a little darker in comparison.
Posted on July 8, 2004 12:50 PM | #
19. Dagger said:
Man,this book rocks!!!!!!!!!!!
I love fantasy books…especially these kind.The art work is very sureal, im an artist myself and i just thought it very interesting.
I read that book in about 5 days,its that good.
I’m 15,fixing to turn 16 in October(yeah!!thats when the 2nd book comes out[i cant wait!])
Hey, if you like this book then you probably will love books by:
Tamora Pierce
Cynthia Voigt
and if you like christian books then you would love the:
Left Behind Series
by Timothy Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.
e-mail me if you want and maybe we can chat about our favorite books.
Talk to me,
Dagger
Posted on August 2, 2004 11:48 PM | #
20. Katie Van Gilst said:
This book is GREAT! I wish everyone could read it. IT KICKS BUTT! I want to know when the third book comes out! The author is the strangest person ever, but his books are amazing! If you’ve never read a fantasy book this is the one for you. Of course R. A. Salvator’s books are really good. So if you decide you like fantasy read his books that include the character Drizzt.
Posted on May 28, 2005 05:57 PM | #
21. Heather said:
I recently read both Abarat books, and I’m amazed at the beautiful and captivating imagination this guy has. When you’re reading them, its so easy to forget that it isn’t real. I love it, and the illustrations are beyond words.
Posted on June 3, 2005 06:28 PM | #
22. Josh said:
i love these books. id never heard of clive barker before,but one day a friend of mine told me to read it. i eventually started it. i finished in 2 days. im currently reading the second,and casnt wait for the 3rd and 4th. im a bit worried about the movie though…
also, the person who said Tithe was good, i agree. its great.
Posted on July 7, 2005 09:14 AM | #
23. Stephanie said:
I just finished reading both of the Abarat books and i luved them!!! I just cant wait till he can make another in the serious. some people think that the books are gothic but when u start to read it there not it just gives the story more of an effect! in one day i finished the 2nd Abarat book and i read 35 chapters, i couldn’t stop reading it! i just hope that he will have a 3rd book!! these books r amazing i am going to read more of his books!!!!!!!!! I LUVE THESE BOOKS!!!!!! this is the first time that i really got into reading a book. i hope he just has as many good storys other than this series!!!!!! some people say that this is also an adult story but c i just turn 13 and i cant believe of wat these storys contain. and clive gives an awsome expresstion too, c at times the story can make u cry or make u laugh or make u jump up and down with joy of something that candy or someone over came a fear or something!!! i think that clive barker is my number 1 author!!!
Posted on August 17, 2005 06:14 PM | #
24. Akimika said:
When I first saw it, I thought it’d be one of those strange screwy books with colorful covers that no one ever really reads.
Well, yes, I was verily wrong on that. While browsing through the library, I came across it, so I checked it out and took it home. This was a period between my ninth and tenth grade, a rather pivotal time.
It was a dream, and a world. For two weeks, I lived in and out of Abarat, dazed, falling asleep every chapter or few pages, passing out and just thinking every thought about the story and world of it. It was amazing.
If someone is a dreamer, or just seeks the most interestingly unique things, this is certainly something to read.
Posted on September 18, 2005 11:46 PM | #
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