The Thief of Always (1992) by Clive Barker #RIPXIX

Book Beginnings on Fridays (hosted by Rose City Reader)

The great grey beast February had eaten Harvey Swick alive. Here he was, buried in the belly of that smothering month, wondering if he would ever find his way out through the cold coils that lay between here and Easter.

🏠 February isn't a beast, the evil monster of this children horror fantasy. It's the dreary cold month when Christmas is behind but Easter is still quite far, and Harvey Swick hated it. So much so, that when a smiley man called Rictus invited him to the Holiday House where one can always have fun, he couldn't resist. He'll just peep in for a while, and would come home immediately, no big deal.

🏠 But it is a big deal - it's a huge one! The Holiday House is a magical place, owned and created by a Mr. Hood. He lured innocent children who are thinking they are only playing truant. True, once they enter the house, they could get everything they ever want - food, toys, and all. But what a price they must pay! Though they only realize this after, when there's no way back. Not only that, the House also steals time. One spend each day in four seasons, spring in the morning, summer at noon, autumn every afternoon, and the day ends in winter. It's not just the weather, each day the children spend one day at the house, they lose one whole year of their times at home, so that, after spending a month there, thirty years have elapsed at home. That's what Mr. Hood is - the thief of always!

🏠 Harvey learned about this powerful magic after he managed to escape the House with his friend Wendel. Only to find that thirty years has elapsed since he left his parents, who has been bitterly thinking he's dead. Harvey realizes that he must return to the House and somehow fight Mr. Hood and his four servants to be free of the magic, to return to their happy lives, and to rescue many children who had came before him. He wouldn't live peacefully thinking he has left them trapped there forever, would he? But how could he do that-a mere boy against those powerful and cunning evil monsters?

🏠 I have never read Clive Barker before, but this is such a perfect horror fantasy a child could have wanted to read. It tackles common problem of children, that of wanting to avoid uncomfortable situation; it also overflowing with pleasant things every children want: gifts, toys, sweets, food, games. Imagine having Halloween and Christmas everyday without having any effort to arrange it, just enjoying!

Quoted for Friday 56 (hosted by Head Full of Books):

There was A Bonfire Night supper waiting for them when they got back into the House.

But it's not just about that, this book also reminded children, that there are a lot of things more valuable than those fun: love and family. It was indeed a wholesome read for this season, which reminds us to be always grateful for each day and season.

"Hopes like birds on a spring branch; happiness like a warm summer sun; magic like the rising mists of autumn. And best of all, love; love enough for a thousand Christmasses."

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

R.I.P XIX

RIP XIII: The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Like any child on Halloween night, eight boys in this fantasy-horror story put their costumes and were ready to go for trick-or-treating. But when the little mummy, the ghost, the gargoyle, the skeleton, and the others had gathered at the appointed place: the Haunted House, they did not find Pipkin. Pipkin is sort of the chief of the gang; and without him Halloween would not be fun. Instead of their friend, they found, near the house, a huge tree with branches, laden with Jack-o-lanterns: The Halloween Tree! Inside the house they met a cadaverous looking man wrapped in black, who introduced himself as Mr. Moundshroud.

Pipkin finally showed up, but he was immediately snatched from the boys, and vanished into the air. To find and save Pipkin, Mr. Moundshroud led the eight boys to search through the past, to teach them the history and real meaning of Halloween they celebrate every year.

So, by magic they travelled across time and space to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Celtic, Medieval Paris, and Mexico. They went inside the Pyramid to find mummies, flew on brooms and met witches, walked inside the catacomb, and adored the Gargoyles at Notre Dame Cathedral. At each place they visited, they always saw glimpses of Pipkin, before he eluded right before they got chance to save him. Through these eerie adventures, the boys learned about the origins of Halloween; why death is scary, the fact about mummy, the origin of trick-or-treat, and whether witches have really existed.

At the end of their journey, the boys realized that the only way to save dear Pipkin was by agreeing to sacrifice one year each of their lives.

The Halloween Tree for Halloween, is what A Christmas Carol do for Christmas. You celebrate the holiday each year, get yourself surround by the atmosphere, the ornaments, foods, costumes, and rituals. You gather with friends and families to celebrate... what? What is that that you are celebrating—the day itself? As with A Christmas Carol, The Halloween Tree also reminds you of the real values behind ornaments and the celebration itself.

This was my first Ray Bradbury. I still had not the courage to read Fahrenheit, and so wanted to take a taste through this tale. It was a fun read; fast moving with beautiful prose, and a perfect read for Halloween mood. Bradbury wanted us to remember our dead relatives (the real purpose of Halloween), but also to realize the value of life. I loved how Bradbury made the eight boys giving up one year of their lives to save a friend. There is always love behind every holiday!

4 / 5