The House With a Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs
I’ve had a series of cold nights in my crappy little studio apartment, and I’ve got the shivering Italian Greyhounds to prove it. I think it’s ridiculous to pay so much $$$$ for what is essentially a one room crack shack, and my apartment complex thinks I’m far too demanding in requesting that they turn on the heating system before the temps drop down into the 40′s. What escapes them is that if it’s only 52 degrees at noon, it will be much lower than that at midnight. So, I’ve pulled blankets out of my lone closet, tucked the pooches into their wee little dog beds, and curled up with lots of (too) hot coffee before bed time. This seems to wildly lend itself to incessant book reading, specifically those tomes that detail what goes bump in the night and the genealogy of whatever is breathing deeply beneath my bed. I’ve written before about how this creates a strong sense of nostalgia in me, and I found myself firmly entwined in that backward longing last night. I decided to turn to my book shelf and it was there I that I gladly stumbled upon my tattered and yellowed copies of John Bellairs mysteries.
Lewis Barnavelt was one of the first characters I really identified with as a young boy, and the gothic mysteries of John Bellairs have always been among my most favored childhood memories. As I was already thrumming along on the nostalgia train, grabbing one of his books from off the shelf to dust off an old friend seemed rather appropriate. Two hours later it was time for bed and The House With a Clock In Its Walls had reminded me how good writing can negate classification.
What I Liked
Sure. This is a children’s book with a child as the main character. Lewis is a recently orphaned ten-year old boy going to live with his eccentric Uncle Jonathan in New Zebedee. The intended audience is most likely in the same age bracket as Lewis (9 – 12), but I dare adults to read Bellairs and not fall in love with the stories. There’s a reason Neil Gaiman mentions John Bellairs in his blog promoting All Hallow’s Read. His books and characters transcend age lines because they remind all of us of the child inside.
The House With a Clock In Its Walls is a great spooky story about evil wizards and a clock that can bring about the end of the world. It has magic and mystery and ghosts that seek to bring about curses. It has tragic childhood mistakes, relationship foibles and cookies…lots and lots of cookies. I have read this book at least twenty times over the last 25 years. It’s one of those stories I return to and can always find something new to enjoy. It’s one of the books I look forward to sharing with my nieces, and I always recommend it to anyone looking for something for their own child to read. This was one of those books that ingrained a love of the written word in me, and I can directly link back to how it impacted me and my current need to write my own stories.
I like this book. Can you tell?
Lewis Barnavelt is a tragic character. He’s orphaned when his parents die in an accident, but in many ways he was a very lonely child even before their untimely deaths. His parents were not affectionate and Lewis is not what anyone would call socially graceful. When he finds himself displaced to live with an unfamiliar uncle who appears to be a wizard, he begins to open up and transforms into a bolder child capable of more than he ever thought. The supporting cast of Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmermann, both good wizards/witches, help Lewis on his adventure. Their understanding and supportive natures are the perfect counterpoint to the chaos of losing his parents and the turmoil of the titular Clock. Add in a giant mansion with hidden passages, dead evil wizards with plans to bring about doom and gloom, scary cemeteries and mysterious neighbors and you’ve got a gothic mystery with just enough spookiness to capture the mind of the reader.
What I Didn’t Like
Not a thing. I wouldn’t change a single line of this book. The only thing I would request is that these books be reprinted forever and that e-book versions be made available. Children should be able to find this book everywhere.
Why You Should Read This Book
If you’ve never been introduced to John Bellairs, you owe it to yourself to spend some time reading his books. He created a number of series based on child characters, all of which were excellent. I prefer these older versions with the amazing artwork and images placed throughout the story. It’s hard to find these books on Amazon, though many resellers have them listed very cheaply. If you enjoy children’s stories with just enough of a scare included to get the blood pumping, I implore you to settle into The House With a Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs. It’s what you should be reading.
Book Information
Description: Lewis always dreamed of living in an old house full of secret passageways, hidden rooms, and big marble fireplaces. And suddenly, after the death of his parents, he finds himself in just such a mansion–his Uncle Jonathan’s. When he discovers that his big friendly uncle is also a wizard, Lewis has a hard time keeping himself from jumping up and down in his seat. Unfortunately, what Lewis doesn’t bank on is the fact that the previous owner of the mansion was also a wizard–but an evil one who has placed a tick-tocking clock somewhere in the bowels of the house, marking off the minutes until the end of the world. And when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead on Halloween night, the clock only ticks louder and faster. Doomsday draws near–unless Lewis can stop the clock!
Author: John Anthony Bellairs (January 17, 1938 – March 8, 1991) was an American author, best known for his well-respected fantasy novel The Face in the Frost as well as many gothic mystery novels for young adults featuring Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon. [Official Homepage]
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