The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt)

Great characters in this book. Bellairs gives the reader enough of their quirky and endearing personalities, but doesn't burden the flow of the story with unnecessary amounts of detail. It's appropriate for young readers since the plot moves right along with intriguing developments without too many complex details to mire them.

This was an AWESOME book with AWESOME pictures by Gorey. I did spot one illustration that didn't match up with the scene in the book (the picture of the inside of the car - Lewis wasn't sitting in the right spot when they are being chased), but this is minor. If your a fan of Gorey like me, you should invest in buying this book. The pictures of the house are superb.

As for the plot, it is also fantastic. Lewis is not your typical cliche hero in an MG-Intermediate horror. He feels realistic. But here's a warning: Do NOT read the back cover summary before you read this book. It gives away literally everything that happens in the book, so there are no suprises. I was slightly disappointed because I had read the backcover, but the plot itself is great nonetheless. If you like suprises like me (because why else do we read a book then? We enjoy finding out what happens!!!), do NOT read the backcover.

I remembered reading this as a kid and liking John Bellairs but, oh my god, this is terrible. You don't know how bad until you reach the end. It has such an unbelievably convenient and lazy ending that a *young* child could have written it. Where the climax of the story should have happened, everything was skipped over rather than described. I don't want to spoil the story so I'll just say that the dramatic moments weren't described, it was merely said that they were happening, while the main character saw nothing. Parts of the ending made no sense and, as I said, were just conveniently thrown in without background.

Also, the cover design of this edition is unfortunately no longer the Edward Gorey, which really added to Bellair's books.

When I was a child I found this book in the discount bin at the supermarket and loved it. I loved it so much that I read it several times and when I heard it was being made into a movie I wanted to share the story with my daughter. I was sad to find my book had been lost but I'm so thankful to the store for having nearly every book in existence. Now I get to share a wonderful story with my daughter and relive some of the magic of my childhood. This book is well written and very entertaining, the illustrations are amazing, and the story is something every young reader would enjoy.

The story itself was fine, but far to much "filler" for me and not enough action. You are taken the long way around to get to the meat of the story, which is saying something considering it is only 179 pages and not the 400 pages it felt like I was reading through to get to the end.

I saw this movie is coming out in theaters. Wanted to read book before movie. really enjoyed. I understand this is a kids book, a quick enjoyable read. Only gave 4 stars because kids book. Not real "dark" and intense. Still very enjoyable

Well worth the decision to re read. Bellairs has some nice touches as an author. His portrait of Lewis runs true as it should with his uncle and Florence shadowy as befits their warlock and witch status and yet leaves Lewis room to move and grow. So even if Lewis is up against the dead and blackest of necromancy the two adults provide reassurance. Lean nothing wasted in the story telling, no more complicated than it need be but always hinting at greater depths.

This book was a childhood favorite and I bought it to re-read when I heard there was a movie in the works. I appreciated it just as much as an adult (although now I realize that Uncle Jonathan is maybe a little too relaxed about his nephew secretly dabbling in necromancy). I especially like the friendship between the main adult characters and the exploration of childhood loneliness and how difficult it can be for kids to fit in.

I remember our fourth grade teacher reading this to us when I was a kid. What fun. Such drama! I recently came across it again and at 50 years of age, I had to have a copy of it. Still remains one of my favorite stories.

John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. "The House with a Clock in its Walls" (1973) is the first in the Lewis Barnavelt series.
Lewis is a newly orphaned, plump ten-year-old, who wears "purple corduroy trousers, the kind that go `whip-whip' when you walk." The author often claimed that his imagination got stuck at ten, and here is Lewis, age ten, going to live with his Uncle Jonathan in New Zebedee, Michigan. The year is 1948, and New Zebedee bears a strong resemblance to Marshall, Michigan, where the author was born--- The Cronin House and the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall still stand in Marshall, just as their counterparts do in New Zebedee.
"The House with a Clock in its Walls" is a whimsical horror tale involving a deceased wizard's scheme to end the world. The book was illustrated by Edward Gorey (speaking of whimsical horror), and was at one time transformed into a made-for-tv movie for children.
So far from what I've read of Bellairs, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here). Lewis is resourceful, but with a child's fears and limitations. Most especially, he is afraid that his uncle won't like him, that the kids in his new school will make fun of him, and that he'll never have a friend. His uncle Jonathan and neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman are skilled in magic, and are very likeable. They perform magic tricks for Lewis and make him chocolate chip cookies and coca, and generally treat him as a small adult. The one thing Uncle Jonathan is reluctant to talk about is the ticking noise within his old house.
Lewis discovers that his uncle makes midnight excursions throughout the house, stopping and restarting all of the old clocks. He slowly gets involved in the mystery of the undiscovered clock. The wizardly Izzard couple who used to live in the house are both dead, but what did they leave behind and why?
There are some genuinely frightening scenes in "The House with a Clock in its Walls"---most especially when Lewis tries to impress a new friend by stealing one of his uncle's magic books and taking it to the graveyard at midnight on Halloween---but I don't want to spoil the story for you (Hint: there's a scene straight out of "Count Magnus" by M.R. James when the lock pops off of the crypt). Let me say that this is a truly scary book, and if the author's imagination got stuck at ten, he must lived an awesomely spooky tenth year.

This was a story my grandson was reading and so I read it to see what it was about. It was fun but went a little contrary to my beliefs in God.
Its a story about an awkward boy who loses his parents in an accident and is sent to live with his uncle who is a warlock His uncles' best friend is a witch, and they proceed to have an adventure with a person who is brought back from the dead through a magic spell. The boy loses most of his awkwardness, gaining self confidence while bonding with his uncle & learning some good life lessons.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls is the first in a series of mysteries/horror stories for children by John Bellairs (1938-1991), featuring Lewis Barnavelt, an overweight, recently orphaned ten-year-old boy who is bad at sports and who likes to read. After his parents are killed in a car accident, Lewis comes to the town of New Zebedee, Michigan, to live in a creepy but fascinating 19th-century mansion with his eccentric Uncle Jonathan. He soon learns that his uncle is a wizard, but not a very good one, and his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmermann, is a much more powerful good witch. Lewis hears a strange ticking sound coming from all the walls of the house, and finds out that there is a clock planted in the house, but no one knows exactly where, or for what purpose. Jonathan has filled all the rooms with clocks, and he wanders the halls every night to turn them off.

As it turns out, the previous owners of the house were Isaac and Selenna Izard, a couple of evil wizards, who had placed the clock in the house to count down the minutes until the end of the world. On Halloween night, Lewis decides to impress a popular boy named Tarby by raising a spirit from the dead. Lewis and Tarby go to the cemetery at midnight, and Lewis ends up raising the spirit of the evil Mrs. Izard, who eventually moves into the house across the street and causes several frightening incidents. Meanwhile, Lewis and Tarby drift apart. Lewis, Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmermann have to discover where the clock is located and how to stop it before it brings about the end of the world.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a wonderful story for children, and for people of all ages. The town of New Zebedee is clearly based on Bellairs’ home town of Marshall, Michigan. In fact, the house is based on the Cronin House in Marshall. My parents live very close to Marshall, and I have seen the actual house. In fact, I recognized many of the locations in the book, including Mansion Street, the Rexall drugstore, and Marshall’s famous fountain. Lewis is a wonderful protagonist, very likeable but with enough flaws to make him seem real. In fact, he reminds me of another of my favorite characters, Sebastian in Michael Ende’s The Neverending Story, who is also overweight, book-loving, and bad at sports. Very young children might find the book scary, but it certainly is less scary than some of the later Harry Potter books. It is perfect for Halloween. The creepy but charming illustrations by Edward Gorey complement the story very well.

Sadly, Bellairs died young, after writing several more books about Lewis Barnavelt, as well as two other series for children (Anthony Monday and Johnny Dixon). After Bellairs’ death, author Brad Strickland continued the Lewis Barnavelt series. A movie of The House with a Clock in Its Walls will be released very soon, and I hope it will be as good as the book. It will be interesting to see whether the movie keeps the book’s original setting, in 1948, or if it modernizes the story.

I do not know how I missed this book as a child. I always loved “creepy old house” books. The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy Boston was a favorite. And I lived very close to Marshall, so I don’t know how I could not have known about a book that took place there. But somehow I missed out on it as a child. I am very glad I discovered it now.

I just reread this for the first time since I discovered John Bellairs 40 years ago. It was just as deliciously creepy and incredibly suspenseful as I remembered. Unlike so many of today's books where the fate of the world and the battle against evil rests solely on the heads of the child protagonist, this story is anchored by kind, loving, and creatively magical adults who are always there for Lewis. Lewis is a great focal character. He is overweight and teased terribly about it. He wants a friend so much he ignores the growing cruelty of his one prospect. In desperation he makes a terrible mistake and the horrible secret of it weighs heavily on him for most of the story. So the building tension combines the very real menace of the clock in the walls, the results of Lewis's error, and the wondering if Lewis will ever confess. It is an engrossing story with lots of dramatic moments and dire warnings. I loved it all over again! This is part of a series of books starting Lewis Barnavelt and his charming and loving uncle Jonathan and neighbor Mrs. Zimmerman. I've decided to buy a used hardcover edition while I still can (before they go completely out of print and are impossible to find) so that I can enjoy the story again and again--without a lapse of 40 years this time.

Dark Arts author for young adults, John Bellairs creates a chilling world for his teenage readers. In this story orphaned ten-year-old Lewis, a chubby boy with little prospect of making friends and impressing his peers, arrives in New Zebedee in late summer of 1948. His new residence will be the old house at 100 High Street with his kindly guardian, odd Uncle Jonathan--a man of modest magical powers. Despite their verbal taunts and insults Jonathan and his widowed neighbor, Florence Zimmerman, work as a team to solve dark mysteries of which the town remains in blissful ignorance. With his natural curiosity Lewis soon schemes to find a way to join the family business, as it were.

Embroiled in a tantalizing mystery of epic proportions the two elderly sleuths prowl around the house--listening for a hidden or invisible clock, whose ticking may spell doom for all mankind. Meanwhile Lewis, trying it impress a popular boy, boasts that his uncle can perform feats of magic: like cause an eclipse of the moon or that he himself--having inherited the family skill--can raise the dead! Too late Lewis learns the consequence of juvenile vanity and the superficiality of social interaction not based on mutual respect.

Suspicious occurrences convince frustrated Jonathan of the lurking doom for New Zebedee: a break in with nothing much taken; a spooky house across the street, a midnight car chase, and a vicious bum who makes nasty threats. Throughout the months Lewis becomes fond of the eccentric couple; he gradually realizes that they are haunted by the terror of the cleverly hidden clock which seems to be ticking everywhere in the house. How can a bungling boy of ten help defeat the diabolical duo of a long-dead wizard and his witchy wife?

Despite the socially unrealistic last chapter which is anticlimactic at best, this story will hold the interest of young readers. Although no threat to the HARRY POTTER series this book might even be considered a mild literary precursor. A fun read for pre teens.

Reread for nostalgia, and I think it holds up for today's audiences, even though it takes place in 1948 and was written in the early 1970s. The best thing about this book is not the magic or the moody atmosphere--the Harry Potter universe does that better--but the sensitivity to the plight of a lonely kid and his eccentric caretakers.

It looks like the forthcoming movie is going to whitewash the elements that make this story unique: Lewis is a fat kid who is trying to impress the most popular boy in school; this is why he takes some risks and does things that go against his morals. Also, Mrs. Zimmerman is described as old and wrinkled, and her friendship with Lewis's uncle Jonathan seems completely platonic and fun. I guess the movie is going to make all these characters have standard Hollywood beauty, which will make it all seem like nothing more than a Harry Potter knockoff. Too bad.

There's good pacing and tension, and creative weirdness, but I think the reason a lot of people feel nostalgia for Bellairs books is due to the charming, cozy atmosphere. It's a place where adults are trustworthy and kind, and smart kids win the day, and people sit around a fire with cookies and hot cocoa in earthenware mugs. I wish everyday life was like that.

One wonders what terrific novels would've emerged from John Bellairs' fertile mind had he been allowed to make a living writing adult fiction. If one goes by his quite awesome adult fantasy novel The Face in the Frost, then I'm thinking the world has really missed out. THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS was originally intended to be grown-up reading, but no publishing house was biting. Bellairs was instead advised to rewrite the thing as a children's novel, and this pretty much cemented Bellairs's career as a children's writer.

As a kid I read this book and its sequels The Figure In the Shadows (Lewis Barnavelt) and The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring over and over to the point that I wore out the pages. As an adult I still find these stories gripping and suspenseful and fraught with gothic overtones. Still, after tearing thru THE FACE IN THE FROST, I bemoan Bellairs' turning away from writing more adult fantasies. John Bellairs created two other series, respectively featuring Anthony Monday and Johnny Dixon. But in no way do they resonate as strongly as the Lewis Barnavelt trilogy. And I have to say this, while I laud THE FACE IN THE FROST to bits, I do count THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS as my favorite John Bellairs book. It had that much of an impact on me when I was a child.

It's 1948 and shy and chubby 10-year-old Lewis Barnavelt, newly orphaned, has just moved to Michigan, to the quaint little community of New Zebedee and into his very strange Uncle Jonathan's sprawling mansion at 100 High Street. Lewis instantly feels at home in this grand old house, with its many unexplored rooms and secret passages. He vey quickly grows fond of his uncle, whose peculiar ways are matched by his lavish kindness, and of their friendly next door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmermann. But here's the thing: each night at midnight, Lewis hears his uncle patrolling the grounds, venturing into each room and randomly tapping on the walls. And Lewis's bump of curiosity perks up. Maybe it has to do with that incessant ticking noise seeming to originate from every wall in the house. Maybe it has to do with Lewis's uncle being a wizard.

Uncle Jonathan isn't a powerful wizard (Mrs. Zimmermann, it turns out, is a more powerful witch, and with a collegiate degree in magic at that), but Jonathan definitely knows more than just sleight-of-hand tricks. He can even eclipse the moon. And yet, even though Uncle Jonathan tries to hide it, he's clearly nervous about the ticking, which in the next few months seems to progressively get louder and louder. Lewis learns that before Uncle Jonathan came to live in it, the malevolent warlock Isaac Izard and his wife witch Selenna used to inhabit the mansion, and who knows what dark enchantments were worked during their stay?

For Lewis, times at school are horrible as ever. Squeamish and plump, it's hard for him to make friends, and when he does end up making one, he goes above and beyond in his attempts to keep the friendship going. Lewis, trying to impress his friend, ends up at the graveyard dabbling in black magic. And then the spell goes horribly, horribly wrong (or horribly right, since it actually worked). It was only supposed to be an innocent attempt at resurrection. What are the odds that Lewis would inadvertently perform the spell in front of the tomb of Selenna Izard? It wouldn't be too long from that moment that Lewis Barnavelt, his Uncle Jonathan, and the benevolent Mrs. Zimmermann would be facing peril and pursuit and a desperate search for the clock in the walls inexorably ticking down the end of the world.

Concerning children's literature, I stand John Bellairs up with the greats and most definitely with the more contemporary likes of R.L. Stine, Diana Wynne Jones and J.K. Rowling. Bellairs demonstrated this knack for seamlessly weaving in the ordinary with the occult. He introduced elements of warmth and whimsy, most felt in Lewis's relationships with his uncle and with Mrs. Zimmermann. I remember the big smile on my mug when reading passages of these comfy-homey practitioners of magic, indulging in their craft to amuse each other and Lewis. I was thinking when I first read this book: Man, Lewis has it so good, with a wizard for an uncle who fills his days with wonder and shows him Historical Illusions and plays poker with him. And Lewis has it so good, living in a mysterious house in which he runs into cool things like the mechanical Fuse Box Dwarf and the magic coat rack which allows one peeks into exotic places (although sometimes it'll just give out Dow-Jones averages and livestock reports).

That sense of charming affability works to sucker you in, though, because, at the same time, Bellairs is also building and building on that ominous suspense, starting you off with that uneasy tingle, gradually rising to a palpable tension, culminating in a crescendo of chilling supernatural terror. Bellairs does this very well. In the end, after an assortment of genuinely creepy moments, it falls to the meek but likeable young protagonist to save the day.

For a while now, author Brad Strickland has taken over the writing of the Lewis Barnavelt series, beginning in 1993 with The Ghost in the Mirror (Lewis Barnavelt), which had been an unfinished work of Bellairs. Strickland has kept the stories pretty faithful to Bellairs's sensibilities. And, frankly, I'm just grateful that there are stories still being told about Lewis, Rose Rita, Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmermann. I hung out with them as a child, and even nowadays I don't mind at all catching up with these weird, wonderful folks from New Zebedee. But it starts with THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS. For young readers seeking to experience a new set of the willies, the heebie-jeebies, or the creepy crawlies, this book will most definitely do.

O.K., lots of people remember the Bellairs books from their childhood and still hold them dear, (I'm that way about Enid Blyton's adventure books.) But, what about a kid now, reading the books now?

Well, having finished re-reading a bunch of Bellairs and later Brad Strickland books, it seems that this title is the one to try if you want to test out a Bellairs book on your young reader. It's the introduction of Lewis Barnavelt, it has a pre-Harry Potter vibe, and it has the most action. These books are so well-written it's worth a try, but don't be surprised or disappointed if your reader just doesn't warm up to them.

On the plus side, Lewis Barnavelt is an engaging hero, and who doesn't like a creepy house with secret passages, hidden rooms and a ticking Doomsday clock? This book introduces many of the plot elements that reappear in fantasy/horror books for younger and YA readers, and it does so in an entertaining but manageable way, which is why it might be a very good introductory book for a younger reader. The publisher recommends "8 and up", and that feels about right.

Some of the best children's books out there today deal with the mysterious nature of walls. Walls are an essential element to any house, and therefore they're privy to all kinds of secrets. In "The Woman In the Walls" by Patrice Kindl a girl lives within the walls of her own house to escape from prying eyes. In "The Wolves in the Walls" by Neal Gaiman, walls turn out to contain fearsome violent snaggle toothed beasties. But I think that the book that best captures the fear that something horrible is lurking inside your otherwise safe and cozy home is the delightfully gothic, "The House With a Clock In Its Walls" by John Bellairs.

Lewis is perhaps the most unlikely hero you could hope for. He's pudgy and shy. He likes to study old battles and he can't swing a baseball bat to save his life. Unfortunately for Lewis his parents have recently died in a car crash and he has been sent to live with his hitherto unknown Uncle Jonathan. To Lewis's relief, however, Uncle Jonathan is a wonderful fellow, as is his neighbor Mrs. Zimmermann. Before you know it, Lewis has discovered that the two old friends are wizards as well and that the house in which Jonathan and Lewis live once belonged to warlock of evil leanings. Lewis isn't particularly upset by all this until a Halloween spell he casts goes horribly awry and it appears that Lewis has released a particularly nasty power. And then there's that clock in Lewis's house that can be heard ticking in every room. But what's it ticking for? Lewis learns soon enough that the clock in the walls not the kind of thing you'd want to hear chime. It could easily be the last thing you ever heard.

The brilliant hiring of Edward Gorey as the illustrator of this book is to be commended. Bravo! Well done! With its dark undercurrents and creepy goings ons, Gorey adds just the right touch to this already spooky affair. This isn't to say that the book isn't amusing as well. Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmermann have a delightful patter of insults between one another that's as natural and cheery as can be. He calls her "Frumpy" and she calls him "Weird Beard". Characters in this story (the good ones anyway) are apt to eat a lot of delicious chocolate-chip cookies while proclaiming loudly, "Poop, it would!" when denying something. You can't help but love the two wizards, and Lewis grows on the reader as well. He isn't particularly brave or attractive as a hero. He doesn't have Harry Potter's driving sensibilities or the jauntiness of a Peter Pan. He's just your average joe, trying not to draw too much attention to himself while hoping desperately for a friend. Fortunately author John Bellairs never makes Lewis too pitiful, so you end up rooting for him at the end rather than feeling sorry for the little cuss. I was also amused at how different this type of boy-messes-with-powers-over-which-he-has-no-control-and-things-go-horribly-wrong book this was. If you look at "The Wizard of Earthsea" or "The Amulet of Samarkand" both these books contain cocky boys who think they can handle the dark forces they unleash. As for Lewis, he hasn't got a clue, poor ducky. He's just doing it to hold onto his only pal. At least his intentions are pure.

Gothic children's books like this one are all the rage these days. I am thinking, of course, of "The Series of Unfortunate Events" and all that that entails. If you happen to have a kid that likes the creepy dark nature of antiques and wild spells, "The House With the Clock in Its Walls" is definitely for them. I wouldn't recommend giving this book to any kid with parents that find books like "Harry Potter" to be evil, though. I mean, this book actually has a bit of necromancy in it. So keep that in mind. Otherwise, it's great for all those children who enjoy magic, mystery, and Victorian style mansions. A fabulous spooky tale for everyone you know.

John Bellairs' "The House with a Clock in its Walls" is one of the most interesting and original little thrillers I've had the pleasure to come across. Bellairs' style of mixing the everyday with unusual events of magic and fantasy is just perfect, what I love most, is how he makes it all so fitting and realistic, making you believe something like this could happen to any little boy or girl.

When orphaned Lewis Barnavelt arrives at his Uncle Jonathan's grand mansion in New Zebedee, he expects an usual, boring life about to begin, but everything twists the day he finds out that there's more to his uncle and his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmermann than meets the eye, for both are intelligent (and good) wizards, users of magic. At first, Lewis is somewhat afraid, but following events have him horrified.

At his new school, Lewis befriends a boy named Tarby who seems somewhat fascinated with the stories Lewis tells about his uncle and one day, dares Lewis to try magic on his own. A choice Lewis comes to regret, for when he does use his magic ignorantly, he brings back to life the evil soul of Selena Izard, wife of the previous owner of the mansion that is now home to Lewis and his uncle, Izaac Izard. Now Selena is back and is eager to bring back to life her husband and together, bring back the plan the scheme death kept them from completing, destroy the world and take revenge on humanity.

The book is well told, the characters all have important roles, each scene is significant to the plot, except maybe one or two, and the whole storyline moves on smoothly, sometimes slowing down to allow the reader to get anxious about upcoming events and happenings and giving the book its spellbinding suspense. An absolute winner!

Now, the only problem I have is with Puffin Book Publications never releasing all ten of the Lewis Barnavelt series books in one full set. Each time they have a new cover layout for the John Bellairs mysteries, only about 6 of the 10 are included, so I can never get a good Lewis Barnavelt collection since all of the books have different layouts, I wish for the publishers to release them all in one same cover design.

John Bellairs is best known as the author of sixteen gothic mystery novels for young adults comprising the Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon series. "The House with a Clock in its Walls" (1973) is the first in the Lewis Barnavelt series.
Lewis is a newly orphaned, plump ten-year-old, who wears "purple corduroy trousers, the kind that go `whip-whip' when you walk." The author often claimed that his imagination got stuck at ten, and here is Lewis, age ten, going to live with his Uncle Jonathan in New Zebedee, Michigan. The year is 1948, and New Zebedee bears a strong resemblance to Marshall, Michigan, where the author was born--- The Cronin House and the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall still stand in Marshall, just as their counterparts do in New Zebedee.
"The House with a Clock in its Walls" is a whimsical horror tale involving a deceased wizard's scheme to end the world. The book was illustrated by Edward Gorey (speaking of whimsical horror), and was at one time transformed into a made-for-tv movie for children.
So far from what I've read of Bellairs, his characters tend to be elderly eccentrics, or ordinary children (no superkids, here). Lewis is resourceful, but with a child's fears and limitations. Most especially, he is afraid that his uncle won't like him, that the kids in his new school will make fun of him, and that he'll never have a friend. His uncle Jonathan and neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman are skilled in magic, and are very likeable. They perform magic tricks for Lewis and make him chocolate chip cookies and coca, and generally treat him as a small adult. The one thing Uncle Jonathan is reluctant to talk about is the ticking noise within his old house.
Lewis discovers that his uncle makes midnight excursions throughout the house, stopping and restarting all of the old clocks. He slowly gets involved in the mystery of the undiscovered clock. The wizardly Izzard couple who used to live in the house are both dead, but what did they leave behind and why?
There are some genuinely frightening scenes in "The House with a Clock in its Walls"---most especially when Lewis tries to impress a new friend by stealing one of his uncle's magic books and taking it to the graveyard at midnight on Halloween---but I don't want to spoil the story for you (Hint: there's a scene straight out of "Count Magnus" by M.R. James when the lock pops off of the crypt). Let me say that this is a truly scary book, and if the author's imagination got stuck at ten, he must lived an awesomely spooky tenth year.

I had completely forgotten about this great book, a deceptively light take on magic and being an awkward pre-teen that sounds like Harry Potter but actually achieves more. Recently orphaned Lewis is our hero. Fat and friendless, he is consigned to his weird uncle Jonathan for safekeeping. Unfortunately (okay, luckily for us) Uncle Jonathan is a minor wizard who lives in a strange old house full of spells, books and secrets, and topped by an ominous cupola. For his middling powers, Uncle Jonathan is a strangely affecting character - proven when he "transports" them back through time so Lewis can witness the destruction of the Spanish Armada that Lewis had read about. (Jonathan's imagery is compelling, but isn't above reminding Lewis that it's still just imagery. Even so, the spell maintains the illusion until the Armada's bitter end.) Uncle Jonathan has a darker pre-occupation though - searching the house for a clock built and hidden by the house's previous owner, a wizard like Jonathan who proves to be a wizard at all like Uncle Jonathan. The clock, we are made to believe, is a doomsday clock. What Uncle Jonathan will do with the clock isn't clear, but it's moot given that the clock has eluded Jonathan's powers of detection.
If "House" were about nothing more than the search for the missing clock, it would be one of countless forgettable stories about young magicians. Instead, Bellairs wonderful characterization threads doomsday magic with the horror of being a fat, lonely, orphaned boy in a strange world. Lewis befriends another boy, but the pairing leads to disaster in a slick plotline that leads back to the clock. The wonderful prose works the plot like a kind of magic - told through the dialog of orphan and wizard-uncle. "House" has a simple plot - that being lonely is as dire an existence as the brink of doom, but neither are inescapable. Though not as complex a story as "Harry Potter", "House" has a magic that remains undiminished. (And unless Rowling can raise the dead, "House" will also have the drawings of the late-great Edward Gorey to maintain its lead in the dark arts.) I first read this story while in 2nd grade, and kept coming back. Like a great spell, it offers something new on each read.

I suppose I am going to spend a long time looking for another book as suspenseful, well-written, and atmospheric as John Bellair's House With a Clock in Its Walls. I first read this novel at the age of ten and I was immediately captivated by the author's use of setting and character to transport me to a small town in the 1940s where magic is present around every corner. Bellairs' take on the gothic genre is masterful; through wit and economy of words he is able to conjure up everything from a vast Victorian mansion with secret rooms, to a mysterious, kind, and magical uncle, and to an evil witch brought back from the dead. This book is responsible for starting me on an obsessive search for any literature or film related to the "gothic house" story--and only a few works, such as Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House or Angela Carter's short story "The Bloody Chamber," come close to capturing the same sense of magic, dark foreboding, and hous! ! es that are truly living characters. I have often wished that this book were turned into a film; I can seen every frame of it in my head. I think it is marvellously visual and would be highly effective on the screen. If you haven't read this story, you are in for a real treat. It's smart, funny, scary, well-written, and genuine--qualities that are unfortunately hard to find in most adult novels. Likewise, if you enjoy this book, you have the opportunity to delve into the many other Bellairs books which are generally of the same quality of this story. (Besides, the terrific Edward Gorey pictures alone make this book a great read!)

Bellairs's first book may well be his best, a chilling ghost story that adds to my suspicion that he thought clocks were intrinsically evil (just joking)
The young hero, a pleasant Charlie Brown type, is sent to live with his Uncle Jonathan at a rambling old mansion with hidden passages and big creaky rooms. He soon discovers that Jonathan is a wizard--so is the crotchety next-door-neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman. And by attempting to impress his friend, Lewis has unleashed a long-dead evil force that is trying to bring about the end of the world...
Aside from the ghost story, there is also an underlying theme concerning Lewis's friend, who taunts him into doing things he knows isn't right. Hopefully, this would affect readers into thinking over what a true friend, like Mrs. Zimmerman, is in comparison to the kids at school.
Lewis is likable because of his truthful portrayal, an ugly duckling with a heart of gold. His uncle Jonathan is a rough diamond with a strange sense of humor, who will win over the readers immediately.
Some readers might be offended by the usage of "white magic" and accidental "black magic," by the heroes of this book, but do keep in mind that the "white magic" is mostly illusions, like a holodeck, and Lewis almost dooms the world because of his dabblings in the "dark side," of which he quickly repents. The magic is of the type in many fantasy novels, unrealistic and dreamlike.
This book is an excellent read!

I actually started the book and then set it aside until I knew the time was getting short for it to be returned. I wasn't that drawn into it, but then I'm not a kid. A kid would probably love it. I can hardly wait to see the movie, which I know will be a Hollywood-ized version of the book.

Louis Barnavelt, recently orphaned, goes to live with his UncleJonathan, whom he's never met. When his arrives in New Zebedee, UncleJonathan picks him up at the airport and takes him to his home--a huge, spooky mansion with secret passages and mysterious rooms.
Uncle Jonathan's best friend, Mrs. Zimmerman, is in the house, and as Louis walks in, he finds her listening to the walls. To his astonishment and delight, Louis discovers that Uncle Jonathan is a wizard, Mrs. Zimmerman is a witch, and they both love poker and chocolate chip cookies.
Louis also discovers that Uncle Jonathan's house was once owned by an evil wizard--a Mr. Izzard who has hidden a magic clock somewhere in the walls of the house--a clock that will bring about the end of the world if it's not found and silenced.
To make matters worse, Louis tries to impress his new friend Tarby by stealing a spell from one of Uncle Jonathan's magic books. They perform the ceremony in the graveyard Halloween night, and succeed in resurrecting the truly evil Mrs. Izzard from the dead.
Can they stop the clock in time, or will Mrs. Izzard succeed in resurrecting her husband and bringing about the end of the world?
I was afraid to read this book as a child--the cover looks really scary, and I was a nightmare-prone child who avoided scary books like the plague. Most kids like scary books though, and this one is perfect for your 5th grade fright fan. Louis is a wonderful character, who goes from being a timid outcast, worried about impressing the kids at school, to a brave young man who summons up courage when he needs to act to save the people he loves. The friendship between Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman is funny, and they are both eccentric enough to be interesting, but not so eccentric as to become annoying.
Bellairs wrote other books about these characters, and they are worth reading, but are not as good as this book. ( )
In reading the tributes to Bellairs by his fans, I thought it was interesting that several people mentioned that they hated reading, and were not good readers until they discovered one of Bellairs' books, and that experience turned them into avid readers. END

It was his first Gothic chiller for the younguns, and was his best.
Orphan Lewis Barnavelt moves to the town of New Zebedee, MI, to live with his uncle Jonathan, only to find himself in the middle of eerie goings on. Why does his uncle behave so oddly? Why do things change around the house? Why does the front hall mirror show images of faraway places? And...what is the reason for the ticking sound heard in the walls of the old Victorian mansion they live in?
All this is contrasted with some of the everyday problems that Lewis faces. He's a fat, bookish kid who's no good at sports and also fairly depressed, so of course he worries about bullies and about making friends.
Supernatural chills abound as Lewis discovers that his uncle is a wizard (although not a very powerful one) and that another, evil wizard is using the clock for a nefarious purpose. The story ends happily and has a good message about courage.
Bellairs maintains just the right balance between scares and whimsy in this terrific little book, great for middle readers and for adults looking for an afternoon's amusement. I would like to see the return of the original Edward Gorey cover, but his illustrations are still there and are sublime.

The House with a Clock in It's Walls is about a young boy named Lewis who's parents have died recently and has now gone to live with his uncle Jonathan. His uncle Jonathan is this wonderfully strange man who lives in a wonderfully strange mansion with a wonderfully strange neighbor by the name of Mrs. Zimmerman. Lewis soon learns that Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman both dabble in magic...he also learns of a clock buried in the walls of the mansion, and of his uncle's strange obsession with clocks.

Lewis is also going through a rough adjustment process. He's in a new town with new relatives and is trying to make friends. But he's a little chubby kid who's horrible at sports. When one of the popular boys at school shows an interest in him, he does everything he can to keep him as a friend. He goes as far as jumping into aspects of magic and necromancy that he knows nothing about. In doing so, Lewis may have awakened something that can't be put back to rest.

I really enjoyed this first book in the trilogy that was illustrated perfectly by Edward Gorey.

Joey 2/26/07

The House with a Clock in Its Walls, John Bellairs, 0-7607-1142-9

"Doomsday not come yet! I'll draw it nearer by a perspective, or make a clock that shall set all the world on fire upon an instant". In this realistic fiction thriller, Lewis Barnavelt is a young, husky boy whose parents both died recently and is going to live with his uncle Jonathan. Inside the walls of Jonathan's mansion, comes a ticking noise set there by the previous owner who was a crazy warlock named Isaac Izzard. This clock is supposed to bring the world to an end and Lewis, Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmerman must stop it.

I thought that this book should be rated a 8 out of 10 on my ratings list because I enjoy fantasy and fiction novels and also enjoy nonfiction stories as well. I thought that this book was a phenomenal example of realistic fiction because it wasn't about dragons and gremlins and basilisks, but it did have witches and warlocks mixed with nonfiction times in the 1940's.

I would definitely recommend this book, but mainly to young adults ages 13 (like myself) to 20 because it was about a juvenile and had some fiction in it so it most likely wouldn't be a great choice for more sophisticated adults. This book for me was definitely a page turner because every time something exciting ended another exciting thing started anew. This book was also a cliff-hanger because when I finished a chapter and had to leave I would ponder my thoughts and form a prediction and predict what I thought would happen. I couldn't wait to find out what actually did happen. I thought that this genre would probably be my second favorite genre because of the fact that John Bellairs mixed Fiction with Nonfiction and never have I read a book before that has done that. This is my second favorite genre, right after science fiction such as Halo, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings.

Written by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey, the 1973 children's novel THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS was the first in the "Lewis Barnavelt Series." Bellairs would write two sequels in the 1970s; after his death in 1991 the series was taken over by Brad Strickland, who published several other sequels.

The book concerns Lewis Barnavelt, recently orphaned, who goes to live with Uncle Jonathan in New Zebedee, Michigan--a somewhat mysterious, slightly eerie town, where his uncle resides in a particularly strange three story gothic mansion. After a time, Lewis learns that his uncle is a sorcerer, and his uncle's best friend, Mrs. Zimmerman, is a witch. The house that Uncle Johnathan lives in was previously owned by an evil warlock and his wife--and they left a clock hidden in the walls, a clock that has something to do with a black spell designed to end the world.

Lewis doesn't have any friends until he meets Tarby, the most popular boy at school, but when Tarby begins to tire of Lewis, Lewis decides to hold his interest with a display of magic. First, he has his uncle make a show of causing the moon to eclipse; when Tarby explains that away, Lewis decides to try his own hand at magic. Unfortunately, he calls up the dead wife of the evil warlock, who sets out to complete the spell that will cause the world to end.

Bellairs was no J. K. Rowling, but in actual fact Bellairs includes more material that is genuinely associated with witchcraft than Rowling ever did. The most spectacular example is "The Hand of Glory," a particularly nasty black magic charm. Even so, the book seems somewhat tame, and it is hard to imagine modern children being much interested in it--and even Gorey's drawings can't get the thing off the ground. Mildly amusing, but nothing more.

GFT, the store Reviewer

There is something uncanny about this book. Yes, it is a children's story. Yes, it relies on certain worn plot devices. Yet it is just remarkable in how it reaches into the inner child, young or old, and draws the reader into the story, into the suspense, into the extraordinary nature of events that unfold. While I have no knowledge to this effect, I suspect that the author, Mr Bellairs, was a fan not just of early 20th century mysticism but of Emily Dickinson's poetry specifically. Long before there was Harry Potter, there was this book! While quiddich is largely a distraction within the HP novels, such antics are completely absent here. Heroism is present, to be sure, but it is supremely reasonable, and it unfolds at an ideal narrative pace. If your near-teenager is longing for a good mystery, this one is as good as they get. Enjoy!

Some parts of this story may seem a little familiar to fans of Young Adult Fiction, but John Bellairs has a distinctive style which makes this an extremely enjoyable read.

Young Lewis Barnavelt suddenly becomes an orphan when his parents are killed in an auto accident. (See Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket for similar situations) He goes to stay with an eccentric Uncle who happens to be well versed in magic (See The Dark is Rising series), who of course lives in an old house that once was owned by a mysterious character, and has secret passages and hidden artifacts. (See Ulysses Moore and Over Sea, Under Stone)

In this story however, his uncle's neighbor and close friend is a witch, and there is a clock hidden somewhere in the house ticking away the seconds to goodness knows what, but certainly something really bad.

Lewis is overweight and has few friends, and in order to impress the one person at school who doesn't tease him, he invokes magic that he doesn't understand to resurrect the same evil witch who can start the countdown on the clock.

Lewis, his Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmermann must find the infernal clock before the evil witch, and stop her from carrying out her deadly plan. Good reading for ages 8 and up.

Amanda Richards, February 5, 2006

Thoroughly entertaining book that completely held this adult listener's attention! Suitable for youth audience. Great imaginative adventures, and nothing too scary. Great youth role model. Good life lessons. Fun.

This was my favorite book growing up! I read my original paperback copy to tatters. I wish they'd kept the original cover art. I'd always thought it would make a fantastic movie and I'm glad it's finally getting a chance.

Poor Lewis...He's recently lost both parents, he's fat, and he's going to live with Uncle Jonathan, a relative he's never met. Lewis discovers that Uncle Jonathan is basically a nice guy, but a little weird. And something about his house is weird too. It's full of clocks, but one of them in particular keeps ticking...and ticking...and ticking...and no one knows where it is.
`The House with a Clock in its Walls' is a genuinely creepy story with strange, likable characters. Several humorous, light touches run throughout the book, but the scary scenes really deliver. Any kid (or adult) who enjoys the Harry Potter books will find this book a welcome addition to their reading while they wait for the next J.K. Rowling outing. Although the book is for both boys and girls, the book will especially attract boys who may not be interested in sports. Highly recommended.
179 pages with great illustrations by Edward Gorey

John Bellairs' THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS is his first book for young readers. It's the story of newly orphaned Lewis Barnavelt, who moves to the town of New Zebedee, Michigan, to live with his uncle Jonathan. To Lewis' surprise, Uncle Jonathan turns out to be a wizard, and his next-door neighbor, the folksy, friendly Mrs. Zimmermann, is a witch--but both are on the side of good magic. Not so was Isaac Izard, the former tenant of Uncle Jonathan's house. In fact, Isaac and his repulsive wife have left a sort of time bomb hidden somewhere in the walls--a Doomsday Clock that could cause the end of the world. Lewis' adventures are exciting, blending the comfortable and the familiar with the terrifying and the bizarre, and as always with John Bellairs, there's a hefty dose of good humor.

For those who are interested, there's a nifty 'Net site dedicated to John Bellairs and his work at [...]

I first became acquainted with "The House With a Clock in Its Walls" around the age of eight. It was made into a kids' TV show (an "After School Special", perhaps? I don't remember), and I immediately checked the book out from the library. Over the years I read several other of Bellairs' books, but my favorites were always the books linked with (and continuing the story of) "The House With A Clock In Its Walls". The stories were especially fascinating for me, as they all took place in Michigan, my home state (in fact, "The Letter, The Witch, and The Ring" - book three of the series - takes place in no small part near Petoskey, Michigan, which is only 25 miles from my hometown). When I was in college, I found that the college bookstore had some copies of T.H.W.A.C.I.I.W. for sale, so I bought one. I found the story was just as enjoyable then as it had been 16 years before. I'm now 27, and I STILL enjoy these books! These are truly stories for young and old alike.

I gave this less than five stars because the tone of the story kept making me feel it was in England instead of the US. Very confusing. I had to keep readjusting my thinking. This should be an interesting movie. I'll buy a ticket.

When I was a kid I did NOT like to read. However, my mom dragged me to the library and forced me to pick out a book, and The House With A Clock In Its Wall was the book I chose. I ended up really loving it. I liked scary stuff, dreamed of being able to do magic, and I could see my self in the fat kid who didn't have self-confidence, even though I was a skinny kid without self-confidence. After I finished this wonderful book I went back to the library and checked out John Bellairs' other books. Eventually, I moved on to other authors, but I first developed a love of reading over 35 years ago because of this book. Thank you, John Bellairs (and Mom).

..Lewis, the main character in the book, is FAT....just like me bhwahahhahaha. Seriously, i adore this book ever since i read it awhile back ago. It scare me alot like no other book ever did. I had nightmare where a clock is ticking inside the house and i was chubby Lewis, trying to find a way to save the world from destruction. I think i hid under the bed in my nightmares but that is another story. I saw the made for saturday movie based on the book but it was nowhere as scary. Read the book and be forewarn... it will scare you senseless. I am scared just by thinking about it.
John Bellairs knows how to write a good scarefest with exact detail and heartfelt suspense. I have read his other books on the Lewis saga and enjoy every one but this one started it all. Check out Edward Gorey's illustration...this guy is good!
Well that's enough...now give it a read....and be terrified!!!

For all who might argue that this is a rehash of Lemony Snicket, J.K. Rowling, or whomever, can we just remember that this book predates them all by at least two decades? This is genuinely creepy adolescent fiction, and if your child is prone to nightmares, I wouldn't let her have it at age 10. It's also a moral story (in a way that Harry Potter has never been) about our infinite capacity to do evil without meaning to, and the terrifying responsibility that doing so entails to try to right things. Harry might suffer the usual case of teenaged angst, but Lewis really has done a terrible thing, out of questionable motives, and his guilt and misery really resonate with children who know that they have the potential to do the same. And yet he prevails, in the face of real terror. Give it a try; Bellairs is good and Gorey's illustrations are classic.

In what will be familiar story for readers of children's literature, Louis Barnavelt has just lost both of his parents and has been sent to live with an eccentric family member. With illustrations by Edward Gorey, John Bellairs creates a wondrous Gothic environment for his narrator in The House With a Clock in Its Walls. Lewis' new home is "a three-story stone mansion with a tall turret on the front," and is full of hidden passageways and secrets. Lewis is a likable character and will appeal to readers who like to imagine themselves in such situations. His everyday obstacles, such as dealing with bullies at school, are contrasted by his life at home, where he is surrounded by his witch neighbor, magician uncle, and a mysterious ticking in the walls. The House With a Clock in Its Walls is delightfully scary, and will be of particular interest to those who enjoy mysteries.

I, too, read this book when I was young and I still re-read the series from time to time. When I was young, the cover alone scared me. Even now, the final scene can thrill me if it's late and the room is dark. Brrr.
Horror for children has grown more popular lately, but most of it seems to be this formulaic stuff like Goosebumps. Have any of their stories actually had a happy ending? Bellairs books are frightening, but they do end happily, and they have a depth that Goosebumps books can't match. Full of references to recent history (the stories take place in the 1950s) and more remote history (Lewis is a literate boy) and religious symbolism, these are books that will draw you in.

After Lewis' parents die, Lewis is sent to live with his Uncle Jonathon in a spooky mansion. Quickly Lewis finds out his uncle is a magician and that there is a clock somewhere in the house that is counting down the minutes to... something. What that something is, no one knows, but since the previous owner of the mansion was a magician, and probably one more evil than good, what happens when the clock reaches the appointed time probably isn't going to be pleasant.

One thing that stands out about this book is how dated some elements feel. Near the beginning of the book we find Lewis carrying a cardboard suitcase on his journey to to his uncle's home. Other things feel just as dated, like the seeming scarcity of automobiles. But all in all, that doesn't keep the book from being engrossing and sometimes scary.

Lewis isn't someone who makes friends easily, and not being athletically inclined he finds it difficult to find a friend. When he feels as if he's losing his one friend, he tries to tries to impress him. It's a mistake many of us have made, and it doesn't work well for Lewis.

Lewis' troubles with friendship and the mystery of the clock eventually intertwine and we follow Lewis through to a very satisfying conclusion.

It has a few scary moments, but none too scary for the books intended audience, and I can reccommend this book with few reservations.

Lewis, a young boy, goes to live with his uncle, who he learns is secretly a magician. He hears strange things in the house, such as hidden clocks ticking in the middle of the night, and sometimes he sees his uncle rummaging around like a sleepwalker. Then Lewis, who is hungry for friendship, tries to impress one of his school friends by waking a dead person from the cemetery. After that, there's no turning back for Lewis, who must turn back his spell gone wrong. Illustrations are by Edward Gorey, famous for his Gothic drawings.

This was about the fifth or sixth Bellairs book I read, and I was astonished how much better it was than his other entries. Although I like all of Bellairs books, in the three Lewis Barnavelt books he showed far more imagination and literary awareness then he ever did afterwards. The greatest of these three books is the first one; which includes nothing less than non-linear magic involving poker, a magical player piano that won't allow itself to be played and spouts radio commercials when it's bored, a magician that uses meteorology for a very devious purpose, a clock that will signal the end of the world, and much much more. This book is jam-packed with ideas and hence stands up even after many re-readings. The only book I've heard of that could outdo this was Bellair's original adult-fiction book "The Face In The Frost", but I wouldn't know since I've never read it.

Wouldn't it be spooky to live in a house where you could constantly hear the ticking of an invisible clock in the walls? Lewis Barnavelt certainly thinks so. In John Bellairs' novel, The House With the Clock in Its Walls (Puffin Books, 1973), Lewis moves into a mysterious house with his quirky uncle, and is disturbed to hear ticking in the walls in every room. Lewis is determined to discover the answers to all the secrets, like what Uncle Jonathan is up to when he bangs on the walls at night? And why do Uncle Jonathan's playing cards make reference to a magical society? Lewis discovers that Uncle Jonathan is a wizard and is immediately fascinated. He becomes more involved in the world of magic until finally he tries a spell himself... and sets in motion the events that could end the entire world! Will Lewis be able to reverse his mistake and solve the mystery of the clock? This novel will keep the reader guessing and turning pages till the end. The characters are lovable, from kooky and kind-hearted Uncle Jonathan and his best friend Mrs. Zimmerman, who are constantly insulting each other, to poor chubby Lewis who has trouble making friends. This book is full of laughs and chills, mysteries and magic, family and cookies. And let's not forget... the end of the world!

If you're looking for a book set in 1948, when America was recovering from the war, "The House With A Clock In Its Walls" fits your search criteria. But this book is not hte story of a boy struggling to redeem his love for life that he has lost during the war. In fact, the war is never mentioned. This book is about a boy named Lewis who goes to live with his uncle, when his parents die, and discovers his uncle is a wizard, when Lewis resurrects an evil witch.

John Bellairs certainly doesn't just write to fill the pages. Every word is followed by a word relating to it. Every action affects an action done later. A simple car ride becomes a scary chase. A trip to the graveyard brings a spirit back to life. Nohting leads to nothing. You'll be resurrected yourrself until about page 100 when you realize that things are getting a little too repetitive. Though by no means, does any occasion replay itself the sucess-fail, sucess-fail story line is easily visible.

So "The House With A Clock In Its Walls" is a good book with a good plot, but some weak points.

I recommend this book to fantasy readers. In conclusion, "The House With A Clock In Its Walls" is a quick, but exciting and somewhat pleasant read.

Dark Arts author for young adults John Bellaris creates a chiilling world for his teenage readers. In this story orphaned ten-year-old Lewis, a chubby boy with little prospect of making friends and impressing his peers, arrives in New Zebedee in late summer of 1948, to take up residence in the old house at 100 High Street with his kindly but odd Uncle Jonathan--a mild man of modest magical powers. Despite their verbal taunts and insults Jonathan and his widowed neighbor, Florence Zimmerman, work as a team to solve mysteries of which the town remains in blissful ignorance. Naturally Lewis soon plots to join the family business as it were.

Embroiled in a tantalizing mystery of epic proportions these two elderly sleuths prowl around the house listening for a hidden or invisible clock, whose ticking may spell doom for mankind. In order to impress a popular boy Lewis boasts that his uncle can perform feats of magic, like cause an eclipse of the moon, or that he himself--having inherited the family skill-- can raise the dead. Too late Lewis learns the consequence of juvenile vanity and the superficiality of social interactions not based on mutual respect.

Suspicious occurrences convince frustrated Jonathan of the lurking doom for New Zebedee: a break in with nothing much taken, a spooky house across the street, a midnight car chase, and a vicious bum who makes nasty threats. Throughout the months Lewis becomes fond of the eccentric couple; he realizes that they are haunted by the terrors of the unseen, cleverly hidden clock which seems to be ticking everywhere in the house. But what evil lurks in the tomb of Selenna Izard? And why did her cruel husband, the wizard Isaac, study cloud formations and hide his diary parchment at the back of his organ? Both these infamous locals are long dead--or supposed to be--so what could they be plotting against all humanity? What diabolical scheme do they have in store for the town and even the world? Can a bungling lad of ten help defeat the deadly duo?

Despite the socially unrealistic last chapter which is anticlimactic at best, this story will hold the interest of young readers. Although no threat to HARRY POTTER success this book might be considered a mild literary precursor. A fun read for pre teens.

I read this book because it was on the "If you liked Harry then read this" list. The story line is great, and the last several chapters are compelling and scary. Bellairs does a great job of blending suspense and fantasy, just as Rowling has done with the Harry Potter series. This is a must read for all harry potter fans (I recommend to read it while waiting for number 5) This is a great book because of its storyline and setting. The story is typical for a boy Lewis's age- trying to fit in,but failing. The setting is the greatest creation of the author. A house filled with fireplaces, a clock(or clocks?), and secret passageways. Another 5 star classic for anyone

I was sorry to learn that Mr. Bellairs had passed away. He is such a wonderful writer. I first picked up this story about 20 years ago. (Yes, I am dating myself.) Talk about an incredible story! And, for Edward Gorey to illustrate them! Wow!
Mr. Bellairs' other books are equally as good, plus he had a female hero (or heroine) who had to solve mysteries, too.
I am glad that someone else has picked up where Mr. Bellairs left off. I don't think we can do without any more of these stories. Believe me, I still look for his books when I'm at the bookstore.

I picked this book up mainly because the illustrator is Edward Gorey. I have to say the story was entertaining and touched on some interesting points of view. Situationally the themes are fairly adult, but most of the perspectives are juvenile (in a good way). It's not high literature, but then it doesn't have to be. I recommend reading this with your children or nieces or nephews, or if you are looking for a palette cleanser between other series.

Who couldn't love this book?
Lewis moves into his uncles mansion and his adventure starts from there.
Which kid doesn't like a horror book with a huge mansion full of secrets that involves hidden corridors?!
I have fond memories of this book and having read it about 15 years ago, I could never forget the name or the author because I promised myself that one day I would read it again.

Looking for a great read? That is what readers are sure to find when they step into the wild adventures of The House With a Clock in It's Walls by John Belliars. From the very get go readers will be sucked into the mysterious and incredibly thought out plot in this classic adventure tale. Bellairs does a wonderful job of incorporating magic and adventure and the everyday troubles of childhood in this exciting story about a orphan boy by the name of Lewis Barnavelt. When Lewis's parents die, he ends up living with his Uncle Jonathon. Now Uncle Jonathon isn't the most normal uncle in the world. He is very strange person, He walks the halls at night and Lewis even gets the impression that he is afraid of the dark. But his huge house is probably just as much as strange as he is. First of all there are stained glass windows all over the house that change images all by themselves! Also, there is a magical coat rack that has a magical mirror on it. But the most mysterious thing about the house is all of the clocks in it and one night when Lewis decides to ask his Uncle Jonathon about these mysterious clocks, he finds out that the clocks are there to drown out another clock, an evil clock hidden in the walls of the house. He also finds out that they were put there by Isaac Izard, an evil wizard who lived in Uncle Jonathon's house until he died many years ago in an attempt to destroy the world. Now Lewis, his wizard uncle, and his witch friend, Mrs. Zimmerman, are out to find this clock and save the world. But when Lewis accidently lets Mrs. Izard, Isaac's wife, out of her grave things get tricky. Can Lewis and his friends destroy the secret clock and an evil spirit too? Find out by reading The House With a Clock in It's Walls and make sure to put your seat belts on because your about to go on a wild ride!

I always found myself coming back to the magic, ghosts, and warmth of the words that danced across my eyes when I read. At some points, like when Lewis and Tarby resurected Mrs. Izaard, I felt like I was going to stop reading all together. This book was what got me into magic chants and spells. Every bit of the book was facinating, I aate it up in two days flat! I especialy liked they discription of the town and the mansion, I always had a vivid picture in my mind of what was going on in the book.

This is the first and by far the best of Bellairs' juvenile [in the best sense of the word!] fantasy novels. The tone strikes a perfect balance between humor and creepiness, and the magical items and happenings are quite original. This book is a must-read for any Harry Potter fan. Unfortunately the quality of the books declines pretty steeply after this one -- Bellairs fell into a formulaic rut. Equally good is his only(?) adult novel, "The Face In The Frost", which has sadly been out of print for ages.

"What if I were to raise a dead person by myself?" With Halloween coming up, this would be a perfect horror fantasy you would want to read. Orphaned Lewis Barnavelt comes to live with his Uncle Jonathan. He finds out an astonishing truth about his Uncle and his neighbor being a witch. Lewis loves watching his Uncle's amazing tricks. When he makes a mistake of not obeying his uncle and bringing the evil Selena Izard back to life, things don't go well. Selena Izard and her husband hold terrible secrets in their house. The clock that is always ticking in Jonathan's house gets louder. Now, the question is, can Lewis, his Uncle and Mrs.Zimmermen stop the clock before Selena Izard brings the world to an end? Read this amazing horror story to find out!
I recommend this book to anyone who likes horror fantasies. It's a real page-turner. The author writes it in a way that makes you want to keep reading. There are a lot of surprises in the middle that makes you not want to put down the book. For example, there is this one time when Luke, his uncle and Mrs.Zimmermen take a car ride and then suddenly there is a car following them. To get out of danger they drive across a bridge and then they're safe. Hey, this kind of sounds like the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Its like the character has to run across the bridge, so he is safe from the headless horseman. Anyways, I also think some of the characters in this book are interesting, like Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman. They're odd in some way, but that is what makes them fit in this story. To end it, this was a really hard book for me to put down. Read this amazing horror fantasy!

I have read many books in my lifetime. I've read good books and bad books. If I had to rate this one I'd say it's around the middle. This book picks up pretty quickly and it turns out to be a ghost story. The beginning and middle are pretty juicy, but at the end things aren't very expplanatory and it loses a lot of flavor. If your'e looking for a quick easy read ghost story that's is not too scary, look into the House with a Clock in its Walls.

This is one of my favorite books by far! i love all his books. I'm in the middle of reading The letter, The witch, And the ring. such a good mystery book i recommended it for anyone!!!! finished it in a few days!

This was a book on my school's reading list, and I picked it up. At the beginning it was kind of confusing, but at the end it was exciting and I couldn't put it down. I gave this book 4 stars because although it was a fantasy book (which I don't really like) it was not that way off base. It was a suspenseful, eventful book full of literary twists. I'd recommend this book for late elementary and beginning middle school kids.

I'm 37 years old and I still love John Bellairs, particularly this series, which features a great cast of characters: Lewis Barnavelt, the orphan who comes to live with his Uncle Jonathan, a wizard, who lives next door to a witch, Mrs. Zimmermann. It's a wonderfully 'spooky' tale entirely appropriate for kids, but enjoyable for adults as well. I can't wait until my nephew is old enough to read these.

I bought this book based on one of the "what to read while waiting for the next Potter book" lists. While the book is ok, it in no way compares to JK Rowling's works. In comparison, The House With A Clock In Its Walls is short, has a simplistic plot, and no character development except for Lewis, his uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman. Lewis makes no real friends and is generally a weak character for the main character role. The art work reminds me of the original Adams Family cartoons minus the homor - dark and not overly interesting.
Maybe this book will have more interest for a younger audience (which I am sure it was written for). But, as an adult (56), I find the Harry Potter series to have the kind of plot and character development that I find in a John Grisham novel while still appealing to the younger audience. Most adult appeal is certainly missing in this book.

John Bellairs' books are wonderful-- spooky, exciting, funny and mysterious. His books are are based on a real town, Marshall, MI. I grew up in this town and have BEEN in the house he uses as a model for The House With The Clock In Its Walls. The house is even creepier in person. If you want a great book with a true hero, this is for you! If you are ever in Marshall, MI, go visit the House...

The House With a Clock in it's walls is a great book! I read it in three days because I just couldn't put it down! This book is a real thriller! It's about a boy who moves to his Uncle's house after his parents die. There he gets mixed up in a crazy adventure that involves ghosts and finding a clock to stop dooms day from coming. Will he find the clock? Read this book to find out!!

Out of all the numerous (and profoundly unremarkable) titles recommended to me as a beginner in junior high school by my teachers and advisors, this is the only one that has stuck with me, for over two decades (I am now 32), as a tale with the kind of spine-tingling horror, sophisticated humor & sarcasm, shocking plot-twists, and ultimately satisfying conclusion rarely seen in novels written for the typical "Young Adult" contingent. To this day, I have (somewhat pleasant, somewhat frightening, and even nostalgic!) dreams about this house, and the clock within its walls, having grown up with a similar timepiece in my own home (and under vaguely similar circumstances). I have never read a book that has haunted me, or entertained and enchanted me, as much as this one. I highly recommend it anyone.

THE hOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS.THE SETTING TAKES PLACE IN nEWNEBEE. THE MAJOR CHARACTERS ARE LOUIS, UNCLE JONATHAN, MRS. ZIMMERMAN,TARBY AND MR. AND MRS.IZARD. THE FASCINATING EVENT OF AN MAGICAL ECLIPS OF THE MOON AND THE RISE OF THE DEAD. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY ONE THAT LIKE WISARDS, MAGIC AND MYSTERY. THIS BOOK A BOOK THAT YOU PICK UP A WON'T PUT DOWN BOOK.
ASHLEY

The House With a Clock in Its Walls, by John Bellairs, is an extraordinary book capturing ideas from the imaginary world. Besides being imaginary, this book also deals with reality. It is a challenging mystery that is scary in parts, and sad in others. I recommend this book to any reader because to me it was not only a book but a life lesson.

When Lewis's parents die, Lewis is sent off to live with his uncle in Michigan. Lewis heard that he was a drunk. When Lewis finds out that Jonathon, his uncle, is a wizard, he also finds out that there is a clock in the walls of the house somewhere and it has to be stopped. ****I have reviewed several of his books so check them out!!

I first read this book over 15 years ago and hove only read it once since but it still remains one of the most intresting peices of fiction I have ever come across. I have been trying to get hold of a copy for some time but it is out of print in UK. This book has to be on you must have list your kids will love it and you will love it. Fantastic

I think John Bellairs is the best author for kids. I also think this is the best book he ever wrote by far. Fat unhappy smart bookish Lewis Barnevelt's parents killed in a car accident so he has to move to New Zebedee,MI with his uncle, who happens to be a warlock. Lewis and his uncle save the world in this one, totally fab!

I read this book in junior high and still remember it as one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of picking up. Edward Gorey's illustrations are wickedly cool and add to the creepiness and intensity of the story. I haven't read this since then, but after coming across it again here on the store I know I'll be hunting in my parents' basement for my battered and well-read copy to check up on Lewis one day soon ...

I'm 30 years old now, and I can still remember pulling this off the shelf and reading it for the first time in third grade. Man, it still carries a hair on the back of your neck feel with a lot of the scenes,(the car chase, the shadow moving down the coal room), I really cannot recommend this book strongly enough. One of the earlier reviewers compared it to Harry Potter, which I feel is unfair to both authors. Each are special in their own way, Potter for bringing back reading and pulling the kids off the damn Nintendo for awhile, forcing them to use their minds, and Bellair's Lewis is every nerdy kid on the outside, given a chance to explore new worlds before anyone else. Be sure to check out Bellair's other books, there isn't one that I haven't enjoyed, but start with The Clock in the Walls first.

I teach 5th and 6th grade students. I read this book as a boy, and wanted to introduce it to kids today. This is the 5th or 6th time that I have taught it to a group. The class rated it overall with a 3.9375 out of 5 stars, a bit lower than the average on the store. Some kids didn't like the fast pace of the book (interesting), others were not interested in magic. Several, however, rated it either 4 or 5 stars. I would definitely teach it again.

This was a great book for me to read and I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it.

This book is about a boy (Lewis) who moves in with his Unlce Jonathan and stays there for the summer. It is going fine until strange things start happening to him! Find out what's happening by reading this book A.S.A.P.!

THE hOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS.THE SETTING TAKES PLACE IN nEWNEBEE. THE MAJOR CHARACTERS ARE LOUIS, UNCLE JONATHAN, MRS. ZIMMERMAN,TARBY AND MR. AND MRS.IZARD. THE FASCINATING EVENT OF AN MAGICAL ECLIPS OF THE MOON AND THE RISE OF THE DEAD. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY ONE THAT LIKE WISARDS, MAGIC AND MYSTERY. THIS BOOK A BOOK THAT YOU PICK UP A WON'T PUT DOWN BOOK.
ASHLEY

This was my first Lewis book, and i devoured it... it scared me to pieces, and I couldn't put it down; i would reread it over and over, and it would never lose the magic that it had when i first opened it. Edward gorey's art gives it that extra creepiness. This will always take me back to my childhood.

I read this book first when I was in middle school and I am now an adult. This book led to me reading the rest of John Bellairs's books that followed. This book is featured around the Lewis Barnavelt character and his others are of Johnny Dixon and Anthony Monday. My favorite are of Johnny Dixon but they are all excellent. I went and bought all the Johnny Dixon character books the other day on the store.com and will soon buy the others! I just had to read them again because they were a favorite of mine when I was young and wanted to own them to enjoy with my own children some day!

I first read "The House with a Clock in it's Walls" when I was ten years old. I immediately fell in love with it; reading and re-reading constantly. Now I'm thirty years old, and it is still my favorite. Last year I decided to collect all of his books and re-read them-it's been the most fun I've had in ages. Out of all of the John Bellairs books, this one, in my opinion, is the very best. It's scary and funny, the characters are warm, lovable and due to their magical history, fascinating. I fell in love all over again as I re-read this last week. God bless you, Mr. Bellairs. And thank-you for showing this "little girl" just what great writing is all about.

I read this book first many years ago, and have read it many times since then. It is a testament to the wonderful writing that New Zebedee is one of the few fictional places that I can picture in my mind perfectly. I feel as if I have been there. Absolutely a masterpiece. Read it!

John Bellairs is a relation of mine--he's a cousin of my grandmother, so I grew up with this book. The character, Rose Rita, is based on my Great Aunt, Rosie, and the house in which it is set in is a house that I have been to countless times. My Grandmother cleans it for the old woman who lives there. I love this book because it is not necessarily written for children--I am 16, and I still enjoy it; it an all of his books. But because it has special sentimental value for me, I love it all the more, and am flattered that you all have given it such good reviews :)

Lewis is now an orphan and he is living with his uncle Jonathan who he likes very much. He makes new friends such as Tarby and Mrs. Zimmerman. While trying to show off for Tarby he accidentally releases an awful ghost that could end the world. I won't tell u what happens next...

A House With a Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs is a mystery story with weird characters that will keep you reading. A long time ago a boy named Lewis lived in a house with his parents. One night his parents got in a auto axident and died. So he had to go live with his uncle Johnathan who lived in New Zebedee on Manision street with a huge house. His friend Miss Zimmerman lived next to him. I would recommend this book for people who like mysteries. I think this is one of the best books ever made. I would give this book to people who like slightly scary stories

I read this book 15 years ago,i just happened to pick it up again and it was just as exciting as I remembered it. The magic and the excitment never seem to amaze me. This is a great book for "children" of all ages

I have been trying to think of some books I can give to my 10-year old niece and 12-year old nephew. For some reason, I could not get this book out of my mind. I read it 12 years ago, when I was their age. Even though I had hundreds of other books in my room, I read it, and re-read it, and read it again until the pages were falling out and the paper backing had to be taped together. This is an excellent book filled with age-appropriate suspense, and I know I have to share it with these two wonderful kids.

"The House With A Clock In It's Walls" was my favorite book when I discovered it at age ten. Now that I'm almost thirty, it's still my favorite book. I feel transported into the exciting worlds that Mr. Bellairs created for his characters, and I think I will always enjoy this escape. What could be more fun than coming home from work, snuggling up in bed and sneaking around a graveyard with Lewis? And Mrs. Zimmerman and Uncle Jonathan are witty, amusing and alot of fun. The kind of relatives I never had!! Read this book-you and your kids will love it!

I think this book was good because it painted a picture in the readers mind and it was very descriptive.I think that this book is good except for the last chapter. I did not like the last chapter because it was not as descriptive as some of the other parts of the book like in chapter eight when the author describes Lewis's Aunt Mattie, who is dead.

The House With a Clock in its Walls is a great book.I got really into it and read in less than 4 hours. It was scary and good all at the same time. John Bellairs is a great author and I can't wait to read his other books. I'm with the other review, forget Harry Potter, these books rock! Harry Potter four had nearly 800 pages I think, and it was boring! These books are exciting from the start. I really recommend this book, and I'll be willing to give it more than five stars.

Interesting for its premise, but pretty representative of standard YA fare: very shallow characters thinly drawn, with a snap ending. But will make a nice selection for a future YA episode of Horror 101...

Tick, tick, tick, tick.

Back and forth. Forth and back.

Ding, ding. Ding, ding.

Every clock is different. They have a certain rhythm to them and that rhythm can either be soothing or darn right annoying. But once you find that right clock, all is well in the world.

Except if it's a doomsday clock that when it strikes a certain time the world will end, then yea, there might be some concerns.

Lewis Barnavelt, just recently orphaned has to go and live with his estranged Uncle Jonathan in an estranged house. Everything that Lewis thought was up and down has now been turned sideways and that can be very hard for a little boy.

So when he found out that his Uncle and his new neighbor are witches and warlock's, well that could send anyone over the edge. That is until Lewis starts hearing ticking of a clock....in the walls!

Mysterious happenings start occurring in Lewis's new life and not all of it's pleasant. Especially when he accidentally raises a dead powerful witch who designed the doomsday clock and wants to reactive it.

Lewis, Uncle Jonathan and their witch neighbor must join forces and defeat this powerful witch if they ever want peace again in their sleepy town.

**
Okay...I don't usually comment my thoughts about books but I just have to comment on this one. I actually did NOT enjoy this book. For one, I got an older copy of the book and it was all musty and the pages were already turned yellow and the font was just horrible. Second, it took FOREVER to get into, and when you did get into it the book was done!!! Oh and the whole thing about the doomsday clock, it wasn't that very exciting. The book felt like it was just rambling on and on and it was sort of building up to this epic fight and when the fight actually happened I had to reread it to make sure I didn't miss any details. Well, I didn't miss anything and I'm still just as confused as when I started this book.

I heard that this book was going to be made into a movie and I'm just like what made this book seem worthy to have it's own movie? Is it really getting that bad in Hollywood they have to resort to ANYTHING??? Hopefully the movie will be better and there will be some excitement but if it's like the book...I wouldn't hold my breath

I loved this book when I was a child. Even though my son is older now I still read to him. Recently I ran across this book again and he and I read it together. He loved it as much as I did when I was his age. I would highly recommend it; and also the other books in the series.

This is one of the best books I have ever read in my whole life! I have read it 2 times and when i did read it, I never put it down! John Bellairs keeps cliff hangers and suspense coming at you from the first paragraph of the book. i have read alot of his other books like: The figure in the shadows, The doom of the haunted opera etc. I think he is the best author in the world!

this book is about a boy named lewis who goes to live with his uncle after his parents died everything is ok but he realized that there are many weird things going on in the house his uncle spends all night walking around and there seems to be a clock in the walls he soon finds out the house was owned by a mad scientist wanting to destroy the world and the clock is a bomb waiting to explode

The House With a Clock in Its Walls, by John Bellairs, is an extraordinary book capturing ideas from the imaginary world. Besides being imaginary, this book also deals with reality. It is a challenging mystery that is scary in parts, and sad in others. I recommend this book to any reader because to me it was not only a book but a life lesson.

In third grade, I remember reading several of John Bellairs' books and being scared out of my wits. Unfortunately, I have by now lost that innocence, but I highly recommend this book and any others by this author to any children or adults who like a good, wholesome scare.

The book "The House with a Clock in its Walls" is a very exciting, fun, and suspenseful book.It will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. At first when I started reading this book it was only a fun thing to read but by the end I didn't want to put it down. I recommend this book to everyone who likes any kind of mystery.

My feelings are divided on this book. In some ways, it is enjoyable reading, but it suffers from many flaws. There is a real sweetness in the writing and in the way Bellairs describes Lewis' inner life, but I could also call the book's tone cutesy or pathetic. Although I felt very sorry for Lewis at many points in the story, and I enjoyed reminiscing about some of the aspects of childhood Bellairs mentions (like Lewis' Viewmaster), evoking the reader's pity and nostalgia isn't the same as developing a character.

Another problem is that it takes a long time for anything exciting to happen in the narrative, and when something exciting does occur (Lewis & Tarby's Halloween ritual), I think Bellairs spends one paragraph describing the "scary" part. Throughout the book, I kept feeling like I was missing out on the action. Even while reading the confrontations towards the end, which should have been gripping, I just wasn't enthralled. The reader is not with Mrs. Zimmermann when she fights the evil witch, because Lewis & his uncle are *across the street* from the main action!

It's like Bellairs constantly cheats the reader out of the juicy parts of the story, and it is very frustrating. Despite the things I enjoyed about the book, I don't think I will be reading any more of Bellairs' work.

BY Edd Mcman

In an attempt to make friends with a boy named Tarby, Lewis Barnavelt uses his Uncle who is a wizard to do some magic. But Lewis wants a little more so he does some magic and he does it well. Then weird things begin to happen. Then Lewis finds the fate of the world in his hands.

Good Beggining, decent middle, weak end.

The House With a Clock in its Walls was a well written book. John Bellairs did a very good job with details and describing, but this book is not on a topic I like. You would only be able to enjoy this book if you really like magic and witchery which I personally dislike. The book is not much more than a short story of a witches' battle that could probably be much shorter, but I have to give it to John, he sure can write. If you like short books with not much actual meat this book is for you. Overall Bellairs did a okay job.

Where can I get a copy with the Gorey illustrations? ... for a REASONABLE price. I don't want something to pass down for the next 12 generations, just something to enjoy myself with the original Ed Gorey illustrations...

A bit boring, ho hum! Of the children I gave this to they would read a while and then find other things to do and then read a little more later. I read it - not enough to hold interest for any period of time and the artwork is strange - more adult. Give it to your child to read in between waiting for the good books to arrive. Okay, but!