Scan barcode
schwimfan's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rjdenney's review
5.0
*Re-read in August 2020!!!
My favorite JB book! :)
__________________________________
Re-read in September 2019:
It's my favorite book of all-time for a reason, go pick it up!
__________________________________
Re-read for the 4th time (July 2015)
My favorite book of all time!
My favorite JB book! :)
__________________________________
Re-read in September 2019:
It's my favorite book of all-time for a reason, go pick it up!
__________________________________
Re-read for the 4th time (July 2015)
My favorite book of all time!
posies23's review
4.0
Anthony Monday and his librarian friend Miss Eels once again find themselves dealing with the supernatural in this, the third of their adventures. When Miss Eels acquires a strange old lamp, mysterious (and deadly!) events force them to investigate the lamp's history. As a result, they uncover occult conspiracies, ghostly happenings, and all the usual creepiness one can expect from a John Bellairs novel.
Bellairs is really due for rediscovery. His novels are creepy, well-written, and full of intriguing (and unexpected) plot twists. While this novel doesn't rank among my favorites, I did find it a fun read, and it's always fun to spend time in the weird worlds that Bellairs created.
Bellairs is really due for rediscovery. His novels are creepy, well-written, and full of intriguing (and unexpected) plot twists. While this novel doesn't rank among my favorites, I did find it a fun read, and it's always fun to spend time in the weird worlds that Bellairs created.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"Anthony Monday and Miss Eells recover a magic lamp that was stolen from a warlock's tomb and is spreading evil to further the wicked ends of the thief." (From Amazon)
A great mystery paranormal children's novel.
"Anthony Monday and Miss Eells recover a magic lamp that was stolen from a warlock's tomb and is spreading evil to further the wicked ends of the thief." (From Amazon)
A great mystery paranormal children's novel.
puddleglum1983's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the books I read as a young reader and loved. It is the reason I'm so into John Bellairs. I had 2 books in the Anthony Monday series and they were great. The funny thin about this book, is I can't remember anything from reading it as a kid. Usually, little plot details come back and I realize I've read it before and it didn't happen with this one. It was on my bookshelf for years and I enjoyed it.
It was good to re-read it. This was exciting in that Mr. Ells has a helicopter. I mean, the story is set in the 50s and he owns his own helicopter. I would say that's unusual.
I love the setting. It's winter and there is a big snowstorm to blow up. It's cool outside today and I sat wrapped up in my blanket reading about this snowy place. It was great. John knew how to bring the creepy. There is a line that made me chuckle. A note is written in cuniform form ancient Babylonian and Anthony could make it out because he studied it in class. I guess the public education I got skipped the ancient Babylonian language module and I never got it.
Bellairs uses Babylion, Sanskrit, ancient Anglo Saxon languages in this story. He pulls from all over. I will say that this seemed less focused than some of his other works. Could just be me.
These Bellairs books are such a treat. I'm so glad I have re-found them. I have one book left to read of John's and then the series is taken over by a new author. I don't know if I will go on or not.
It was good to re-read it. This was exciting in that Mr. Ells has a helicopter. I mean, the story is set in the 50s and he owns his own helicopter. I would say that's unusual.
I love the setting. It's winter and there is a big snowstorm to blow up. It's cool outside today and I sat wrapped up in my blanket reading about this snowy place. It was great. John knew how to bring the creepy. There is a line that made me chuckle. A note is written in cuniform form ancient Babylonian and Anthony could make it out because he studied it in class. I guess the public education I got skipped the ancient Babylonian language module and I never got it.
Bellairs uses Babylion, Sanskrit, ancient Anglo Saxon languages in this story. He pulls from all over. I will say that this seemed less focused than some of his other works. Could just be me.
These Bellairs books are such a treat. I'm so glad I have re-found them. I have one book left to read of John's and then the series is taken over by a new author. I don't know if I will go on or not.
vincent1126's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
electricbloomers's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
calistareads's review
4.0
This is one of the books I read as a young reader and loved. It is the reason I'm so into John Bellairs. I had 2 books in the Anthony Monday series and they were great. The funny thin about this book, is I can't remember anything from reading it as a kid. Usually, little plot details come back and I realize I've read it before and it didn't happen with this one. It was on my bookshelf for years and I enjoyed it.
It was good to re-read it. This was exciting in that Mr. Ells has a helicopter. I mean, the story is set in the 50s and he owns his own helicopter. I would say that's unusual.
I love the setting. It's winter and there is a big snowstorm to blow up. It's cool outside today and I sat wrapped up in my blanket reading about this snowy place. It was great. John knew how to bring the creepy. There is a line that made me chuckle. A note is written in cuniform form ancient Babylonian and Anthony could make it out because he studied it in class. I guess the public education I got skipped the ancient Babylonian language module and I never got it.
Bellairs uses Babylion, Sanskrit, ancient Anglo Saxon languages in this story. He pulls from all over. I will say that this seemed less focused than some of his other works. Could just be me.
These Bellairs books are such a treat. I'm so glad I have re-found them. I have one book left to read of John's and then the series is taken over by a new author. I don't know if I will go on or not.
It was good to re-read it. This was exciting in that Mr. Ells has a helicopter. I mean, the story is set in the 50s and he owns his own helicopter. I would say that's unusual.
I love the setting. It's winter and there is a big snowstorm to blow up. It's cool outside today and I sat wrapped up in my blanket reading about this snowy place. It was great. John knew how to bring the creepy. There is a line that made me chuckle. A note is written in cuniform form ancient Babylonian and Anthony could make it out because he studied it in class. I guess the public education I got skipped the ancient Babylonian language module and I never got it.
Bellairs uses Babylion, Sanskrit, ancient Anglo Saxon languages in this story. He pulls from all over. I will say that this seemed less focused than some of his other works. Could just be me.
These Bellairs books are such a treat. I'm so glad I have re-found them. I have one book left to read of John's and then the series is taken over by a new author. I don't know if I will go on or not.
nicobella's review
I had been wanting for so long to reread books from my favorite childhood author and this year I got finally to one. It was a good nostalgia read, but I’m pretty sure not the best by Bellairs - I should have started with “The Curse of the Blue Figurine.” Sometimes I have no idea how to rate children’s books, so a B- for creepy vibes. I actually think it would have been better as a winter read due to the snowy and cold atmosphere.