One of John Bellairs's most-beloved books
The National Post runs a semi-regular column called ‘Old Book, New Author,’ in which a new author (in this case, I) talk about an older book that has influenced his or her work. On January 19, 2012, I wrote an installment about one of the greats of kids’ mystery novels (and frequent Edward Gorey collaborator) John Bellairs:
I’ve been dropping the name “John Bellairs” into casual conversation lately. To many, it means nothing. But to people of a certain age — men in particular — the name makes their eyes light up like I’ve just mentioned their favourite Thundercat. (Panthro, in most cases.)
Bellairs was a much-beloved author of mysteries for young readers, like an earlier, more sophisticated R.L. Stine. The House with a Clock in its Walls was the first in a string of rather chilling mysteries, which also include The Eyes of the Killer Robot and The Curse of the Blue Figurine. Like his frequent illustrator, the more widely recognized Edward Gorey, Bellairs was an American most believed was British, despite the Midwestern locales of most of his novels.
In The House with a Clock in its Walls, overweight orphan Lewis Barnavelt is sent to live with his uncle Jonathan, who just happens to be a wizard. What follows is by turns whimsical and menacing, beautiful in its blend of the fantastical and the everyday. His uncle can (and does) blot out the moon, but Lewis is more concerned with learning to play baseball and impressing the popular boys, an obsession that leads him to raise a witch from the dead. (No big deal; it’s like when you take up smoking to impress the cool kids.)
For the full column, visit the National Post website.
On her book blog, 
