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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yeah, I'm not really sure about this one. It started with a very interesting premise- what if someone bought a ghost on a bidding site and it actually started haunting them? Then, the idea was given a bit of a twist, what if that ghost was sent intentionally by someone who wanted revenge? I liked these ideas and initially I was bought in and engaged. Hill is a skilled writer, and although the characters weren't totally loveable off the bat, they grew on me a bit. Like his daddy, Hill can't resist unraveling a bit of daddy trauma throughout the story, as we learn about the main character, Rockstar Jude, his childhood, his rise to fame, and his tumultuous relationships with those who surround him throughout his life. This was okay, but what really struck me about this book is how little of it revolves around the interesting premise presented. We rarely see the ghost he bought. His hauntings are rare- and are either him just talking to Jude through the phone/ radio, standing around, or giving Jude nightmarish visions. Jude, his dogs(which as soon as they were introduced I was preparing for them to die) , and his current girlfriend run around the house scared of him for while, then they take off on a roadtrip. The plot meanders and becomes a bit of a romance sprinkled with lacklaster hauntings. Then, there's a third twist on the premise. Jude believes he is being haunted by the stepfather of a former lover who killed herself as a form of revenge. Then we learn she didn't commit suicide and she was actually murdered by her pedophile stepdad for wanting to turn him in. But for me, that ruins the tension of the previous premise. The ghost is now no longer sent as revenge. There is a very interesting third act occurrence where Jude is forced to fight his dying father who has been possesed by the ghost, effectively facing his childhood trauma head on. But honestly, as they were fighting, I was amazed we still weren't getting a more ghostly or supernatural climax. A whole book about a ghost and he's only scary a few times. I'm not sure I'll be picking up A Hill book for a while. There's a lot of potential and good ideas in his works, but they seem the suffer from being underlyingly boring while attempting complexity.
I loved this book! The story was good & I loved all the characters well the good ones anyway. I will definitely be trying out another Joe Hill book in the near future!
Just as I've come to expect from Joe Hill's books; excellent! Creepy read and good story!
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Its a strong novel. I loved it. Id say read this before Horns if you plan on reading through Hill’s catalogue because though this was wonderful, it shares a lot of elements with Horns but has a tougher time getting started, is shorter in content, and isnt quite up to the same standard in imaginative or skilled writing. The ending was really fucking good but not fantastic.
If you're a character forward reader who likes a good redemption arc, some romance, and a few laughs, you cant go wrong with Heart Shaped Box. Joe Hill continues to be preferable to Stephen King for me.
Nos4a2 is next!
If you're a character forward reader who likes a good redemption arc, some romance, and a few laughs, you cant go wrong with Heart Shaped Box. Joe Hill continues to be preferable to Stephen King for me.
Nos4a2 is next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, Self harm