Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While definitely not for everyone, I really liked this novel. The main character is an absolute dick who only really gets marginally better by the end, but I was endeared nonetheless. If you can’t stand an unlikeable main character though, it’s probably best to steer clear. The only thing keeping it from a full five stars is the female characters. I liked them enough, but they felt so beholden to Jude and felt like pawns in his story (despite how the plot plays out in a way that should make the women a lot more significant?? idk). Also there were a couple of scenes/descriptions that made me raise an eyebrow a little and think to myself: “I guess Joe Hill is really into goth chicks”.
Funnily enough, I picked up this book in the first place because Gerard Way mentioned in an interview that he was reading it and the plot sounded interesting to me — only to read it and find that My Chemical Romance is not only mentioned, but also kind of roasted? Definitely took me out for a second but also gave me a chuckle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A story about women's trauma, told theough the eyes of a man who exploits traumatized women. The story is desperate to make the main character relevant to the plot, but the major plot twist is he matters even less than we previously believed. The extent of his character growth is calling his girlfriend by her real name instead of the corny, objectifying pet name he gave her.
I begrudgingly finished this book so I could write my scathing review with completeness. Here is a short list of my problems wish this book, spoilers ahead.
1. Women are objectified for no reason at all and at inappropriate times, even objectifying themselves in uncharacteristic fashion. I got so tired of hearing about how skinny and pale Jude's girlfriend is (and young! And hot!).
2. Subpoint to 1, side and minor characters' personalities are apparently supposed to be inferred based on their appearances, apparently. It was only one scene, but does she really have to be "the fat woman?"
3. The plot made sense when Jude's girlfriend killed herself after he kicked her out, causing her family to sic a ghost on him. A revenge ghost, right? Except she didnt commit suicide–the family set it up to look that way so she wouldn't reveal the stepfather's history of molesting the girls of the family. So why send a ghost after Jude at all? He didn't know about the molestation, and the family's flimsy "maybe he did though" did not hold water. He would have sat at his house unbothered, being a selfish asshole, and they would gotten away with it.
4. Phenobarbital does not work that way.
5. A lot of the consequences of Jude's haunting happen to other people for some reason. Other characters are used as props to drive his story. He does lose a finger, and the book acts like he is about to hemorrhage to death from it. Meanwhile, his dog has a bone sticking out of his leg and they don't even bother looking for a vet. If Jude is so tough, why can't he tie a tourniquet and stop bitching?
6. Jude gets revenge on his girlfriends' abusers, probably just to make himself feel better. Why can't Mary Beth punch her molester? Can't women do anything?!
7. Injecting morphine directly into an open wound doesn't work, and sewing up a 4-day old finger stump without irrigation or anything is a bold choice.
8. The end was not satisfying.
I begrudgingly finished this book so I could write my scathing review with completeness. Here is a short list of my problems wish this book, spoilers ahead.
2. Subpoint to 1, side and minor characters' personalities are apparently supposed to be inferred based on their appearances, apparently. It was only one scene, but does she really have to be "the fat woman?"
3. The plot made sense when Jude's girlfriend killed herself after he kicked her out, causing her family to sic a ghost on him. A revenge ghost, right? Except she didnt commit suicide–the family set it up to look that way so she wouldn't reveal the stepfather's history of molesting the girls of the family. So why send a ghost after Jude at all? He didn't know about the molestation, and the family's flimsy "maybe he did though" did not hold water. He would have sat at his house unbothered, being a selfish asshole, and they would gotten away with it.
4. Phenobarbital does not work that way.
5. A lot of the consequences of Jude's haunting happen to other people for some reason. Other characters are used as props to drive his story. He does lose a finger, and the book acts like he is about to hemorrhage to death from it. Meanwhile, his dog has a bone sticking out of his leg and they don't even bother looking for a vet. If Jude is so tough, why can't he tie a tourniquet and stop bitching?
6. Jude gets revenge on his girlfriends' abusers, probably just to make himself feel better. Why can't Mary Beth punch her molester? Can't women do anything?!
7. Injecting morphine directly into an open wound doesn't work, and sewing up a 4-day old finger stump without irrigation or anything is a bold choice.
8. The end was not satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood
Not my cup a tea. You can tell his writing is pretty good which helps the story moves along, but I’m not one for the rock n roll lifestyle with a ghost constantly trying to make the characters commit suicide. One too many guns in the face or in the mouth, ugh.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I _almost_ finished the audiobook of Heart-Shaped Box, and in my mind I have experienced the whole thing and it left a good taste. Hill does a great job with description and is a more literary writer than his father. I was genuinely creeped out and several parts have stuck with me. Fun.
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Interesting concept of a ghost story, but I just couldn't stay focused on this one. Loved the character development and rock/goth vibes, but I kept losing track of what was happening.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated