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NOS4A2 is a very clever novel, but also suffers from some stuff that didn't jive well with me. Luckily, once the story got going; boy, was it full throttle!
We'll start with those negatives. The Gasmask Man was very rapey and just a very sexually active (non-consentual, of course) character in general. Combine this with his child-like nature/outlook on life and you can begin to see how this just doesn't jive well with me. A lot of his sections had a ton of sexual implications that just left me wanting to skip over (and looking forward to him to being eaten by the [spoilers] the whole time). There is a particularly disturbing incident in his backstory, which would have been fine had it not come out of left-field before becoming his calling card. If you know, you know.
Otherwise, was an excellent read! Charles Manx was an excellent antagonist. Since his nature is cleverly said in the title, I can safely say I enjoyed his unique style of vampirism and how it played into his end-goal of 'saving children.' His happy charisma, love for Christmas, and benign heart for kids was interesting to see mixed with his psychopathy (in the medical sense). Since vampires are done virtually the same in everything since Dracula, it was also refreshing having to genuinely figure out how Manx worked. Plus that garage reveal in the House of Sleep! Was an excellent scene.
On that note, I like how Vic was actually competent. She very much felt like an action hero when compared to most horror/thriller protagonists. Every time she confronts the baddies, it's awesome and definitely leans more action/thriller. Even her learning skills from her family/friends to use in her problem-solving was cool to see. She also has a tone of sass, which I enjoy in protagonists. That being said, she is very much flawed and a large chunk of the novel is her being a "bad mother." Luckily, she does get some redemption and I enjoyed seeing the family values and restoration come into play. Her boyfriend was also awesome. I like how he was obese (i.e. not a model) and they explored both the struggles he has with his health/self-image and how Vic loved him outside of that. I always love seeing couples where one of them is "ugly." Yes, go beyond the surface!
I also loved the vibe of the book. All the Christmas illusions and references (particularly the music) were great, especially when we finally see the nightmarish Christmas Land. Yes, Christmas is still my favorite holiday. But I did enjoy the twisting of it Joe did here. This is what happens when Santa takes the reins from Jesus... and hands them over to a vampire.
All the rest of my highlights are in the last half of the novel, namely because that was the story I wanted when I picked this up and, by golly, did I get it! However, it involves spoilers. On that subject, without actually indulging, this edition is the first book I have read with a post-credit scene. I have always wondered how you could do it in a book (epilogue and appendix don't count), so good job, Joe.
In short, despite the grossness of the Gasmask Man, this was an excellent and fairly original read with lovable characters. Perfectly blends horror, thriller, and fantasy into a glorious Christmas vampire tale.
We'll start with those negatives. The Gasmask Man was very rapey and just a very sexually active (non-consentual, of course) character in general. Combine this with his child-like nature/outlook on life and you can begin to see how this just doesn't jive well with me. A lot of his sections had a ton of sexual implications that just left me wanting to skip over (and looking forward to him to being eaten by the [spoilers] the whole time). There is a particularly disturbing incident in his backstory, which would have been fine had it not come out of left-field before becoming his calling card. If you know, you know.
Otherwise, was an excellent read! Charles Manx was an excellent antagonist. Since his nature is cleverly said in the title, I can safely say I enjoyed his unique style of vampirism and how it played into his end-goal of 'saving children.' His happy charisma, love for Christmas, and benign heart for kids was interesting to see mixed with his psychopathy (in the medical sense). Since vampires are done virtually the same in everything since Dracula, it was also refreshing having to genuinely figure out how Manx worked. Plus that garage reveal in the House of Sleep! Was an excellent scene.
On that note, I like how Vic was actually competent. She very much felt like an action hero when compared to most horror/thriller protagonists. Every time she confronts the baddies, it's awesome and definitely leans more action/thriller. Even her learning skills from her family/friends to use in her problem-solving was cool to see. She also has a tone of sass, which I enjoy in protagonists. That being said, she is very much flawed and a large chunk of the novel is her being a "bad mother." Luckily, she does get some redemption and I enjoyed seeing the family values and restoration come into play. Her boyfriend was also awesome. I like how he was obese (i.e. not a model) and they explored both the struggles he has with his health/self-image and how Vic loved him outside of that. I always love seeing couples where one of them is "ugly." Yes, go beyond the surface!
I also loved the vibe of the book. All the Christmas illusions and references (particularly the music) were great, especially when we finally see the nightmarish Christmas Land. Yes, Christmas is still my favorite holiday. But I did enjoy the twisting of it Joe did here. This is what happens when Santa takes the reins from Jesus... and hands them over to a vampire.
All the rest of my highlights are in the last half of the novel, namely because that was the story I wanted when I picked this up and, by golly, did I get it! However, it involves spoilers. On that subject, without actually indulging, this edition is the first book I have read with a post-credit scene. I have always wondered how you could do it in a book (epilogue and appendix don't count), so good job, Joe.
In short, despite the grossness of the Gasmask Man, this was an excellent and fairly original read with lovable characters. Perfectly blends horror, thriller, and fantasy into a glorious Christmas vampire tale.
"Todo el mundo transforma lo imaginario en real constantemente. Cuando trasladan la música que oyen dentro de su cabeza a un disco, cuando imaginan una casa y luego la construyen. La fantasía es siempre una realidad esperando a ser activada."
De verdad que yo me prometí a mi misma no hacer comparaciones con Stephen King cuando leyese el primero libro de Joe Hill. Pero es que wow. Este libro me ha gustado TANTO que solo puedo decir que este hombre no tiene nada que envidiarle a su padre como escritor.
Nos4a2 es una maravilla. Empezando por su narrativa, por esos cambios entre párrafos que son pura poesía, a una descripción de una escena de la forma más cruda a un momento en el que a un personaje se le escapa un pedo en medio de un tiroteo. La escritura de Hill es difícil de describir. Es preciosa en los momentos en los que debe serlo y cruda y concisa en aquellos que deben ponerte los pelos de punta. Ha sido capaz de despertarme muchas emociones a lo largo del libro: ternura, tristeza, miedo, ansiedad, asco... Todo ello en el buen aspecto.
La trama es muy interesante y los personajes geniales, de esos que no te sueles encontrar en muchos libros. Vic, nuestra protagonista, es todo lo contrario a una heroína. Es una mujer irresponsable, inmadura en ocasiones y a la que todo en la vida le ha salido más bien regular. Y sin embargo, es un personaje de esos que enamoran, a los que sigues hasta las últimas páginas con devoción. Y como ella, la mayoría de los demás personajes, sobre todo el villano, que me ha parecido sublime.
En fin... Saber que Joe Hill es hijo de quien es, hizo que este libro partiese con un listón demasiado alto (a pesar de que intentaba que no fuese así, era inevitable comparar). Y superó totalmente las expectativas. Y como me alegro.
"A veces tenía la sensación de que aquella era la única lucha que importaba, la de enfrentarse al caos del mundo y conseguir darle sentido."
De verdad que yo me prometí a mi misma no hacer comparaciones con Stephen King cuando leyese el primero libro de Joe Hill. Pero es que wow. Este libro me ha gustado TANTO que solo puedo decir que este hombre no tiene nada que envidiarle a su padre como escritor.
Nos4a2 es una maravilla. Empezando por su narrativa, por esos cambios entre párrafos que son pura poesía, a una descripción de una escena de la forma más cruda a un momento en el que a un personaje se le escapa un pedo en medio de un tiroteo. La escritura de Hill es difícil de describir. Es preciosa en los momentos en los que debe serlo y cruda y concisa en aquellos que deben ponerte los pelos de punta. Ha sido capaz de despertarme muchas emociones a lo largo del libro: ternura, tristeza, miedo, ansiedad, asco... Todo ello en el buen aspecto.
La trama es muy interesante y los personajes geniales, de esos que no te sueles encontrar en muchos libros. Vic, nuestra protagonista, es todo lo contrario a una heroína. Es una mujer irresponsable, inmadura en ocasiones y a la que todo en la vida le ha salido más bien regular. Y sin embargo, es un personaje de esos que enamoran, a los que sigues hasta las últimas páginas con devoción. Y como ella, la mayoría de los demás personajes, sobre todo el villano, que me ha parecido sublime.
En fin... Saber que Joe Hill es hijo de quien es, hizo que este libro partiese con un listón demasiado alto (a pesar de que intentaba que no fuese así, era inevitable comparar). Y superó totalmente las expectativas. Y como me alegro.
"A veces tenía la sensación de que aquella era la única lucha que importaba, la de enfrentarse al caos del mundo y conseguir darle sentido."
This book gets real close to being awesome. It has elements from American Gods - an oniric landscape, reachable only by people with faerielike gifts. A villain that is close to being a vampire, but disfigured enough so as to be made scary again. An imperfect, fallen hero, built to be likable and relatable.
The only aspect it falls short is the lackluster, rushed, uncreative ending.
The only aspect it falls short is the lackluster, rushed, uncreative ending.
medium-paced
A great story overall, I enjoyed most of all the twist on a coming of age story, growing up and forgetting how to imagine. Many loveable (and hate able) characters along the way. The story started off a lil slow, but soon turned into a fast paced, page turning thriller, full of wonders and imaginative spooks at every turn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
DNF at 40%. Not for me. I’m all for unlikeable characters but not one single adult character had any redeeming qualities and I didn’t relate to any character. Hill seems to only write about women in a sleazy sexualized way (you could argue he’s writing in the perspective of the characters but even then, does EVERY man in this world think that way?!) and can’t go one chapter without talking about nipples, dicks, or blowjobs, etc. Not to mention, the god awful treatment of Linda, Vic’s mother. She is painted as some harpy bitch who is so cruel and awful but she’s just... abused? Her husband literally beats her and leaves her after cheating on her with multiple younger women. She’s left to raise Vic alone and Vic idolizes her father and demonizes her mother. Also, this book is just so overlong and boring. For a horror novel, it isn’t scary in the least.
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a dang good book! The only reason I could put it down at all was because I was home for Christmas, haha. The irony...
*This has been my very fancy review*
*This has been my very fancy review*