Scan barcode
subparcupcake's review against another edition
3.0
I waivered between three and four stars on this, and finally decided to go with three stars. The first couple stories I really liked, but then the stories started to disappoint me... Abrupt endings, story lines that just didn't appeal to me. I'm all for open endings, but some of these stories were barely even started before they ended. The last couple of stories really saved the book, in particular I loved "Voluntary Committal". Other great stories included "Pop Art" and "My Father's Mask" (although I have no idea what the latter was even about, I still found myself enjoying it immensely). Overall, I decided it was closer to three stars than it was to four, but I'm still looking forward to reading more from Hill.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
5.0
The thing with anthologies and collections is there is a lot of mediocre stories, but with this collection by Joe Hill, all the stories were good, not all were great, but they all held my interest.
To me the cream of this crop was "Pop Art." Once the reader gets past the absurdity of the story's premise, this tale in 29 pages wrung emotions out of me, like few stories have.
Most of the stories in this collection are about the relationships between parents and children. It has been fairly well documented that Stephen King, the authors father, spent the majority of Mr. Hill's childhood battling alcohol and drugs. Based on these stories, one has to wonder how this affected a young Joe.
I have felt very hit and miss about Joe Hill's writing, but I truly believe that short stories are where he shines. I look forward to reading more of his short stories.
To me the cream of this crop was "Pop Art." Once the reader gets past the absurdity of the story's premise, this tale in 29 pages wrung emotions out of me, like few stories have.
Most of the stories in this collection are about the relationships between parents and children. It has been fairly well documented that Stephen King, the authors father, spent the majority of Mr. Hill's childhood battling alcohol and drugs. Based on these stories, one has to wonder how this affected a young Joe.
I have felt very hit and miss about Joe Hill's writing, but I truly believe that short stories are where he shines. I look forward to reading more of his short stories.
etivepmc's review against another edition
4.0
You can tell that Joe Hill is his father's son with these short stories - however, I feel like he can appreciate much more what is involved in a short story, how much info is just the right amount of info without leaving you trying to figure out what's going on.
I loved pretty much every single story in here, the only one that wasn't really for me was Better Than Home - I just didn't understand what was going on.
I loved pretty much every single story in here, the only one that wasn't really for me was Better Than Home - I just didn't understand what was going on.
kalesaladd's review against another edition
4.0
Pop Art and Voluntary Committal were definitely the cream of the crop. I can already tell they're going to stick with me for a long time. A lot of the others were pretty good but didn't really leave a lasting impression.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
Mm.
I am super super glad this wasn't the first Joe Hill book I've ever read. It's not that the stories are bad, by any means. They're just not my type of stories. I was excited for this because I'm a horror story buff, and Hill is a master of horror. Period.
And in the introduction, written by the incredible Christopher Golden, he tells me up front that these are not horror stories, at least not in the conventional sense. So, I was warned. But still. These were just not my cup of tea. Let's go down the list.
Best New Horror - The closest to conventional, and so meta it hurts. This was a great introductory story. Seriously, I can't even tell you what it's about, it's so meta you have to read it for yourself. If my review leads you to not want to read the whole book, at least seek this one out.
20th Century Ghost - A ghost story. Literally. But not scary. Sweet, actually.
Pop Art - So bizarre. But really, really great. And sad. So, so sad.
You Will Hear The Locust Sing - I don't like bugs. I really, really don't like bugs. So, this one kind of had my skin crawling. But the sympathy I had for the main character was oddly intense.
Abraham's Boys - An amazing side story to the traditional Dracula tale. Absolutely worth the read.
Better Than Home and Bobby Conroy Comes Back From The Dead - Skip it.
The Black Phone - Not nearly as good as it could have been.
In The Rundown - You will spend a lot of time saying, "What are you doing, you idiot?"
The Cape - The only story with a real twist. And it's pretty fantastic.
Last Breath - SO WEIRD. But I really loved it. And want to know more about this museum.
Dead-Wood - Short, almost a poem. I listened to it twice. Beautiful, and one that might stay with you as it did with me.
The Widow's Breakfast - Uncategorical. Google says that's not a real word. I'm using it anyway.
My Father's Mask - I don't get it. Not even a little.
Voluntary Committal - I agree with Christopher Golden on this one, it is very reminiscent of Ray Bradbury. I believe this is the longest story in the bunch, and it's worth it.
Scheherazade's Typewriter - The hidden story. As someone who reads both the introductions and the acknowledgements, I loved how this one was hidden. And it's possibly my favorite? Also a ghost story, but a sweet and sad one.
I am super super glad this wasn't the first Joe Hill book I've ever read. It's not that the stories are bad, by any means. They're just not my type of stories. I was excited for this because I'm a horror story buff, and Hill is a master of horror. Period.
And in the introduction, written by the incredible Christopher Golden, he tells me up front that these are not horror stories, at least not in the conventional sense. So, I was warned. But still. These were just not my cup of tea. Let's go down the list.
Best New Horror - The closest to conventional, and so meta it hurts. This was a great introductory story. Seriously, I can't even tell you what it's about, it's so meta you have to read it for yourself. If my review leads you to not want to read the whole book, at least seek this one out.
20th Century Ghost - A ghost story. Literally. But not scary. Sweet, actually.
Pop Art - So bizarre. But really, really great. And sad. So, so sad.
You Will Hear The Locust Sing - I don't like bugs. I really, really don't like bugs. So, this one kind of had my skin crawling. But the sympathy I had for the main character was oddly intense.
Abraham's Boys - An amazing side story to the traditional Dracula tale. Absolutely worth the read.
Better Than Home and Bobby Conroy Comes Back From The Dead - Skip it.
The Black Phone - Not nearly as good as it could have been.
In The Rundown - You will spend a lot of time saying, "What are you doing, you idiot?"
The Cape - The only story with a real twist. And it's pretty fantastic.
Last Breath - SO WEIRD. But I really loved it. And want to know more about this museum.
Dead-Wood - Short, almost a poem. I listened to it twice. Beautiful, and one that might stay with you as it did with me.
The Widow's Breakfast - Uncategorical. Google says that's not a real word. I'm using it anyway.
My Father's Mask - I don't get it. Not even a little.
Voluntary Committal - I agree with Christopher Golden on this one, it is very reminiscent of Ray Bradbury. I believe this is the longest story in the bunch, and it's worth it.
Scheherazade's Typewriter - The hidden story. As someone who reads both the introductions and the acknowledgements, I loved how this one was hidden. And it's possibly my favorite? Also a ghost story, but a sweet and sad one.
cabrera_bre's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
neoxkc's review
3.0
This is my first foray into Joe Hill's writing but I am a somewhat devoted Stephen King reader. Having read so much King, I was very interested to see what his son's writing is like.
Spoilers for each story and my individual reviews below:
Best New Horror: 2/5 -
20th Century Ghost: 4/5 -
Pop Art: 1/5 -
You will hear the Locust Sing: 2/5 -
Abraham's Boys: 5/5 -
Better than home: 3/5 -
The Black Phone: 5/5 -
In The Rundown: 2/5 -
The Cape: 3/5 -
Last Breath: 4/5 -
Dead Wood: 5/5 -
The Widow's Breakfast: 3/5 -
Bobby Conroy Comes Back From The Dead: 2/5 -
My Father's Mask: 3/5 -
It is written very well but like other stories in this book, it feels like the ending is rushed for the sake of finishing the story rather than developing it completely.
Voluntary Committal: 5/5 -
Scheherazade's Typewriter: 4/5 -
TLDR: A mixed bag of short stories in my opinion, and a big chunk of the stories aren't even really scary or even horror in some cases. A lot of the primary characters are pretty miserable/unlikable so harder to get into some of the stories for me.
Spoilers for each story and my individual reviews below:
Best New Horror: 2/5 -
Spoiler
Well written but felt too obvious and the end felt rushed. Too much of a Texas Chainsaw sort of thing for my taste.20th Century Ghost: 4/5 -
Spoiler
I liked this story, I know it is a short story but I feel like this could have been much better if it was longer and more fleshed out.Pop Art: 1/5 -
Spoiler
I did not like this premise at all. Too goofy for me. Also the balloon people are inexplicably Jewish which is very confusing to me. The confusion only occurs because he meets another balloon person after he met Art that is a woman who turns out to also be Jewish so there must be a reason Hill has chosen to make this choice but I am at a loss as to what he is trying to say exactly.You will hear the Locust Sing: 2/5 -
Spoiler
Meh. Kids turns into a giant Grasshopper and kills his family and classmates. Sort of Kafka through the lens of modern senseless violence I suppose.Abraham's Boys: 5/5 -
Spoiler
Pretty interesting sequel-ish to Dracula that focuses on Van Helsing's sons growing up in America.Better than home: 3/5 -
Spoiler
This one didn't really grab me and by the end I was wondering why it is in this collection. Story about a boy that seems to have autism or something and people don't quite understand him. Written very well but pretty mundane.The Black Phone: 5/5 -
Spoiler
I can see why they chose this to adapt into a movie as it is a pretty interesting concept. Could have been a bit longer but it sounds like the movie expands on the story quite successfully.In The Rundown: 2/5 -
Spoiler
Oh brother, this guy stinks. Main character is a jerk. After he gets fired from his job for physically threatening a coworker, he happens upon lady who he thinks has just killed her children. After he comes to this conclusion, they get into an altercation where he gets scratched and he physically attacks her. Eventually he runs to get help and runs into a state trooper car and the story ends before he is very clearly going to prison for attacking the woman and killing her kids since he is now covered in blood and scratch marks and having attacked her as well.The Cape: 3/5 -
Spoiler
An angry man-child who has a cape that lets him float kills his girlfriend who left him because he is a loser and then implies he will kill his brother, the end. BlahLast Breath: 4/5 -
Spoiler
Creepy doctor collects people's last breath in a museum called the Museum of Silence.Dead Wood: 5/5 -
Spoiler
Can trees be ghosts? "Something that doesn't know it's alive, obviously can't be expected to know when it's dead" (Super short story but that is a great line)The Widow's Breakfast: 3/5 -
Spoiler
A story about a Widow making breakfast for a hobo during the depression. Thought this was going to take a turn into a story similar to The Library Policeman but it did not. Not enough happens and ends too abruptly for meBobby Conroy Comes Back From The Dead: 2/5 -
Spoiler
Failed comedian runs into an ex and her son on the set of Night of the Living Dead and contemplates the road not taken.My Father's Mask: 3/5 -
Spoiler
A boy and his parents go to a cabin because they are on the run from the "playing card people". I honestly did not quite get this story.It is written very well but like other stories in this book, it feels like the ending is rushed for the sake of finishing the story rather than developing it completely.
Voluntary Committal: 5/5 -
Spoiler
Story about two brothers, one of the brothers falls in with a bad element and the other brother creates elaborate cardboard forts that seem to be more than meets the eye. I think this is probably the strongest of the stories in this collection.Scheherazade's Typewriter: 4/5 -
Spoiler
This story is "hidden" in the acknowledgments section. Short and sweet story about a haunted typewriter.TLDR: A mixed bag of short stories in my opinion, and a big chunk of the stories aren't even really scary or even horror in some cases. A lot of the primary characters are pretty miserable/unlikable so harder to get into some of the stories for me.
cara_ready's review against another edition
4.0
It actually took me years to finish this book because some of the stories were so disturbing to me that I had to put it down. I’m glad I finally finished it because the last story was by far the best and most creative. Sometimes the scariest thing can be the unknown… and small spaces.