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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
After I read the first chapter of this book - I had to put it in the drawer of my night table for a month. Seriously. It freaked me out THAT much.
When I picked it up again - it was not as scary and it was a quick read. Hill's prose flows very well - either he has read a few (!) of his dad's books or he scored in the gene pool.
(And I figured out why he scared me so badly...he sneaks the ghost in mid-paragraph so he catches the reader completely off guard.)
Once past that first chapter - the book seemed more like a traditional ghost story. You knew where it was going and how it would probably end - but it was still an enjoyable ride.
I will pick up Hill's next book for sure...who knows how long I'll have to hide that one in the drawer...
When I picked it up again - it was not as scary and it was a quick read. Hill's prose flows very well - either he has read a few (!) of his dad's books or he scored in the gene pool.
(And I figured out why he scared me so badly...he sneaks the ghost in mid-paragraph so he catches the reader completely off guard.)
Once past that first chapter - the book seemed more like a traditional ghost story. You knew where it was going and how it would probably end - but it was still an enjoyable ride.
I will pick up Hill's next book for sure...who knows how long I'll have to hide that one in the drawer...
Started out really creepy. I reacted to it as if watching a horror movie and ended up paranoid and suspecting every character in the book. This is not something I normaly do when reading books....
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
This book was creepy and gave me scary dreams but I am glad I finished it. The writing was great. Joe Hill does a great job. I may try another one of his books.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
Complicated
An aging rock star buys a ghost on the internet but quickly realizes he got more than he bargained for...
This book wasn't really as scary, suspenseful, or well-written as I'd expected. The beginning had some creepy moments, but the story just idled along from there instead of ramping up the suspense and horror. Ideas, themes, and characters didn't feel adequately fleshed out, and the plot was a bit predictable. I kept reading because I wanted to see whether Jude and Marybeth died, but at the end, I just felt kind of 'meh'.
Maybe it was a case of hearing too many people praise it before reading it, but I thought it was disappointing. An okay read, especially for people into not-too-grotesque horror.
This book wasn't really as scary, suspenseful, or well-written as I'd expected. The beginning had some creepy moments, but the story just idled along from there instead of ramping up the suspense and horror. Ideas, themes, and characters didn't feel adequately fleshed out, and the plot was a bit predictable. I kept reading because I wanted to see whether Jude and Marybeth died, but at the end, I just felt kind of 'meh'.
Maybe it was a case of hearing too many people praise it before reading it, but I thought it was disappointing. An okay read, especially for people into not-too-grotesque horror.
Haunting and terrifying.
I loved how this story took me for a ride. Took me down the road together for sure
I was emotionally invested from the start, but to some extent, it played quite very much like a rockstar band tour.
It's a strange feeling having finished this book because there's no doubt in my head that it was an amazing one, but there feels so much depth to the story that just seems beyond the tip of my tongue, but the brain equivalent of it.
The best I can do is talk about the great things about this book, and in all honesty, I think I'll keep everything in spoilers because even if it's not a spoiler, it's something that people should experience firsthand from Joe Hill's writing style.
Additionally, as someone who loves horror but is always critical of it, in terms of stupidity at the face of the supernatural, I absolutely loved how extremely powerful the ghost was, and that is honestly how it should be. There shouldnt be an element of 'oh this is how we can defeat a ghost' because that thought doesn't or shouldn't come to anyone's head ever, if a ghost wants to kill you, it should always have the upper hand in completely snuffing the ever living life out of you, and it should always be literally about how we can run away and be safe in the least encounter-ing way possible.
And this perfectly segues into the next brilliant aspect of this book which is quite honestly the storytelling. This whole concept of horror introduced in this book was definitely out of the norm, yet never did it it was confusing or felt like I was reading a huge bunch of text or alternatively that things just happened to align a certain way as a happenstance which fit the thought or action intended, the world building was all so seamlessly explained that it was never took away the immersion from the read.
Not to mention the whole story read like a fever dream which is precisely how you would imagine hypnotism to work, you never knew when the story was switching from reality to a dream to being controlled by a vengeful spirit out for blood.
And lastly, as much as I hate saying this, because I really dislike the mention of it to people who haven't read this, so even though this is already in spoilers, please I really hope if you are reading onwards, its because you've already read this book and are just comparing notes on how amazing this book is with me but the TWISTS!!! It literally felt like we were being gaslighted throughout the book. All these different sources give us a different view of the same character, you never knew who to trust, what's real, and what's manipulation. You start from hating someone to rooting for them, back and forth like a tennis match.
I realize that my review is rather rambly but that is essentially how this book makes me feel, there are just so many unique facets to this book that it's hard to pinpoint what makes it good.
All I can say is that it's a must-read for everyone. If you like Horror, you'll love it. And if you don't, you'll be left wanting more.
Brilliant, remarkable and so much more.
I loved how this story took me for a ride. Took me down the road together for sure
I was emotionally invested from the start, but to some extent, it played quite very much like a rockstar band tour.
It's a strange feeling having finished this book because there's no doubt in my head that it was an amazing one, but there feels so much depth to the story that just seems beyond the tip of my tongue, but the brain equivalent of it.
The best I can do is talk about the great things about this book, and in all honesty, I think I'll keep everything in spoilers because even if it's not a spoiler, it's something that people should experience firsthand from Joe Hill's writing style.
Spoiler
First and foremost, who would have reckoned a Horror Romance is a category that could be played out well because essentially that's what this book really is. A combination of two things that I'd never imagined to be put together, and ultimately, I feel like that is something that remains a theme throughout the book. From the start of the book, there is an element of the perverse, defying your expectations on how you would imagine the characters or even the supernatural to behave or react.Additionally, as someone who loves horror but is always critical of it, in terms of stupidity at the face of the supernatural, I absolutely loved how extremely powerful the ghost was, and that is honestly how it should be. There shouldnt be an element of 'oh this is how we can defeat a ghost' because that thought doesn't or shouldn't come to anyone's head ever, if a ghost wants to kill you, it should always have the upper hand in completely snuffing the ever living life out of you, and it should always be literally about how we can run away and be safe in the least encounter-ing way possible.
And this perfectly segues into the next brilliant aspect of this book which is quite honestly the storytelling. This whole concept of horror introduced in this book was definitely out of the norm, yet never did it it was confusing or felt like I was reading a huge bunch of text or alternatively that things just happened to align a certain way as a happenstance which fit the thought or action intended, the world building was all so seamlessly explained that it was never took away the immersion from the read.
Not to mention the whole story read like a fever dream which is precisely how you would imagine hypnotism to work, you never knew when the story was switching from reality to a dream to being controlled by a vengeful spirit out for blood.
And lastly, as much as I hate saying this, because I really dislike the mention of it to people who haven't read this, so even though this is already in spoilers, please I really hope if you are reading onwards, its because you've already read this book and are just comparing notes on how amazing this book is with me but the TWISTS!!! It literally felt like we were being gaslighted throughout the book. All these different sources give us a different view of the same character, you never knew who to trust, what's real, and what's manipulation. You start from hating someone to rooting for them, back and forth like a tennis match.
I realize that my review is rather rambly but that is essentially how this book makes me feel, there are just so many unique facets to this book that it's hard to pinpoint what makes it good.
All I can say is that it's a must-read for everyone. If you like Horror, you'll love it. And if you don't, you'll be left wanting more.
Brilliant, remarkable and so much more.
TW: Rape and Abuse
Def. not as good as Horns but not bad. It’s not scary but I can’t remember the last time a book caused scares like a movie so it’s not a big deal for me. I really read this kind of thing for the dark, creepy, and twisted, which Heart-Shaped Box has in spades. I do like how it’s not the bloodbath type of horror.
It is pretty standard with the plot and genre tropes but eh. It was entertaining.
It did take a while to get into. I wasn’t feeling it but it wasn’t bad enough to drop before 100 pages. It got better but I could stop reading it for the night with no compulsion to continue reading.
I do not like how it uses the “metal fans are all disturbed: the women sexually damaged and the men perverts” stereotype for every.single.one.of.them.
The surprise guest at the end felt…off. I totally understand her seeking them out and everything. But the way they went about it…just didn’t mesh, which made it feel shoe-horned in.
There are a couple of things I noticed though….
And how did they get away from the trouble they caused in the Denny’s? Why didn’t they call the cops or press charges or anything?
Def. not as good as Horns but not bad. It’s not scary but I can’t remember the last time a book caused scares like a movie so it’s not a big deal for me. I really read this kind of thing for the dark, creepy, and twisted, which Heart-Shaped Box has in spades. I do like how it’s not the bloodbath type of horror.
It is pretty standard with the plot and genre tropes but eh. It was entertaining.
It did take a while to get into. I wasn’t feeling it but it wasn’t bad enough to drop before 100 pages. It got better but I could stop reading it for the night with no compulsion to continue reading.
I do not like how it uses the “metal fans are all disturbed: the women sexually damaged and the men perverts” stereotype for every.single.one.of.them.
The surprise guest at the end felt…off. I totally understand her seeking them out and everything. But the way they went about it…just didn’t mesh, which made it feel shoe-horned in.
There are a couple of things I noticed though….
Spoiler
Since the book was right about animal companions, why didn’t he go back and read it again? It could have been right about other things.And how did they get away from the trouble they caused in the Denny’s? Why didn’t they call the cops or press charges or anything?
Oh dear, this was such a disappointment. I love a good ghost story but this doesn't even warrant being included in the genre. Maybe Mr Hill should leave the writing to his father and go out and do something else instead.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes