klmz43 's review for:

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

4.0

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I truly enjoyed reading this book, start to finish. The beginning was so much creepier than I was prepared for, making it even more delightful to read. I enjoyed the characters and slowly putting together their back stories. And I enjoyed how it all culminated. For a first outing, this novel is damn near perfect. In fact, I originally gave it five stars. As I've stepped away from it, though, I've started to see some of the flaws that my initial infatuation with the story glossed over. It's not as over written as NOS4A2 or Horns, but is definitely wordy; I felt there were some parts that didn't need the in-depth descriptions, where other parts were beautifully done. Sometimes, Joe Hill provides the guide for his readers to figure out what's going on, like slowly opening a gift, but sometimes he explains the gift in painstaking detail before you're even allowed to see the wrapping paper. And also, there was intense momentum in the first half of the book. So intense, I felt like if I stopped reading, the book might actually go on without me. But the second half, while well written, entertaining, and engaging, didn't quite have the same pull. I certainly wanted to find out the ending, but I didn't feel drawn back into the story, didn't spend as much time thinking about it when I wasn't reading.

Overall, a strong 4.5 stars, well worth the time, and one helluva first novel. Just read the first half with all the lights on, huh?