Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Heart-Shaped Box
Book Review: A good read
Summary: 4 Stars
When I saw this book in hardcover, a novel about a rock star named Judas Coyne who purchases a ghost in a heart-shaped box for $1000, I thought it was interesting, but I had so much to read and I though maybe I'll read it when it comes out in paperback. I looked at the author photo and thought he looked familiar. Then, I don't know, a few weeks later, I discovered that the author, Joe Hill was the the second child of Tabitha and Stephen King.
I went back to the book shelves, and looked at the back flap where that picture was again and now I saw it. Joe Hill looked a lot like his dad. As a fan of Stephen King -having read almost every novel he's published - I wanted to see for myself if Joe Hill (an abbreviated form of his given name and a reference to executed labor leader Joe Hill, for whom he was named) could write a spooky story that kept me coming back to his dad for the last 30 years.
Sure enough, I think he did.
When Heart-Shaped Box finally came out in paper, I bought and put it at the top of my reading list -which happens all the time, by the way, pushing other books away.
Anyway, the novel and the author have very similar styles as his father. Major themes about the past, and how it never leaves you behind, remind me a many of times of the elder King's works. So does the characters themselves, who evoke a terrible childhood, which is another trademark of Stephen King, along with paying attention to details with language, accents.
Now, its not to say anything of this is bad. By and far, Joe Hill speaks in his own voice, and Heart-Shaped Box is an effective and powerful first novel. I look forward to see how Mr. Hill grows and see if he can be a creepy and suspenseful as his dad.
Book Review: A great start
Summary: 5 Stars
Heart-Shaped Box is a wonderful debut by Joe Hill. I don't know how many people know this but Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. He took a pen a pen name so he wouldn't be judged by his father's writing. In my opinion, his doing so proved his worth as a writer. He stands right on par with his father and I hope to see more from him. The plot, the characters, the details were amazing and I couldn't put the book down. I actually finished it in two days. You won't be disappointed by Joe Hill.Book Review: A great, debut thriller
Summary: 4 Stars
Hard rock star Judas Coyne enjoys collecting bizarre artifacts, so when he finds a dead man's suit that is supposed to come with a ghost for sale on an online auction site, he can't resist buying it. When he receives it is is surprised to learn that the ghost is real and has been sent to him by the vengeful family of a former girlfriend.Soon Judas is off on a road trip to try and find a way to rid himself of the ghost before it kills him and anyone he cares about.
Joe Hill is Stephen King's son, and I could see a lot of similaries in the style. Heart-Shaped Box felt a lot like an early King novel to me with a simple, direct plot and lots of references to pop culture and rock music. Since I have usually enjoyed King's books, I don't see the similarities as a negative. The book nicely built up the suspense throughout, and kept me interested until the end. My only real issue with it is that some of the revelations about the family that sent the ghost seem to be a little over-the-top. I enjoyed the book quite a bit and will definitely be looking for future books by Joe Hill.
Book Review: A legacy in horror honored
Summary: 5 Stars
This first novel by Joe Hill, author of the acclaimed collection 20th Century Ghosts, makes its US debut with no little fanfare. And it lives up to its billing.
From the moment aging Ozzy Osbourne-style rocker Judas Coyne is tricked into adding one more item to his collection of bizarre artifacts, he is faced with what one might call "a situation." What he buys on an internet auction site as a lark (to go along with other questionable things such a real snuff film), is a supposedly ghost-bearing "dead man's suit" that comes packed in a heart-shaped box. Unfortunately, the ghost is real enough, and of the seriously disturbing kind. No surprise here. The seller won't take a return, oh no. In fact, the seller has manipulated the sale. You see, the ghost of Craddock McDermott seems to be intent on seeking vengeance for the way Jude neglected a troubled groupie-girlfriend -- one in a long line of them -- who committed suicide after Jude threw her out. But there's more to it than that, as the ghost threatens to wreak his revenge by killing first everyone around Jude, and then Jude himself. Ghosts may have lost some of their luster in the digital age, but this ghost isn't just creepy, it's the ghost of a very creepy customer indeed, and his haunting is horrific enough for any novel. (Note to movie director: Please don't let CGI kill this ghost. Thank you.)
Accompanied by current girlfriend Marybeth and a pair of very loyal dogs (whose personalities really shine), Jude embarks on a desperate cross-country road trip to unlock some deep secrets, many of them his own. The destination will surprise you as it surprises him. Judas Coyne (real name Justin Cowzynski) is a well-depicted old death-rocker. Half his band is dead, his joints hurt and, at 54, he's not much for the road any more. He's not one to take a lot of crap from a girlfriend, either, and it's this part of his character that gets him into trouble in the first place. Delicately handled to be both a little superficial and yet introspective, Jude grows perceptibly from chapter to chapter, thus humanizing what might have been a caricature. His tendency to name his dogs after other rockers is an affecting aside and foreshadows the dogs' real role in the plot. Marybeth handles the suit and pricks her finger, putting her in the ghost's crosshairs too, and her character is a well-drawn catalyst to drive Jude toward self-awareness. Ultimately you'll be the judge of whether the psychology of Heart-Shaped Box works or not - but you'll definitely enjoy the ride to possible redemption.
This first novel crackles with supernatural energy and the expectation of what's to come with very little faltering, though the Ouija board strikes one as a bit obvious. It's also the moving character study of a man whose life as a rock star has almost leached away his humanity. While not as complex as it could have been, Hill keeps it fast and lean and proves his chops with well-turned phrases, making this a solid debut from a talent who'll be fun to watch. The music references are welcome, too, for music geeks everywhere. Psst, if you haven't already heard the whispers, you might have heard of Hill's dad... goes by the name of King, Stephen King.
Book Review: A novel bit of horror
Summary: 4 Stars
Joe Hill has created a novel contribution to the horror genre with HEART-SHAPED BOX. Putting an interesting spin on the vengeful ghost story, Hill places his jaded rock star protagonist into some interesting jeopardy, haunted by the ghost he bought on the internet. But things turn out to be much more complicated than that as Hill has created characters that you learn to care about despite their flaws, and he moves the story in different directions than the typical horror fare. Dogs and music become important components and the truth while not entirely surprising, still has a visceral effect when the reader is confronted with it. The actual motivation for the haunting becomes a bit weaker than it should be when you consider what the outcome ends up being, but this definitely is a novel that will give you the creeps while actually caring what happens to the characters. I look forward to more work from Hill.