Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Heart-Shaped Box
Book Review: Great idea...that does not quite deliver
Summary: 3 Stars
Jude Coyne is an aging rock-god, who is looking to add to his collection of macabre items. His assistant talks him into purchasing a ghost on an ebay-esque online auction. The trouble ensues upon delivery.
The trouble I had with this book was Jude himself. His character just wasn't fleshed out enough for me. Although his music is played on every channel he happens to listen to, he travels about unrecognized. His lifestyle does not quite lend itself to the idea of a "music legend". His home seems rather suburban and ordinary. Jude seems like he could be everyman, rather then the extreme personality he is made out to be.
The first 3/4 of the book builds on itself, quite slowly. The last third of the book was more readable. But I found myself reading the book to get through it, rather then savoring it. I also felt like "Georgia", his girlfriend, although changed for the experience she went through, was not true to herself as well. She begins the book as a self absorbed-goth-twenty-something, and ends it coming off as a middle aged-mom type. In the span of a few weeks.
I just felt that this story was a great idea, but fell a bit flat.
Book Review: Had promise....
Summary: 3 Stars
I wanted to like this book, I really did. I bought it before knowing he was the son of Stephen King. It starts off well, no boring back story but seems to jump right in. At first I was very interested, a little creeped out but about halfway through the book, I was just bored. It felt like it was going nowhere. Maybe more back story in the beginning would have actually been good so we could become better connected to the characters & eased into the actual ghost story part. Halfway through I just felt like I was reading the same thing in each chapter and it wasn't really going anywhere. I think Joe Hill definately shows promise and I hope maybe I will enjoy future books from him.Book Review: Heart Shape let down
Summary: 1 Stars
First let me say I waited a long time to read this book (maybe 2 long). The story line moved at a good pace but I didn't really get into the players. I never felt a pull for any of them to live or die. Not bad writing but it didn't grab me and suck me into the whole rocker world and the old guy in the glass's didn't do it for me.Book Review: Heart-Shaped Horror!
Summary: 5 Stars
Firstly, when I got this book, it was because I saw it reviewed in People magazine. I do like horror, but also like several other genres of fiction. In any case, this book was incredible!! Hill pulls you in and makes you LOVE his characters, the good, the bad, AND the ugly!! This book sucked me in so fast, I couldn't put it down, but at the same time, couldn't read it at night either! Hill is an amazing story teller. This is a book I will read again, just out of sheer enjoyment. Albiet a bit disturbing in some parts, isn't that JUST what makes horror so great???? I highly recommend this book if you like horror. And for those of you don't Hill is Stephen King's son!!Book Review: Heart-Shaped Review
Summary: 5 Stars
I read a lot of books, 2-3 a week. Some would say it's a little obsession of mine:-)
70 % of the books I read I struggle through or don't finish, 20 % keep my interest enough for me to look for the authors others novels, and a small 10% leave me crazed for more; leave me thinking about the characters days after I've finished the book. Heart Shaped Box is one of that small 10%.
Jude is a 54 year old semi-retired rock star; a hard rock star (think Ozzy Osborne or Alice Cooper) with plenty of skeletons in his closet. He's lived the life for 30 years, traveled the world, and collected a whole horde of Goth metal fans in the process.
Because of his reputation as a heavy metal icon he has also accumulated a huge collection of distasteful items (i.e. a snuff film, a dead witches' confession, a used noose) some of which have been donated by deranged fans and some of which he has collected himself. It's a collection he really gives no thought to until he buys a dead man's suit on the internet, a suit that supposedly brings with it the ghost of the dead man.
Before all hell broke loose though Jude had attempted the good life for some time; he was married to a women not much younger than him, he went to Fiji and France on vacation and bought sports cars, but it left something to be desired. His wife left him for being emotionally unavailable and he in return sought out a bevy of young Goth groupies (all of which he calls by the states they came from, not their real names) to occupy his time when he wasn't doing appearances or touring. Unfortunately, neither money nor women can fill the emptiness of his days. So for a little excitement he buys the suit on impulse.
Upon the purchase of the suit Jude lives on a farm in New York State with an x-stripper girlfriend he lovingly calls Georgia (that's the state she came from) and a personal assistant that handles his affairs by the name of Danny. Everything seems relatively normal, besides his complacent and cold demeanor -- he doesn't at first seem all too deep. It's not even two chapters in before the fun starts and Jude because outrageously deep, interesting, and terribly likable. Every character in the book evolves thoroughly, each having their own character arch, each dragging you in, making you want to know more. With every twist and turn they become more real, more palpable then you'd ever think was possible...even the dead man's Ghost.
So who is the dead man -- Jude's x-girlfriend (Florida's) step-daddy. See it turns out that 9 months before Georgia showed up, Jude was living with Florida a manic depressive groupie, she was so manic that he put her on a train back to her step-dad, where she slit her wrist from a broken heart-- supposedly. Her step-father was so forlorn over her loss decides that upon his death he will haunt Jude; he'll haunt Jude till he kills himself and rots in hell. Lucky for her step dad he dies a month or so after she slits her wrist. Now that's what the author wants you to think at first, but that's not the case at all.
I don't want to give any spoilers, because there are several twists to the story, and it would ruin it. I think this is one of the best psychological thrillers I've read, mostly because of Joe Hill's ability to express human emotions on the written page. He has a great way of detailing feelings; a way in which helps you to know exactly where the character is coming from. His visuals as well are spectacular; some of the most chilling moments in this book are because of how well Hill depicts the scenes.
Great book, I hope he writes several more!