Heart-Shaped Box

Joe Hill

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"Heart-Shaped Box" by Joe Hill follows the story of aging rockstar Judas Coyne who purchases a haunted suit online, unknowingly acquiring a vengeful ghost along with it. The book delves into themes of ghosts, malevolent spirits, and the consequences of one's past actions. The plot is filled with suspense and eerie moments, keeping readers engaged as the story unfolds. Hill's writing style is described as well-crafted, suspenseful, and full of vivid descriptions that create a chilling atmosphere throughout the book.

Characters:

The characters are complex and well-developed, with the protagonist being a flawed yet relatable rock star, and the ghost serving as a menacing force that propels the story.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is tight and engaging, characterized by vivid descriptions and well-paced narrative that keeps the reader absorbed in the unfolding horror.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on an aging rock star who, after purchasing a ghost via the internet, finds himself facing vengeful supernatural forces connected to his past.

Setting:

The setting shifts from a secluded farmhouse to various locations in the South, with a focus on an eerie atmosphere that reflects the main character's inner turmoil.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast, especially in the early sections, but has moments of slower build-up that enhance the build-up of tension before leading to a thrilling conclusion.

He had framed sketches of the Seven Dwarfs on the wall of his studio, in between his platinum records. John Wayne Gacy had drawn them while he was in jail and sent them to him. Gacy liked golden-age D...

Notes:

Heart-Shaped Box is the debut novel by Joe Hill, son of Stephen King.

The story follows an aging rock star named Judas Coyne who collects macabre items.

Jude buys a haunted suit online, which leads to terrifying consequences as the ghost seeks revenge.

The character of Jude is initially unlikable but undergoes significant development throughout the novel.

The haunting is tied to Jude's past, specifically his relationship with a former girlfriend who committed suicide.

Joe Hill's writing style is reminiscent of his father's but establishes its own distinct narrative.

The novel explores themes of regret, redemption, and confronting one's dark past.

It has received several accolades, including a Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel.

Heart-Shaped Box combines elements of horror, thriller, and character study in its narrative.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include references to suicide, domestic abuse, and self-harm.

Has Romance?

There is a romantic subplot involving Judas and Georgia, which adds emotional depth to the story.

From The Publisher:

"Wild, mesmerizing, perversely witty….A Valentine from hell."

-Janet Maslin, New York Times

The publication of Joe Hill's beautifully textured, deliciously scary debut novel Heart-Shaped Box was greeted with the sort of overwhelming critical acclaim that is rare for a work of skin-crawling supernatural terror. It was cited as a Best Book of the Year by Atlanta magazine, the Tampa Tribune, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the Village Voice, to name but a few. Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Neil Gaiman of The Sandman, The Graveyard Book, and Anansi Boys fame calls Joe Hill's story of a jaded rock star haunted by a ghost he purchased on the internet, "relentless, gripping, powerful." Open this Heart-Shaped Box from two-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Hill if you dare and see what all the well-deserved hoopla is about.

Aging death-metal rock legend Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre: a cookbook for cannibals...a used hangman's noose...a snuff film. But nothing he possesses is as unique or as dreadful as his latest purchase off the Internet: a one-of-a-kind curiosity that arrives at his door in a black heart-shaped box...a musty dead man's suit still inhabited by the spirit of its late owner. And now everywhere Judas Coyne goes, the old man is there-watching, waiting, dangling a razor blade on a chain from his bony hand.

Ratings (114)

Incredible (15)
Loved It (38)
Liked It (30)
It Was OK (20)
Did Not Like (7)
Hated It (4)

Reader Stats (239):

Read It (111)
Want To Read (80)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (45)

3 comment(s)

Oddlydrawncristi

Loved It

2 months

I loved this creepy story! I was wrapped up right away and hanging on until the last page. I do think it could have been a hair shorter, but otherwise enjoyed.

BGKnoxL

It Was OK

7 months

Average ghost story with an average rockstar concept for a main character.

Calliecat

Loved It

10 months

The good kind of chilling and creepy

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