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This was an honestly fascinating ride of a novel. I wasn't entirely certain what to expect because of some reviews, but I'm certainly happy I got to read it. I was also a bit more satisfied with the ending than I thought I would be.
So what's the big deal with Hill's big novel?
Is it really an origin story for a handful of firestarters among a whole world's spontaneous combustion? A survival tale against the hate and fear riddled remnants of "clean" humanity? One of those ever-decreasing remnants ...more
So what's the big deal with Hill's big novel?
Is it really an origin story for a handful of firestarters among a whole world's spontaneous combustion? A survival tale against the hate and fear riddled remnants of "clean" humanity? One of those ever-decreasing remnants ...more
Joe Hill, what have you gone and done?! I have been waiting a long time for your new book to be published and then you went and made it so good that I couldn't put it down and now I've finished it! That was quite a trip.
Joe Hill has total mastery of this story. His writing is witty and his cultural referencing is spot on. There are many references to Harry Potter (he must be a child of the generation who grew up reading those volumes) and to his dad's works, John Grisham and of course Mary Poppi ...more
Joe Hill has total mastery of this story. His writing is witty and his cultural referencing is spot on. There are many references to Harry Potter (he must be a child of the generation who grew up reading those volumes) and to his dad's works, John Grisham and of course Mary Poppi ...more
So I've read all of Joe Hill's books (other than some rare stories and some of the comics), and of course when The Fireman came out I had to get a copy immediately. It did take me a few months to get to it. I didn't know what it was about, except that it had something to do with a fireman. But I trust Joe Hill and he hasn't let me down yet.
So right away we were seeing that something was very wrong. The apocalypse was nigh, as we learned pretty early on that some dreaded disease was sweeping acro ...more
So right away we were seeing that something was very wrong. The apocalypse was nigh, as we learned pretty early on that some dreaded disease was sweeping acro ...more
Reread 2024 - 3.5 stars
On rereading this I’m giving a slight downgrade on my rating.
Since I first read this in 2016 I have read several books by Joe Hill, and I tend to really like his work. Having now read several other of his works including Heart-Shaped Box, NOS4A2, 20th Century Ghosts, and Strange Weather: Four Short Novels, I would say that The Fireman is probably my least favourite of Hill’s books.
I do like the premise and the actual story here, but I where I think it fails a bit is with t ...more
On rereading this I’m giving a slight downgrade on my rating.
Since I first read this in 2016 I have read several books by Joe Hill, and I tend to really like his work. Having now read several other of his works including Heart-Shaped Box, NOS4A2, 20th Century Ghosts, and Strange Weather: Four Short Novels, I would say that The Fireman is probably my least favourite of Hill’s books.
I do like the premise and the actual story here, but I where I think it fails a bit is with t ...more
Review: THE FIREMAN by Joe Hill
Late in the final strains of this literary symphony, our protagonist is remarked on as "having trouble catching her breath." At nine months pregnant, having endured several versions of Hades and at this moment in fear of her life, not catching breath is quite understandable. I felt as if I had not exhaled for the entire two days of reading this novel; if there's a literal possibility of "heart in throat," I've lived it.
There will inevitably be comparisons to novels ...more
Late in the final strains of this literary symphony, our protagonist is remarked on as "having trouble catching her breath." At nine months pregnant, having endured several versions of Hades and at this moment in fear of her life, not catching breath is quite understandable. I felt as if I had not exhaled for the entire two days of reading this novel; if there's a literal possibility of "heart in throat," I've lived it.
There will inevitably be comparisons to novels ...more
Well, not to taunt any of my reading buddies who haven't gotten to this yet but this is one hell of a book. I wondered part way in how he was going to continue the story and make it suspenseful since it was not really a fantasy or horror book. It really just follows Harper from beginning to end. The suspense was pretty intense, though, and I had to stop listening at night because it was making me too tense to sleep.
The Dragonscale was kind of an interesting "disease" and I really liked all of th ...more
The Dragonscale was kind of an interesting "disease" and I really liked all of th ...more
The Fireman is an entertaining take on the post-apocalyptic genre, complete with group hysteria and prejudice, some weird cultishness and a cast of colourful characters. Hill is a great storyteller and I think he particularly excels at strong female characters, in this book as well as others.
I listened to the Audible narration and Kate Mulgrew did an excellent job of it, aside from her English accent for The Fireman himself which was just a little bit cringeworthy.
I listened to the Audible narration and Kate Mulgrew did an excellent job of it, aside from her English accent for The Fireman himself which was just a little bit cringeworthy.
4.5 stars
Joe Hill has a gift for creating memorable characters. He's also a great storyteller. His Locke and Key graphic series was genius; I gave each volume in the series 5 stars.
The Fireman is not exception. Hill creates a simple plot, a parasite takes over a large part of the world which causes spontaneous combustion the majority of the time in its host, and crafts a cast of characters that you follow over the course of about a year. Even though most of the book is about the day to day live ...more
Joe Hill has a gift for creating memorable characters. He's also a great storyteller. His Locke and Key graphic series was genius; I gave each volume in the series 5 stars.
The Fireman is not exception. Hill creates a simple plot, a parasite takes over a large part of the world which causes spontaneous combustion the majority of the time in its host, and crafts a cast of characters that you follow over the course of about a year. Even though most of the book is about the day to day live ...more
Great book! It was exciting, interesting, thrilling! I had so much fun reading it! Surprises until the end!
The reviews for this book are all over the map but I thought it was a solid, entertaining read. PA tale told from the viewpoint of the infected. Dragonscale starts with discoloratins on the skin that eventually form in to a type of tattoo and for the majority of the victims ends with them going up in flames. The story centers around a group of infected hiding in an abandoned summer camp, the difference with these victims is they have discovered a way to control the disease. Of course the outside
...more
Didn't get any further than 7% in. I had only a little idea of what was to happen in the book before picking it up. When I found out that it would cover the same ground as "The Stand", I realized there was no point in continuing. I never finished "The Stand", so what was the point in spending more time on this?
Best part of the audiobook so far was being read to by Kate Mulgrew/Captain Janeway. ...more
Best part of the audiobook so far was being read to by Kate Mulgrew/Captain Janeway. ...more
This book. Whoo boy. It was so damn good and well thought out. I was totally immersed in the world from the very beginning. I haven’t hated characters so much in a long time; so many pieces of shit in this world, but also some really great people as well. Just like real life lol
I have only read one Joe Hill previously, (I absolutely loved Strange Weather), and was expecting a The Fireman to be a less traditional post apocalyptic novel than it was. It didn't deviate much from the conventions of the genre.
I found it an easy read, although the main character Harper annoyed me. Was she meant to be the strong, stoic, no f's given character, or was she a head in the clouds, just looking for a strong man to take care of her, 67 year old stuck in a 26 year old's body? I was s ...more
I found it an easy read, although the main character Harper annoyed me. Was she meant to be the strong, stoic, no f's given character, or was she a head in the clouds, just looking for a strong man to take care of her, 67 year old stuck in a 26 year old's body? I was s ...more
By now, I’m sure you have read the description of The Fireman, so I will spare you my terrible retelling of it. You’re welcome. Ow here’s my terrible review:
I really enjoyed listening to this book. The audio narrator is Kate Mulgrew, who also narrates NOS4A2. She does an amazing job! I’d recommend listening.
Joe Hill is good for using many non-PC, sarcastic comments during dialogue between characters. I listen to the books while I “watch” my kids Little League Baseball games, I was often caught ...more
I really enjoyed listening to this book. The audio narrator is Kate Mulgrew, who also narrates NOS4A2. She does an amazing job! I’d recommend listening.
Joe Hill is good for using many non-PC, sarcastic comments during dialogue between characters. I listen to the books while I “watch” my kids Little League Baseball games, I was often caught ...more
Apr 23, 2017
Amber (Books of Amber)
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own-tbr
Aug 19, 2019
Alexis
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
unowned-tbr-horror-mystery
