Stephen King Fans discussion

Marcy wrote: "I absolutely LOVED this book when I read it earlier this past spring, and recently for some unknown reason I just started thinking about it again, more and more....so I finally broke down and got m..."

Wow great post!
Bone-mallets (CREEPY) lol
Could you let me know if you hear anything on the other endings, or wraith short???

Marcy wrote: "I absolutely LOVED this book when I read it earlier this past spring, and recently for some unknown reason I just started thinking about it again, more and more....so I finally broke down and got m..."

This might help a bit....
Could you let me know if you find anything???
Welcome to the group!!!!

I really liked the book, however, I felt bad for Charles Manx....not sure why. Perhaps I spent too much time in Christmasland. I think when you feel empathy for the bad guy, it's a sign of a good writer.

Rainier, I absolutely agree. I feel like there's a Stephen King quote about that somewhere. Maybe I'm wrong, I can't remember.

I have read 'On Writing' by Stephen King. Perhaps he mentions something about that but then again I can't remember either.

I just finished NOS4A2 this week. It was great. If anybody is thinking about picking up the audio version of this I would totally suggest it. Kate Mulgrew (aka Capt. Janeway from Star Trek Voyager or the Russian Cook from Orange is the New Black) does a fantastic job reading the book. She made Vic come to life for me.

I would highly suggest this book to whoever has liked Joe Hill's other books.

I have enjoyed all of Joe Hill's books. I like finding references to SK's books hidden within them!

Man did I love this book, I don't think I have ever finished a book this fast before.

Micah wrote: "I just finished NOS4A2 this week. It was great. If anybody is thinking about picking up the audio version of this I would totally suggest it. Kate Mulgrew (aka Capt. Janeway from Star Trek Voyager..."

I also had the audio version and agree 100% I actually felt that her Manx was spot on. And The Gingerbread man too. She gave me shivers.

The cover art for this book is amazing. Since I had the kindle version of the book I totally missed out.

I'm thinking about reading this book next. I've not read any Joe Hill yet. Is this the best one to start with?

I thoughtt this was his best so far...so you may want to read it last. Heart shapedbox...Horns...then Nos..in my humble opinion.

I loved all of them equally.

Locke and Key, Horns and Nos4A2 were my favorites though.

Heart Shaped Box was fun too.

I loved this book I just finished it. I think it was just as good as Horns though I read Horns allot quicker (I know it's shorter but it was still a quick read for me anyway).

Well, I think heart shaped box is the best. I kind of feel that NOS is too much seventies King. I did enjoyed it though.

Out of all of them I would say Locke and Key was the best. The characters were a lot of fun.

I think his work is unique enough to be distinct from his old man. His dad has a lot of repeating elements that his work becomes repetitive at points. ( there is a fun drinking game based on the repetition of Stephen King cliches.)

I loved NOS4A2 , and I thinks it's really cool how his father is mentioning some of Hill's characters in his books. Like Judas Coyne (Heart Shaped Box) in Mr Mercedes, and King also mentioned Charlie Manx in Doctor Sleep.

Mr. Mercedes....

I love that Cody! Thanks for letting me know about the brief crossover.

Margaret wrote: "Well, I think heart shaped box is the best. I kind of feel that NOS is too much seventies King. I did enjoyed it though."

Agreed!!!

1. Heart Shaped Box
2. NOS4A2
3. The Locke and Key Collection
4. Horns (on pins and needles waiting for the movie!!!)

I agree on how you ordered Hill's novels, Ashley, Heart Shaped Box scared the hell out of me! Still haven't read Locke and Key though...

Cody wrote: "I agree on how you ordered Hill's novels, Ashley, Heart Shaped Box scared the hell out of me! Still haven't read Locke and Key though..."

OMG!!!!
Go to Amazon and order them!!!! They are fantastic!!!!

I actually read somewhere that a reviewer thought this book was misogynistic or that Joe Hill was misogynistic.

I think that couldn't be further from the truth. The main female lead in Nos4A2 is one of the strongest female leads in the horror genre. She doesn't fall into any of the tired old cliches that most horror main leads are trapped into. She isn't overly sexualized for starters and she overcomes her obstacles in a very human way.

Considering that at one part of NOS4A2 where (view spoiler)[A man gets raped by a serial rapist. (hide spoiler)] I think it's more then fair to say that Joe Hill treats both genders equally. I think it's very ignorant to ignore the facts and say otherwise.

Sorry for the rant. I needed a place to defend Joe Hill.

Jonathan wrote: "I actually read somewhere that a reviewer thought this book was misogynistic or that Joe Hill was misogynistic.

I think that couldn't be further from the truth. The main female lead in Nos4A2 is o..."

As a woman I STRONGLY AGREE WITH YOU!!!!
But not only was the main character a strong, put up with no crap/ in your face female! The other characters (Maggie!) was a strong figure!! She was not the ideal background but a strong woman none the less! (She sacrificed herself to help a friend!! If that's not THE DEFFINITION of strong then shit..

But yea you got it right it's no rant!!

Have yet to read Joe Hill. After following this thread I picked out Nos4a2 and put in in the "to read" pile, also considering Heart Shaped Box if I like the first one. I'm in the middle of some other books I'm actually rushing to finish so that I can get to it.

And if you enjoy NOS4A2 and Heart Shaped Box I'm positive you'll like Horns! Can't go wrong with Joe Hill.

Ashley wrote: "As a woman I STRONGLY AGREE WITH YOU!!!!
But not only was the main character a strong, put up with no crap/ in your face female! The other characters (Maggie!) was a strong figure!! She was not the ideal background but a strong woman none the less! (She sacrificed herself to help a friend!! If that's not THE DEFFINITION of strong then shit.. "

I am so glad to hear this! lol.

I couldn't agree more with your opinion. I feel like any flaws the main protagonist had were real ones anybody could relate to. I thought she was a very three dimensional character and I found myself cheering for her throughout the story. Plus there was nothing that made me roll my eyes whenever she overcame a obstacle, I felt like all of her victories were earned and very well thought out.

Jonathan wrote: "Ashley wrote: "As a woman I STRONGLY AGREE WITH YOU!!!!
But not only was the main character a strong, put up with no crap/ in your face female! The other characters (Maggie!) was a strong figure!! ..."

Very true the characters were VERY BELIEVABLE!!!
Like you stated you did not roll your eyes at the leading lady...
I thought all of the players in the book (minus a bit of Charlie Manx.. The supernatural stuff... Other then that he was a everyday sicko, child predator to me..)
And really to be honest the book had "another world " but how many times do you hear about people who experience a traumatic situation in there life to block it completely, or add another story and make it real to themselves...
Maybe I'm just wanting to see the PURE GENIUS of this author. (HE IS THE SON OF 1 OF THE GREATEST WRITERS OF OUR GENERATION!!!)

Ehhh maybe I'm inflating the big picture...

I'm about 1/3 the way through this book. Gotta say, this surpasses any horror/thriller I've read in a while. Great characters, funny, gritty, disturbing. It is a ride on a roller coaster, fast pace, twists and turns. Hard to put down.

E. wrote: "I'm about 1/3 the way through this book. Gotta say, this surpasses any horror/thriller I've read in a while. Great characters, funny, gritty, disturbing. It is a ride on a roller coaster, fast pace..."

I'm happy you enjoy it!!!! He has other greats too!
The 20th centery ghost story is next on my list...
HAPPY READING!!!

Ashley I don't think you are over exaggerating at all. I rarely come across a author who I can connect with. He is definitely emulating the stories I've been waiting a long time to read. I am hoping he continues to grow and surpass his father in the horror genre.

Ashley wrote: "E. wrote: "I'm about 1/3 the way through this book. Gotta say, this surpasses any horror/thriller I've read in a while. Great characters, funny, gritty, disturbing. It is a ride on a roller coaster..."

I really liked that collection. Pop Art and My Father's Mask were my two favorite stories in that collection.

I only have Wraith to read and then I am fresh out of Joe Hill stories to read. =(

Has anyone read, or been able to get their hands on, a copy of Gunpowder?

Kandice wrote: "Has anyone read, or been able to get their hands on, a copy of Gunpowder?"

No. I just noticed that it was a book that I don't own. How hard is a copy to find?

Very. I found on on Ebay for $300 but was unwilling to pay it. :*(

Actually, I thought I would check after not looking for a long time and it's much less than it was!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=...

Kandice wrote: "Actually, I thought I would check after not looking for a long time and it's much less than it was!"

Thank you! I grabbed one for my collection! Now I have a complete collection again!!

Jonathan wrote: "Ashley I don't think you are over exaggerating at all. I rarely come across a author who I can connect with. He is definitely emulating the stories I've been waiting a long time to read. I am hopin..."

I heard Wrath is AMAZING!!!!
I have to do more surveys so I have $$ for Amazon Orders!!!!

I just read The Wraith and loved it it was a great read and gave some great backstory.

Kirstie wrote: "I just read The Wraith and loved it it was a great read and gave some great backstory."

I only read the first couple of pages but so far I am enjoying it very much. There is a lot of backstory that wasn't in NOS4A2 which I think is awesome.

I'm rereading Pet Sematary right now. Early in the book, Louis is building a model car in his study: a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. I wonder if that mention had anything to do with Joe Hill's choice of a Rolls-Royce Wraith for Charlie Manx's evil vehicle.

Chris wrote: "I'm rereading Pet Sematary right now. Early in the book, Louis is building a model car in his study: a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. I wonder if that mention had anything to do with Joe Hill's choice ..."

Ooh! Good pull.

I know I'm late to this party but I had to say this (to people who care about such things). I really loved Heart-Shaped Box, and was surprised that I did. I was looking forward to this one too, but I'm afraid it pegged my creep-meter too much. Scary: good. Creepy: not so good.

Maybe it's just me.

Dennis wrote: "I know I'm late to this party but I had to say this (to people who care about such things). I really loved Heart-Shaped Box, and was surprised that I did. I was looking forward to this one too, but..."

I agree. I absolutely loved HSB, and this one was good, but it was almost too weird for me. As if I may have enjoyed it more reading it high or something. O_o

I just finished listening to the audiobook of this and Kate Mulgrew was a FANTASTIC narrator. Her Manx gave me chills, and Vic was a phenomenal heroine. SUCH a good book. And I adored the references to Joe's own past works as well as his father's, those were great. There were a few other references that cracked me up too -- the Black Keys and Horcruxes in particular.

***SPOILER ALERT*** I finally finished this one. (I put it down for a few months because I got a Kindle for Christmas. So, you know how it goes when you get a new toy, haha) I very much enjoyed it, because maybe I was able to relate to Vic in some ways. I loved the new take on the vampire mythos. Instead of the traditional vampire, Manx Fed off of the life force of his victims. I'm a new fan of Joe Hill, just started reading him in September. I highly recommend this one.

Closing this and opening a new thread for the bookclub read:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...