Horror Aficionados discussion

Our secondary group read this month is Horns, by Joe Hill. Please remember to use spoiler tags when necessary.

Happy Reading, Horror Aficionados!

This is a great book, enjoy everyone!!!

I read it last year but I think I will read it with you too! Happy HAlloween!

I only seen the movie which I thought was pretty good so the book is probably gonna be good

I didn't like the movie much, you'll understand when you read it I think!

Yea Aaron the movie is on Netflix if you have it. The movie wasn't that bad only because the story I liked the story of it so the movie went along with it pretty good on that note, but I agree it's definitely not the best they could of done better but I enjoyed it it wasn't horrible, but I think I know what you mean Monica when I read it then I'll probably dislike the movie more lol. & I feel books are always better than the movies.

I may try to get to this one before the month is over.

One of my favorite books of all time! Can't wait to see what everyone thinks.

I want to read this one and have it - won't start right away but soon

Adamus wrote: "Yea Aaron the movie is on Netflix if you have it. The movie wasn't that bad only because the story I liked the story of it so the movie went along with it pretty good on that note, but I agree it's..."

I've only seen the movie and - surprisingly - loved it. My friend did as well, which is why she grabbed this book up. She didn't like the book as much, but thankfully is loaning it to me now.

I picked HORNS off of the TBR stack this morning after finishing NOS4A2 (check out my review if you want to know my thoughts) so I'm in. It was between this and a Robert Crais book, so the fact that it's a discussion book here tips the scales.

I have read this and really enjoyed it. I have also watched the movie. It was good but of course the book was much better :)

I'm going to join in because I picked up a hardcover copy of this book for ten cents. Last night I got it down from the shelf and wiped the dust off and got started. The story has an interesting premise so far....off and running in the first fifty pages.

I just read this in another group. It was my favorite Hill out of his 3 novels.

I just started this morning. So far it's really good and kind of trippy. I'm looking forward to continuing and seeing the movie after I'm done.

I'm on the hold list at my library and I'm next in line so I should get to it before the month is over. after I've read it, I will watch the movie.

I'm having difficulty placing this book in a time frame. According to the author, the events in the story are pre-Eminem, so I'm assuming before 1999? It's confusing, because he references cell phones, but the makes of the cars I read about (Gremlin, GTO, Road Runner) are either from the early 70's and are collector cars now or classic makes like Jaguar and Mercedes that can't really be dated. Also, the musical references are all over the place, from the Beatles to AC/DC so it makes me wonder what year it is supposed to be.

Has anyone watched the movie then read the book? Would you say it's still an enjoyable read after already knowing what happens? :)

I watched the movie & im reading the book now Georgia & so far I like it I thought the movie was pretty good, but I always feel the movies leave certain things out from the book & all the books I read that they made movies I liked the books better

Adamus wrote: "Yea Aaron the movie is on Netflix if you have it. The movie wasn't that bad only because the story I liked the story of it so the movie went along with it pretty good on that note, but I agree it's..."

Yes, I agree. I also thought that the cast wasn't particularly fitting.

Yea definitely Monica. They could of done a better job on that end

Holly, I'm reading it as a current time frame, or at least in the the past 10 years. The book phases between different times though. There is the current day, that I take for any time in the past 10 years, and their childhood, which would have been pre-Eminem; I'm guessing 80s-90s. Ig does own a Gremlin in current day, but that's confusing considering Gremlins, from what I understand, were recalled. Maybe he got a vintage one that had the issues fixed. I'm about 50% in and there is no mention, as of yet, about how Ig came to be a Gremlin owner.

Georgia wrote: "Has anyone watched the movie then read the book? Would you say it's still an enjoyable read after already knowing what happens? :)"

I find that I cannot watch a movie first if I know there is a book out for it. I always have to read the book first and then pick apart the movie.LOL

You should definitely read the book Georgia, it is very enjoyable.

Chapter 28......I loved what Ig said in the last three pages of the chapter......

starting this tomorrow.

I finished a few days ago and absolutely loved it. I'm ready to see how the movie compares.

I'm on chapter 5. (view spoiler)[ is be becoming a satyr? no, no don't tell me really. be follow me on this...he drinks a lot, when people are around him they want to do crazy things that may cause panic?, his family is into music.. (hide spoiler)]

I started the re-read too and I am re-hooked.

I finished HORNS this weekend and I think it's the best of Hill's three novels that I've read so far. Looking forward to discussing it. (Not planning on seeing the movie any time soon...)

This book is on my list of favorites. I thought it was darkly funny and very trippy (in a fantastic way). I watched the movie after I finished the book and quite a few of the changes bothered me, but it looked nice, I'll give it that.

Kit wrote: "This book is on my list of favorites. I thought it was darkly funny and very trippy (in a fantastic way). I watched the movie after I finished the book and quite a few of the changes bothered me, b..."

I just watched the movie tonight. It was such a horrid adaption. I hated what they did to Ig & Terry's relationship and how marginalized Lee. The actress who played Merrin was awful. She said every line as if it were a question instead of a statement.

I finished. I didn't like it as much as NOS4A2 but it wasn't as bad as heart shaped box.

Just started . 8 percent now

I just started yesterday. Been a busy reading month. Got to page 50 then had to turn in for the night. So far it's following the plot of the movie, which I loved. Like the writing style so far, quick reading.

My friend who loaned me the book said the book was a lot different and the movie better, so I'll see what I think.

Kit wrote: "This book is on my list of favorites. I thought it was darkly funny and very trippy (in a fantastic way). I watched the movie after I finished the book and quite a few of the changes bothered me, b..."

I love that description. One thing I liked about it was that it didn't read like one of his dad's books (I thought NOS4A2 could have been a SK novel, the way it was structured and told.) The story, the characters, the style all felt very original to me.

I finished today. Great book. Unlike some, I loved the movie, watched it a few months ago. The book was so familiar because of that.

Georgia wrote: "Has anyone watched the movie then read the book? Would you say it's still an enjoyable read after already knowing what happens? :)"

It dampened my enjoyment a little, I'll admit. I dislike watching a movie first because if they're faithful to each other, there's not many surprises. The same thing happened to me with Shutters Island

Lee's character's so different from the movie! Grrrr that makes me so angry! I'm 35 % in.

This book is way out there and definitely makes you think of the implications of slowly turning into the devil. The overall story is quite engaging, and Ig's sudden yet slow transformation is horrifying and somewhat endearing at the same time. I'm still not too sure what in the world is going on, especially at the end. Horns is entertaining, that's for sure.

I have one complaint. I have no issues with authors turning on the crudeness, especially if the characters/situations call for it (some characters can be so nasty :-). But Hill seems to take that crudeness to an unnecessary level in Horns. I'm not too sure why it had to go so far, but it was a bit over the top.

A fascinating concept in Horns is the power of Merrin's cross. Wow! Hill took that little piece of jewelry and ran all the way with it. That cross can send messages and build and/or crush relationships. That gold cross can provide a barrier or a cloak to a person's true identity. What fun and good show!

And what about those snakes?!

Curious, but what crudeness are you referring to? Do you mean the sex scenes? At the beginning they seemed to be more for the funny factor

I'm talking about the crude language such as when referring to the female anatomy as a bit excessive. My tolerance is high for violence, sex, language, gore, etc., but when it becomes noticeable to me (and I think, "again?"), I start to wonder at the necessity. This didn't keep me from enjoying Horns, it just started to rankle a bit.

I finished reading Horns today. This was an outstanding book. This book speaks a lot about getting over loss in one's life. I really enjoyed the symbolism with Horns vs Trumpets. The characters are flawed, but they are given opportunities to get past struggles. The black cat reference walking the fence was vivid and creepy.

I found some of the character's questioning about the purpose of evil and of the devil to be interesting. (view spoiler)[Was it his presence (with his demonic transformation going on) that brought out the worst in people? Did it suppress the "good" in people? People seemed to say things that they really didn't believe, or were shown not to believe by the end of the story, when in his presence. I think there's an interesting discussion there...one of the more interesting discussions that this book might bring about... (hide spoiler)]

I'm running late but I am optimistic I'll finish it by the end of the month. I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Never mind.. I didn't finish for the end of the month.

But the scene where (view spoiler)[ Ig makes his brother take all that drugs in the movie doesn't exist in the book (hide spoiler)] right??? I am going nuts!

Scott wrote: "I found some of the character's questioning about the purpose of evil and of the devil to be interesting. [spoilers removed]"

I think that, ultimately, (view spoiler)[ people say what bad things they really think, in his presence. Things that they wouldn't say otherwise, that are inside them but are a little taken to the extreme maybe. He brings them out! (hide spoiler)]

Monica wrote: "But the scene where [spoilers removed] right??? I am going nuts!"

I'm getting confused thinking about it, but there was a scene in the book with his brother on the couch. I can't remember now what happened though.

Monica wrote: "But the scene where [spoilers removed] right??? I am going nuts!"

That was one of the changes they made for the movie that made me crazy. That and (view spoiler)[the attack on the waitress (hide spoiler)]. Book!Ig was a bit more Batman to movie!Ig's Punisher. (view spoiler)[I initially thought they had switched Terry and Lee's roles in the film because of how much pain and punishment Ig was inflicting on Terry. (hide spoiler)]

Kit wrote: "Monica wrote: "But the scene where [spoilers removed] right??? I am going nuts!"

That was one of the changes they made for the movie that made me crazy. That and [spoilers removed]. Book!Ig was a ..."

Thinking about the movie confused me! Yes I hated that too. Ig was too good. Also made me crazy the fact that Lee was soooo different, and so much about him is missing.
I finished it by the way, and loved it again.