Stephen King Fans discussion

Apparently Mr. Hill is taking a page out of dad's playbook for this one. It seems a plague known as "Dragon Scale" that covers you with beautiful black and gold marks and then makes you spontaneously combust is ravaging human kind! The battle is on between "Cremation Squads" who are out to kill the infected and those with the disease who want to learn to control it....I'm in!

I anxiously await each of his books. Can't wait.

Very odd-sounding, but intriguing! He mind works very much like his dad's, with maybe an injection of science fiction thrown in!

So excited for this one!

The Water Street Bookstore is pre selling signed copies of The Fireman for regular retail price. Joe Hill will even personalize it if you want. I've got 7 signed Joe Hill books and his signatures almost always come with some cool little doodles and drawings.

Check out the official trailer on youtube. https://youtu.be/xvgy1C7Z40U

Eeep!

I only have one of his signed books, Horns, and he doodled on it. It is one of my absolute forever favorite gifts.

I need to get moving reading his books. I have only read one.

Erin wrote: "I need to get moving reading his books. I have only read one."
Which one?

Heart-Shaped Box

Awesome! I have really enjoyed all of Joe's stuff so far and have been patiently waiting for his next book.

Erin wrote: "Heart-Shaped Box"

+1

I re-read this at least once a year. That and Locke and Key his amazing graphic novel series remain some of the spookiest, most original horror I've read in ages. (don't beat me up but I sometimes think he's a riskier and more passionate version of his dad).

If anyone hasn't gotten around to this one yet, get to it. It's pretty marvelous.

Daniel wrote: "If anyone hasn't gotten around to this one yet, get to it. It's pretty marvelous."

I loved it! My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just started it. Pretty great so far.

This book was so fun to read! One of my favorites from Joe Hill.

Kandice wrote: "Daniel wrote: "If anyone hasn't gotten around to this one yet, get to it. It's pretty marvelous."

I loved it! My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Love your review. I just finished it myself. Now I have to go run and see if there's anything to read about this Strange Weather ...

Thanks Daniel. He mentioned it at his book signing, but I wouldn't be surprised if the title changes.

I just finished reading it yesterday and I'm disappointed in it. Way too many references to The Stand and annoying pop culture references. I kept reading hoping it would get better and wanting to see how the story ended but it just floundered. I liked Heart-shaped box and some of work but this one fell short for me. I can see giving a nod or two to his dad the book is riddled them so much that it becomes annoying. Add the pop culture references and it just adds to the mess. I expect more from a multi-published writer. Will I read his next book? Yes, but I don't think I'll finish it if it's anything like The Fireman. The premise was interesting but the execution fell short. Don't get me wrong, Hill can write and some parts were excellent but I found myself eye rolling through half of the book. Plus, I can suspend disbelieve like anyone but some of the stuff was so unbelievable I just couldn't deal with it. Like the main character Harper performing great feats all while being very much pregnant. Believe me, I've been pregnant and there's no way she would have been able to do half of the stuff she did toward the end.

Bev Vincent's review of this book (in the latest issue of Cemetery Dance magazine) was very transparent:

"...lulls the reader into complacency before launching into fantastic and thrilling scenes of conflict..."

Translation: He bores the reader to death for 75% of the book before figuring out what to do with his end-of-the-world scenario.

Have tried to purchase it several times; it's out of print here (in South East Queensland, Australia). I have to wait for the paperback.

Try eBay since they have a global assistant
You do need PayPal and there is always good prices on books

Andrew wrote: "Have tried to purchase it several times; it's out of print here (in South East Queensland, Australia). I have to wait for the paperback."

This may be stupid and of no help (translation: you've already tried this), but if you're not opposed to buying online, I bought my copy from BookDepository.com. They have free shipping worldwide. (Again, may be something you already knew and I'm wasting my time. Sorry if I wasted yours.)

Liz wrote: "Andrew wrote: "Have tried to purchase it several times; it's out of print here (in South East Queensland, Australia). I have to wait for the paperback."

This may be stupid and of no help (translat..."
Absolutely, thanks Liz. Yes I traditionally do buy from Bookdepository (while Dymocks is my go-to 'real' store, or QBD sometimes as they seem cheaper often). I was just trying for a quick purchase as it was the holiday season, so I bought other books instead (Hex, The Dray and Pretty Girls - all good). If it turns out I can't wait for the paperback I'll definitely get it on BD.

I'm new to the conversation so I missed the part about needing your copy quickly. I hope you do get it. I need to read it yet. I put it off to read The Stand first, which I did accomplish last year, so now I have no excuse.

This book was nothing short of incredible. Seriously, as someone who just finished it yesterday, if there's anyone here debating whether or not they should read it, PLEASE DO IT! I only regret holding off and missing potential discussions with fans!

I really enjoyed it as well, Bailey. Really good story.

Reading this now, about 3/4th of the way through it. I think it's a great book so far.

Erin wrote: "Reading this now, about 3/4th of the way through it. I think it's a great book so far."

The first time I read this I was so distracted by imagining the 'scale! I have such a lovely picture of it in my head now. It was a terrific writing tool for him with this particular story.

I thought it was pretty original as well.

How many people checked for scales? It is a well thought out and written book kept me wanting more.

After I read Fireman, and having read Horns, I knew I had to read NOS4A2. Am I glad I did! It's one hell of a novel. Brilliant in plot, suspense and charaters.

Kandice wrote: "Erin wrote: "Reading this now, about 3/4th of the way through it. I think it's a great book so far."

The first time I read this I was so distracted by imagining the 'scale! I have such a lovely pi..."

I have been trying to imagine what they could look like. I wish there was a picture of it in the book.

Erin wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Erin wrote: "Reading this now, about 3/4th of the way through it. I think it's a great book so far."

The first time I read this I was so distracted by imagining the 'scale! I have ..."

I let my mind follow his description of the scales and I had no problem I just saw a cross between fish and dragon scales and add a lovely red to yellow tint to them and he presto I had the scales. Well it worked for me anyway.

I started this several days ago and am around page 260. I'm listening to the audiobook, narrated by Kate Mulgrew (LOVE IT!) and following along in the physical copy. I don't believe I've read enough to warrant an opinion, but some parts I'm really bored with and have kept reading simply to listen to Kate Mulgrew speak. I love her voice.

Liz I think this is one of those books you either love or you don't.

Just over a year after this came out I noticed it had finally come into my library. I snatched it up and nearly ran out the door. I don't think I even read the blurb. (It's really rather rare to find a Joe Hill book in our library)
I have a couple of other books to read before this, so I better get a move on. I'm excited to start.

Reenie wrote: "Just over a year after this came out I noticed it had finally come into my library. I snatched it up and nearly ran out the door. I don't think I even read the blurb. (It's really rather rare to fi..."

I hope you enjoy it! I don't want to give anything away, especially since you haven't even read the blurb, but this one kept me imagining how something looked for weeks.

Reenie, your going to love this book.

Kandice I'm with you on that, I was the same way.

Reenie wrote: "Just over a year after this came out I noticed it had finally come into my library. I snatched it up and nearly ran out the door. I don't think I even read the blurb. (It's really rather rare to fi..."

Let us know what you think about it.

Ok, so I wasn't too sure to begin with. A slow burner, if you will.

From about a third of the way in, I was in love.

I have a picture of the dragon scale in mind, it's quite beautiful to my eye. Clearly it's consequences are not. I can imagine something like this happening, and I'm sadly sure that Hill is spot on with how folks would behave. Human nature can be very cruel, and when pushed like this I think part of it can give way, perhaps to the man down stairs, or simply insanity.

I thought the camp was ideal, a perfect place to hide out the apocalypse. However, they're human and prone to basic errors of judgement. This quote from King seemed to sum it up perfectly, for me, anyway.

“Show me a man or a woman alone and I'll show you a saint. Give me two and they'll fall in love. Give me three and they'll invent the charming thing we call 'society'. Give me four and they'll build a pyramid. Give me five and they'll make one an outcast. Give me six and they'll reinvent prejudice. Give me seven and in seven years they'll reinvent warfare. Man may have been made in the image of God, but human society was made in the image of His opposite number, and is always trying to get back home.”

I'm in love with John and Harper, and the little f'd up family that they've created at the top of the tower.
That's as far as I've got for now.

See I said you would love it. Well worth reading and I will be reading it again as soon as I finish the group read of the Dark Tower series.