Heart-Shaped Box

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (2007)

Reader's Annotation

A retired death-metal rocker buys a dead man's suit for his collection of the macabre—ghost included according to the seller.

Summary

Retired death-metal rocker Judas Coyne has two collections: one of the grotesque and bizarre, the other of the current and former girlfriends he likes to call by their states of origin. When Jude buys a dead man's suit—complete with ghost according to its online seller—for the first collection, it turns out to be connected to his second collection as well. The ghost is Craddock McDermott, step-father of Jude's former girlfriend Florida (real name: Anna). McDermott blames Jude for Anna's death and is bent on destroying him and anyone who cares for him. After Jude's personal assistant Danny hangs himself under Craddock's malevolent influence, Jude and his current girlfriend Georgia (real name: Marybeth) drive south to confront Anna's sister, who tricked Jude into buying the ghost, and to discover the truth behind Anna's apparent suicide. As he faces the ghost's threat to himself and to Marybeth, whom he now realizes he loves, Jude must also confront his past and his own personal demons.

Evaluation

At the start of this book, I was not sure I would like either Judas Coyne or his girlfriend Georgia/Marybeth, but, as the story unfolded and I got to know them better, I came to like them and to fear for their survival. Both are complex characters with difficult and painful pasts, who are better people than they realize, and both change for the better in the course of the story. Joe Hill has written that rarity, a character-driven horror novel. Hill may be even better than his famous father Stephen King at creating complex and interesting characters. And like his father, Hill is a master of the small details that bring a narrative to life. Much of the creepiness of the novel comes from Hill's very visual descriptions—the black marker scribbles covering the eyes of ghosts for example.

This novel isn't for everyone. Those who prefer a plot-driven story may find it slow to develop. Those who dislike disturbing imagery and crude language will want to avoid it.

If you liked Heart-Shaped Box, you should try Hill's second novel Horns. The novels of Joe Hill should appeal to fans of Stephen King and vice-versa.

Genres: Horror
Subgenres: Supernatural Horror

The Overnight

The Overnight by Ramsey Campbell (2005)

Reader's Annotation

The fog never lifts at the newest TEXTS mega bookstore. Damp fog things shift books, and blurry print spreads like a fungus as staff begin to die.

Summary

Woody, an American, was recently transferred to England to open a new branch of TEXTS, the American mega bookstore, but there's something strange about the new location: the fog never lifts and customers stay away in droves. Every morning books have been shifted about and are damp to the touch. Blurry print spreads to books and computer screens like a fungus. The store's first big inspection is fast approaching as one staff member is killed by a hit-and-run driver and another loses the ability to read. Woody's only hope to get the store in shape is to schedule all remaining staff to work overnight before the inspection.

Evaluation

The point of view changes with each chapter, cycling through all the staff members of the bookstore. As a result, the book gets off to a slow start. I found it hard to get to know and identify with the many characters enough to develop sympathy for them, especially when many of the characters come off as rather unlikable. Nevertheless, the story does pick up, and I do come to like several of the characters enough to care what happens to them. The events and imagery are very creepy and atmospheric, and the novel comes to a satisfying conclusion. I would recommend this book to those who like lots of creepy imagery and enjoy visualizing a book like a movie. Those who like more complexly realized and sympathetic characters may be disappointed. Readalike authors are Dean Koontz and, to a lesser degree, Stephen King.

Genres: Horror
Subgenres: Supernatural Horror