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Thumbprint: A Story
by
Joe Hill
A short story from New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill.
ebook, 42 pages
Published
October 23rd 2012
by William Morrow
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I wanted to read this because I absolutely loved his novel, Heart-Shaped Box. I'm not a huge fan of short stories as a rule, but this one was pretty good.
Even so, I'm even more excited to read his novel (out next year), NOS4A2 (say it out loud if you don't get it.)
Anyway. :) Thumbprint is about a soldier named Mal. She was in the Army and was at Abu Ghraib, where she was one of the soldiers in one of the pictures. Fortunately for her, you just saw her boot which means that she wasn't arrested or...more
Even so, I'm even more excited to read his novel (out next year), NOS4A2 (say it out loud if you don't get it.)
Anyway. :) Thumbprint is about a soldier named Mal. She was in the Army and was at Abu Ghraib, where she was one of the soldiers in one of the pictures. Fortunately for her, you just saw her boot which means that she wasn't arrested or...more
"You'd be surprised what you can do to people".
I haven't read or watched a lot of fiction that has to do with war. I've only really seen a handful of movies and the majority of them paint soldiers in a glowing light. I'm not about to sit here and criticize those who put themselves directly in harms way on a daily basis - a job I could never find the balls to do myself - I'll leave that to others; others like Joe Hill.
The bulk of this story follows Mal Greenfell, a solider that returned from Iraq...more
I haven't read or watched a lot of fiction that has to do with war. I've only really seen a handful of movies and the majority of them paint soldiers in a glowing light. I'm not about to sit here and criticize those who put themselves directly in harms way on a daily basis - a job I could never find the balls to do myself - I'll leave that to others; others like Joe Hill.
The bulk of this story follows Mal Greenfell, a solider that returned from Iraq...more
As I excitedly wait for the next novel by horror/comic book writer, Joe Hill, I noticed this brief tale on the Kindle Store for only 99 cents. As a fan of short stories (and a man impatient with the wait for new books from many of his favorite authors), I downloaded and read through this one in an evening. Fans of Hill's horror short stories may be disappointed by this thriller which deals completely with realistic events; however, this taut thriller delivers other facets of Hill's writing-style...more
Wow...I'm really torn and speechless on this one. I love Joe Hill. I've never read anything he's written that I didn't absolutely admire and adore, both for the wordsmith and creativity.
Until now.
I've purposely refused to read anything about this story prior to reading it, I wanted it to be a fresh experience. I'm guessing that this was a story written early in Hill's career, republished now. I remember seeing different cover art somewhere, I think.
It's not a horror story; moreso a military-them...more
Until now.
I've purposely refused to read anything about this story prior to reading it, I wanted it to be a fresh experience. I'm guessing that this was a story written early in Hill's career, republished now. I remember seeing different cover art somewhere, I think.
It's not a horror story; moreso a military-them...more
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This was a quick read, and it for sure kept me interested in finding out what was going on. I right away did not like the main character, she was not someone I could feel for or relate to. In fact, she was kind of a nasty person. Even so, I still had to find out what the deal was. The flashbacks only cemented my dislike of the character and her compadres even more. Maybe that really does go on over there, in fact it probably does in some cases, but I was cringing reading it. It was because of he...more
Mal is receiving notes at random times and locations. Each note is a blank piece of paper that contains a single thumbprint, and each thumbprint is different. Who is sending the notes to Mal, and why? A nice horror/suspense piece by Joe Hill, the son of Stephen King.
This is a short story/Kindle download that can be finished in 30 minutes to an hour. I wish I could tell you more about it, but I would give everything away. Would love to know what friends thought about this story.
Equally impressi...more
This is a short story/Kindle download that can be finished in 30 minutes to an hour. I wish I could tell you more about it, but I would give everything away. Would love to know what friends thought about this story.
Equally impressi...more
In the story, "Thumbprint," Hill really does a fantastic job of delving into the debasement of one's humanity by the many things asked of a soldier during war. Some, whose nature is ripe for it in the first place, gravitate toward it more easily than others. In one paragraph, regarding the $200 per month bonus received by soldiers in a combat zone, the protagonist Mallory Grennan reflects upon this.
"Two hundred dollars a month was what it cost to make a torturer out of her."
It's a very short but...more
"Two hundred dollars a month was what it cost to make a torturer out of her."
It's a very short but...more
En la mayoría de formatos audiovisuales nos presentan a los soldados de guerra como héroes, guerreros en armadura plateada. Pero siempre aparecerá alguien: un director, un guionista, un pintor o un escritor que nos muestre el otro lado de la moneda; el lado siniestro y oscuro… aquel que nadie debe de conocer.
Este cuento nos relata exactamente lo que plasmé en el párrafo anterior: una protagonista que participó de alguna manera en la guerra y cuyo pasado trató de dejar atrás cuando volvió a su ho...more
Este cuento nos relata exactamente lo que plasmé en el párrafo anterior: una protagonista que participó de alguna manera en la guerra y cuyo pasado trató de dejar atrás cuando volvió a su ho...more
A hell of a read for ninety nine cents. It was dark, brutal, and effective. I had initially wished there was more, but now I think it was the perfect length. Hill tackles the Iraqi prisoner torture issue with unflinching detail; certainty not for those who get squeamish reading details of torture and violence. There was also a sample of his newest book which I'll certainly be checking out before too long.
P.S. Hey self, why did you wait so bloody long to read Joe Hill? Honestly!
P.S. Hey self, why did you wait so bloody long to read Joe Hill? Honestly!
Joe Hill has become one of my favorite authors. This story had me turning the pages, but the ending had me saying "What the...?l" and that's what knocked it down a star. I read another reviewers take on it about how it wrongly portrayed American soldiers. Uh, it's a horror story and everything therein worked to help the piece. It doesn't take much to know that all American soldiers aren't like that. More like a very small percentage. Very much looking forward to NOS4A2.
While it is well-written, I just found it too much of a task to read a story no matter how short where the main character isn't either likeable enough to care what happens to her or quite despisable enough to actually wish her harm.
The reasons behind the thumbprints were just enough to keep me curious but I just don't see myself recommending this work to anyone off hand (unlike everything else Joe Hill has written).
The reasons behind the thumbprints were just enough to keep me curious but I just don't see myself recommending this work to anyone off hand (unlike everything else Joe Hill has written).
Mallory Grennan (Mal) just got back from four years in Iraq, serving at least part of that time helping interrogate prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison.
She was not a nice person over there and she's not a nice person now that she's back home.
Hill's story is a novella exploring abuse and torture and the effects on both the tortured and the abuser.
Great psychological thriller.
She was not a nice person over there and she's not a nice person now that she's back home.
Hill's story is a novella exploring abuse and torture and the effects on both the tortured and the abuser.
Great psychological thriller.
All in all I wasn't extremely impressed with this offering from Hill. He's an adept storyteller and can nail the realism of almost any scene but for me the story itself just wasn't there. Good characterization and action but it just fell short before it could really make its point. Still an entertaining read but Joe's an author capable of so much more.
started and finished this last night; I didn't love the story, all in all. it seemed a little rushed and didn't seem to have much clear direction, but I suppose that may have been the point. the more interesting part of the ebook was the excerpt from the forth coming NOS4A2, which seems to have a good deal of potential.
I really liked that Mal was an anti-hero, someone you really didn't like very much. However, as the story progressed, you at least understood her a bit.
I also liked that Joe Hill had the guts to write about an experience that is something most Americans would like to sweep under the rug.
I also liked that Joe Hill had the guts to write about an experience that is something most Americans would like to sweep under the rug.
Short story. The ending was a little..I don't know, abrupt, but this was a.. I'm not going to say good story because it was hard to read for me, due to the content. Very, realistically written, though, it put me into the story rather quickly and, it's stayed with me. Now, I'm waiting for NOS482.
I was kind of mad at this story, actually.
Don't get me wrong. Joe Hill's writing is flawless, as usual.
Some... no, most, of the material might be offensive to readers, so read with caution.
As for the ending, well... I'll just say: like father, like son.
Don't get me wrong. Joe Hill's writing is flawless, as usual.
Some... no, most, of the material might be offensive to readers, so read with caution.
As for the ending, well... I'll just say: like father, like son.
Funky short story about a woman Who served at an Army prison in Iraq and what follows her home.
Cannot help but think of how neocons justify torture with the assumption that the info it yields will help hunt down terrorists.
Interesting read.
Cannot help but think of how neocons justify torture with the assumption that the info it yields will help hunt down terrorists.
Interesting read.
Delicious! Joe Hill is an amazing short story writer and a good novelist. If he keeps up this show of talent he may rival his father one day!
...meaning I should be buying signed copies of his books, now... :D
...meaning I should be buying signed copies of his books, now... :D
Excellent short story, reminds you of his dad. I don't get any political commentary at all from the story. The details are simply the setting for the protagonists struggle.
A soldier returned home struggles with inner demons, and whether the time in service changed her, or just brought out the evil in her.
A soldier returned home struggles with inner demons, and whether the time in service changed her, or just brought out the evil in her.
I read this in The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror #19. A decent read, but not so good I would recommend it.
The less I say about this short story from Hill, the better. An indictment of the Iraqi war, the story goes nowhere and says nothing of interest. Hill would be better served to stay away from politics and write what he does best. This isn't it.
Another good Joe Hill short story. Not my favorite by him but this delivers what Hill is good for; it will take a lot to beat Last Breath or Horns. The ending is unexpected. The NOS4A2 preview is nice.
Oct 24, 2012
Rachel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Hill fans, fans of dark realism, short stories
This is probably one of the most disturbing Joe Hill stories I've read, mainly because it has no supernatural elements to it. I could honestly see this happening.
Joe Hill writes a lot about bad people who do bad things, and I swear I'm never going to understand the point of anything he does.
I honestly expected more from this short story. Joe Hill's stories usually have more edge to them. I was not impressed.
1.5 stars
1.5 stars
Too short and felt rushed. The ending left much to be desired. Not the best work of Joe Hill but worth the 1.99 on Amazon.
This was a fun little thriller dotted with bits of politics wrapped up in an interesting mystery. Definitely worth the read. Recommended.
A good quick read from the son of the King of horror.
Unsettling. Good story, just unsettling.
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| Anyone else excited to see this? | 1 | 6 | Oct 04, 2012 07:08pm |
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Joseph Hillstrom King (born 1972) is an American writer of fiction, writing under the pen name of Joe Hill.
Hill is the the second child of authors Stephen King and Tabitha King. His younger brother Owen King is also a writer. He has three children.
Hill's first book, the lim...more
More about Joe Hill...
Joseph Hillstrom King (born 1972) is an American writer of fiction, writing under the pen name of Joe Hill.
Hill is the the second child of authors Stephen King and Tabitha King. His younger brother Owen King is also a writer. He has three children.
Hill's first book, the lim...more
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