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Horrorstör
by
Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring wardrobes, shattered Brooka glassware, and vandalized Liripip sofa beds - clearly someone, or something, is up to no good. To unravel the mystery, five young employees volunteer for a long dusk-till-dawn shift and encounter horrors that defy
...more
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Nov 13, 2014
karen
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
death-is-not-the-end,
live-through-this
this book is a hoot. it gets five stars for concept and design, and a solid 3.75 for execution. i didn't realize when i started this book that the author was guy who wrote yeti vs. bear in Tall Tales with Short Cocks Vol. 4, which was one of the funnier stories in that collection, and has one of the best opening scenes in the broader collection of "stories ever written."
this book is set up like an IKEA catalog, and walks that line between humor and horror without ever putting a ring on either o ...more
4 CREEPY STARS!
You can find the full review and more about this book on my blog!
First of all,as always,I want to talk about the cover,the design of the physical book in general.I must say this is the most unique book I have ever seen.The pictures inside,the front and the back cover,the maps and the furniture,they are all perfectly made and they raised the book's awesomeness.So greatly done:)
Horrorstör is a dark horror creepy novel with suspense and hell of scary moments.I warn you,if you are
...more
Horrostör is one of those books that’s just “fine.” It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t spectacular. It was just fine.
CW: death, ghosts, floods (idk other spooky stuff)
I love the concept of this book. It is so unique – I’ve never read a book like it and believe I’m unlikely to stumble upon another. I feel it’s pretty much what you would expect from a novel pitched as a horror parody of IKEA. I’m a hoe for that Swedish furniture store and the story fed my home décor-loving heart.
I listened to the audiobook ...more
CW: death, ghosts, floods (idk other spooky stuff)
I love the concept of this book. It is so unique – I’ve never read a book like it and believe I’m unlikely to stumble upon another. I feel it’s pretty much what you would expect from a novel pitched as a horror parody of IKEA. I’m a hoe for that Swedish furniture store and the story fed my home décor-loving heart.
I listened to the audiobook ...more
I worked in retail for ten years, every job from the good (B. Dalton Bookseller), to the bad (Pearle Vision Center), to the really, really ugly (Sear's Outlet - where someone tried to return a used vibrator). The one thing all these jobs had in common? After the customers have gone home and the store is closed and the lights are turned low...it's rather creepy.
One of my favorite retail stories (and I may have told this one before - I'M OLD, so I'M ENTITLED!) is the night when Sue and I were clos ...more
One of my favorite retail stories (and I may have told this one before - I'M OLD, so I'M ENTITLED!) is the night when Sue and I were clos ...more
This deliciously quirky novel brings scares to one of the happiest places on Earth—an IKEA-esque furniture superstore. After days of mysterious occurrences like broken light fixtures and smashed wardrobes, the employees of ORSK stay after hours to investigate. Dun dun dun!
This novel taught me that any setting can be the groundwork for a spooky good time. It is also textbook perfection on how to blend horror and humor. Hendrix clearly has a blast describing overworked and underpaid employees and ...more
This novel taught me that any setting can be the groundwork for a spooky good time. It is also textbook perfection on how to blend horror and humor. Hendrix clearly has a blast describing overworked and underpaid employees and ...more
Horrorstör ; A Plot like an average-rated, Cliché Horror Movie about Haunted Places..
Creatively mixed into more Realistic issue that face millions around the world;
Working in Retail.
And uniquely presented in a Novel shaped like the same Retail Catalog..
So..Welcome to Orsk
A cheap clone of IKEA..at one of its branches by a highway road, will start a series of a Paranormal Events..
With 5 very different characters, their only common thing is working retail, But their personalities variety.. The 'Not ...more
Creatively mixed into more Realistic issue that face millions around the world;
Working in Retail.
And uniquely presented in a Novel shaped like the same Retail Catalog..
So..Welcome to Orsk
A cheap clone of IKEA..at one of its branches by a highway road, will start a series of a Paranormal Events..
With 5 very different characters, their only common thing is working retail, But their personalities variety.. The 'Not ...more
Oct 28, 2014
Carmen
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Horror Fans
Well, this book was just amazing.
Orsk, an Ikea rip-off store, is hell. Retail hell - something Hendrix seems to be very familiar with.
Here are the opening paragraphs:
It was dawn, and the zombies were stumbling through the parking lot, streaming toward the massive beige box at the far end. Later they'd be resurrected by megadoses of Starbucks, but for now they were the barely living dead. Their causes of death differed: hangovers, nightmares, strung out from epic online gaming sessions, circadian ...more
Orsk, an Ikea rip-off store, is hell. Retail hell - something Hendrix seems to be very familiar with.
Here are the opening paragraphs:
It was dawn, and the zombies were stumbling through the parking lot, streaming toward the massive beige box at the far end. Later they'd be resurrected by megadoses of Starbucks, but for now they were the barely living dead. Their causes of death differed: hangovers, nightmares, strung out from epic online gaming sessions, circadian ...more
Oct 29, 2014
mark monday
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to mark by:
Carmen
Shelves:
horror-modern
haunted house tale set in an Ikea-ish hellmouth. perfectly accomplished satiric horror, plus actual horror. and redemption! design of book is highly impressive. book is reminiscent of Bentley Little's various horror novels set in various institutions; Hendrix's story is ultimately more heartfelt and his writing glossier, more accomplished while Little remains superior in the depth of his anger at various institutions and his willingness to dive into Kafka-esque surrealism. overall a minor work b
...more
Absolutely an abysmal reading experience. Incohesive, immature, unfinished.
I'm not sure about why he actually did write it but it felt like he came out of IKEA one day and was like Whoaaaaaa dude it's so totally like a prison in there. And then wrote a nanowrimo about it. Barely 250 pages with large font (though thank god it's not any longer, I couldn't bear to suffer through any more of it), it's a shallow whirlwind through random imagery that doesn't even fit together. Shallow characters. Shal ...more
I'm not sure about why he actually did write it but it felt like he came out of IKEA one day and was like Whoaaaaaa dude it's so totally like a prison in there. And then wrote a nanowrimo about it. Barely 250 pages with large font (though thank god it's not any longer, I couldn't bear to suffer through any more of it), it's a shallow whirlwind through random imagery that doesn't even fit together. Shallow characters. Shal ...more
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
I really enjoyed Paperbacks From Hell, so was eager to read another book by Grady Hendrix. This one appealed to me, because I have a weakness for haunted ...more
“You don’t want to go out on the floor? Tough titty, said the kitty. I don’t want to go on the floor, either, but having a job is all about doing things you don’t want to do. That’s why they pay you money for it. Life doesn’t care what you want, other people don’t care what you want. All that matters is what you do.”
I really enjoyed Paperbacks From Hell, so was eager to read another book by Grady Hendrix. This one appealed to me, because I have a weakness for haunted ...more
Amy has a cash-flow problem and a desire to transfer to a different Ikea-like furniture store. If she can just stay on the boss' good side for a few more days, she'll be out of here.
So she was on her best behavior while her transfer request made its way through the system. She arrived on time each day. She smiled at customers and didn't blink at last-minute schedule changes. ... She fought her natural tendency to talk back. And, most important, she steered clear of Basil, determined to stay off ...more
So she was on her best behavior while her transfer request made its way through the system. She arrived on time each day. She smiled at customers and didn't blink at last-minute schedule changes. ... She fought her natural tendency to talk back. And, most important, she steered clear of Basil, determined to stay off ...more
May 22, 2014
Audra (ouija.doodle.reads)
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
horror
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Let me gush about this book to you for like three or five minutes. Give me five, tops! First of all, let me just explain how much fun this book is. Starting with the cover, have you ever seen a more eye catching, hilarious cover?
(Your answer is no)
My husband and I have been to IKEA several times, like every time we move. Most notably the last time was when we outfitted our camping trailer. It was a weekend. We wound our way through the entire Showroom and it was, quite literally, a Horrorstor!
Al ...more
(Your answer is no)
My husband and I have been to IKEA several times, like every time we move. Most notably the last time was when we outfitted our camping trailer. It was a weekend. We wound our way through the entire Showroom and it was, quite literally, a Horrorstor!
Al ...more
Sep 27, 2014
Sarah Churchill
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
received-for-review,
books-i-own
I'm rounding this up to 5 stars, because anything it lost in predictability it more than made up for in presentation. I'm talking about the overall catalogue look, the product ads that slowly turn sinister... everything down to the ad at the very end, after the epilogue that leaves you hanging without spelling it all out for you.
I was creeped out. Majorly creeped out. I won't be visiting Ikea around closing time, EVER.
I was creeped out. Majorly creeped out. I won't be visiting Ikea around closing time, EVER.
There were a few things that drew me to this book. A haunted house that's really an Ikea-like store is an interestingly unique idea. The idea alone appeals to me. I also liked the idea that it would take visual cues from Ikea catalogs (each chapter is headed with an item description). I did my time in retail. And it's set in Cuyahoga County, near where I grew up.
Hendrix uses his retail setting very well. If you've worked retail, you'll recognize the store, the displays, the corporate doublespea ...more
Hendrix uses his retail setting very well. If you've worked retail, you'll recognize the store, the displays, the corporate doublespea ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1557144778p2/15335689.jpg)
That was absolutely fantastic, delightfully creepy, and most of all, SO MUCH FUN. Wow, Grady Hendrix is a genius. ♥ RTC!
Here’s the plot summary: haunted Ikea-like store. That’s it.
I love the haunted house subgenre of horror, I’m a big fan of Douglas Coupland (the overall design aesthetic of the book reminded me of novels like Microserfs and jPod), so I really thought Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstor was going to be a good read. My expectation was that it was going to be satirical/funny with a little bit of drama to balance things out. Wrong! It’s all written completely straight - Hendrix is actually trying to be scary ...more
I love the haunted house subgenre of horror, I’m a big fan of Douglas Coupland (the overall design aesthetic of the book reminded me of novels like Microserfs and jPod), so I really thought Grady Hendrix’s Horrorstor was going to be a good read. My expectation was that it was going to be satirical/funny with a little bit of drama to balance things out. Wrong! It’s all written completely straight - Hendrix is actually trying to be scary ...more
4,5
Cuando uno piensa en la temática de lugares embrujados normalmente piensa en casonas, pequeñas cabañas con historias turbias, pero Horrorstör rompió con la tradición y ubicó su embrujo en una especie de Ikea, lo que en Argentina conocemos como "Easy". En otros términos, un lugar donde se ofrece equipamiento para el hogar, como muebles, decoración, entre otras cosas. La protagonista de esta novela, Amy, es una empleada de un local de estas características llamado Orsk. Las cosas se empiezan a ...more
Cuando uno piensa en la temática de lugares embrujados normalmente piensa en casonas, pequeñas cabañas con historias turbias, pero Horrorstör rompió con la tradición y ubicó su embrujo en una especie de Ikea, lo que en Argentina conocemos como "Easy". En otros términos, un lugar donde se ofrece equipamiento para el hogar, como muebles, decoración, entre otras cosas. La protagonista de esta novela, Amy, es una empleada de un local de estas características llamado Orsk. Las cosas se empiezan a ...more
4.5 stars, rounded up for sheer originality in layout/concept!
I won an advance copy of this book through the Goodreads "First-Reads" giveaway.
Horrorstor has an incredibly unique layout that immediately drew my attention. It is meant to look like a furniture store catalog, complete with diagrams of the available furniture, and write-ups about the functions, colors available, and positive ways each item could be utilized in your home. What impressed me the most with the use of this concept, is how ...more
I won an advance copy of this book through the Goodreads "First-Reads" giveaway.
Horrorstor has an incredibly unique layout that immediately drew my attention. It is meant to look like a furniture store catalog, complete with diagrams of the available furniture, and write-ups about the functions, colors available, and positive ways each item could be utilized in your home. What impressed me the most with the use of this concept, is how ...more
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/12/01/4...
Horrorstör scratched a really great itch. When it comes to the Horror genre, I’m an unabashed fan of ghost stories and books about hauntings. Thing is, because so many of them follow the same formula and use the same familiar tropes, it’s really hard find something that truly stands out. I was therefore quite excited about this novel, which is a memorable and real quirky take on your classic haunted house story.
Protagonist ...more
Horrorstör scratched a really great itch. When it comes to the Horror genre, I’m an unabashed fan of ghost stories and books about hauntings. Thing is, because so many of them follow the same formula and use the same familiar tropes, it’s really hard find something that truly stands out. I was therefore quite excited about this novel, which is a memorable and real quirky take on your classic haunted house story.
Protagonist ...more
The retail-horror aspect was a lot more interesting than the horror-horror, which was pretty generic.
Rating: YESSSSSSSSSSSSS
Odds of Crying: 0
Odds of Having Nightmares: 1/4
Will I binge read this book?: Yes, it's a fast read
Is this a series?: Nope.
Is this an IKEA catalog: No, but it sure does look like one
This book is for you if you like: to be scared, really cool book design, original ideas/concepts
Spoiler Free Summary!
Grady Hendrix - where have you been all my life?!?!
Hendrix is clearly a genius. This story is set in Orsk, which is basically the American version of IKEA. It starts out very clev ...more
Odds of Crying: 0
Odds of Having Nightmares: 1/4
Will I binge read this book?: Yes, it's a fast read
Is this a series?: Nope.
Is this an IKEA catalog: No, but it sure does look like one
This book is for you if you like: to be scared, really cool book design, original ideas/concepts
Spoiler Free Summary!
Grady Hendrix - where have you been all my life?!?!
Hendrix is clearly a genius. This story is set in Orsk, which is basically the American version of IKEA. It starts out very clev ...more
Oh Grady Hendrix!! 😍😘😉 I loved this book! Who knew a furniture store could be so scary? Well, it is! The characters were real & believable. The story is great and could easily be read in one sitting. The illustrations are fun. I think I have 1 more by this author left to read but I’m right on top of that Rose! I can not wait to see what’s next!
Well it’s official, Grady Hendrix has become one of my all time favourite authors and I will buy anything and everything he writes! This isn’t my absolute favourite out of his work but it’s still absolutely brilliant and I loved it! The premise is so bloody great, it’s quite unlike anything I’ve read before and manages to be both hilarious and terrifying at the same time. I really love the layout too, it’s so fun and original and really makes this a treat to read! And I don’t think I’ll ever be
...more
The design of the book, the illustrations and the concept were all top-notch. The story told in the midst of this well-coordinated design? Fair-to-middling.
It started off rather well with some solid character building that introduced the store's quirky corporate philosophy and the employee's interpersonal dynamics, but once Pandora's box was opened, so to speak, the story never really recovered.
Taking its cues from Poltergeist, everything from pretty much the 100 page point on is running and hid ...more
It started off rather well with some solid character building that introduced the store's quirky corporate philosophy and the employee's interpersonal dynamics, but once Pandora's box was opened, so to speak, the story never really recovered.
Taking its cues from Poltergeist, everything from pretty much the 100 page point on is running and hid ...more
I read this very quickly because it was fun to read, a bit scary, and a great idea for a book. The text is peppered with box store slogans, product presentations, and mission statements. One character is a true believer in the corporate ethos; everyone else is a wage slave. One night, they face a haunted, hypnotic IKEA-like store together. I'm not much of a shopper, so I never considered the way showroom stores trap and wear customers down in a maze. I also discovered a bizarre prison design: th
...more
I don't have a "parody" shelf...but I'm not sure this would actually be called "parody".
The book is, "okay" I liked some of it and i can recommend it if you know what you're getting. The biggest problem with the book is it can't seem to figure out what it is. In many ways it's neither "fish nor fowl".
We have the annoying and snarky main character. She's so snarky and rebellious at times it doesn't really make sense. (view spoiler) ...more
The book is, "okay" I liked some of it and i can recommend it if you know what you're getting. The biggest problem with the book is it can't seem to figure out what it is. In many ways it's neither "fish nor fowl".
We have the annoying and snarky main character. She's so snarky and rebellious at times it doesn't really make sense. (view spoiler) ...more
It's a pity this fell victim to your typical run-of-the-mill horror clichés - hundreds of hands reaching out of iron grates, rats swarming around, creepy crawlies of nightmares that come to haunt, fingernails pulled out in torture. "Horrorstör" started off with a quirky introduction and took almost half the book laying some groundwork before things turned nasty for the characters (exciting for me). I was genuinely rattled at that point and was hoping it would keep up, but then it just descended
...more
Sep 18, 2014
Kaethe Douglas
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
horror,
architecture,
art,
contemporary,
creepy,
fantasy,
feminism,
fiction,
history,
humor
This is a book for anyone who revels in a well-designed book. It is a spot-on parody of Ikea Style: the naming conventions, the item descriptions, the focus on lifestyle. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between the front and rear covers. Seriously, the book earns five stars on art direction and layout alone.
But that's not all. You also get a scathing satire on big box stores, corporate business culture, and consumerism nicely balanced by a kind and nuanced view of the employees who keep the ...more
But that's not all. You also get a scathing satire on big box stores, corporate business culture, and consumerism nicely balanced by a kind and nuanced view of the employees who keep the ...more
Fun stuff! 4 .5 stars for the story, 5 for the total package . . . brilliant!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horror Aficionados : Horrorstor- Grady Hendrix Buddy Read | 36 | 57 | Feb 06, 2019 09:36AM | |
| Madison Mega-Mara...: #93 Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix | 1 | 6 | Oct 08, 2018 05:22PM | |
| The Open Book: Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix | 6 | 8 | Jul 08, 2018 02:54PM | |
| Hudson Valley Hor...: Horrorstor | 2 | 7 | Mar 16, 2018 10:55PM | |
| Joseph Beth Sci-F...: Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix, October 30, 7-8 pm, in the Bronté Bistro | 4 | 11 | Oct 06, 2017 03:43PM |
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Update: My latest novel, We Sold Our Souls, is a finalist for the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards. Vote early, vote often!
Grady Hendrix is the author of the novels Horrorstör, about a haunted IKEA, and My Best Friend's Exorcism, which is like Beaches meets The Exorcist, only it's set in the Eighties.
He's also the jerk behind the Stoker award-winning Paperbacks from Hell, a history of the 70's and 80 ...more
Grady Hendrix is the author of the novels Horrorstör, about a haunted IKEA, and My Best Friend's Exorcism, which is like Beaches meets The Exorcist, only it's set in the Eighties.
He's also the jerk behind the Stoker award-winning Paperbacks from Hell, a history of the 70's and 80 ...more
2 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“Let's make sure it's really raining before we worry about floods.”
—
18 likes
“The problem was the liars. They said she could do anything she set her mind to, they told her she should shoot for the moon because if she missed she’d be among the stars, they made movies tricking her into thinking she could achieve heroic things. All lies. Because she was born to answer phones in call centers, to carry bags to customers’ cars, to punch a clock, to measure her life in smoke breaks. To think otherwise was insane.”
—
12 likes
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