From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

NOS4A2

Joe Hill

Start date: December 22, 2017

Finish date: December 30, 2017

Discussion: Books of the Month

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What Members Thought

Jun 19, 2013 Michael rated it really liked it

Shelves: tower-team-challenge-b, pbrc-tower-challenge, read-in-2013, summer-reading-2013

After reading Horns, I had huge expectations for Joe Hill's next book. His next novel couldn't come fast enough for my liking and as the days, weeks and months went by, the memory of Horns just grew and grew in my mind becoming better and better.

And yet, there was no word on a new novel by Hill.

Then, finally, I heard rumblings that a new novel was headed our way. At long last, I thought, I can finally read the NEXT Joe Hill novel.

And so it was that I eagerly put the novel on reserve at my loca ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2015 Krissy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, buddy-read, pgs-600-or-more, title-number

This would have been so much better if it was about 200 pages shorter

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 13, 2014 Nicole rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle

It took me forever to figure out what this title’s license plate meant–in fact, it wasn’t until it was mentioned BY THE CHARACTER that I finally *got* it–I’ve been calling it a lot of other names including ‘That license plate book by Joe Hill’ or ‘N084263′ (I have no idea where that came from, but I used it multiple times).

Joe Hill’s books have always impressed me, and haunted me, too. Loved Heart-Shaped Box and 20-th Century Ghosts and still remember them years later. In fact, I recommend Joe H It took me forever to figure out what this title’s license plate meant–in fact, it wasn’t until it was mentioned BY THE CHARACTER that I finally *got* it–I’ve been calling it a lot of other names including ‘That license plate book by Joe Hill’ or ‘N084263′ (I have no idea where that came from, but I used it multiple times).

Joe Hill’s books have always impressed me, and haunted me, too. Loved Heart-Shaped Box and 20-th Century Ghosts and still remember them years later. In fact, I recommend Joe Hill to horror fans, as well as people who want something contemporary and fresh. But, I guess with his literary pedigree, I should not really be surprised.

Stephen King’s mark is all over this book–we have the following:
Possessed car (Christine)
Special Children fighting against the sharp-toothed ancient people (The Shining, Doctor Sleep)–not to mention the blatant mention of ‘The True Knot’ in the book!
Derry, Maine (and Pennywise) are also mentioned, as well as a child being saved by a bike (Thank you, It!)
While it’s a great, thick book, part of me was left wondering about the future of the King/Hill writing team. As much as I loved this book, I felt a little bit like I was almost cheated. Sure, Hill is an amazing writer and he’s got a different last name to differentiate him from the shadow of his famous father and mother. While I loved the direction he went (especially since I devoured the Shining and Doctor Sleep a few months ago), I felt like he didn’t really create the worlds, he was just borrowing them.
The language is Hill, but the elements of King are all around, especially to the critical (and possibly even non-critical) reader. For that, I feel a bit divided. The story is wonderful, the characters pop off the page and I really understand these characters. I am invested in these characters. I want all of these characters to make it.
Another really amazing thing in this book is the imagery. I kept thinking about this book in that way. Did a hung up air raid mask bring up that character? Did a dilapidated bridge bring across this idea? The imagination needed to bring up this type of book is enviable. The completeness of the book and it’s associated storylines was superb. I felt like nothing in this book needed to be changed once it was written down on the page.
I was saddened, however, to find the print version had some illustrations that the ereader version did not. I would, however, recommend this book and think that horror fans, or just plain fans of reading, would LOVE to read this thrilling and dark novel that captures childhood beliefs and adult considerations.
I am very impressed, however, that we finally figured out the 'they all float' reference in Stephen King's IT. The graveyard with the floating children was HAUNTING. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 20, 2013 Christal rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, mind-bullets, multiple-leads, favorites, vampires, pi-detective-cop, kidnapping, horrible-characters, dark, audiobook

Mini review originally posted at Badass Book Reviews

NOS4A2 was my first Joe Hill book and my first audiobook narrated by Kate Mulgrew and I have to say that both blew me away. The story is a little complicated to explain, but there is Charlie Manx who likes to kidnap little children and take them to Christmasland, where they become something akin to a vampire. There's also Vic McQueen, a young girl who has the ability to travel between long distances just by thinking about where she wants to go. Mini review originally posted at Badass Book Reviews

NOS4A2 was my first Joe Hill book and my first audiobook narrated by Kate Mulgrew and I have to say that both blew me away. The story is a little complicated to explain, but there is Charlie Manx who likes to kidnap little children and take them to Christmasland, where they become something akin to a vampire. There's also Vic McQueen, a young girl who has the ability to travel between long distances just by thinking about where she wants to go. As a young adult, Vic uses her power to find Charlie Manx and have him arrested. As the time passes, Vic grows up and has a son of her own. Charlie escapes from prison and decides to take revenge on Vic by taking her son to Christmasland, but Vic hasn't lost her ability nor her determination and she's determined to save her son and take Charlie Manx down once and for all. Throughout the book, we learn more about Vic and her life, both as a child with her parents and as an adult with her (ex-)husband Lou and her son Bruce Wayne. We also learn more about Charlie Manx and his motivations and those of his partner in crime, Bing Partridge. There is also a very colorful secondary cast of characters that interweave in Vic and Charlie's story.

For those that don't know, Joe Hill is the son of horror legend Stephen King. Knowing this, I went in with the expectation of a solid, scary story. What I didn't expect was such detailed and believable character development. The characters were lovingly crafted and the main characters were so flawed and damaged, but still deeply human. Though I liked Vic from the get-go, I never expected her story would bring me to tears, but there I was towards the end... incredibly affected by Vic and her relationships with the most important men in her life: her father, her husband, and her son. I was rooting for Vic to triumph in the end, but I didn't expect to be so impressed with her selflessness and sheer force of will. Vic had a mission to save her son and nothing, no physical pain, no emotional attack, no threat to her livelihood, would stop her. NOS4A2 presented one of the most sympathetic and believable heroines that I have ever come across. On the other hand, the development of Charlie Manx was a little lacking; I felt like more attention could have been given to his back story and how he developed into the evil man of today. There were little moments where you could almost understand his motivations, though never sympathize with them, but they were fleeting and not quite fully formed. I felt like this was a very minor issue in an outstanding story though. NOS4A2 and it's characters will stick with me for a very long time.

Kate Mulgrew was a wonderful narrator and her reading here was truly a performance. She gave thought to each character and really brought them to life. NOS4A2 has dialogue from a lot of different characters and it was always instantly easy to recognize who was who in Ms. Mulgrew's reading. Though her reading of Vic and Lou was definitely the most touching, her reading of Charlie Manx was probably the most perfect. His creepy, demented evilness just flowed out of her voice and it truly gives you chills. ...more

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Jun 24, 2019 Jenn rated it liked it

Shelves: horror, 2019-finished

3.5 stars

After reading this book you may think of Christmas differently. Joe Hill takes one of the most favorite holidays and twists it into a terrifying read. This book was twisted and had me thinking of Dean Koontz. The concept of the "time travel" was interesting and fun to read.

Vic, aka Victoria, The Brat, had the ability to "time travel" by crossing The Shorter Way bridge. She's able to find lost things by crossing this bridge on her bike. Every time she does it she comes back sick and her ...more

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Aug 08, 2019 Cora rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: christmas, kindle, suspense, paranormal, horror, new-hampshire, alternate-worlds, murder, serial-killer, travel-to-other-worlds

This was a good horror novel. The bad guy was terrifically horrible and scary, but had a bit of charisma that made him more than the typical evil monster. There were some great supporting characters that were easy to root for. Although the beginning was a bit slow to start, there were definitely times (especially in the second half of the book) where I was on the edge of my seat. The ending felt very satisfying to me, even though it was not how I expected it all to end.

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Jun 23, 2014 Rachel N. rated it it was amazing

Vic McQueen is a girl who discovers she can ride her bike across a bridge and recover things people have lost. By using the bridge Vic learns about Charlie Manx, a man with a 1938 wraith that he uses to transport children to Christmasland. Vic and Manx's lives soon intersect. yes it is a horror book but also a great book about reality, imagination and love. The book is over 600 pages long but it zipped by. A great ending. ...more

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