NOS4A2 by Joe Hill/May 2013 - PLEASE USE SPOILER TAGS

[Tressa]

Yeah, if I wait until I'm finished I forget a lot of what I want to say.

ATTENTION, EVERYONE: PLEASE USE SPOILER TAGS IN YOUR POSTS. THANKS.

[Rachel]

thanks for reminding me, I have to look up a quote used in the book to see if anyone else knows where it's from.

[Maxine Marsh]

I'm dropping everything to get right on this one. Loving it so far. Loved Heart-Shaped Box, loved Horns even more! I've been reading a lot lately and its not often an author has the skill to capture me from the beginning. I'm talking I-have-to-do-these-things-right-now-but-I'm-counting-down-the-minutes-until-i-can-pick-my-Kindle-up-again GOOD.

[Amy]

I am also enjoying this book, got it yesterday and am about 25% through. Any book set in Colorado with an alternate reality is a good book in my book.

Note: It took me a while to figure out that I had to read the last word of a section/chapter, then the bold heading of the next section/chapter, in order for it to make sense. Before that I was like, why is he not finishing this sentence? LOL. Did anyone else have that problem?

[Rachel]

Yes, I did! I've been reading the ebook, outside mostly. The chapter headings are dark blue and I had my settings switched so the background is black and the text is white to cut down on glare. Makes it harder to read the chapter headings though, so every so often I have to switch it back.

[Mark]

Amy wrote: "I am also enjoying this book, got it yesterday and am about 25% through. Any book set in Colorado with an alternate reality is a good book in my book.

Note: It took me a while to figure out that I..."

I'm only 12% into the novel, but...no! I didn't... i knew it was sort of a lead in and undercurrent gravitational tug to the next chapter which continued the thought, but I had no clue it also finished the sentence.

[Amy]

Yeah, thought I'd mention it to prevent any unnecessary head scratching.

[Missy]

I'm in! Going to pick it up today

[Holly]

Tressa wrote: "Since we're not all reading this "together," should I ask everyone to use spoiler tags? Or do we expect people not to pop in here until they've finished the book?"

I confess, Tressa! Here I am, snooping around, reading all the spoilers and I have no idea when I will get my hands on this book.

Honestly,though these book discussions are better than reading a review. I get the candid reactions of multiple readers as the story unfolds.

[Tressa]

Holly, you want the book spoiled? I hate that, but must admit I sometimes pop into a thread when I know better, so that's my fault. But here spoilers are supposed to be used.

[Holly]

Tressa, unless I start reading it right away, I will have forgotten all the spoilers anyway.

[Amy]

Tressa, get off Facebook and read this book. Except, you're prolly at work, so, nevermind. I can't sleep, so I'm gonna read some more. I'm trying to talk one of my boys into going to get some donuts.

[[deleted user]]

Holly - I'm keeping up with this thread too though I have no idea if/when I'm buying the book. I'm curious to see what the group thinks of it.

I am staying away from spoiler tags but figure if I do get something spoiled it's my own fault for looking. Lol.

[Amy]

Traci, I'm loving it so far, but I loved his first 2 novels, too.

[LinBee]

I'm up for the buddy read. I have it on hold, though & don't know when I'll get it in, but I will jump in every so often!

[Tiffany]

My copy came today!

[Tressa]

I couldn't stop laughing when Bing went to the church (view spoiler)[and asked God for a sign to what he and Manx had done was a good thing and a bird shat in his mouth. (hide spoiler)]

Love the unexpected turns the book is taking, especially with its main character.

[Amy]

Yes, Tressa. I enjoyed that bit, too.

[Maxine Marsh]

Tressa wrote: "I couldn't stop laughing when Bing went to the church [spoilers removed]

Love the unexpected turns the book is taking, especially with its main character."

Yes! So great. Take that, Bing!

[Maxine Marsh]

I'm also loving the references to several of his father's works - (view spoiler)[(the doors to Mid-world, the St. Bernard, Hi-Ho Silver!) (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

I noticed that, too, Maxine. :D

[Rachel]

Maxine wrote: "I'm also loving the references to several of his father's works - [spoilers removed]"

There also references to works other than King: (view spoiler)[ neighbor's name is Sig De Zoet, which is a reference to the book The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell who also wrote Cloud Atlas. Sig is listening to the Cloud Atlas Sextet when Bing overtakes their home.

The Night Road (from Heart-Shaped Box) is also mentioned.

Does anyone know where the quote "little men, little men, we dare not go a-hunting for fear of little men?" I believe it's Bing who says it. I know it from the original Willy Wonka in reference to the Oompa Loompas but that movie also referenced so much. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

(view spoiler)[ never mind, found the poem it's from. http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdon... (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Nice observations, Rachel.

[Tressa]

Love the reference to Treehouse of the Mind.

[Rachel]

I forgot about that one :) Just a fun thing but I just spent 2 hours building a covered bridge in Minecraft. I'm tempted to call it the Shortaway Bridge.

[Amy]

Ermergerd! Joe Hill is a Whedonite! I'm in lurve!

[Amy]

Gah! I finished this book at 2 am and no one is awake to discuss it!!!

[Tressa]

I'm 64% finished with it. Wish I could have stayed home today and finished it. That would entail the kind of constant, fevered reading that would lead to eye strain and a migraine, though.

I didn't expect this book to be as beautifully written as Horns, but there are some lyrical touches here and there, mostly happening between Lou and Vic and their crazy, respectful, loving relationship/friendship. And I have to say that I am loving Lou. What a wonderful character. So many things he says and thinks makes me smile and love him all the more. Still chuckling at his parting words to Wayne to remember to always encase his comic books in a plastic sleeve and cardboard.

[Amy]

Tressa, this book had me teary-eyed at the end. There were lots of "Yes!" moments, too.

[Tressa]

Ooh, can't wait.

I was kind of bummed about Vic's self-destructive behavior, I guess I imagined she would be some kick-ass great kid/mother strong enough to overcome her bad parents and her own flaws. But that would be the kind of mainstream horror I'm always bitching about.

[Amy]

Right?! I was saddened by the ending, but not disappointed.

[Maxine Marsh]

Just finished. I loved it! Can't wait to hear others thought.

[Tressa]

I finished early this morning. A good read, although it can't hold a candle to Horns. The ending with (view spoiler)[the FBI and police and Vic chasing Charlie to Christmasland to destroy it seemed too mainstream for my taste. I've read numerous horror stories that end the same way. The heroine gets banged up (and in this case, dies) but continues on. The boy survives. The epilogue about their life afterward. (hide spoiler)]

I thought that Wayne (view spoiler)[was going to turn bad, turn into a Manx and rebuild Christmasland. Now that would have been formulaic. Glad he didn't. I'm confused about the kids wandering around. I know that smashing the ornaments would release them in some way, but now they go back to their families as children, even though they should officially be adults? Not sure I'm understanding this part. (hide spoiler)]

[Maxine Marsh]

Tressa wrote: "I finished early this morning. A good read, although it can't hold a candle to Horns. The ending with [spoilers removed]

I thought that Wayne [spoilers removed]"

Horns is still my favorite too, something less formulaic and infinitely more heartfelt and creative in that one. Although I did love (view spoiler)[the imagery of Manx and his car falling through the bridge and into the static, ending up in some other time crashed in the ravine (hide spoiler)]

[Tressa]

There were some beautiful parts to NOS similar to the ones in Horns, and some really funny, touching ones, too. I wonder if I'm the only reader who lit up when Charlie Manx was in the picture? He was kind of touching in his old-fashioned ways and manners, but he had some funny lines. I know we're supposed to hate him, and deep down I do, but in Under the Dome I was supposed to hate the redneck Republican sheriff, but he was the most interesting part of the book! He entertained me every time he opened his cracker mouth.

I love the Lou character, although I thought at the end (view spoiler)[him getting together with the agent was a little pat. And I miss the 300-pound Lou. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Tressa, I agree with everything you mentioned. (view spoiler)[I was irritated when Lou got together with "Supergirl," though not at all surprised. I am not sure why, but I didn't like her. Lou had to lose weight, after the mini-strokes, and with Vic gone, I'm glad he did, so we know he will be around for Wayne for a while. You have read more horror than I, so the FBI scene didn't feel mainstream to me. I just felt like it slowed the story down, or Vic and Lou, rather. And, I also thought Wayne was going to turn bad, but I liked the smashing of the ornaments part. His smashing his ornament closed his connection to Christmasland. I will admit, I thought maybe the hammer would be his gateway. Glad it wasn't. I wish "Supergirl" didn't go with them to do that. She really didn't need to be there. Also, it was left unclear what will happen to the other children, and I'm glad. (hide spoiler)]

[Tressa]

I knew that (view spoiler)[Lou would somehow lose weight (all the signs pointed to it), and I'm not saying I'm not glad he did because he's a great father and I'm glad he's there for Wayne. I didn't like the FBI agent either. She seems like a stereotype smart, tough cookie agent brought in at the last minute as a love interest. I thought the chapters with the FBI tailing Vic and Lou slowed down the story, too. I wish they hadn't gotten involved at all.

Yeah, I know the smashing of the ornament released him and I'm glad, but that seemed like one of those quick fixes in a horror story that don't always sit well with me. (hide spoiler)]

[Maxine Marsh]

This one was not as tight as the other novels. For instance (view spoiler)[ when Vic's mom shows up to Wayne in the car, a ghost, giving him advice...this is never really explained or justified, and the death of her father was completely abrupt (hide spoiler)]. I think this was his attempt at a long novel and it just didn't stick as well as the other two.

[Amy]

Right, (view spoiler)[the story totally could have worked without the FBI, and had they not been there, Vic's dad wouldn't have died. I didn't have a problem with Vic's mom showing up as a ghost to give Wayne advice, or help him. I just wish the whole backwards speaking would have been explained. What was the significance of it, besides that it threw off Manx? How exactly did it help Wayne forget himself? I loved all the references to literary other works, as well as all the geektastic references: Joss Whedon, AGOT, etc. (hide spoiler)] Regardless, I loved the book. I thought of rating it 4 stars just because the idea of Christmasland seemed ludicrous, but went with 5 because any book that makes me root for or hate characters is a good book. Plus, I actually teared up. So, kudos to Joe Hill.

[Char]

I'm just skipping through these posts quickly, so I don't spoil anything for myself. I'm especially intrigued by the Whedonite comment, since I have lately become one myself. I'm also intrigued about references to King's works and other works. I wish I could read more quickly and not have to work.

[Tressa]

I did like how Wayne (view spoiler)[himself was confused about his grandmother appearing to him to help him. Had to laugh at his smartass comment about how she never bothered to talk to him forwards in real life, lol. The book contained a lot of funny comments from all the characters that I appreciated. I was OK with the whole backwards talking story line, although I'm not so sure how that would fool someone like Manx. (hide spoiler)]

I hated to see Vic's (view spoiler)[father die. I was torn over him, even though we never got to know him that well. Couldn't forget that he beat the mother on a regular basis, although I did like finding out that they both made their peace about that at the end. I'm surprised that the FBI allowed Lou and Vic to escape. They couldn't have been going that fast! (hide spoiler)]

The creepiest part of the book for me (view spoiler)[was the Bing parts. That scene where Vic is in his basement before or after killing the fat turd and finds the dead body of the engineer and that note in his mouth. His death touched me and we never got to know him that well. Joe Hill is an expert at making us care about characters who don't even spend all that much time in the story. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Charlene, you can just tell Joe Hill must be a Whedonite by the references in the book. I suppose it could have been "researched," as Lou was a super geek, but I prefer the former scenario. (view spoiler)[The conversation between Lou and the man nurse in the hospital when the FBI agent made a Star Trek comment, loved it!" (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

I'm not looking at those spoilers!
I don't think I've come across any Whedon references yet, but now I'm looking for them. :)

[Amy]

They're near the end. If you are a Whedonite, you won't miss it!

[Maxine Marsh]

I totally agree, Amy. I was torn between 4 or 5 stars, but because I wanted to pick it back up whenever I had to put it down, I went with 5.

@Tressa (view spoiler)[ The scene where she found the engineer at Bing's house was the strongest for me. He was a minor character but was well-characterized as a good father and somehow I got the strong, touching reaction that Vic had for his body. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Yes, Hill does make us care about the characters, and there were many great quotes. I'm glad there was closure with (view spoiler)[the guy who fixed the Wraith. I hate incomplete story lines. Despite Vic being in a hurry to catch up to and save her son, she took the time to make sure he didn't die in vain, that his daughter got his letter. Bing was disgusting, truly a psychopath. I'm glad he didn't get to go to Christmasland, glad he died. The tying in of the borrowed lighter, seemingly such an insignificant detail at the time, was brilliant. Maggie. Maggie's death was sad. I liked her. Vic's father. Yes, he was a wife beater, but you could tell he loved Vic, so I'm glad that things were nicely tied up there between him and his wife, even if Vic didn't know about it until later. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Oh, and Maxine, I went with 5 for the same reason!

[Tressa]

Well, for me just because I can't put a book down doesn't necessarily mean it's a great read. I gave The Cipher three stars, but still got immersed in the story and writing style and wanted to keep reading to see how it all turned out. Overall, though, it wasn't that good. So I'm sticking with the 4 stars.

I liked finally learning some background on Manx. I'm not sure how his supernatural talent (view spoiler)[ended up as Christmasland, though. Sounds like it was stolen from Nightmare Before Christmas, lol. (hide spoiler)]

I also like the librarian. (view spoiler)[I was sad how her life ended up, especially when we firs met her she was young and full of life and quirky. I thought that she would be someone strong for Vic to lean on during the years. Was surprised to find out that they never met up again until Maggie showed up at her door. I couldn't believe that Vic would take the sleeping pill at the library, with her son's change looming so near. I also thought she was pretty stupid to go into Gasmask Man's house with her guard down. I think I was even yelling about it to my husband, who had finished the book the day before. I mean, she was brought there for a reason by the bridge, you think she would have played it a little safer. (hide spoiler)]

[Amy]

Tressa, not being able to put a book down doesn't automatically grant a book 5 stars from me either. There are other factors.

(view spoiler)[ That's exactly what I thought, too, that it was all very Nightmare Before Christmas like. Manx was a very interesting villain. He wasn't truly evil or vile. My memory of how Christmasland started is already faded. I know the Wraith played a big part. Refresh my memory.

I, too, got mad at Vic for letting her guard down, but I just figured she was so exhausted. Plus, she really did think she was crazy for a while, so crossing the bridge again had to put her out of sorts.

For me, it made sense that Maggie turned out the way she did. The more you use your vehicle, the more you lose yourself, or something like that. Remember her telling Vic about the girl in the alley with the wheelchair? Also, Maggie herself said she'd read about Manx going to prison and then dying, so... (hide spoiler)]