June 2016-Group Read #1-The Fireman by Joe Hill

[Char]

The Fireman won our poll by a mile! Here's a place for us to discuss it. Please use spoiler tags as necessary. Happy Reading Aficionados!

[Maxine Marsh]

I'm in! Just read the prologue, I'm thinking this one is going to be really good!

[Char]

Maxine wrote: "I'm in! Just read the prologue, I'm thinking this one is going to be really good!"

It was freaking AWESOME! I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks of it.

[Frank]

I'm in! When is official reading start?

[Heather]

Woohoo this works out perfectly I just started reading it a couple days ago. :-)

[VanillaSky]

Started the book yesterday :) I've heard so many good things about it, I'm very excited to read it finally.

[Kirstin]

I just finished it last night and loved it! Really excited for the discussions! :)

[Laura]

I eagerly checked Overdrive for it to become available. I think I caught it the same day and I still have 2 people ahead of me per copy. Hopefully it'll come through in time for me to participate.

[KumeKei]

Just got my copy. Gonna start ASAP.

[Steve]

I'm in. I just have a little of The Pilo Family Circus to finish up. I was planning on starting that next anyway

[Lily]

Just started it. So far, its really interesting !!

[Kirstie]

Have been waiting for this to come out for over a year. Next Tusday can't come soon enough. I'm also so excited to be going to Hill's Glasgow & Edinbrugh events :D

[Nancy]

I just finished it. (I couldn't wait and read it as soon as it became available. Good good read, GoodReaders ;-)

[Julian]

25% in so far! Really loving where this is going, so many great characters and soo many pages to come :D

[Bryan]

Yes!!! I am in, haven't participated in a while, but I love Joe Hill and SHC has always fascinated me. Bought the book 2 days ago, can't wait to get into it.....

[Kimberly]

I'm in--as soon as I finish THE HATCHING!

[Richard]

I am in. Going to get it next Friday as Joe Hill is doing a book signing round the corner from my work place.

[Kimberly]

Richard wrote: "I am in. Going to get it next Friday as Joe Hill is doing a book signing round the corner from my work place."

WOW!

[Amy]

I loved it. I thought it was Hill's best to date. His characterizations were believable and you could tell he did his research (especially on human biology and mycology). I felt it was an excellent allegory for how catastrophe brings out the best and worst in people, without idealizing and turning characters into angels and demons (granted, some were extreme (ex., The Marbolo man - but he was a great composite of a few extreme right pundits on the airwaves today), but they functioned well in highlighting the realism of the main characters),

[Aden]

I can't wait

[Latasha]

I'm on a waiting list but there is 6 people ahead of me. if I do get to it, It will be later in the month.

[Leah]

I am so excited this was chosen since I have been listening for a week and am getting closer to the end (this is no short story!). Anyway, I have been dying to talk about it.

I agree with Amy, though I have to admit in the beginning I thought Harper was fairly unrealistic and a bit too naive. However, I liked very much how she was flushed out as the story progressed (progresses I guess still I am still in the midst). Likewise with other characters, like Jacob -- spoiler for those who aren't 25% through (view spoiler)[ was going to turn out to be a raging dick, but I did like how this was hinted at rather than spelled out all at once (hide spoiler)].

My major question at this point is whether you all think this reads like very good Stephen King. I can't help but keep making comparisons -- this novel seems like late Stephen King writing combined with early Stephen King plotting and all Stephen King character development. But I keep questioning whether this is really true or just an obvious comparison since Hill is his kid. Granted, I did not find Heart Shaped Box or Horns particularly King-sounding, but here I keep coming back to the comparison. Is it just me? And are riffs like the inclusion of "fat-boy" Harold and references to names like Frannie nods to The Stand or am I reading too much into things? Would love your thoughts here.

[Leah]

Also, I love that he set it in Portsmouth and set Maine on fire. Lovely.

[VanillaSky]

I like Harper, kind, caring, a bit naive, she's in contrast with her husband, this whole apocalyptic setting, almost like a symbol of humanity in the flaming world :) I don't want her to change, but she will eventually, I guess.
I'm 25% into the book, and things are getting interesting, well, shiny at least :) I was dubious about the book - I'm afraid of fire and the thought of burning alive terrifies me. But Joe Hill turned it into something magnificent, superhuman, and... symbiotic(?).

Leah, I thought of Frannie, too (view spoiler)[especially now when she's pregnant (hide spoiler)] :) Maybe Joe Hill does it deliberately? I mean it's inevitable that there will be comparisons to his father's works, so why won't play on that

[Julian]

I think certain plot points aside, it really does read like a King novel. And that can only be a good thing. I had the exact same feeling when reading NOS4R2.
The thing is though, his feels organic and original at the same time. Not once have I had the feeling that I'm reading a book by someone who is attempting to emulate King. More that you can tell Hill has learnt a lot from his father, and is channeling that in his own way.

I think Mr Hill has a very exciting career ahead of him.

I'm only 29% in so far though, so I'm intrigued to see if the story is going in the direction I think it may...

[Brenda]

So far this is my favorite book of 2016-- it's a hefty read, but totally worth it!

I definitely agree it feels like a Stephen King novel, at least more like his older stuff. I loved the nuances of all the relationships and how fleshed out everyone was.

Plus, people turning into raging infernos is pretty cool.

[tobiejonzarelli]

I just finished it, and though I enjoyed it, I didn't think it was his best so far. I loved Heart-Shaped Box, NOS4A2, and Horns. I thought that this one dragged periodically whereas the others never did. Nevertheless, I recommend it and can't wait to see where his talent lead him.

[Vavita]

I have a buddy read organized for september so I will have to wait for the discussion

[Stacey]

I just got this from the library last night. Looking forward to it!

[Char]

Frank wrote: "I'm in! When is official reading start?"

Hi, Frank! Our group reads start on the first of the month and they go all month long. Our members use spoiler tags, generally prefaced with a page or chapter number, or a percentage figure, so you know not to click on it unless you're at that point. This way you can join in at any time and not have anything spoiled for you.

[Jenika]

Really enjoying this. It's my first Joe Hill book and will definitely be reading more of his.

I do think it has a different style to Stephen King, but I can sense a sort of family similarity in attitude. One thing I really enjoy about both authors is that they're very good at writing authentic female characters and female POV. Women are never written as a two-dimensional sidekick to a male protagonist, which can be the case with some male thriller/horror authors. Also both write excellent child characters.

I'm about a third of the way through. The plot is refreshingly different to other books I've been reading in this genre. Delighted to find a new author!

[Kelly]

chapter 8. Just started it today and am enjoying it on a rainy day.
This is my first time participating in a group discussion for a book. Is there a way to see the spoilers in the comments?

On to the next chapter.

[Leah]

Kelly wrote: "This is my first time participating in a group discussion for a book. Is there a way to see the spoilers in the comments?"

Yep, just click on the link "view spoiler", when there is one in the comment, if you dare.

[Leah]

Julian wrote: "I think certain plot points aside, it really does read like a King novel. And that can only be a good thing. I had the exact same feeling when reading NOS4R2."

I definitely saw the connection in NOS4R2, but I understand that that was meant to be a tribute to his dad, so I expected it. I am glad though that seeing the similarities in The Fireman is not just something I cooked-up (uh, excuse the inadvertent pun there). I do agree that to the extent this reminds me of King, it reminds me of the very best of King, but Hill does have his own voice for sure.

I agree 100% with you Julian and think this is an excellent point:

The thing is though, his feels organic and original at the same time. Not once have I had the feeling that I'm reading a book by someone who is attempting to emulate King. More that you can tell Hill has learnt a lot from his father, and is channeling that in his own way.

[Leah]

tobiejonzarelli wrote: "I just finished it, and though I enjoyed it, I didn't think it was his best so far. I loved Heart-Shaped Box, NOS4A2, and Horns. I thought that this one dragged periodically whereas the others neve..."

Oh no, that is too bad -- I have not had the experience at all -- which is amazing for me considering I am listening to it and usually all books > 20 hours tend to drag for me at points. I find that I am trying to listen to The Fireman whenever I can and last night went to bed far too late since I couldn't sleep waiting to find out what happens next. Granted, I am almost through with about 17% to go (about 4 1/2 hours) and was at the part where (view spoiler)[ Harper and John are being vilified in front of the camp and the cremation crew shows up (hide spoiler)] -- jeez what a place to have to stop. The only way this is dragging for me so far is that I just want to know what is going to happen next and how it is all going to turn out! Which is killing me in its own way. God, I think I will go listen to it now -- why I am even taking time away from finishing to write this!

[Leah]

VanillaSky wrote: "I like Harper, kind, caring, a bit naive, she's in contrast with her husband, this whole apocalyptic setting, almost like a symbol of humanity in the flaming world :) I don't want her to change, bu..."

I am curious what you think about the evolution of her character. I find that she doesn't change much, so far at least, except maybe in maturing a bit. I do have to say that I found (spoiler if not at about 25%) (view spoiler)[her relationship with Jacob a bit hard to swallow -- he seems like far too much of a jerk for her to never have noticed that before and I have to say, I didn't have a lot of respect for her since she read as soooo naive. But overall, I do like her so Hill is doing something right (hide spoiler)].

Okay, obviously still not listening and am really going to go do that now.

[Kelly]

Leah wrote: "Kelly wrote: "This is my first time participating in a group discussion for a book. Is there a way to see the spoilers in the comments?"

Yep, just click on the link "view spoiler", when there is ..."

Ok. I didn't see a way to do that on the app, but it works fine online. Thanks! Sorry, I'm new.

Back to the book. I'm creating my own movie in my head as I'm reading.

[Kelly]

26% done and the book just took me in a completely different direction than I expected. Love it!

[Greg]

I'm getting it Tmrw, Can't wait to Start!

[Leah]

Kelly wrote: "26% done and the book just took me in a completely different direction than I expected. Love it!"

What were you expecting? I'm curious.

[Kelly]

I was expecting more horror and complete mayhem. I'm thinking it's more like the eye of a hurricane at the moment.

I guess I had it in my head that I was about to go on a gore ride with this book, but it's developing more depth than I had expected. It's an interesting and nice surprise. Almost science fiction.

[Kelly]

Wow, I had no idea this is Stephen King's son!

[Leah]

Kelly wrote: "Wow, I had no idea this is Stephen King's son!"

Amazing, right? There is some definite talent in that family. If you haven't read Hill's other books, I would recommend -- I really like him. NOS4RU2 is the closest to a King book, but Horns and Heart Shaped Box are so good in their own right.

Anyone read the book by his other son Owen? (Sorry, that is probably bringing us off topic!)

[Manda]

I'm really looking forward to this one. Can't wait to start.

[Kimberly]

Hoping to start tonight!

[Kelly]

This is my first Hill book. I'll have to look up Owen.

I was up until 1am reading until I feel sleep during a chapter. Somehow the story got incorporated in my dreams and created some trippy stuff. Ha!

Everyone finished or still reading? This is going to be one of those books I'll be sad to finish.

[Julian]

Still reading - Trying not to rush this beauty! Have you finished it now Kelly?

[VanillaSky]

Leah wrote: "...I do have to say that I found (spoiler if not at about 25%) (view spoiler)."

~30% (view spoiler)[Yeah, he's a jerk, but it's not like you can only fall in love with a saint and/or get married to one; people often tend to see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear, etc. Jacob made at least an illusion of love. And she's a dreamer. Or was. Until he tried to kill her.
I was actually surprised by that, Jacob going nuts, homicidal and suicidal. Were you expecting that from him?

But most of all I was surprised by Harper's decision to commit suicide. It was just a moment of weakness, a spontaneous urge, still, I couldn't believe she was going to do that. (hide spoiler)]

[Stacey]

Just started it-got to chapter 4 before I had to put it down and get back to work (lunchtime reading is great, but so hard to get back to the grind.)

I've already noticed a nod to the DT series. One thing I truly love about King is the way he relates characters in different books. King fans know what I mean. I am loving that Joe is also doing this, not just throughout his own works but with his father's works as well.

[Kelly]

I'm still reading it and savoring it.