I am excited about this book for two reasons; it is my first read from the Little Free Library in my neighborhood and it is a new writer for me. Both these things made me open this book with glee.
Heart-Shaped Box is a ghost story about an aging, Alice Cooper type rock star who buys a ghost online. That is all I will say about the plot because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone—dog lovers beware.
For me, the story felt like the re-telling of a movie and not like it was unfolding in real-life until about page 160 when something miraculous happens. A character who died three years before the story began suddenly leaps off the page in full-color and breathes the air. After that, the story is authentic for me.
It is an interesting story I would give 3 stars, however, the writing is bright, crisp, and alive. I look forward to reading more by Joe Hill.
There is a dry sense of humor that permeates this book and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Mr. Hill uses a convention for the ghost’s eyes that cracked me up because it is a convention used in old cartoons when characters are drunk, passed out or dead. At first, I thought there was another reason for it, but when I got to end of the book, I realized it was meant to be funny. If you got it great, if you didn’t, it didn’t matter. I love stuff like this and it made Joe Hill an instant favorite with me.
I read the hardcover version of this one, so cannot comment on the audiobook.
In case you don’t know, Little Free Library is a literacy movement where individuals install a Little Free Library in their community and share books with whoever wants them. Take a book, return a book is the only instruction. You can read more about Little Free Libraries on their website. I plan to install one!
FranklyWrite 