Helpful Score: 6
Wow! I really enjoyed this book! I literally could not put it down! It had a terrific plot, wonderful characters and a devilishly different premise (ha-ha). Seriously, I cannot get over how much Hill's writing as improved since his debut novel, _Heart-Shaped Box_. It is so rare for a a second novel to outshine the first by this much! I really enjoyed it!! It was a more mature book, and I am very interested to see what Hill writes next!
Helpful Score: 4
I also could literally not put this book down. I woke up early just to see where it would go next. So much to think about with this one. Mr. Hill's writing is superb. Long time since I read about characters who really mattered as much as these. you will be thinking about the ideas brought forth in this murder mystery long time after you finish reading it. What the devil did you think from Stephen King's son??? hee hee hee.
Helpful Score: 2
This is Joe Hill's most recent fiction, and dare I say it? His best yet. The nuts and bolts of the story is about Ig Perrish, a down on his luck man whose fiancee was brutally murdered a year before. Ig's entire town as well as his family thinks that he was the one who murdered her. But one day after an especially rough night of drinking, Ig wakes up with a set of horns growing out of his head. And that is just the start of Ig's new problems.
I learned from this how the author uses several different characters' points of view to tell the story and how they are all neatly braided together to form the one cohesive story. Also, the author doesn't use as much description as other authors do, and lets the reader's imagination take over in his absence, which is actually quite effective.
I learned from this how the author uses several different characters' points of view to tell the story and how they are all neatly braided together to form the one cohesive story. Also, the author doesn't use as much description as other authors do, and lets the reader's imagination take over in his absence, which is actually quite effective.
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, touching and witty. I got this book on the pretense that this was a horror story but it was not. It was still a good read. Hill is a wonderful writer and I look forward to more books from him.
The story is about a guy named Ig who wakes up from a terrible hangover. It's been a year since the love of his life, Mirren, has been murdered. No killer was ever found but Ig was the main suspect. On top of waking up feeling like crap he notices he has horns growing out of his head. He later finds that with these horns comes some "powers". People just come up to him and confess the sins they have done or the horrible thoughts that come through their minds. At first it's a bit disturbing for Ig but he soon finds ways of manipulating people with the power of his horns. He also finds out the killer of his girlfriend and seeks out revenge.
I think the only part of the book I didn't really enjoy was the very ending. There were some things I didn't understand why he ended it the way he did but all in all it was a very good story and I definitely recommend it.
The story is about a guy named Ig who wakes up from a terrible hangover. It's been a year since the love of his life, Mirren, has been murdered. No killer was ever found but Ig was the main suspect. On top of waking up feeling like crap he notices he has horns growing out of his head. He later finds that with these horns comes some "powers". People just come up to him and confess the sins they have done or the horrible thoughts that come through their minds. At first it's a bit disturbing for Ig but he soon finds ways of manipulating people with the power of his horns. He also finds out the killer of his girlfriend and seeks out revenge.
I think the only part of the book I didn't really enjoy was the very ending. There were some things I didn't understand why he ended it the way he did but all in all it was a very good story and I definitely recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent writing from the "son-of-the-best"....
Stephen King.Enjoyed the experience. Really loved the Heart-Shaped Box by him also! Great readings for Halloween (or any other) time!
Stephen King.Enjoyed the experience. Really loved the Heart-Shaped Box by him also! Great readings for Halloween (or any other) time!
Helpful Score: 1
good - some interesting thoughts on theology - gripping from the get go - found the actual end less than clear but a neat a tidy ending
Ignatius (Ig) wakes up from a drunken stupor to discover he has horns growing out of his head. At first he believes hes losing his mind but quickly discovers that they are indeed real and come with a terrifying power that compel others to spill what theyre really thinking and its never all hearts and flowers either.
Poor Ig learns things about those closest to him that would destroy most people and soon realizes he is completely alone. A year earlier the love of his life, Merrill, was brutally raped and murdered and though Ig was never formally charged his small town has convicted him in their minds believing his well to-do parents pulled strings that allowed him to get away with murder. Hes been unable to find any sort of peace -- thus the drunken stupor of the previous night. With his devilish new powers, Ig is a man on a mission determined to find a killer . . .
The book then switches off going back to the past and present and becomes a unique mystery, love story, coming of age tale that brings all the characters to vivid life. Its horrible, beautiful, emotional, darkly humorous and one of the best books Ive read. I am going to track down a copy of this book on audio to keep on my Ipod.
Poor Ig learns things about those closest to him that would destroy most people and soon realizes he is completely alone. A year earlier the love of his life, Merrill, was brutally raped and murdered and though Ig was never formally charged his small town has convicted him in their minds believing his well to-do parents pulled strings that allowed him to get away with murder. Hes been unable to find any sort of peace -- thus the drunken stupor of the previous night. With his devilish new powers, Ig is a man on a mission determined to find a killer . . .
The book then switches off going back to the past and present and becomes a unique mystery, love story, coming of age tale that brings all the characters to vivid life. Its horrible, beautiful, emotional, darkly humorous and one of the best books Ive read. I am going to track down a copy of this book on audio to keep on my Ipod.
I read Heart-Shaped Box and really liked it... I've read Horns and LOVED IT! The amount of maturation and sophistication that is in this latest from Joe Hill is stunning! It carries on the family legacy without copying his dad. Much like his dad, the most obvious bad guy is really not the worst, and you will find yourself rooting for him much as you did for Tony Soprano. I highly recommend this book...I couldn't put it down!
I thought this book was terrific. Dense plotting, interesting characters, and a touching, if very dark, story. It's not for the feint of heart. I only take a half point off because there are moments, particularly during the flashback portions, when the pace slackens a little.
Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. This is not his first novel as another reviewer stated; he has written a collection of short stories, 20th Century Ghosts, a novel, Heart-Shaped Box and then Horns. He is one of my favorite authors and I wouldn't pass up on an opportunity to read anything he has written.
Would make a Papa proud.
Ig Perrish and Merrin Williams were the perfect couple. Their love was the love that everyone wants but very few people get. But one horrible night Merrin is raped and murdered, and Ig is the prime suspect. Theyd just had a lovers quarrel. Ig was never found guilty, but he was never cleared either. Now a year later Ig wakes up to discover horns coming out of the top of his head. Horns that make everyone who sees them tell him their deepest and darkest desires and secrets.
Hill's writing on the sentence level is gorgeous. He eloquently evokes everything about small New Hampshire towns. He also is talented at drawing three-dimensional male characters; the females are not as well-done, however.
Yet, the story itself fell apart at the end for me. Where it started out as a literary paranormal suspense, at the end it becomes something Nicholas Sparks would write if he was on crack. I, honestly, was not expecting a tragic love story. I was expecting horror and demons and the worst of humanity. I can only handle mushiness if I'm expecting it, and honestly the ending just felt so ordinary compared to the rest of the book.
Its hard to categorize this book. Its definitely not the horror book I was imagining. Id call it literary paranormal suspense. Its a classic tragedy wrapped in mystery and the paranormal. It didnt work for me, because, well, classic love tragedies tend not to. However, I could see some people loving it. Perhaps people who loved The Notebook and paranormal romance equally well.
Check out my full review.
Hill's writing on the sentence level is gorgeous. He eloquently evokes everything about small New Hampshire towns. He also is talented at drawing three-dimensional male characters; the females are not as well-done, however.
Yet, the story itself fell apart at the end for me. Where it started out as a literary paranormal suspense, at the end it becomes something Nicholas Sparks would write if he was on crack. I, honestly, was not expecting a tragic love story. I was expecting horror and demons and the worst of humanity. I can only handle mushiness if I'm expecting it, and honestly the ending just felt so ordinary compared to the rest of the book.
Its hard to categorize this book. Its definitely not the horror book I was imagining. Id call it literary paranormal suspense. Its a classic tragedy wrapped in mystery and the paranormal. It didnt work for me, because, well, classic love tragedies tend not to. However, I could see some people loving it. Perhaps people who loved The Notebook and paranormal romance equally well.
Check out my full review.
This is an awesomely terrific book! I also very much enjoyed "Heart Shaped Box". I do not even think about Stephen King being his Dad. Their writing styles are quite different. Being the age I am, I have read a ton of fiction and non fiction. This book takes twists and turns that I could not see coming. Joe Hill has a serious case of talent. Can not wait to read more by him! I give this book the highest grade a book could receive. My normal reading is generally authors such as Alice Hoffman, Kathryn Harrison, Susanna Moore, Anna Quinlen, Anita Shreve....and the like. Authors as young as Joe Hill when he started simply amaze me. 'Horns' left me with some serious thinking to do about my spiritual life. Indeed, Highly recommend!
It was OK ! a little disappointed it was nothing what i expected to be.
first book by this author and not impressed at all--so much filthy language and the story started out pretty good but then he reverted to the past and it was so boring that I lost interest and just quit, tried to fast forward a time or two but couldn't get back into the story line after so much awful language and so many boring pages.
