NOS4A2 Mass Market Paperback – 6 Nov. 2014

Brilliant story. Great characterisation. He really knows his horror genre. Now I'm off to read all of his other books! My new favourite author!

As an avid King reader since childhood, there isn't much left for me to read from my favorite author of all time. I have found myself 'King starved' over the years, once I gobble up each of his new offerings as they're released. Anyway, when I originally picked up Heart Shaped Box back when it was first released, I wasn't wanting to judge Joe Hill on the heels of his father's work - different writer; different style was what I figured, and in the end I was thoroughly impressed by Hill as a highly engaging and skilled writer - and straight out of my own generation, to boot. I could smell some Stephen King, but with that post-gen X edge added to it. I got hooked. I snatched up Horns; impressed again.Fast forward to Hill's NOS4R2 and I must say, momentarily putting aside all subjectivity concerning scary-versus-suspenseful, I think this is a really entertaining read, and Joe Hill is emerging as a sort of Stephen King-with-a-generational-upgrade in a way that really satisfies me. I almost felt guilty enjoying this book so very much when I had just finished being luke warm towards King's Doctor Sleep.Look, I know we really shouldn't be comparing the two writers just because they're father and son, but Hill leaves himself open to it in the face of nods to King's work (including Doctor Sleep), and Hill's main, tragically flawed, reluctant heroine, Vic, and even the tertiary antagonist, Bing, are just so damn 'Stephen King' that I can't help it! Hill is on fiyaah!Now subjectively speaking, I did find this novel scary, and maybe that has to do with the fact that I'm female and certain types of 'threats' are more likely to create scare-appeal depending on gender, but if this book isn't 'scary' per se, than let me say that it's certainly suspenseful, and the baddies are bad. And it's also very tragic in a lot of ways. I found myself really empathising with a couple of the characters, and rooting for them SO much, in that special way that I only root for King characters. All in all, I think Joe Hill knocked this one out the box, he rocks and I can't wait to see what he cooks up next.~Mrs. Welch

As usual, I won't put story spoilers in the review (a personal hate of mine), but briefly the book is a kind of horror/sci-fi crossover with attitude just like papa used to make! (Think Salem's Lot sort of, without the bloodsucking and heavily salted with abilities akin to those found in The Shining etc.). The heroine is a youngish girl who is initially gifted with an ability to travel short or long distances using a kind of psychic link via a non-existent 'covered' bridge, a bicycle that's meant for a bigger boy and a desire to go to whatever place is foremost in her psychic mind's eye. The villain, who has a completely potty sidekick, one of a long line apparently, is a cadaverous, murderous, lifeforce draining 'vampire' (definitely not in the Stoker sense of the word), who drives an old Rolls Royce which is seemingly complicit in his warped paedophilia and this tale is the story of the girl and the effect the bad guy has on her, particularly when he finds out she's like him in her 'gifts', but is the light to his dark side. Again, these are just the protagonist and antagonists and Mr. Hill has clearly inherited Dad's skill for spooking the doodah out of the reader in a twisted, seemingly unending ghost train sense and I won't go into the meat of the book (pun intended), but for a late night, well written, decently long and by no means dull, creepy bit of modern American horror literature, it absolutely hits the spot and has future movie/mini series plastered all over it. It's cleverly crafted to build tension, get you thinking it can't get worse and then... Oh Boy! Terrific read by a skilled fright master and in no way a rehash of his famous father rather, a standalone scare scribbler in his own right.

'NOS4R2' is the story of Charles Talent Manx the third and his 1938 black Rolls-Royce with the licence plate 'NOS4R2' which spells out 'Nosferatu' (Charles's own little joke). Charles is The Wraith and a serial killer, he takes children to Christmasland, his inscape where every day is Christmas and children lose themselves and never come back.Charles Manx must find an accomplice to assist him in kidnapping children from their 'monsters' of parents and there must be ten children taken a year. Bing Partridge is recruited after he replies to a job advertisement for a job in Christmasland. Bing is 42 years old and a murderer of his own parents and believes everything that Charles tells him. Charles offers Bing the chance to go to Christmasland, only special adults are chosen, they must prove their love and devotion of children, their protection and service to Christmasland, Bing is desperate to prove himself.As Charles & Bing commit their crimes they never expect to be hindered or caught but then Charles meets Victoria 'Vic' McQueen, who has her own inscape and is the first person to escape from Charles which begins a chain of events for both of them.I enjoyed 'NOS4R2' from beginning to end, what a fantastic read! I loved the story, Christmasland is terrifying, the idea of it gets under your skin as more is revealed about Charles Manx and the moon that hangs over Christmasland is one of many scary moments that you read in the story.All of the characters are well written, you see Vic growing up, as she discovers her inscape, the shorter way bridge, a bridge she was forbidden to go near because it was unsafe. Vic discovers her inscape whilst riding across the bridge and thinking about her mother's lost bracelet, Vic finds herself in the place where the bracelet was lost, as time goes on, Vic uses her power more but she suffers for it.I liked Vic because she is flawed and never denies that she is, her first experience of Charles Manx leaves it mark, it was sad to read about her addiction and experiences, finding herself living with the disbelief of others and then making herself believe that nothing happened to her which left Vic isolated, she wants to do the right thing, especially for her son, Wayne. I also liked Lou, Wayne's father, devoted to him and Vic. I liked that he was a nerd and proud of it, he strives to be better for Wayne and Vic, wants to do something heroic when he just does not realise that he is heroic to Wayne and Vic, he saves them both in so many ways.Charles Manx is a memorable character, horrible and cruel but does not see himself that way, a charming psychopath who thinks he is saving children.'NOS4R2' is a dark book with characters who are memorable, there is so much feeling in this book, you go through a range of emotions, you care what happens to Vic, Lou and Wayne.Joe Hill is definitely a great author.A memorable story.

El libro llegó en muy buen estado, ningún problema con las páginas.

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I don’t know why some words are missing from the end of the chapters? Is it supposed to be like that or is there a problem with my kindle?

What an amazing story teller Joe Hill is. It's not very good to compare him with his father but when I started to read this unconsciously I was comparing both of them. But honestly say, after few chapters it's all gone and uniqueness of his writing pretty visible.In this story we see Victoria McQueen has a ability to find lost things by using her cover bridge. And this ability is actually become her curse of life. At teenage when she was distributed for her mom and dad's separation she rode her bike for trouble and her cover bridge take her to Charlie Manx's slaidge house. Manx has his own ability. He drove a classic wraith and abduct children to a place called Christmasland, where those kids become different (say evil). Like a vampire Manx suck them and gain his lifeline. Victoria McQueen not only escaped but able to comprehend him to law.Now after 12 years when vic has a son, Charlie Manx has returns to take her son and avenge her. How will she save her son and bring her back from Christmasland?All character development is just fantastic. Victoria McQueen is one bad ass women who struggling her life from very childhood but she is unbreakable. Lou is a sweetheart who always stood by her at any cost. The character of Maggie touch me the most. Bing the gas mask man, the most creepy psychopath ever read. And last but not the least Charlie Manx the main villain is the notorious and evil man who can gives you a nightmare. A big thumbs up to this book which have fantasy, tragedy, love and horror altogether.

Hey boys and girls, want to go for a ride to Christmastown? Mr. Manx has a fancy car and he would love to take you there.In my personal opinion, NOS4A2 was completely flawless. The thought process to pull everything together is something that is rarely seen in a book of this size. The characters are so well developed, I feel like I know them personally and am connected to them. Joe Hill has done an excellent job of pulling everything together to create a masterpiece of fiction. He has taken that old expression, “the truth is stranger than fiction”, stomped on it, spat in its face, and said, “Oh yeah, I’ll show you strange!”This is one of those books that I can see some crazy producer turning into a feature film, but leaving much of the details out and not doing the story justice. Although I would go to see it, to see Vic, Lou, Manx, Bruce Wayne and Christmastown brought to life.