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Trish's Reviews > 20th Century Ghosts
20th Century Ghosts
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This is my first ever Joe Hill book. Well, it is a collection of short stories to be exact.
For the single titles of the stories, please refer to my status updates, where you can also see the individual ratings.
As you can see, not every story was a winner for me but the majority was great. And among those with a low(er) rating, I noticed that the writing itself was always of high quality. One simply didn't belong in a horror collection in my opinion and one or two other(s) seemed too short, like a joke ending without the punch line.
What was noticable in a number of stories was the subtlety with which the author delivered the supernatural kick to the reader's face. Like in the bonus story where I'm sure many a reader will have to go back to read one word at least twice before realizing what has been said. That is awesome! :D
And some stories showed clearly that this is Stephen King's son - the characterization of a few people here was fantastic in an infuriating sort of way that I only know from the King of Horror. *lol*
Great atmosphere, distinct characters in often very creepy situations ... (almost) perfect Spooktober read.
For the single titles of the stories, please refer to my status updates, where you can also see the individual ratings.
As you can see, not every story was a winner for me but the majority was great. And among those with a low(er) rating, I noticed that the writing itself was always of high quality. One simply didn't belong in a horror collection in my opinion and one or two other(s) seemed too short, like a joke ending without the punch line.
What was noticable in a number of stories was the subtlety with which the author delivered the supernatural kick to the reader's face. Like in the bonus story where I'm sure many a reader will have to go back to read one word at least twice before realizing what has been said. That is awesome! :D
And some stories showed clearly that this is Stephen King's son - the characterization of a few people here was fantastic in an infuriating sort of way that I only know from the King of Horror. *lol*
Great atmosphere, distinct characters in often very creepy situations ... (almost) perfect Spooktober read.
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Reading Progress
November 14, 2018
– Shelved
November 14, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 22, 2019
–
1.0%
"Most of those who practise the art of the unsettling far too often go for the jugular, forgetting that the best predators are stealthy. Ain't that the truth!
This is from the introduction to this book and describes a pet peeve of mine - I often enjoy bloody horror, but I also like diversity (and blood alone doesn't make a good story)."
This is from the introduction to this book and describes a pet peeve of mine - I often enjoy bloody horror, but I also like diversity (and blood alone doesn't make a good story)."
October 23, 2019
–
Started Reading
October 23, 2019
–
18.0%
"Pop Art => 4 stars
Here, Hill proved whose son he is, especially with the father character. *lol*"
Here, Hill proved whose son he is, especially with the father character. *lol*"
October 23, 2019
–
24.0%
"You Will Hear the Locust Sing => 2.5 stars
I like creature features in general but this one fell kinda flat for me."
I like creature features in general but this one fell kinda flat for me."
October 23, 2019
–
30.0%
"Abraham's Boys => 5 stars
Interesting take on Abraham VanHelsing and Mina (though the audio's accent is atrocious and as far away from Dutch as the Netherlands are from China)."
Interesting take on Abraham VanHelsing and Mina (though the audio's accent is atrocious and as far away from Dutch as the Netherlands are from China)."
October 23, 2019
–
36.0%
"Better Than Home => 1.5 stars
I feel like there is something missing from this story. If not, it's basically pointless (to me anyway)."
I feel like there is something missing from this story. If not, it's basically pointless (to me anyway)."
October 23, 2019
–
42.0%
"The Black Phone => 5 stars
Awesomely claustrophobic and <spoiler>!</spoiler>"
Awesomely claustrophobic and <spoiler>!</spoiler>"
October 23, 2019
–
54.0%
"The Cape => 5 stars
Reminded me of the what-if-scenario of that movie where the alien boy didn't turn into Superman at all."
Reminded me of the what-if-scenario of that movie where the alien boy didn't turn into Superman at all."
October 23, 2019
–
60.0%
"Last Breath => 4.5 stars
Has this inspired one of the epsiodes of Netflix's Black Mirror (season 4)?!"
Has this inspired one of the epsiodes of Netflix's Black Mirror (season 4)?!"
October 23, 2019
–
66.0%
"Dead-Wood => 3.5 stars
This had a fantastic concept but suffered from being too short."
This had a fantastic concept but suffered from being too short."
October 23, 2019
–
96.0%
"My edition has a bonus story called Scheherazade's Typewriter => 3.5 stars"
October 23, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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message 1:
by
Bradley
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rated it 4 stars
Oct 23, 2019 11:02AM
Great! Glad you enjoyed!
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I really did and I'm glad, too, since we'll be tackling a full-length novel of his soon.
A pretty thick one, too.
Many do which is why I keep seeing his books and why I had to finally give him a chance. And obviously I haven't regretted it. :)
I just got Full Throttle. Hoping to start it soon...
Justine wrote: "I just got Full Throttle. Hoping to start it soon..."We're tackling a Christmas book: NOS4A2. Brad has already read it but I haven't. The blurp sounds very interesting though.
Felt the same Trish. I loved most of the stories. Would I classify all of them horror? No way, but they were still entertaining and the writing was top notch.Great review!
Thanks. Well, some - while not being horror strictly speaking - were at least a bit mysterious or creepy in some psychological way. But at least one simply had zombies (and not even real ones) and that was it. *lol*
The group read N0S4A2...aka N0S4R2 if you have the UK edition lol.
I didn't even know there were two different editions! *lol* All I was told is that it was Christmas-y (slightly) so it was put on our December slot of the calendars (I swear, the calendar will be the death of me, most of it is already full for 2020 already)!
It is my kind of Christmas tale. :)
