Recommended: Heart-Shaped Box
Monday, April 14th, 2008
Rock and roll and reading. Two of my favourite things. I’ve spent many a Sunday afternoon with the tunes playing softly in the background while I laze away with a good book in hand. Like yesterday, when me and the missus listened to the first of three shows from the Grateful Dead “Winterland 1973″ box set. She did her taxes and I read the book “Heart-Shaped Box”, the debut novel from author Joe Hill. The reason I bring this up is because the book combines rock and horror, another one of my favourite things.
A ghost story released last year that recently arrived in paperback, “Heart-Shaped Box” is the story of rock star Judas Coyne. Picture him as a cross between Glenn Danzig and James Hetfield. He’s depraved and into the occult, so when he’s got the chance to own his very own ghost he jumps at the chance. Of course chaos ensues.
There’s tons of rock references throughout the book; the title, for one; Coyne’s dogs are named Bon and Angus, for another. It’s got some decent scares, and is fairly creepy throughout its 300+ pages. If you like ghosts, rock, and reading I’d say ”Heart- Shaped Box” fits the bill pretty well. It recalls the best work of Stephen King, which makes a lot of sense if you look into author Joe Hill’s background. I’ll say no more. As for today’s bonus code, Joe’s last name is what you’re after.