Thinking it would be good for his public image, Jude buys it and promptly forgets about it. However, the suit in question is haunted by the guy who wore it… Danny tells Jude about an odd e-mail he’s received offering him the chance to own the suit of a dead man for $1,000. Nothing in his gory collection compares to the latest discovery, though. Marybeth), his personal assistant, Danny and his two German Shepherds, Bonnie and Angus.Ī collector of macabre artifacts, Jude’s collection includes a skull, a cookbook for cannibals, sketches by John Wayne Gacy, a used hangman’s noose, a chess board from Aleister Crowley’s childhood, and a Mexican snuff movie that cost him his marriage. He lives in seclusion on a farm in upstate New York with his much-younger goth girlfriend, Georgia (a.k.a. Judas (Jude) Coyne is a middle-aged, death-metal rock god living comfortably on the royalties of his albums. So, what’s the title that has me all fired up and ready to try and write a review? Well, my friends, it’s Joe Hill’s “ Heart-Shaped Box.” As I’ve already mentioned, this was my first Joe Hill novel, and on the strength of this, it sure won’t be the last one to grace my bookcase. I’ve read a few e-books on my Kindle tablet in short time – three in one week thanks to the excellent “ City of Ghosts,” “ The Girl Who Talks to Ghosts,” and “ The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave,” by J.H. To be clear, when I say book, I mean a physical, hold-in-your-hands, made of paper book.

Only one other book has had that effect on me and that was “ Head Full of Ghosts” by Paul Tremblay. I was so engrossed in the story I finished it in less than a week. With that in mind, I want to talk about the book I’ve just finished reading. I recommend it.” There are writers out there who do a way better job than me where reviews are concerned so I tend to leave it to them. The reason? I never know what to write other than “it’s really good. When I read a book, I always leave a rating on Goodreads, but I have yet to leave what you might call a “useful” review. Among the books I’ve read have been several authors who were new to me, including Gregg Hurwitz, Paul Tremblay, J.H. Simple as that.”Īccording to my Goodreads account, I’ve read 25 books this year, so I guess I must be following through on my goal.

As Stephen King famously said: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. I’m doing this for several reasons – to help me relax more, to be entertained and to help me progress as a writer. Throughout 2017, one of my writing goals is to make a concerted effort to read more.

Heart shaped box by joe hill