Stephen King Fans discussion

This month's non King book is Strange Weather by Joe Hill. Please mark all spoilers so those reading along can join the discussion also.

Yay Joe Hill is awesome also!

Yes Joe Hill is awesome, I think he learned his craft at his fathers knee.

I read this as soon as it was released. I loved each of the stories, but for very different reasons. Can't wait to hear what everyone thinks.

Aren't the little "doodles" in the upper corners cute? I love extras like that in books.

Loved this book. He writes extremely well and I could not put the book down. I loved the more than subtle hints with reference to the government and social media and climate change.

I put my autographed book safely in my bookshelves and started the audio version last night. I enjoyed Snapshot but thought it rambled in a few places. Wil Wheaton did a great job. Just finished Loaded this morning. My head is still reeling and the ending hit me like a punch in the gut. I loved Stephen Lang's narration. He has a Christopher Walken tone to his voice. This story is going to weigh heavy on my mind for a very long time. Just started Aloft and so far so good. I have not been a big fan of Kate Mulgrew's narration so I am hoping Rain is good enough to overcome her influence.

Jeanne25 wrote: "I put my autographed book safely in my bookshelves and started the audio version last night. I enjoyed Snapshot but thought it rambled in a few places. Wil Wheaton did a great job. Just finished Lo..."

Rain was my favorite of the four, and the main character is one of my favorites of all time. I want more Honeysuckle.

I agree about the ache the end of Loaded caused my heart. I just didn't see that coming. I should have, but some things are just too much to imagine on your own.

Kandice wrote: "I agree about the ache the end of Loaded caused my heart. I just didn't see that coming. I should have, but some things are just too much to imagine on your own.

Joe Hill knows (as well as his father) that the greatest monsters are not supernatural but human.

The greatest Monster is the monster within us all

Hello all! I decided to start this month with Strange Weather to get a break from King since it will be a rereading of The Shining for me as it was with Carrie and Salem's Lot. My first and only experience with Joe Hill was listening to Heart Shaped Box on audio book during a long car drive. It was phenomenal. So I'm surprised I've never picked up any of his other work. I'm excited!

Just a few pages in and liking it already. I was immediately struck by similarities discussed about our basic primitive instincts with the first story 'Snapshot' and that recurring idea in Salem's Lot.

Here... "There was no obvious need for caution - but a lot of our best thinking takes place well below the level of conscious cogitation and has nothing to do with rationality. The monkey brain absorbs a great deal of information from subtle cues that we aren't even aware we've received."

There (Salem's Lot)... I recall several instances of characters going on gut reactions and responding to danger on a instinctual level.

I think you can see Snapshot as an example of Alzheimer's or even just senility. It's terrifying, but very, very real.

Jeanne25, I agree with the ending of 'Loaded'. It was so abrupt and not at all what I was expecting. (view spoiler)[I guess they can't all be happy endings, can they? :o (hide spoiler)]

Kindle version is just $3.99 today, Sunday Feb. 4 2018.

Gonna sit down with this in a few hours.

Rob wrote: "Kindle version is just $3.99 today, Sunday Feb. 4 2018.

Gonna sit down with this in a few hours."

I just saw this and came in to post also, good looking out! Made my purchase, now to find the time to start it.

I checked Amazon and it's still 17.99

Kandice wrote: "Jeanne25, I agree with the ending of 'Loaded'. It was so abrupt and not at all what I was expecting
I knew it was a mistake to listen to Rain. I didn't like Mulgrew's narration on either The Fireman or NOS4A2. She definitely lessened my enjoyment. The story was good but it was my least favorite. I will give it some time and go back to my physical copy and read Rain again and I am sure I will enjoy it much more.

On the other hand, Stephen Lang's work on Loaded was amazing.

Linda wrote: "I checked Amazon and it's still 17.99"

It's likely a US only sale. Sorry... :(

Finished 'Aloft' today. I liked it, could see it as a film if there was a little more action.

I'll be joining this group read :) I read Snapshot when the book first came out, but haven't picked up the book since so this will be a good chance to finish it!
Snapshot: (view spoiler)[I found this one really hard to get through. The concept was sort of new, but also something that I had seen before (magic camera). I was expecting something more sinister than it just taking memories and I wasn't really scared of the Phoenician. He seemed like your average creep and I thought he was easily defeated. (hide spoiler)]

Just picked up my copy from the library today!! Excited to get started.

Was planning on giving new authors a try and saw Joe Hill's name pop up in this group every now and then, so jumped on to this group read. I will knock it off within a day or two and come to post here every time I am done with one of the stories. Hope more people join the discussion.

Finished Snapshot, so far my first impressions about Hill is that he is often adequate nudging good without ever being excellent. That long epilogue to Snapshot gave it more depth than it deserved while the actual meat of the story felt like a lesser King effort. He obviously channels King, not that I blame him, many others do too where as he actually has a good excuse to do it. But I would love to see Hill exerting some of his own personality / flair on the rest of the stories in the collection. Rating - 3/5.

Aditya wrote: "Was planning on giving new authors a try and saw Joe Hill's name pop up in this group every now and then..."

I generally find Hill to fit in the 3-4 star range, with a few exceptional 5 star pieces. I would suggest you read NOS4A2 which is an awesome novel. 20th Century Ghosts had some hit and miss stories in it but there were some that still haunt my thoughts.

Everyone has their opinions when it comes to ratings... for me Joe Hill is a 4 to 5 stars... some of his best works are heart shape box and the fireman

Jeanne25 wrote: "I generally find Hill to fit in the 3-4 star range, with a few exceptional 5 star pieces. I would suggest you read NOS4A2 which is an awesome novel. 20th Century Ghosts had some hit and miss stories in it but there were some that still haunt my thoughts."

Halfway into the second story I wholeheartedly agree with you, so far Hill looks like a solid 3-4 star writer. There is nothing wrong with that, there are so many authors in that range whom I follow, they are never going to be the best at what they do but they are consistent and I am comfortable with their styles. Michael Connelly of Harry Bosch fame is a perfect example of that.

Kenneth wrote: "Everyone has their opinions when it comes to ratings... for me Joe Hill is a 4 to 5 stars... some of his best works are heart shape box and the fireman"

I agree with the 4-5 range, but my favorites are Horns and the Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft series.

Aditya wrote: "Halfway into the second story I wholeheartedly agree with you

I rarely give 5 stars. To do so, the story must impact my life in some manner. For me, giving an author 3-4 stars is a compliment. Hill does have a few works that are entertaining and simply ok, 3 stars. That’s a good thing. The majority of his works fall into a 4 star rating for me, and yes on occasion, that rare 5 star gem.

20th Century Ghosts was my introduction to Joe Hill. I had no idea who he was but story collections (genre horror) are my passion so I had to give it a shot. I really didn’t remember much about the stories over time except that I enjoyed quite a few. This year, I started a new obsession and that being audio books. I didn’t realize how much time I waste that could be used listening to books. Now that I knew who Joe Hill was, I have made him my target in audio. I started with The Fireman. It was my first experience with the book and give it a 4 star despite the narration of Kate Mulgrew. I couldn’t decide whether it was the novel or the narrator that left me uncertain about the book. I decided to listen to NOS4A2 next. This was also narrated by Mulgrew but I had read it a couple of times and absolutely loved it. I did enjoy the audio book but again Mulgrew’s performance detracted from that enjoyment. I intend to reread The Fireman and anticipate liking it more the second time around. I next listened to 20th Century Ghosts which was narrated beautifully! I was also thrilled to rediscover the story of Button Boy (within Best New Horror) that had resurfaced in my mind for years although I could not remember who wrote the story. Strange Weather is the most recent (although I have to remind myself that it is still February) audio book of Hill’s. Loaded was my favorite story and was a solid 5 star in my opinion. The ending of this story will most likely haunt me forever.

I find Joe Hill's book completely entertaining and I would rate him in the 4-5 range. He has worked hard to keep out of his fathers shadow and has succeeded in my book.

Jeanne25 wrote: "Aditya wrote: "Halfway into the second story I wholeheartedly agree with you

I rarely give 5 stars. To do so, the story must impact my life in some manner. For me, giving an author 3-4 stars is a ..."

That's high praise and I'm really glad you like his work!

Finished Loaded, I love a dark ending more than most but this ending felt abrupt narratively and a strange place to end the story. Loved the shocking turn of events, it was a brave decision on part of the author but it was not a logical concluding point. It's main purpose was to shock so I felt it cheapened the story.

Overall good idea but execution could have been better. Hill should have made a central character a tragic figure instead of a pantomime villain. Rating - 3/5.

I read snapshot when I first purchased the book last year, however I put it down and never came back to it. I've got 9 exams this month (blimey!) so I've come back to it now due to being able to read it without it taking too much time.
In regards to snapshot (view spoiler)[ I loved how even though the Phoenician was supposed to be this big scary bad guy, he was still affected by the camera. Alzheimer's can effect anyone, and that is what makes the story truly scary to me! (hide spoiler)]

Just picked up this book today can't wait to get into it. Unfortunately I have to wait as I have several book waiting my attention.

I just finished Snapshot. I didn't love it. It seemed to be missing a little something for me. Like maybe there was really no (view spoiler)[real reason as to why the eyeball was there. Yes .. I don't mind books not having a real explanation of things but maybe a hint, is it alien? Demonic? I just didn't think there were enough answers. Maybe the story was too long and that's why I was expecting a littl more from it. It was readable and had me wondering the whole time what was going on. What the story did do for me was make me not want to be older with Dementia or Alzheimers. Yikes. I have to agree with Jacob, the memory loss part was the scariest part of the story to me too. (hide spoiler)]

I'm excited to read more though, and wondering how all the stories connect to weather.

Finished Aloft, it is as good a story as one about sentient cloud can be, which is not very good. I liked the main character, found his romantic crises in flashbacks sadly funny yet recognizable. But the actual story seemed like an idea that seems cool after a few drinks and embarrassing when you try to frame a whole story round it, once you had turned sober. Rating - 2/5.


Angie wrote: "I'm excited to read more though, and wondering how all the stories connect to weather."

The weather connection is very literal, you won't find the thematic resonance that Different Season possessed. I still remember Rita Hayworth and the Shawashank Redemption had that by line of hope springs eternal. Here strange weather is pretty much what the name suggest freaky thunderstorms, clouds and rain.

Finished Rain, great end to the collection. The protagonist at first glance seemed like a politically correct, liberal caricature. But by the end of the story she proves herself to be brave, resourceful and surprisingly endearing. The twists at the end of the story is both well disguised and well handled. This is a story that convinced me to read another Joe Hill book somewhere down the line. Rating - 5/5.

Overall the book had more misses than hits but the problem seemed to be inconsistency rather than any major lack of effort or talent.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Aditya wrote: "Finished Rain, great end to the collection. The protagonist at first glance seemed like a politically correct, liberal caricature. But by the end of the story she proves herself to be brave, resour..."

Rain was my favorite as well. I would love to meet Honeysuckle in life.

Kandice I also liked Aubrey from Aloft a lot though his story was very weak.

Joe Hill is coming to my towns book festival Saturday and I am excited. I've been holding off on reading this until I get it signed (have to buy it at the festival to get it signed). Can't wait!

Sooo I just finished Loaded and wow. I guess this (like next month's read) relates so well to society right now. With the shooting that just happened in Florida I thought this story was a little difficult to get through. (view spoiler)[ I enjoyed Loaded a lot more then Snapshot. Again we read a story that is left up in the air, much like Hill's father's stories. I don't mind that but I'm hoping all four stories aren't like that. I agree with Aditya about the ending. After all the investigation in the story I thought for sure we were going to see some sort of investigation coming to light and THEN the big ending. I'm really into fire, I come from a family that has 3 generations working for the Forest Service. A lot of people don't know that fire creates it's own weather. Fire science is quite interesting (https://weather.com/news/weather/news...). Anyways... I thought it was neat that Hill mentioned fire in this story as the weather. If you are interested check out the link I posted about it. (hide spoiler)]

Angie wrote: "Sooo I just finished Loaded and wow. I guess this (like next month's read) relates so well to society right now. With the shooting that just happened in Florida I thought this story was a little di..."

Angie, I thought I was alone in being thrilled by the fire aspect. My father, uncle, aunt and some cousins were/are all firefighters so it's always been a big part of our lives.

Jeanne25 wrote: "Aditya wrote: "Halfway into the second story I wholeheartedly agree with you

I rarely give 5 stars. To do so, the story must impact my life in some manner. For me, giving an author 3-4 stars is a ..."

Loaded was my fave too!

Angie wrote: "I just finished Snapshot. I didn't love it. It seemed to be missing a little something for me. Like maybe there was really no [spoilers removed]

I'm excited to read more though, and wondering how ..."

Snapshot and the whole eyeball thing kinda reminded me of the old Tales from the Crypt show.

Well... I just finished Aloft. Of course another story left up in the air with really no answers. I don't mind that but I feel like it's a cop-out on these short stories. This story we have no idea about anything that happens later. (view spoiler)[ Does Aubrey meet back up with Harriet and the skydivers? I wanted to learn more about their reactions. Especially the skydiver. We read so much back story into them that I felt more closure there would've been good. Then the cloud. While I enjoyed the mysterious part of it I still wish there was more behind that too. I did like this story and it made me realize I haven't read much scifi lately and need to get back into it.
I'm not sure about the whole sex stuff either. If I was freaking out on a cloud I don't think I'd have sex with a cloud. (hide spoiler)]

K started Rain.

Mely wrote: "Angie wrote: "I just finished Snapshot. I didn't love it. It seemed to be missing a little something for me. Like maybe there was really no [spoilers removed]

I'm excited to read more though, and ..."

I had to step back and think about Snapshot before I could decide if I liked it or not. I do love the way Hill never avoids the big confrontation, so seeing him confront the Phoenician was great and necessary. Then things just seemed to peter out, the way a lot of people's lives do, no matter who they are and what they accomplish, without the right support people around them they just sadly fade away.

But think of this story in another way, maybe it isn't about the people but the arrival of the iPhone (smartphone). It has almost world-changing properties. And maybe it wasn't cooked up in the research centers of Apple and similar companies but arrived with some weirdo guy from another dimension. And it had parts that no one could ever create in our world. They had to be discovered and analyzed and then manufactured. The "instant photos by the millions" concept first came into being with the Polaroid but was finally only realized with the fully developed smartphones. And then there's the fact that the photos take away our memories of what's really happening. Maybe there's a little bit of that too with the iPhone. In that case, the old Kodak slogan, "Capturing Memories" takes on a whole new meaning. That, or something close to it, is what I think this story is really all about.

That's a great take Nick. I read it as an allegory for Alzheimer's, but your idea is better. ;-)

I finished Rain and it had a Sleeping Beauties kind of feel to me. All I could wonder is if Owen got the idea from Joe. Oh well that's just me.

Kandice wrote: "That's a great take Nick. I read it as an allegory for Alzheimer's, but your idea is better. ;-)"

I'm sure it's about both... though I wonder at what point Hill decided which way to go. Using the old Stephen King formula (start out with 'what if') Hill decides, what if this guy showed up with a Polaroid camera that sucks the memories out of people's minds... and he just goes on from there.

Nick wrote: "Mely wrote: "Angie wrote: "I just finished Snapshot. I didn't love it. It seemed to be missing a little something for me. Like maybe there was really no [spoilers removed]

I'm excited to read more..."

I will say what you thought of Snapshot is sooo interesting to me. This is why I love reading books with bookclubs. I do try to enjoy moments without taking pictures or filming constantly. I miss the days when you took a picture and didn't know what it would look like till you picked it up from the store. I try not to be one of those who is so obsessed with my photo that whoever I'm with has to stand there for 10 minutes retaking photos till there is a perfect one for Facebook. Snapshot also did make me miss Polaroid cameras. The photos that come from them are so candid.

Just finished Loaded yesterday. I thought the characters were good and Hill tried really hard to give them depth, especially Kelleway, but the twists and turns betrayed him. Again this was more a story about an idea than a series of events in the lives of real people. It certainly started off well, and all the pieces did fit together, but then they came apart too easily. (view spoiler)[there were a million ways that the truth of the incident could have come out that would have been more dramatic, lots of other ways that the world could have reacted to the reality of the events, that the fire could have played a role, that the relationship between Kellaway and Chief Rickles could have turned into an amazing confrontation, that Lanternglass could have had a bigger role in finding the solution, that her daughter could have played a part that echoed her own childhood experience. (hide spoiler)] Instead, Hill went for the surprise. It was a good, thought-provoking surprise, a moral lesson that might be unpopular right now. But still, things could have been better along the way. He just didn't really explore all the opportunities his story gave him.