In Hill's debut novel, Judas Coyne, apparently a heavy metal star, buys the suit of a dead man from an internet auction. The suit supposedly comes with a ghost so Jude decides it will make a nice addition to his collection of bizarre objects.
Pretty soon, the ghost is everywhere and threatening Jude's life and that of everyone who helps him.
I liked the story. It was fun to read and kept my interest all the way through.
I really liked the book but I have a little problem: I can't completely reconcile myself to the way the main character is portrayed.
That isn't to say I don't like the character of Jude. I do. In fact, if I were to meet him in real life, I would probably hang out with him, despite the threat of a ghost.
I just have a problem with the "heavy metal" aspect of his character. As many of you may or may not know, that is a subject close to my gall bladder.
Nowhere in the actual manuscript does the author actually say Jude is a heavy metal musician. That is only in the synopsis. But, based on several passages in the book, I will concede that he is a heavy metal star.
Now, the author seems to be a rock fan, the titles of the novel's four parts tributes to Led Zeppelin. AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails, and Pearl Jam (or possible Ozzy). The dogs are named Angus and Bon, etc.
The problem I have is that Jude is such a stereotype. I don't have issues with the long hair, beard, or black clothing. That's pretty standard. Even the muscle car is acceptable. But Jude is the kind of rock star you see on every TV show and movie: the abused-child-turned-tortured-brooding-artist. His wife left him. His girlfriend is a goth (just one of the many he has slept with) ex-stripper.
The metal musicians I know are pretty normal people, many with day jobs. The difference is they are talented and dedicated enough to play music. They had pretty average childhoods and have pretty average relationships with their significant others (of course, what happens on the road, stays on the road
). Not all female metal fans are goths, yet the ones in this novel seem to be.
Now, one could argue that average people don't make interesting characters. I beg to differ. Even average people have dark secrets. But we've all read about the abused boy or girl who grows up to transcend their past. And the bad boy rock star who uses women for one thing only. It's been done.
I suppose, in the end, what matters is that the story is readable. It is and it's one of the better horror novels I've read lately.
But, as a metal-head myself, I get frustrated with the cliches most other people associate with the music. And Heart-Shaped Box just runs with them.
Pretty soon, the ghost is everywhere and threatening Jude's life and that of everyone who helps him.
I liked the story. It was fun to read and kept my interest all the way through.
I really liked the book but I have a little problem: I can't completely reconcile myself to the way the main character is portrayed.
That isn't to say I don't like the character of Jude. I do. In fact, if I were to meet him in real life, I would probably hang out with him, despite the threat of a ghost.
I just have a problem with the "heavy metal" aspect of his character. As many of you may or may not know, that is a subject close to my gall bladder.
Nowhere in the actual manuscript does the author actually say Jude is a heavy metal musician. That is only in the synopsis. But, based on several passages in the book, I will concede that he is a heavy metal star.
Now, the author seems to be a rock fan, the titles of the novel's four parts tributes to Led Zeppelin. AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails, and Pearl Jam (or possible Ozzy). The dogs are named Angus and Bon, etc.
The problem I have is that Jude is such a stereotype. I don't have issues with the long hair, beard, or black clothing. That's pretty standard. Even the muscle car is acceptable. But Jude is the kind of rock star you see on every TV show and movie: the abused-child-turned-tortured-brooding-artist. His wife left him. His girlfriend is a goth (just one of the many he has slept with) ex-stripper.
The metal musicians I know are pretty normal people, many with day jobs. The difference is they are talented and dedicated enough to play music. They had pretty average childhoods and have pretty average relationships with their significant others (of course, what happens on the road, stays on the road
). Not all female metal fans are goths, yet the ones in this novel seem to be. Now, one could argue that average people don't make interesting characters. I beg to differ. Even average people have dark secrets. But we've all read about the abused boy or girl who grows up to transcend their past. And the bad boy rock star who uses women for one thing only. It's been done.
I suppose, in the end, what matters is that the story is readable. It is and it's one of the better horror novels I've read lately.
But, as a metal-head myself, I get frustrated with the cliches most other people associate with the music. And Heart-Shaped Box just runs with them.
*Disclaimer: Not responsible for lost, stolen, or eaten body parts*
