Welcome to Litsy!

This was a bittersweet read, I really felt for Victoria. My heart crushed for her at several parts of book. It‘s a beautiful story of life, death, and loss of childhood innocence. Lots of hate worthy characters too. But lots of good characters. I‘m still trying to figure out how I feel about Victoria‘s parent though. I slightly recommend giving this book a chance. Plus, Joe Hill is up there with his father. (I loved the Easter Eggs he put in this)

I enjoy the premise and storytelling of this novel, although I'm not completely on board with Hill's use of language. Sometimes, the language feels overly aggressive/abrasive to me, which sometimes fits the story/character and sometimes doesn't. Sometimes, this makes the characters seem like puppets rather than full individuals. I can see reading his books occasionally, but I think the style would annoy me if I read them too often.

Kate Mulgrew has a very distinctive voice, and her serial killer voice is exceptional, but the way she pronounces Haverhill (Massachusetts)---Hav-er-hill---is making my eye twitch. With about 11 hours to go, I might have to switch to the print edition.

First book I‘ve read by Joe Hill (son of Stephen King). What an absolute blast of a novel. A little mix of everything! Horror, psychological thriller, comedy, drama. I was able to relate to and appreciate the characters. A perfect book for spooky season. 5 ⭐️

5 ⭐️s
I honestly loved this book. As a mom, I can say this played strongly on my fears of my child being stolen from me. I know I would go to hell and back to get him and keep him safe, but would I have the capabilities? I really loved the descriptive writing, the way Hill slowly builds up the suspense and makes the reader worry for the protagonists. I liked the characters, especially Lou. It got me in the feels a lot, especially in the end. ⬇️

3✨ It started out really slow as I gauged what was happening. It is a multidimensional setting that was difficult at first to wrap my mind around. It jumped ahead a few times before the characters were in the future which was an interesting touch. I also really liked the chapters that back tracked just a bit to change POVs along a common conversation or situation. I would have liked a slightly different ending, but it was a partial happy ending.

Does anyone else have (a lot) of thought on this “5 star or don‘t even review it” discourse. Usually I was seeing it from indie authors, or self published or a debut novel…. But from the son of Stephen King? A man with a Netflix adaptation & multiple best sellers. Joe… get real. I beg you.
How many times have I stacked a “so-so”? How many times have I read a book my friend DNF‘d? A lot, actually.

Ahoy #snowangels!! It‘s time for our last weekly game of the #wintergames this year ❄️❄️❄️ I can‘t believe we‘re this far through already.

I‘ll tag the team members and then our team read down below to get us started!

After a chaotic few days in hospital with appendicitis, I finally finished our #teamread #snowangels

Really enjoyed this, the second time I‘ve read it, Joe Hill can spin a yarn!

#promptmaze #wintergames

Thank you for all the #LitsyLove 🤍❄️🤍
@AmyG @SmartSassery @BookNAround @Ash.on.the.line @Librarybelle @mom_of_4 @Laughterhp @booklover3258 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Patchshank @GondorGirl @catiewithac @Morr_Books @Eggs @CaliforniaCay @TheLudicReader @jdiehr @Desha @Sleepswithbooks

So it turns out I‘ve already read our #teamread #snowangels but I‘m really enjoying re-reading it! And love this little nod to his dad 🤡

#wintergames

I loved rereading this Christmas-themed horror story as our #snowangels buddy read, and the audiobook narration by Kate Mulgrew was excellent. I especially enjoyed spotting all the Stephen King references. Joe Hill is SK's son, and I'm sure the character Tabitha was a nod to his mother.

#wintergames #longdarknights @Emilymdxn
 @Texreader @5feet.of.fury @Nessavamusic @sblbooks @MsRadioSilence @CogsOfEncouragement

Finally giving this one a go, and so glad I chose audio because until I heard the opening credits, I had no idea it was pronounced Nosferatu 🤯
Should be a good listen for a snowy December.

I really enjoyed our #snowangels #wintergames buddy read! This was so divinely creepy and the idea of Christmas music playing in July when you aren‘t expecting to show the wraith is coming is absolutely chilling. Having said that, I found the scary bits more convincing than the human emotional bits, but eh it‘s a horror that was good at being a horror so I can‘t hold it against it too much.

I went to Miracle (Holiday pop-up bar) & had to stop myself from hissing nefariously “we‘re going to Christmasland”
1) Joe Hill says he writes under this name to separate himself from his dad but this is as Stephen King-y as 1 could get. 2) I liked it, happy endings don‘t count til the end, 3) New England AF 5) complicated ladies .. and so creepy

I read this for a reading challenge and I liked it mostly. I liked the plot and the unique genuine horror. I did not love all of the characterization, especially the hardened broken single mom and the fat phobia toward her best friend/baby daddy was very cringey. It did have a truly evil bad guy and his minion. So I borderline recommend this if you can look past my previous comments. Definitely recommend the excellent audiobook. 3.5⭐️

Listening on my run today & taking in some of the 🎄lights, def started running faster once the sun went down with this creepy read. 😱🎅🏼

I LOVE Kate Mulgrew but why did no one tell her how to say “Haverhill” 😂 #MassachusettsProblems

Next up a Christmas's re-read.

I‘ll be at a math conference all day but will try to do a bit of reading before and after, and during breaks.

I have a couple of in-progress books to finish but am eager to start Crimson Snow, a collection of Christmas stories that I just discovered at the library!

@Emilymdxn #snowangels

1. Go to a friend‘s on Fridays & we usually catch up & have some cocktails, might make something festive 🎄🍸

2. I‘m trying to clear out my current reads today (totally doable, all nearing the end) so starting fresh with everything, first will be the tagged book/Team #BuddyRead

@Emilymdxn @bekakins @kwmg40 @Texreader @Nessavamusic @sblbooks @MsRadioSilence @CogsOfEncouragement
#SnowAngels #Wintergames

Hello and welcome to team #SnowAngels for the 2023 #wintergames 🎄🎄🎄

I‘m so excited to be your captain and to read a lot and be festive this December! Because I‘m a big horror fan and I know some people like a break from traditionally Christmassy stuff, for our team reads we‘ve got an old school festive rom com and some winter horror which I hope covers a lot of tastes! I haven‘t read either yet so do check trigger warnings if you‘re into that

Ah, the age old struggle, to find a horror novel that will deliver chills and a smidgen of hope after battling the darkness vs one that mostly just repels and depresses you. This one had its moments, particularly building emotional relationships, but considering the length - the pacing - the non-awful bits were too few and far between. Probably best to consider this not my type of horror, even with the unique fantastical elements.

Day 5 #Scarathlon Photo Challenge - Blood #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

Got to see Joe Hill today

Exciting news! Joe Hill is coming to our library's bookfest in September! I got my book mail today all ready for him to sign when I go see him at the bookfest!!

I had to bail on this one. I read the physical book back in 2018 and I enjoyed it. I don‘t know if it‘s the narrator or I just can‘t get into it right now. I‘m going to try to plug the rest of the way through my Chris Carter books.

“Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls ‘Christmasland.‘”

Came for Kate Mulgrew‘s narration, stayed for the story. This was gripping, I wanted to just keep listening and altogether I finished it pretty quick. The audio was fire. I now wanna watch the series too!
Some parts were fairly graphic, and I did fast forward one particular scene. People who have to watch out for triggers might wanna skip this one, or at least look at its page on The Storygraph.

#JanuaryJazz
11. Wintery
Written by Joe Hill, Nos4A2 is a long novel, but don‘t let it intimidate you! Joe Hill manages to weave a good wintery (and holiday read🎄 ) tale as we follow protagonist Victoria McQueen, Vic and the chilling villain Charlie Manx. I don‘t really want to give much away, but let‘s just say Joe Hill manages to fill this book with all things holiday and horror, helping it fit perfectly well into the #Wintery prompt.

Woo hoo! Got my #jolabokaflodswap package today. The hubby tried to open it when I was at work but luckily not all the way. It's now hidden in my closet until Christmas Eve. @MaleficentBookDragon

🎄Real Tree
🍷Mulled Wine
👖PJs (even though I love dressing up)
🎄Give me all the colors!

Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView ✨ #ThisorThat #ChristmasEdition

So creepy and dark.

#JoeHill #horror

I liked the show a lot and really liked the book too.

So close to being done! Now I need to wait two weeks to get my hold in again.

I made it over halfway through and might finish this sometime. It is scary and generally well written. The problem is that there are a lot of near escapes where the victim (boy kidnapped by monster) almost gets away but doesn't quite, or where the protagonist (boy's mom, Vic) almost has a win, and that constant suspense and failure is a bit fatiguing on the reader. I put it down when Vic is lured in by one of the bad guys at a time when she ⏬

My hold came in and to my surprise it is read by Kate Mulgrew. Captain Janeway reading me a story!

I really loved it.

#JoeHill #horror

This was crazy! I loved it. Charlie Manx is wild, Christmasland is wild, and the images in my head of those poor terrifying children were wild too. I wonder if the TV show is any good? This one played out like a movie super well in my head. A fun read.

I listened to about half of this in audio, narrated by the wonderful Kate Mulgrew. There is about 10 minutes at the end of Joe Hill talking and I loved this as much/more than the actual story.

I‘m halfway thru NOS4A2 and it‘s a weird and wild story. I love it!

🦇 I don‘t read much horror/suspense but absolutely loved this book!!
♥️ 🐉😘🪄🧛💋💋
🌺 it keeps me dreaming and my mind off of real world troubles.
🪐 cover art gets me every time!!
@MoonWitch94 thank you so much for the tag!! #thoughtfulthursday

Another amazing novel by Joe Hill ❤️ This book had me hooked from the very start. The suspense will have you at the edge of your seat, hoping for answers. I can‘t wait to see how the show will compare to the book. I‘m happy it doesn‘t have to end yet🥰 Also amaaaazing narration by Kate Mulgrew🎧📖

My Jack Skellington Christmas town has been tainted by zombie-children and disturbing men.
I went book before show and so glad I did. Books are always better. There are many elements, encompassing a lot of what we love about horror. The characters are easy to attach to, and I encountered a lot of “whaaaat?“ moments, in a good way.
Overall good book. Recommend.

#WrapUp for January:

It was an interesting reading month - I haven't really loved any of the "new" books I read. Liked some of them BUT
I'm glad I re-read NOS4R2, as it turned into my only 5 start book.

I love that ReadMore's update now including my star ratings; this App really gets better with each updated!

Wow this was a trip!

Charlie Manx feeds on kids in his weird messed up world called Christmasland, he steals their souls and they spend eternity celebrating Christmas in a screwed up world of joy.

Violent, messy, some great characters, here‘s to you Maggie 💪🏼

Hills writing style is just like his fathers and I loved it! 🎅🏻

Merry Christmas to all Litsy friends and family!

I've been spoiled rotten this year!
More Books, more HP LEGO (this little one 👆🏻was also in my stocking) and all the love in the world.

May everyone have a blessed day

Oh @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I always have to share the amazing wrapping paper you find. I am such a Friends fan. I almost didn't want to open them 😍

#poutinepenpals

#holidaylaughs #mistletoemaniacs #wintergames2021