Heart-Shaped Box (novel)
LC Class | PS3608.I4342 H43 2007 | |
Heart-Shaped Box is the debut horror novel by American author Joe Hill. The book was published on February 13, 2007, by William Morrow.
The titles of the novel and its four sections are all those of rock songs: "
.Synopsis
Aging rock star Judas Coyne spends his retirement collecting morbid memorabilia, including a witch's confession, a real snuff film and, after being sent an email directly about the item online, a dead man's funeral suit. Jude is informed by Jessica Price, the dead man's daughter, that the old man's spirit is attached to the suit, such that Jude is effectively buying himself a ghost. Jude cannot pass up this creepy opportunity.
The suit arrives in a heart-shaped box. Various odd occurrences cause Jude to realize that the ghost is deadly and is out to kill him and those around him. His assistant, Danny Wooten, kills himself, but not before contacting the woman who sent the suit. Jude finds out that the ghost was the stepfather of a groupie, Florida, whom Jude lived with for a few months and who had later committed suicide. The ghost holds Jude responsible for Florida's death and wants revenge. Jude flees his house with his current girlfriend, Georgia, with the ghost in hot pursuit.
The ghost's intent is to separate Jude from his two dogs, Angus and Bon, who, as
After a series of gory battles between Jude and Craddock, Georgia finds a way to contact Florida beyond the grave for help fighting her stepfather's ghost. In the end, Craddock is vanquished, freeing Jude and Georgia from his curse, and Jessica is sent to jail. After surviving the horrendous ordeal, Jude and Georgia eventually marry.
Publication
Hill received a great deal of attention with the publication of Heart-Shaped Box. Subterranean Press published the advance edition of 500 copies and they sold out within days, long before publication. The limited signed and numbered 200 copies and 15 lettered copies are sought after by Joe Hill
His previous book, 20th Century Ghosts, was only available through the UK publisher PS Publishing and was printed in very limited quantities (1,700 copies in total, 700 of which are signed).
Heart-Shaped Box peaked on
Heart-Shaped Box won the 2007 Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel.
Adaptations
The film rights to Heart-Shaped Box were acquired by Warner Bros. in 2007 to be produced by Akiva Goldsman. Irish director Neil Jordan wrote the script and was slated to direct.[4] The project stalled in development hell.
References
- ^ "Hardcover Fiction". The New York Times. April 8, 2007.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (February 8, 2007). "Clothes Make The Man Scared". The New York Times.
- ^ Grossman, Lev (February 9, 2007). "The Son Also Frightens". Time. Archived from the original on February 12, 2007.
- ^ "Jordan will build 'Box' for Warners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
External links
- Joe Hill's personal website
- Read a Heart-Shaped Box excerpt online
- Time Magazine review of Heart-Shaped Box