NOS4A2: A Novel by Joe Hill

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Joe Hill, the acclaimed, award-winning author of the New York Times bestsellers Heart-Shaped Box and Horns, plunges you into the dark side of the imagination with a thrilling novel of supernatural suspense . . .

Victoria “Vic” McQueen has an uncanny knack for finding things. When she rides her bicycle over the rickety bridge in the woods near her house, she always emerges in the places she needs to be. Vic doesn’t tell anyone about her unusual ability.

Charles Talent Manx has a gift of his own. He likes to take children for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the vanity plate NOS4A2. In the Wraith, he and his innocent guests can slip out of the everyday world to an astonishing playground of amusements he calls Christmasland. Mile by mile, the journey across the highway of Charlie’s twisted imagination transforms his precious passengers, leaving them as terrifying and unstoppable as their benefactor.

And then comes the day when Vic goes looking for trouble . . . and finds her way, inevitably, to Charlie. Now the only kid ever to escape Charlie’s twisted imagination is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx hasn’t stopped thinking about Vic McQueen. On the road again, he won’t slow down until he’s taken his revenge. . . .

my thoughts:

I am loving NOS4A2!  I still have quite a bit to read, but from the chapters that I've devoured I can honestly tell you that this is one unputdownable book.  I'm serious!  The only reason I haven't finished it yet, is because I haven't had the free time to just sit still and read - darn you, social life!  However, based on what I have read, I can tell you this much:  

NOS4A2 is a chilling and thrilling read about a dark and twisty old man named Charlie Manx, who takes little children for rides in his Wraith.  He takes them to a place called Christmasland, where their worst nightmares come true.  Manx is a murderer and he relishes his role.  Its pretty creepy to read about, but you just can't stop - its too mesmerizing and terrifying!  There is one little girl who manages to escape Manx's clutches - Vic McQueen.  She's this awesome kid who has this crazy/weird ability to cross over into places.  For example, her parents were arguing over a bracelet and Vic found herself peddling her bike over a decrepit old bridge (that no longer existed).  She wound up at the greasy spoon her family had just eaten at hours ago and manages to find her mom's bracelet.  Upon returning home from her trip, she got sick.  You see, Vic's 'trips' have consequences.  Anyhow, Vic's escape from Christmasland resulted in her life taking a nosedive.  Addicted to drugs, mental breakdowns, an unhappy relationship with her kid, and telephone calls from the dead children she witnessed at Christmasland all haunt Vic in her adult life.  Her life is a mess and to add even more drama (and danger) to the mix - Charlie Manx has not forgotten about Vic McQueen.  So, yeah, things are looking even more dire for Vic.  Talk about depressing and scary, eh?  Well, more scary than depressing.

Anyhow, I need to get back to the book.  I have to find out what is going to happen to Vic, Charlie, and all of the other crazy characters in NOS4A2.  Of course, I am a bit nervous about settling down with the book for the night - it tends to give me nightmares.  YIKES!  Oh well, it makes the reading experience fun.  And, its gotten me in the Halloween spirit (meaning that I have bought a pumpkin to carve, candy to hand out, and have taken to watching Fear Fest on AMC).  I've watched  Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Walking Dead.  I actually thought of Freddy Krueger when I first learned about Vic and her ability to cross over and bring things back with her - for some reason I was reminded of how those nightmares were more reality than dream world. 

So, yeah, I would definitely recommend Joe Hill's novel, NOS4A2 to anyone and everyone (especially fans of Hill's works and fans of horror fiction).  They will LOVE this book!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: NOS4A2

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!