Horns

By: Joe Hill

Narrated by: Fred Berman

Length: 13 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with one hell of a hangover, a raging headache... and a pair of horns growing from his temples. Once, Ig lived the life of the blessed: born into privilege, the second son of a renowned American musician, and the younger brother of a rising late-night TV star, Ig had security and wealth and a place in his community. Ig had it all, and more - he had the love of Merrin Williams, a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic.

Then beautiful, vivacious Merrin was gone - raped and murdered, under inexplicable circumstances - with Ig the only suspect. He was never tried for the crime, but in the court of public opinion, Ig was and always would be guilty. Now Ig is possessed with a terrible new power to go with his terrible new look, and he means to use it to find the man who killed Merrin and destroyed his life. Being good and praying for the best got him nowhere. It's time for a little revenge; it's time the devil had his due.

©2011 Joe Hill (P)2011 Orion Publishing Group Limited

LOVED this book! OMG Joe is awesome

Where does Horns rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10

What was one of the most memorable moments of Horns?

So many! I loved the devil in a blue dress scene

Have you listened to any of Fred Berman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

You want to see this!

Any additional comments?

No

Great characters

If you could sum up Horns in three words, what would they be?

A love story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Horns?

Iggy Parish's love story

Have you listened to any of Fred Berman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time and I love his performance

Who was the most memorable character of Horns and why?

Lee - because of the deliverable of Fred is impeccable to represent that character.

Any additional comments?

A story about great characters, you feel for Iggy Parish, Lee and Merrin. Just like his father Joe''s stories is about people in desperate situations and he makes you feel for the characters and fall in love with them.

Not nearly as good as NOS4R2...

I found the plot choppy here and there, and there were parts of the book I simply tuned-out. It was hard to keep interested in the plot at times, and other places simply brilliant. It felt like a first novel attempt but I still found it enjoyable. The storyline left a lot unsaid and a lot undone as far as tying up all the loose ends.

I felt Hill was writing two novels and trying to bind them into one. The ending left me thinking, "And how'd we end up here?" Perhaps I'd tuned out at that point.

In general I find Joe Hill's writing a bit gritty and sometimes offensive. Hill takes his obsession with evil and the devil and twisting the Bible just a bit too far and makes for uncomfortable reading. But, then again I enjoy an uncomfortable read but only if it makes me think and there is some resolution. Some parts of the novel were plain boring. I noticed there were times in this novel that resembled what he'd written in NOS4R2 but I felt NOS4R2 was a much better read.

I loved the choice of character name, Ignatius Martin Perrish, reduced to Ig.

And there were many scenes that were so graphically vivid that I could see the characters and what they were doing. I love when a writer can achieve that.

There's talent in Joe Hill's writing for sure; he's ability to paint a good scene, to make you cringe, he's warped sense of humor and to take a small piece of information or an idea and build a whole story around it. The only area that I felt needed improvement - plot.

I'm intrigued now to read, Heart Shaped Box :)

Uncomfortable but compelling

I've seen the movie posters, so thought I'd give this book a try in case I go to see the movie.

Joe Hill is quite obviously the son of Stephen King! There must be something in the King genes?!

I've only listened to one Stephen King novel, The Stand, which I thoroughly enjoyed. For me, Horns had a very similar feel: the tone, the sentiments, even the narration...despite the story being completely different in itself.

Christians might feel uncomfortable with some of this book. And the number of seriously depraved people who live in one town is somewhat disturbing (unless of course, it's an effect of the horns?). In a Guardian interview, apparently Hill states "I don't think that many dedicated Christians would enjoy it, but not because the book is anti-Christian. I'm quite certain it isn't. I think they wouldn't enjoy it because it's so filthy ... one ungodly perversion after another,".................and that somes up things pretty well. Not sure I want to see the movie now, though.

It's a good listen, despite some of the disturbing imagery, in that you can't help but want/need to know what happens next. And the horned chap isn't necessarily the most evil bloke in the picture either.....

Very well narrated.

Devilishly good.

I like my comedy quite black, waking up from a drunken night badly hungover with a set of horns growing from your head to me is a humouros story from the outset. There is a definite light dusting of black humour throughout the book, but it is not a comedy by any means. Very enjoyable book, if you are or are not a fan of his fathers books should not matter. Very nice pace to the story, starts perfectly with the waking up with horns moment and keeps you wanting to know more from 1 minute in right until the end. Easy contender for my top 5 all time favourites :)

Satan's not all he seems

This is my favourite audiobook of the year. I believe the author is Stephen King's son, it shows, as they both know how to capture a listener's imagination. The story is so unique that you don't really want it to end.

Ig wakes up one morning with horns growing out his skull. Whenever anyone sees them, they blurt out their deepest, usually unmentionable, secrets. Ig is already an outcast, having been accused but never committed of his girlfriend's murder. With horns, a goatee and skin that burns very easily to a crimson red, he seems to be turning into....could it be?

Horns

I was not sure when i did the read up on this book a guy who wakes up with horns what! but a friend recommend it to me and after listening to NOS4R2 by Joe Hill i thought why not, its a little strange at first but has the story unfolds and keeps going back it all makes perfect sense and i must say i got a little tearful too, great little story.

Great story

A good solid four from me.
Yes there are bits that could be a bit better but I love the idea and would defiantly recommend it

All the horrible people

I couldn't finish this audio book. There wasn't one person with warmth, integrity, wit or kindness. A bleak world that didn't seem funny to me, just mean spirited and ugly. Yuch.

Funny, original and leaves you wanting more.

What made the experience of listening to Horns the most enjoyable?

Horns is one of those books that needs to be read to be appreciated, if you tell someone the storyline it can sound silly. It's so much more, clever and original and full of black humour.

What about Fred Berman’s performance did you like?

He pitched all the characters perfectly, and was consistent with voices so you never wondered who was talking.

Any additional comments?

This is my second Joe Hill book, I enjoyed NOS4R2 and this was equally good. Both kept me wanting more, I will be getting more of Joe's work.

Story of the year, next years film of the year,

This is the second Joe Hill book I've purchased. I started the wrong way around with his latest Nos4r2 which is just a brilliant story and fantastic performance by Kate Mulgrew but wow... This story is just brilliant. I've also just finished Heart Shaped Box which is another fantastic story but Horns is my personal favourite.

Excellent story from a great storyteller

Would you consider the audio edition of Horns to be better than the print version?

The audiobook version of this story is great as Fred Berman brings all of the characters to life, as for is it better than the print version I'm not sure as I have enjoyed both

What did you like best about this story?

This story is very compelling but also what makes it really stand out is it's humour, Ig especially and to a lesser extent Merron's dad.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have like to listen to this in one sitting but at over thirteen hours it was just not possible.

Any additional comments?

Great story, brilliantly read... all in all a really enjoyable book.

Very good

What a weird and good book! I never got the answer to a lot of questions and yet it doesn't matter. Funny at times, sad at others, it was a pleasure to listen to this. Don't expect a horror book though, this is more of a psychological search for meaning type of book, although it has its supernatural parts.