Horror Aficionados discussion

Hex has won our group listen poll for June. Here's a place for us to discuss it. Please use spoiler tags as necessary and happy listening!

: ) Same here so count me in

I'm in! i'll probably start this one sometime next week.

you sure can!

I started this yesterday. I highly recommend that you read the publisher's description in full because it is a bit "different" and a little confusing. I went back and read the description in full after about a half our of audio time and it helped. Now about 2 hours in and I'm enjoying it.

Nik wrote: "I realize this is for the audio, but I have the hardcover and was wondering if I can still participate?"

Nik, of course you can! I suggest that you preface your post with a chapter number or name and then place your post within spoiler tags, so anyone that's not there yet doesn't accidentally see it. Those who are there can click on your spoiler and see what you have to say.

Melissa wrote: "I started this yesterday. I highly recommend that you read the publisher's description in full because it is a bit "different" and a little confusing. I went back and read the description in full a..."

Hmm, that's interesting.

I am reading this on the Kindle as I didn't much like the narrator from the audio sample, but I'd still like to join in with plot related discussions.

I think there is a bit of controversy with this book as to how come the author "Americanized" the book from its original Dutch setting. See interview here: http://www.tor.com/2016/04/15/americanizing-words-and-witches/. I kind of understand why he's done it but am still not sure whether to feel insulted that non-Dutch readers couldn't get their heads around the Dutch setting! What do other people think?

Not a fan of this narrator. :/ Stupid, whiny voices for women and teens.

Viv wrote: "I am reading this on the Kindle as I didn't much like the narrator from the audio sample, but I'd still like to join in with plot related discussions.

I think there is a bit of controversy with th..."

I was wondering why a book translated from Dutch was set in the United States. Now I know.

Melissa wrote: "Not a fan of this narrator. :/ Stupid, whiny voices for women and teens."

Ah, that sucks. I hope the narrator doesn't end up putting you off the book - it make such a difference!

Viv wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Not a fan of this narrator. :/ Stupid, whiny voices for women and teens."

Ah, that sucks. I hope the narrator doesn't end up putting you off the book - it make such a difference!"

Narrator isn't so bad that I would dnf the book. Just not my favorite.

Good concept, good narrator. Looking forward to finishing this one.

I'm start into pick some holes in this one. Still enjoying it though. Although I feel that the authors descriptive powers are lacking....

I've finished reading this. Despite all the modern stuff, it felt like a good old-fashioned horror with some genuinely scary stuff. Not strong on characterisation, but great tension and plot. When everyone's finished, I'm desperate to discuss the ending!!

3 hrs. & 45 min. left. Not a real winner for me. Not really holding my interest or attention at this point.

Just finished this, I have to be honest I found it to be a huge disappointment. Great idea, poor execution. In the hands of another writer this could have been my book of the year but it's rather clumsy I found. I also guessed the ending (more or less) from the first chapter. Even with this I found the ending to be the strongest part of the book.

Still worth a read I think but it left a sour taste in my metaphorical mouth.

About 45 minutes left to go. I'm not in any hurry to get back to it. I'm sure traffic will be bad after work and I'll finally finish this clinker. Which sucks...because I'm the one that recommended it for the June audio selection. Sorry, folks!

I started listening to this the other day but I don't like the narrator at all either so I'm going to read it instead.

I'm bummed this is getting very mixed reviews, but I think I'm going to try it anyway, having just returned from a trip. Should be starting in the next couple of days.

I'm starting this Tuesday at the latest.

Robert wrote: "I'm bummed this is getting very mixed reviews, but I think I'm going to try it anyway, having just returned from a trip. Should be starting in the next couple of days."

I hope you enjoy it. I thought it was one of the better books to come out in a while. I'm surprised by the amount of people not liking it.

I didn't listen to the audiobook, however.

this book is not anything at all like I thought it would be. this is the vibe I'm getting from it- they put the pines and paranorman in a blender and this is what came out. oh and with a dash of the lottery as well. I'm well into part 2 but come on! let's talk about the witch!

I finished. well, it was ok. I did zone out a little towards the end but I think I got it. (view spoiler)[ do you think the witch was really Katherine or someone else from the past that was in the same situation as Steve? or did I miss that detail in my spacing out? (hide spoiler)]

Started it today. So far, so good.

I'm reading 'Hex', not listening, sorry. But I wanted to report I had to sleep with the lights on last night. Silly me. Right?

O _O

aww, that's great. I'm really glad it effected you so much. that's why we read horror, right? to be scared to death!

Latasha wrote: "aww, that's great. I'm really glad it effected you so much. that's why we read horror, right? to be scared to death!"

Absolutely, which is why the best hours to read horror are Midnight!

I see what people mean about the narrator. It's not enough to make me stop listening, but I really don't care for him. Probably most annoying is choosing to whisper almost randomly in places where it doesn't seem warranted, which is particularly annoying when listening in the car, with the road noise.

Intriguing premise, not really sure yet where they're going with it. I think I'm maybe 4 hours in? I do hope it starts to hold my interest - my attention has definitely wandered at times.

He used the old man & whiny lady voice wayyyyy too much

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I'm reading 'Hex', not listening, sorry. But I wanted to report I had to sleep with the lights on last night. Silly me. Right?

O _O"

That's great! I did think that this book had some genuinely scary moments.

For those that have got to the end - what did you think? (view spoiler)[I was a bit WTF! when Steve left his wife and son behind in the burning church, but guess by then he had totally lost the plot. My thought at the end, when he was getting ready to sew up his own eyes, was that he had actually died, and was now destined to kind of repeat history by becoming the new Katherine. Is that how others saw it? (hide spoiler)]

Also, he says in the afterword that the Dutch ending was different to the translated ending. I would love to know how the book ended in the original version!

Finished it. Um, Well.

My teachers always said if you've got nothing good to say.....

The first 200 pages are wonderful!

Viv wrote: "aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I'm reading 'Hex', not listening, sorry. But I wanted to report I had to sleep with the lights on last night. Silly me. Right?

O _O"

That's great! I did think t..."

about your spoiler- that's what I was thinking too.

Because this version of 'Hex' was disappointing to me, I wonder how the Dutch version ended? I saw online apparently it had a completely different ending, along with a Dutch setting. I don't know why the publishers made him rewrite it. I am guessing by 'Americanizing' it, giving it a new ending, I think he may have wrecked the book. The witch was terrific, though. I loved Katherine.

I used to work with a number of folks in the Netherlands, and it would have been cool to read the original if I could read Dutch (which I can't). Whether it was the narrator (who I really did not care for), or my mood, or whatever, this one felt like an interesting idea that was just never realized. I lost interest at some point, and finished it almost on autopilot. I hate when that happens - I really wanted to like this one.

I read the book instead of listening. It was an imaginative concept and I enjoyed it overall. The last couple of chapters seemed a bit hectic and rushed. They weren't as enjoyable to follow. I enjoyed the book but it wasn't a favorite. I was hoping for more suspense and chills. Instead of being afraid of Katherine, I liked her!

Curious how the Dutch version ended.