Reviews

Strange Weather: Four Short Novels by Joe Hill

zakura317's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

tcgarback's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

⭐️⭐️ 💫 
Critical Score: B-
Personal Score: C-

I was hit with severe reading slump brain partway into this, so who knows, maybe I would have liked this a lot more at a different time?

But the way I read them, these are all slow paced and way less interesting than Hill would have you believe from the afterward and packaging of this collection.

Here’s my review of the individual novellas.

Snapshot: B
A bit illogical and overwritten, but the only one I enjoyed the whole way through.

Loaded: C
While I was intrigued at first, this completely lost me 1/3 in. It feels like a failed novel that can’t find a genre. Overwritten, boring, and trifling in its slew of commentary, Loaded is exactly that…loaded, but in the least intriguing way. I hated reading about this antihero, and I didn’t want to read about mass shootings and their subsequent media storms. Even the exciting third act couldn’t win me over because I was checked out long before then.

Aloft: D
I had no interest in this as soon as I knew the premise. Couldn’t give a single f about it.

Rain: B-
The one that got away. Holds the most promise by far. I probably would have liked it if I’d been in a different mood. But I needed to get this book out of my currently reading pile, so I skimmed/tried the audio on this one just so I could be done with the collection and move on.

Ironically, I’m very interested in reading more Joe Hill. His novels and Full Throttle all look great, LOL.

glitterbomb47's review against another edition

5.0

This book contains 4 novellas, which read in order provide a pleasing emotional arc. The first story, "Snapshot," is creepy and gets you ready to be disturbed. The second, "Loaded," was extremely disturbing and upsetting, especially since I read it just a couple of weeks after the Parkland massacre. "Aloft" serves as a palate cleanser - fantastical with just wisps of the creep factor. The final story, "Rain," is a great end to the collection. It has all the elements of a Hill story - strange, terrible, hopeful. It also features the most likable protagonist I've come across in a long while.

annoellyn's review against another edition

3.0

hit and miss, two were great, one i didn't like, one was okay

david44's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

fredosbrother's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

itmustbemiriam's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I generally like Joe Hill's books — they are inventive and horrifying in equal measure. This book of 4 short novels is no exception. All 4 novels are very different but all disturbing in their own way. They all feel perfectly paced and are all very distinct in content and style, which I liked a lot. I will say that I haven't read Hill in many years and his writing does come across a little shock-value (which I loved in college but not as much now). 

There are some content warnings, primarily gun violence (I story), homophobia (1 story), and fatphobia (literally brought up in every story! ugh)

ghostblush's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

tnanz's review against another edition

5.0

There's something about Joe Hill's writing that you just believe. That's all I'm really looking for from scary books, I want to be caught up and believe the scary. Hill also writes beautifully crisp clean stories so that obviously works in his favor. I'm not a huge fan of short stories, but I did thoroughly enjoy these.

jmtaylor1981's review against another edition

4.0

Great!

Now I'm afraid of clouds and rain.

Thanks a lot Joe!