Book 135 (2011): Horns by Joe Hill
Book 135: Horns.
Author: Joe Hill, 2010.
Genre: Horror. Modern Fable. Black Comedy. Christian themes.
Other Details: Paperback. 437 pages.
Ignatius Perrish wakes up after getting blind drunk to find that along with a raging hangover and headache that a pair of horns have begun to grow from his head. At first he tries to convince himself that it is a hallucination brought on by the drink. However, he soon discovers that he is able to influence people to reveal their darkest secrets and to give in to their repressed desires. At first he takes delight in this new devilish power before beginning to question their origin. We learn that Ig is himself a tortured soul since the rape and murder of his long-time girlfriend the previous year. Although never arrested for the crime he had been the police's only suspect. In the court of public opinion Iggy got away with murder and is almost universally shunned by the town folk. As praying to God for justice had proved fruitless, Iggy decides to use this new power to discover and punish the real murderer.
This turned out to be a very different novel than I had expected from its cover blurb and opening chapters. As it progressed it proved to be a more sober, gentle and uplifting work while retaining a certain grittiness in terms of its language and darkly comedic touches. Although horrific events do take place, its themes of sin & redemption, heaven & hell, God and the Devil led me to consider this a Christian fable similar to the TV series Reaper or Kevin Smith's Dogma.
I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading more of his works, all which have been recommended to me by various friends.
Jo Hill's page on 'Horns' - with more detailed synopsis, excerpt and Iggy Perrish’s Rock Bible.
Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.