Lately, this book has caught my eye whenever I browse through my Goodreads app. There is always a reading update from someone or the other. I have never read Joe Hill but have heard of Horns and The Heart-Shaped Box. This short story was the right starting material for trying out the author's works.
Martin is a teenage counsellor who helps out troubled teenagers. One interesting fact about Martin is that he had cheated death on two different occasions - a school shooting and a train accident. Two deputies are curious as to how he was able to be not present at the sites at the right time. They have their own suspicions and bring him into question. What transpires during the interview forms the story of 'Ushers'.
The short story has 29 pages and it is a quick and exciting read. I like how the author has handled the story. He has talked about a lot of topics like apartheid, divorce, and life in a retirement centre within these few pages and that too in a subtle way. The writing style is simple but engaging. Even though the story is short-lived, it lingered on in my mind for quite some time. Digging more about the author, I came to know that this is the son of Stephen King. Joe Hill has stayed away from his father's name and has made a name of his own. This might be a good example of how good a story he can come up with. The main characters had good depth in the story. Also, the author has done a great job of maintaining a tense environment throughout the story. The dialogue had a lot of meaning in them and it was impressive as to how much the writer ventured into the story.
In short, a chilling short story written in a matter of few pages. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to read a tight story in a tense situation. Joe Hill is a writer whose works I would like to read more of.
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