The Hellbound Heart

A Novel

By: Clive Barker

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 3 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Frank Cotton's insatiable appetite for the dark pleasures of pain led him to the puzzle of Lemarchand's box, and from there, to a death only a sick-minded soul could invent. But his brother's love-crazed wife, Julia, has discovered a way to bring Frank back - though the price will be bloody and terrible...and there will certainly be hell to pay.

©2007 Clive Barker Ink, Inc. (P)2013 David N. WIlson

Clive Barker at his best.

I think this book is woefully underrated in the lexicon of horror, often disregarded as simple torture p*** or body horror without purpose. that is a shame because there is so much more to this story than simply the macabre. What might a person find if they allow themselves to become numb to the pleasures of life? What boundaries will they push in their pursuit of pleasure? And will they regret what they find on the other sides of those boundaries?
definitely a 10 out of 10, A quick and easy read, and deserving of a spot in any horror collection.

WHAT DO YOU SEEK!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Hellbound Heart to be better than the print version?

yes and no, the fact that anytime " The Hell Priest" ( Lead Cenobite, Pinhead) speaks, all I can hear is Doug Bradley's voice from the films. but the audiobook does make it easier to listen to while working, where as the book I feel puts you on a more intimate level with the story.

What did you like best about this story?

how the true evil lies in Frank and Julia and not the Cenobites of The Order of The Gash, to me the Cenobites sit more as a form of escape from a mundane existence.

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

no I haven't, but I felt this was done very well. like he put his soul into these words to give them life

If you could take any character from The Hellbound Heart out to dinner, who would it be and why?

The Lead Cenobite, because I would want him to tell me the ways of the Order of the Gash

Any additional comments?

one of my favorite stories from Clive Barker, I suggest after reading/listening to The Hellbound Heart, read/listen to the direct sequel The Scarlet Gospels to see what happens to the Lead Cenobite himself.

Better than the movie.

Better than the movie. The cenobites are different than those shown in the movie, I still don't really know much about The Engineer though.

Good story

Coming off a Stephen King binge, I enjoyed the book. Just feel a little less “involved”. Just a good story no attachment or sense of really being in the book. Not sure if anyone gets my pony but that’s how I left feeling. Will read more from Barker for sure though don’t get me wrong. It’s a nice break but keeps with my horror genre.

Excellent

Absolutely adore this audiobook. Love how the guy does different voices for the cenobites. I will be getting the other books.

Not bad!

Definitely an interesting story, but all of Barker's books are great. Recommended for sure!

a review

I loved it but it seems a but dry for a Clive Barker book. I for sure thought there would be more in depth descriptions of the cinnobytes and their realm. I guess the movie did a good job sticking with the book.

Gripping performance!

This was a journey into madness that culminated in an all out swirl of intense anticipation. The story coupled with the narration actually activated my anxiety and I felt the urgency of the final moments as if I was there with the protagonist. Absolute chaos and excitement!

masterful storytelling

masterful storytelling! I can't believe it took me that long to read it! highly recommended

so much better than the movie

I think I've figured out why I wasn't too thrilled with the Hellraiser movie. The book deals so much with all 5 senses and on film you can only truly portray sight and sound. But Clive Barker's true mastery of horror lies in his ability to exaggerate and heighten the senses of the reader and play with their imagination based on their physical experiences. Jeffrey Kafer's monotone gravelly voice is chilling enough for narration but he does the same voice for every character, from Cenobites to humans. Even after Pinhead is described as having a "high breathy girlish voice" he uses the same deep monotone voice but with a sound effect to sound like there's an echo, which begs the question, for me, if you're going to go through the trouble and edit the voice, why not at least adjust it to the right pitch, or aim for the right voice in the first place? Less than impressed with Kafer's portrayal of dialogue, but will most definitely be listening to more of Barker's writing.