Supernatural: John Winchester's Journal (Hardcover)

~ Alex Irvine (Author)
Key Phrases: years old today, Blue Earth, Bloody Mary, Sefer Yetzirah (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Sam and Dean Winchester know all the secrets their father recorded in his journal. Now you can, too.

On November 2, 1983, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a demonic supernatural force. In the wake of the tragedy, their father, John, set out to learn everything he could about the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners and on the back roads of America . . . and how to kill it. In his personal journal, he not only compiled folklore, legend, and superstition about all manner of otherworldly enemies but he also recorded his experiences—hunting the creature that killed his wife even as he raised his two sons.

Part prequel, part resource guide, John Winchester's Journal finally gives fans the ultimate companion book for Supernatural. It's all here: the exorcism Sam and Dean used in "Phantom Traveler," John's notes on everything from shape-shifters to Samuel Colt, Dean's first hunt, Sam's peewee soccer team . . . and John's single-minded pursuit of a growing and deadly evil.

About the Author

Alex Irvine is the author of seven novels, including The Narrows, A Scattering of Jades, and Batman: Inferno, and two collections of short stories, most recently Pictures from an Expedition. He has also written a Marvel Comics series, Hellstorm: Son of Satan, and online narratives. His fiction, which has been translated into nine languages, has won the Locus, Crawford, and IHG awards and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the World Fantasy Award. In 2005, he was awarded the New England Press Association's top prize for investigative journalism, and that same year was part of a writing team that won a Webby and the International Game Developers Association Innovation award.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: It Books; Mti edition (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061706620
• ISBN-13: 978-0061706622
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,365 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Casual Fans, June 29, 2009

By	Erana Zeitler (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews

If you're a casual fan of Supernatural, if you, say, watch it when it airs once a week and maybe have the DVDs, but have only watched them once or twice - this is a good book for you. It's entertaining, it has some good back-story moments, and it's well written.

If, however, you're a Supernatural-fanatic and have watched the DVDs more times then you can count, read fanfic and the tie-in novels, and were uber-excited to hear about this release because you'd get to read what Dean and Sam have read on the show? You're not going to like it. I knew that within the first two pages - there's just too many inconsistencies. Others have listed them in detail, so I'll just name the first one: Missouri.

It starts off exactly like Dean said it did in "Home": "I went to Missouri and I learned the truth." However, if the author had continued *watching* "Home" he'd know that Dean's next statement was, "I always thought he meant the state." He never knew Missouri was a person. John, however, goes into detail in his journal about their conversation, making it very clear that Missouri's a psychic.

Like I said, though, if you're a casual viewer and don't mind some inconsistencies, you'll probably enjoy this. But don't think you're going to be reading something you can imagine as the *actual* journal of John Winchester - it's not even close.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected..., June 8, 2009

By	drt1970 (Lawrenceville, GA United States) - See all my reviews

I am a hardcore Supernatural fan. I wasn't impressed because of this: I have the first three seasons on DVD and I watch them all at least twice a month each. I have sat down with pen and paper and I have made note of every instance from the DVD that mentions something about "dad's journal". I have re-read the book with these notes and have found very little in the book that corresponds with these notes. It's not a bad book at all... just frustrating when you know the show in detail and then they don't match.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Entertaining, February 8, 2009

By	C. L. Dill "sassysouthernsiren" (Jasper, AL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great tie in with the show. The author did a wonderful job at giving the reader an insight into John Winchester's mind. I have to admit that I never really felt compassion for John. I thought he was too driven and far too apathetic toward the needs of his sons. After reading this I have to admit, my animosity toward him has softened a bit. This is a must have for any fan of Supernatural. It is a quick and informative read that makes you look and the show and its characters with a different eye.