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ashliesydel 's review for:
My Heart Is a Chainsaw
by Stephen Graham Jones
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As previously mentioned, this book has been on my TBR for years. I decided to start it after a reader discussion where another reader said they had to DNF due to the writing style.
THIS was 100% understandable because SGJ has a tendency to draw things out as well as provide mini side stories or rants. In the end everything he gives you has a purpose but it's easy to get annoyed or distracted. Because of this, I exclusively listen to his books. It's much easier to digest and enjoy.
This story is told from the POV of Jade Daniels the goth, horror fanatic of a small town. She is clearly not well mentally, disassociates, and goes on random rants about slasher/horror movies. Throughout the book the readers are presented with her various school papers where she tried to connect real life to horror movies, giving theories and background on the genre and how things work.
After a failed suicide attempt Jade begins to spiral as it seems a real-life slasher has come to town and is leaving a body trail. Excited at the prospect of living a real-life horror film, Jade's behavior becomes concerning. She inserts herself into the various investigations, stalks her classmates, and runs from the law, all in the name of ushering this slasher showdown into fruition.
She even designates a final girl and attempts to educate/prepare her for the inevitable show down.
As the bodies stake up and Jade's behavior becomes even more unhinged, she's forced to confront the source of her trauma/mental break.
In the author's notes, SGJ stated his inspiration for Jade was found after reading a news article about an Indigenous girl who committed suicide. He used this story, this trilogy, to not only honor the lost life but to give her the strength to live and fight back.
I liked this story so much more than I thought I would. It's a bit much though. Not gonna lie, even in audio I felt like I may have lost a detail or two. But between the red herrings, body count, urban legends, horror movie education, and family drama I can tell you that you will not be bored.... Not after chapter 5 anyway.
You may wonder how you missed some chick getting her face ripped off during the chaos, but it won't be a deal breaker.
THIS was 100% understandable because SGJ has a tendency to draw things out as well as provide mini side stories or rants. In the end everything he gives you has a purpose but it's easy to get annoyed or distracted. Because of this, I exclusively listen to his books. It's much easier to digest and enjoy.
This story is told from the POV of Jade Daniels the goth, horror fanatic of a small town. She is clearly not well mentally, disassociates, and goes on random rants about slasher/horror movies. Throughout the book the readers are presented with her various school papers where she tried to connect real life to horror movies, giving theories and background on the genre and how things work.
After a failed suicide attempt Jade begins to spiral as it seems a real-life slasher has come to town and is leaving a body trail. Excited at the prospect of living a real-life horror film, Jade's behavior becomes concerning. She inserts herself into the various investigations, stalks her classmates, and runs from the law, all in the name of ushering this slasher showdown into fruition.
She even designates a final girl and attempts to educate/prepare her for the inevitable show down.
As the bodies stake up and Jade's behavior becomes even more unhinged, she's forced to confront the source of her trauma/mental break.
In the author's notes, SGJ stated his inspiration for Jade was found after reading a news article about an Indigenous girl who committed suicide. He used this story, this trilogy, to not only honor the lost life but to give her the strength to live and fight back.
I liked this story so much more than I thought I would. It's a bit much though. Not gonna lie, even in audio I felt like I may have lost a detail or two. But between the red herrings, body count, urban legends, horror movie education, and family drama I can tell you that you will not be bored.... Not after chapter 5 anyway.
You may wonder how you missed some chick getting her face ripped off during the chaos, but it won't be a deal breaker.