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litliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Rape, Animal death, Bullying, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, and Vomit
plantybooklover's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My Heart is a Chainsaw is indeed, as most have mentioned, a celebration of the Slasher/Horror film genre, as told by Jade, a 17 yr old who is singularly focused on them, after experiencing a traumatic life event.
The author toggles between Slasher 101 chapters and the current events of Jade's life in a small town of Proofrock, Idaho (and YES- I hope ProofRock is a nod to T. S Eliot's Prufrock....it sure seems to be) - In the Slasher 101's we are treated to all sorts of Slasher lore, key elements (like mask, weapons, back stories, revenge plots and final girls. In Jade's life chapters- we are reminded how hard it is to be the odd one in a small community, and we are see the actual... slasher is it? evolve and gradually devolve gloriously on the 4th of July with some confessions from Jade and just abject horror, we have dead animals, dead people, macabre misuse of construction tools, (and chainsaws as well)... It was so hard for me to decide if the murders were actually occurring or if Jade was just kind of having a psychotic episode, as both seemed equally possible by the end of the book. There was probably quite a bit of symbolism that just flew over my head, especially as I was using an audio book, and thus was not always 100% focused only on the narrative.
Because I don't like Slashers at all, I didn't really find this book funny- like many did. It seemed more to me a tragedy, but, for the right audience, I think it's both hilarious and tragic. And even though it's a slow build up, the writing is always on point.
Will I read book 2? yeah... I am entirely hooked. I'm rooting for Jade.
Graphic: Vomit, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, and Bullying
Minor: Child abuse, Car accident, Sexual assault, Animal death, and Mental illness
school_for_scandal's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol and Addiction
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Racism, Self harm, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape
melchncookies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Self harm
Minor: Child abuse and Fire/Fire injury
creativeerosion's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Alcoholism, Animal death, Vomit, Blood, Child death, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Racism, and Body shaming
squrrlgrrl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Self harm, Animal death, Body horror, Alcoholism, Blood, Gore, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, Suicide attempt, and Addiction
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
caitlyn_rehs's review
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Blood, Murder, Vomit, Abandonment, Alcohol, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Child abuse, Body horror, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts
robynbookworm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Interspersed throughout the story are Jade's essays explaining the rules, themes, and metaphors of slasher lore. Fans of classic horror films will find themselves grinning in recognition as they read. As the story progresses, the pace and the gore both pick up. The novel itself begins to feel like an action-packed thriller, yet somehow finds time to dive deep beyond the surface and unpack some very serious subjects.
Stephen Graham Jones is an amazing writer and upon re-reading it, I felt compelled to highlight and underline some of my favorite lines, in part because there are so many good ones, but also to capture some of the moments that have so much more meaning than they first appear. Yet, by the final chapters I found I couldn't slow down enough to pick up my pen, despite already knowing how it ends. If you love horror novels and horror films, this is a must-read!
Graphic: Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Blood
averagesparrow's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Animal death, Cursing, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Incest, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
apestforwrens's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Gore, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Grief, Animal death, Colonisation, Pedophilia, Medical content, Gaslighting, Racism, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Classism, Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Stalking
Minor: Rape, Cultural appropriation, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts