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thecriticalreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The Run-Down: In I Was a Teenage Slasher, Stephen Graham Jones boldly inverts the slasher genre in this heartfelt, yet frequently confusing, horror entry.
Review:
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones is a retroactive perspective of a former teenage slasher, Tolly Driver, who was cursed to murder for revenge at the age of seventeen after a party goes very wrong. Jones fully adopts the voice of Tolly, even down to his typing style (Tolly underlines italicized words and uses a double en-dash for an em-dash). It takes a skilled author to write a novel in the style of an amateur, but Jones mostly pulls it off. Tolly’s desultory and uptalk-riddled narration adds a certain level of charm to the story, and it highlights the tragedy of Tolly’s situation—even though he is cursed to murder his peers in a universe-ordained act of revenge, he’s still a goofy, astray kid at heart.
The narration in I Was a Teenage Slasher will not work for everyone, however, as it requires a certain level of concentration to understand. The setting, action, and characters of the story move at a rapid pace without visible markers for transition between them—this, coupled with constant references to specific pieces of mechanical equipment or set pieces, often results in a confusing and frustrating reading experience. Tolly’s reflection on his life alternates between the profound, irreverent, and tragic; this book is concerned with the loss of innocence and agency in a world that expects people to play certain roles. Unfortunately, the frequently bewildering plot mechanics of Tolly’s slasher role often undermine the depth and clarity with which Jones explores these themes.
The heart of the story, however, lies in Tolly’s character and his relationship with his best friend, Amber. Jones nails the awkward, aimless nature of Tolly’s seventeen-year-old character as he navigates the death of his father, high school bullies, and his transformation into a movie villain. At his side is his loyal friend Amber, who recognizes Tolly’s cursed state for what it is and does her best to guide him through his path from dopey teen to violent murderer. Their relationship lends this story its heart, humor, and tragedy, and ultimately results in a surprisingly poignant ending to a book riddled with groan-worthy jokes and gag-worthy slasher horror.
You might like this book if . . .
· You are a fan of slasher movies
· You want to read a unique take on the slasher genre
· You want to read a book that will make you laugh, scream, and cry
You might not like this book if . . .
· You don’t have a strong stomach for gross-out horror
· You find the narrative style—written to mimic Tolly’s unfiltered, amateurish, and confessional writing style—distracting or irritating
· You want a horror book that you can enjoy with your brain off
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Blood, Gore, and Vomit
Moderate: Alcohol and Death of parent
Minor: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, and Racism
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