My Heart Is a Chainsaw

VERY slow until the last 20% - I wanted to like it so much, and did love all the slasher nods, but there was too much story that wasn't story before we got anywhere. Got me caught in nearly a month long reading slump, but then I whizzed through the last bit. The story was written in such an interesting way, which was at times quite confusing, but did make Jade seem very real as we went through thoughts with her almost in real time.

Will read for the author's other books, and definitely the sequel, but might wait a few months as this took way longer than expected!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This is the first Jones full-length novel I've read. I read ‘Mapping the Interiors' ages ago and enjoyed it, but keep putting off other works for no good reason. So when I saw this being offered, I jumped at the chance.

This is a book for horror lovers, chock full of references, which was fun. I even watched a movie of which I'd never heard.

Basically, this is the tale of outcast Native American girl Jade, who dyes her hair with shoe polish and food coloring and deals with a drunk father and no friends. Horror is her life. Specifically slashers. She basically eats, sleeps, and breathes them in order to process and deal with life. She basically wants to have a slasher experience. For reasons the reader learns throughout the book.

Enter Terra Nova, the new, richy-rich housing development across Indian Lake from Jade's town of Proofrock, ID. Since the houses aren't done yet, the main family lives off their yacht on the lake, and their gorgeous, brilliant daughter is in Jade's senior class.

Jade becomes convinced this girl, Letha, is her life's Final Girl and proceeds to attempt to educate Letha for her big showdown with the slasher. Which would be delusional, but people ARE actually dying. The book begins with two hapless Dutch students dying.

This book is good fun and heartbreaking. Jade is tough and self-deprecating/self-loathing, thinks she could never be a true Final Girl.

The body counts grows until the climax, which is crazy, chaotic, and fun. There are red herrings all over the place, which is a strength, but also a weakness. Some of the red herrings aren't just red, but they are also where the plot gets a little murky, which I can't discuss without spoilers.

But grue and gore happen, and Jade's tale is potent and tragic, and I totally loved that little punk.

And the end...well, after all the fun feints and horror pontifications, even I was surprised, and I can usually spot something a mile away. So first Jones novel–not perfect, but oh, so worth it. hugs Jade and bundles her off to watch scary movies with kitties and teddy bears

This was just horrible. I cannot possibly have read the same book that other people have read with all the five stars. They must be fake reviews.

If this wasn't for a buddy read, I would have dnf'd within the first few chapters. All this endless monologue, overload of slasher facts, and just boring monotony made my brain hurt.

I was so excited for this one too. This was one of my main reads for October last year because of how scary and thrilling it supposedly was. There is nothing scary, or thrilling about this book. Instead it's 90% of seemingly neverending inner monologue.

Even the “gore” had me yawning. Definitely not one I would ever recommend. I'm glad other readers enjoyed this one, but for me this was over-hyped and disappointing.

Una joven adolescente de un pueblo en medio de las montañas está obsesionada con las películas de slashers, es básicamente su personalidad entera. Cuando unos turistas mueren de una forma sangrienta, ella lo interpreta como el ritual de sangre, la primer muerte que ocurre en los slashers, el asesinato que arranca la película. Los traumas de su pasado se entremezclan con los tropes de las películas de terror, al punto que cuestionás si lo que pasa es real o si ella se lo está imaginando. Una lectura muy buena y entretenida, en especial para los fanas del género (cosa q no soy, pero vi suficientes videos de Jorge para saber todo al respecto xD)