I ended up DNF’ing this book. It started out gripping with the first chapter, and then I very quickly lost interest. For that reason, I chose not to carry on and finish out the book.

My Heart Is a Chainsaw Kindle Edition

by Stephen Graham Jones  (Author)

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary reviewer's copy. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
This book will publish on August 31, 2021
It happened. I had my first jump scare from a book. A book that had my heart racing as I couldn't put down the book. I've never had my heart pound and a bit of fear sweat pop up while reading a book – not King, not Barker, not Straub, not Poe or any other writer. This is a true horror novel worth reading.
Stephen Graham Jones, the best selling horror author of The Only Good Indians, gives readers more nightmare fuel.
Written in a perfect voice of a teenage slasher movie fan, Chainsaw tells the story of Jade, a half-Native American girl from the small town of Proofrock, Idaho. Nestled into a beautiful valley with a lake (made when a new damn flooded a village, of course) and a new enclave for the one percent. But that valley has more than its share of secrets that everyone works to keep buried. Jade keeps her secret buried by obsessively watching slasher movies – not just horror movies. She has made a study of it, using those movies to block out the misery of her life. She even wishes for a slasher to come to town. Then, the new girl at school fits every qualification for the fabled Final Girl of every slasher flick. Jade recognizes it and tries to prepare both Leatha – the new girl, and herself. Jade's ethnicity plays a key role in the story.
The story builds and twists. Things the reader thinks are true? Some are, some aren't. The rules that govern slasher movies, particularly those of the 80s and 90s, seem to be holding, until they don't.
It's clear that Mr. Jones has an encyclopedia of horror flicks in his mind. As a GenXr, I can appreciate that. Although, he leaves out my favorite – The Banker.
The narrative focusing on Jade picks up pace as the story moves. But like all good writers, Mr. Jones breaks up the mounting terror with extra-credit papers for her history classes. This allows the reader to catch their breaths.
Everything about this book is amazing, proving that Mr. Jones is the true heir to the throne of Poe, Bierce, Matheson, Block, Lovecraft and King. Well done, sir, well done.
This is the kind of book that should be passed from one friend to another. It should also be brought to Jason Blum, Jordan Peele or James Wan immediately. It would be a more 'meta' movie than Scream and in a true Millennia way.
Read this book, then pass it on!
5 stars out of 5

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Chainsaw-Stephen-Graham-Jones-ebook/dp/B08LDXS2B5

*eArc provided by NetGalley & Saga Press in exchange for an honest review*

Something I really love and appreciate about Stephen Graham Jones is his ability to change his writing style to match the mood and general vibe of the TYPE of horror he's writing. I will say, however, that this book just didn't work for me in the ways I wanted it to. I love a slasher, and I think the premise for this novel was really strong. I even really like Jade and her perspective, but there was something about the writing that just didn't make the actual plotting of the book make a lot of sense for me. And part of that might just be my very personal inability to visualize while I read, and since horror (particularly this kind of horror) is pretty reliant on imagery? It's certainly something that got lost in my reading of the book.

I will say that it's very possible that it's much more of a *me* issue, than an issue with the way the novel is actually written, though. I know people who love horror films the same as me, who were really into this book. I think it's worth picking up, regardless, if you're into horror (particularly slashers) because who knows what side you'll fall on!

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

My Heart is a Chainsaw is a slasher movie in book form. So it’s not surprising that the first chapter reads like the beginning of a horror movie. A guy and a girl are out in the middle of a lake in a canoe. But then something horrific happens out on the water- something that Jade, our protagonist, believes to be the beginning of a real-life slasher sequence.

There were some things I thought the author did amazingly well. He set up the story meticulously, piece by piece, dropping bits of backstory and information that didn’t seem to be that important to the plot at the time, but all came together masterfully at the end.

Jones created a complex and complicated character in Jade. I was especially impressed how he took chapters from a limited third person POV from Jade’s current day perspective and alternated them with first person POV essays that she had written to her history teacher in the past. In the essays, Jade breaks down the elements that make slasher movies slashers and tries to convince her history teacher why they are in the middle of a slasher right now.

And like The Only Good Indians, Jones does a fantastic job of highlighting American Indian culture in this region, both from the past and present day. It’s something that he does uniquely and masterfully well.

And the ending definitely will not disappoint if you are looking for outright gruesome horror. It’s chilling, disturbing and haunting.

But what didn’t work for me as well were the way the secondary characters were written and the overall pacing of the novel.

I felt like I grew to know Jade intimately. We clearly knew what drove her, what her fears and motivations were and some of her backstory (although this could have been fleshed out a bit more). But the other characters? They did have distinct personalities, but we never got to know them as real people. When we did get a glimpse of a side character’s backstory, it seemed obvious it was to further the plot, not to allow us to get to know them better as real people.

And there was a lot of time where Jade would discuss the history of slasher movies. And the plot of slasher movies. And in minute detail about how what was currently going on related to other slasher movies she had seen. And while that initially was clever, it soon grew a bit tedious to read, especially if you hadn’t seen a majority of the movies she talked about. If you are obsessed with slasher horror movies, you might love this aspect of the book. If not, you might find yourself wanting to get on with the story already.

All in all, I liked my time reading this book, even though at times I found myself losing interest. Jones has a unique style of writing that may be off-putting to some, but I find it rather beautiful at times.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the chance to read this ARC and give an honest opinion.

This was a rough one for me to get in to. Jade is a 17 year old indigenous female who is more than a little obsessed with slasher films. She has been abandoned by her mother and her relationship with her alcoholic father is non existent. She becomes convinced that someone is killing off the people across the lake in the new terra nova ritzy development. As she tries to convince her friend he sheriff and the new girl from terra nova of the imminent danger, blood starts to flow and it begins to look like her obsession may be becoming reality.
Jade was a really difficult character for me to get behind as she was hidden behind so much minutiae and I really never connected with any of the characters. This was such a slow and difficult read that by the time things started to get creepy, I just didn’t care anymore.
2⭐️⭐️

This was one of the books I was most looking forward to read this summer. I’m always up for a good horror/slasher novel.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t work out. It was extremely uneven. I would say that about 70% of the novel I had no clue what was going on. The first chapter was really good. Then the tone and writing changed. It kept making me wonder whether this was an unfinished draft.

This could have been a really good book. It just wasn’t executed well. Disappointed to say I wouldn’t recommend this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy.

I recently read #myheartisachainsaw by @stephengrahamjones . Another highly accredited author whom I had yet to check out, I was highly anticipating this read, but unfortunately, this book drove me quite mad. This story started out with promise on being a fun horror/slasher style thriller, but Jones’ protagonist here was a completely insufferable know-it-all whose internal dialogue was so disorganized and tangential, I lost my own train of thought on the story and completely zoned out. Pages upon pages of ramblings pertaining to 80’s slasher film knowledge, which, news flash, only a select few possess. All I wanted was for Jade to STFU so we could continue on with any other part of the story that did not include her. I actually had to DNF after 50%, which sits very heavily on my conscience, but there are too many other amazing books out there waiting to be read! Thank you #netgalley for the chance to review, I haven't given up on SGJ yet!

Yes, please! Stephen Graham Jones is back with another captivating horror novel, and we all know what that means! Time to dive back in with My Heart Is a Chainsaw.

Jade Daniels is an outcast with a desperate need for refuge. She's running from her father, her history, her town, and more – right into the arms of horror movies. At first, that refuge in the arms of horror movies feels figurative, but it doesn't take long before it becomes more literal, as the town seeps red.

This is the story of how Jade Daniels embraced horror movies as her savior, her damnation. Her victory. Her revenge. Her story.

"Some girls just don't know how to die..."

I'm sitting here, having finished My Heart Is a Chainsaw, and just trying to absorb the absolute ride I was just thrown into. To whoever promised me that My Heart Is a Chainsaw was a novel for horror fans – you were not kidding.

This novel is very much an homage to slasher films. While you don't need an encyclopedic knowledge of the genre, it certainly wouldn't hurt here! Jade lives and breathes slasher flicks, and it shows through on each page.

"Outside of Leprechaun 6, has there even been a black final girl before? Usually in slashers, the black girls are the friends - - Scream 2, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. And that they're in the part 2's means they're a response, a bandaid."

My Heart Is a Chainsaw has been described as a love letter to horror fans. But it's also more than that – so much more than that. Once again, Stephen Graham Jones has woven fiction with scathing commentary on history. This novel is very much a critique of American colonialism and gentrification. It hits hard – just as it was intended to.

I honestly don't think I've ever seen anyone weaponize subtext in the way that Stephen Graham Jones does. It's...amazing doesn't feel like a strong enough description here. His writing hits you in the face...and then you stop to think about it, and it hits you in the heart. It's such an experience, one that I don't think I can accurately describe.

It's amazing how perfect the lens of horror films is for the message Stephen Graham Jones incorporated here. It's like two halves finally meeting. It's magical, intense, harrowing, and blinding, all in one.

I am not a fan of slasher films, I saw the first Friday and a Jason movie, but horror isn't my thing. I loved Jade as a character she is very intense and her story telling and even her enthusiasm for slashers, its wild!!!! She made references to other slasher movies that I have never watched so I was a little lost at times. This book creeped me the heel out!!!!!! But for this being my first Horror slasher book, I am proud of myself for reading it in one day, and also for pulling through, lol. If you are into those types of movies and books? This is for YOU!!!

My Heart is a Chainsaw was an a amazing horror tale written by one of my favorite authors, Stephen Graham Jones. Jade Daniels is a 17 year old senior in high school in the small lake town of Proofrock, Idaho. She has an abusive father and a mother who is absent from her life despite living nearby in that same small town. Jade has a hard time fitting in amongst the people of Proofrock and spends a good amount of her time watching slasher movies and thinking about slashers in general. Actually, it’s fair to say that she is obsessed with slashers and starts looking for signs of a slasher cycle in her own small town. Is a slasher coming to Proofrock or is Jade searching for an escape from her life or is she succumbing to mental illness brought on by her childhood of abuse? The answer isn’t so simple, but I certainly wanted to read along as Jade told her story.
First of all, if you are a fan of horror movies, especially slashers, then you’ll love Jade’s mindset. She pretty much views life through the lenses of horror-lensed glasses. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of the genre and can find a horror moment of quote for pretty much every situation. Some reviewers have found fault with the abundance of horror references sprinkled throughout this book; however, considering Jade’s life is pretty much a real life horror, her obsession can be seen more as a coping mechanism to escape the abuse that she lives every single day. I thought it gave insight into how she views herself and her life. I also love a good horror movie, so I certainly wasn’t bothered by the nostalgia of some of those old school horror titles. SGJ also gives insight on what it is like to grow up as a Native American who is not raised in his/ her culture. Jade does not know much about her cultural background and seems almost ashamed about her heritage (which in and of itself is a horror). I also enjoyed the lore that SGJ wrote of concerning Proofrock. Seriously, this place is just waiting to become its own horror movie. Speaking of horror movies, this would be a fabulous horror movie!!! All in all, My Heart is a Chainsaw warns 5 glowing stars from this reviewer.

Since this is my first time writing for Book Radar, I had to start this off with my most anticipated book of 2021: My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones. That title! The cover art! We are here for it.

Last year when I read Stephen Graham Jones’ The Only Good Indians, I was completely unprepared. There were several moments in this book where I had to slap the pages closed and shout, “WHAT THE HECK DID I JUST READ?” And I mean that in the best way. I’d never read a book like it before, and I still can’t get the images from that book out of my head. No spoilers here if you haven’t read that one yet (YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD). But it goes without saying that whatever this author wrote next, I was on board.

Thankfully for me (and all you other Stephen Graham Jones fans out there), this author keeps busy. I didn’t have to wait long to get my hands on My Heart is a Chainsaw. This novel is a homage to slasher films of the 1970s and 80s. To escape from her abusive father, a mother who wants nothing to do with her, and a town in which she feels like an outsider, Jade Daniels disappears into the imaginary world of horror movies. But when a dead tourist’s body is found in Indian Lake, Jade begins to wonder if the horrors on the screen are bleeding into real life. Can her encyclopedic knowledge of horror films save her?

If you’re going into this book expecting another predictable slasher thriller, think again. Stephen Graham Jones would never do that to you. Yes, this is a thrilling horror story, but it’s also a critique of Indigenous displacement and gentrification. And a thoughtful examination of racism, sexism, and the “final girl” trope in horror.

This was a 5 stars horror book for me, infused with culture and nuance, while also still delivering on gore and thrills. It was a haunting tale I will not soon forget. Additional review coming to my Youtube channel soon.

I couldn't get into this book. Maybe it just isn't for me. I would like to try again another time, however. The description makes it seem like it's going to be a good read.

My Heart Is A Chainsaw is an awesome title. Let's get that out of the way first.

I wasn't the kid who grew up with slashers. I wish I was. I would have fallen in love with them much earlier and been creatively influenced. I could even see myself as Jade in another life. But alas, Slashers were not something I familiarized myself with. I applauded Stephen Graham Jones for including Jade's essays to her teacher on the History of Slashers. I also liked how they served to subvert our expectations of what was going on in the rest of the chapter. It was a cool idea and well-executed.

I...don't know how I feel about the ending. At times I suspected something else was going on but never wished for my ideas to come to fruition. If I was right, the book wouldn't have been as good. Then again, what it turned out to be, each and everything involved didn't appeal to me either. It also seemed like too easy an explanation. I don't know... I'll probably be going back and forth over this for years. This is the story Jones presented us so this is what I have to live off of.

The atmosphere is also something I appreciated. If this isn't adapted into a show or movie I would be heavily surprised.

While Stephen Graham Jones' vision for My Heart Is A Chainsaw was clear to grasp from the beginning: paying homage to previous slasher films and the genre, his own unique take is lost through an awkward storyline that struggles its way through inconsistent and unclear direction.

The writing is very wordy, often unnecessary, and at times I wondered if there was a change in thought process midway through certain chapters, as the direction it then followed came across as rather confusing.

It is viewed through Jade, whose point of view is the only one we bear witness to, making it difficult to resonate or bear empathy with any character, except Jade. This makes the story feel slightly one-dimensional and forceful.

I love slasher films and the genre, and I feel like there was a great concept here, however this often felt like a ramble rather than a clear storyline and idea.

Well, I thought I was a big horror fan (it's my happy place) but Jade, the main character in this fantastic, extremely dark and gory story, is TOTALLY OBSESSED. Jade has an encyclopedic knowledge of horror movies, particularly the 'slashers'. She lives and breathes slashers, so much so that she tries to see every aspect of her day to day life as evidence that one of her slasher stories is starting to happen for real in her home town. Unfortunately,Jade's whole existence is pretty sad and she clearly has had a lot to deal with in her short life to say the least. But Jade's local area does have a bit of a dark history and some disturbing superstitions, so maybe there really is something evil brewing in the air, or maybe the lake....

This is an excellent horror story that is totally original and engrossing, with an unforgettable main character. Highly recommended.

Slasher movie fans will love this story. Imagine living through a combination of slasher movies in real life. Where you play one of the characters, the director or the misunderstood youth ? Hold on this book will take you there.
I felt like I was walking though was it deep mud while drunk trying to understand this story. I struggled, it seemed to take forever to finish, I should have quit but I have loved this authors books before. I didn’t understand most of the references to horror movies, so I didn’t get how they connected to the characters of the moment. Many parts I had to read 2-3 times to understand, other I just gave up and moved on. It felt so complicated. I was frustrated, I could feel the brilliance but couldn’t connect. I may not have enjoyed reading it but I am amazed at the genius in the writing and weaving the movies/characters and actions together to fit. It ended. I was left feeling sad for one character I think, were they broken, brilliant or just crazy ? The book left me questioning this till the end. I have to give this a good rating for the writing.

My Heart is a Chainsaw had me hooked within the first chapter, sadly my excitement quickly dwindled down as I continued reading.

We follow Jade, who thinks she is living in a slasher movie. Almost nothing happened for about the first 70%. The narrative was very intricate but superficial, and at times I had to reread passages to fully comprehend what was going on.

I don't think this was a bad book, just not for me. People who like slashers will probably enjoy all the references.

Jones knows how to tell a story that won't let you stop reading. It's a vivid, gory novel with a protagonist who I grew to love. The one weakness is that it sometimes gets bogged down a bit too much in Jade's slasher-focused mind; but if I had a more thorough knowledge of slashers, I might not think that.

Such a great horror book, Stephen Graham Jones has done it again. This is probably my favorite horror book of the year and I would definitely recommend to any fans of the genre.