Reviews tagging 'Murder'

My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

265 reviews

ruronisai's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Listened to the audio book for this one and got kind of confused at some parts. Think it would be easier to follow reading instead of listening. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

maryhungerford's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, and Vomit

mikariah's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Chainsaw is stuck firmly between two equally strong narrative impulses: to go balls-to-the-wall literal meta-horror or play with a truly unreliable narrator. Rather than effectively straddle the line, the novel spends its over 400-page runtime jostling violently between the two. What I found so compelling about each option fell flat by the end, though SGJ knows how to smooth over my aches and bruises with a delightfully unrepentant gore-fest in the finale.

I didn't understand every reference. I probably would've enjoyed it more if I did. But even with that context, I still felt my questions were unanswered, the whiplash in tone and impulse just didn't gel with me, and somehow

Jade killing her father

was not as satisfying a move as I'd hoped it would be. You could argue that's the point, but I haven't read the sequel yet. It very well could be. And I'd jump for joy at that kind of internal conflict. The supernatural elements overwhelming the carefully laid real-world-logic foundations also left me with a sour taste. 

Ultimately, I liked it fine, just not as much as I wanted to. The action-packed finale works great in a vacuum. In the broader context, I wonder if I kept my brain too turned on for this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Such a sad story packaged in a terrible tale! I was excited to read this trilogy, but I'm reconsidering. I heard the third book is really good, which means I'll now need to read the second first. Better be worth it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

csmoke85's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Incest, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

scattered_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Murder

ghostinyourcellar's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

wlreed312's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• 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

3.75

I struggled a bit with the narrative voice for the first half, and the essays between the chapters were hit or miss for me. But once the final act started, I thought it was fantastic. I like Jade very much as a character, but the way she structured her thoughts was a little chaotic to me. The style fits the character well, but sometimes made it hard for me to follow. I liked it overall, and am definitely interested in seeing what happens next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment

gracecrandall's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

janetpants's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense

• 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail