I’ve picked up The Only Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw, read a few pages of both and for some reason couldn’t get into them. I do want to read them at some point but don’t know why it’s feeling that way.
I loved The Only Good Indian and the Indian Lake Trilogy, which I thought got stronger as it went. I did the trilogy on audio, which I highly recommend. I also read The Last Final Girl, which had a film script cinematic quality that was interesting. From what I have heard I think I will skip this one, but I am highly anticipating The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.
I'm going to find it interesting to read this I think. I read Mapping the Interior this year and enjoyed it, so will be fun to compare the two after watching your review.
I thought this was okay. Loved the Lake Witch first two books. The third is the weakest in my opinion. I am currently reading Curse of the Reaper by Brian McAuly which is also 80s slasher based and very good.
I'm pretty much indifferent on this book, though I do love many books by this author with The Only Good Indians being my favorite. I'm currently reading Darkest Hour by VC Andrews (ghost writer) which is the prequel to Dawn, a book I know you read recently. Once I'm done with Darkest Hour I'm going to start The Woman (I saw the film which was incredibly disturbing) by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee.
I think all three of the Indian Lake trilogy books are probably better than this, but I certainly enjoyed it. You should definitely finish out the trilogy, though! Personally I thought the final entry was brilliant and better than the second, but not everyone agrees. Stephen Graham Jones is a really thoughtful and articulate guy. I heard him on a podcast talking about how his prologue to the second Indian Lake book was one of the most difficult, and longest, he had to write. He was writing it shortly after a school shooting here in the States and he knew that the whole point of a prologue was to kill off some teenagers as a way to introduce the story's threat but, given real world events, he struggled with just killing teenagers willy nilly. So he said he tried to give them as rich and full lives as he could, even if they only got one scene to live them in, and because of that what should have been an easy-to-write prologue became a lot more complicated, for him.
I haven't read it, but I have had my eye on it. Hearing your review makes me a little reticent to buy it, so I may go to the library instead (which is fine. Support your local library). Actually, on my docket from Jones is Night of the Mannequins, which is more a novella, but I'm curious to see what he does with it. I loved the Indian Lake trilogy and I felt like it wrapped up strong overall. Anyway, much love as always, Olly. Until your next vid!
Listening to this while I work editing my own UA-cam video for a channel I want to start. I am interested in this author, so I'll have to check out the books that you really liked from him!
Have you read his book Mongrels? I've had it on my Kindle for months but haven't gotten around to it. It doesn't seem to be mentioned much on book tube.
That Teenage Slasher was set in the 80’s was a big draw for me but I liked My Heart is a Chainsaw much more. If you haven’t already Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar is a great book, more along the lines of literary horror. Great review, thanks!
The only book I’ve read by Stephen Graham Jones was The Only Good Indians and I found that pretty bizarre. I do want to read the Indian Lake Trilogy though unless I find My Heart Is a Chainsaw to be as strange I think I will be done with him.
In our experience with a lot of books, our reviews can often differ. Simply because you are “so-so” about this book - now I MUST read it. 😄 It may be a winner for me! Plus, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a slasher book before! 🤷🏻♀️
It made you think of Laymon and made me think of I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells which are pretty much opposite ends of the literary spectrum. I was indifferent to this one which is maybe the worst thing you can say about a book.
I dnf'd The Only Good Indians, so I probably won't enjoy this one. I recently read a one-star review about another new and ridiculously overhyped horror novel that stated, "Elevated horror was a mistake." I tend to agree. I'd rather read Laymon, "rumps" and all.
I guess I'm in the minority here as i loved this book. I thought it was so unique and just a fun ride overall. On the other hand, I absolutely hated My Heart Is a Chainsaw - I did not like the essay things interspersed throughout and the whole premise was just off for me. Jade wasn't my favorite character either. On the other hand, Amber in Slasher was just perfection. To each his/her own, right? Thanks for sharing!
I’ve picked up The Only Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw, read a few pages of both and for some reason couldn’t get into them. I do want to read them at some point but don’t know why it’s feeling that way.
I think sometimes you're just not in the mood for a certain writer's style, and SGJ's style is more unique than many
I loved The Only Good Indian and the Indian Lake Trilogy, which I thought got stronger as it went. I did the trilogy on audio, which I highly recommend. I also read The Last Final Girl, which had a film script cinematic quality that was interesting. From what I have heard I think I will skip this one, but I am highly anticipating The Buffalo Hunter Hunter.
Buffalo Hunter Hunter sounds so good!
I'm going to find it interesting to read this I think. I read Mapping the Interior this year and enjoyed it, so will be fun to compare the two after watching your review.
Hope you enjoy it!
I thought this was okay. Loved the Lake Witch first two books. The third is the weakest in my opinion. I am currently reading Curse of the Reaper by Brian McAuly which is also 80s slasher based and very good.
Hadn't heard of Curse of the Reaper, but it sounds interesting
The Only Good Indians is definitely SGJ's best. I loved it! I was a Teenage Slasher was okay but I expected more. 😔
Omg TOGI was such an incredible book! I read it 3 years ago and I still think about it!
Agreed - that's a great book
I'm pretty much indifferent on this book, though I do love many books by this author with The Only Good Indians being my favorite. I'm currently reading Darkest Hour by VC Andrews (ghost writer) which is the prequel to Dawn, a book I know you read recently. Once I'm done with Darkest Hour I'm going to start The Woman (I saw the film which was incredibly disturbing) by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee.
I haven't read The Woman yet, but I do admire Kethchum's work
I think all three of the Indian Lake trilogy books are probably better than this, but I certainly enjoyed it. You should definitely finish out the trilogy, though! Personally I thought the final entry was brilliant and better than the second, but not everyone agrees.
Stephen Graham Jones is a really thoughtful and articulate guy. I heard him on a podcast talking about how his prologue to the second Indian Lake book was one of the most difficult, and longest, he had to write. He was writing it shortly after a school shooting here in the States and he knew that the whole point of a prologue was to kill off some teenagers as a way to introduce the story's threat but, given real world events, he struggled with just killing teenagers willy nilly. So he said he tried to give them as rich and full lives as he could, even if they only got one scene to live them in, and because of that what should have been an easy-to-write prologue became a lot more complicated, for him.
That's interesting, I really do need to read the rest of that trilogy
SGJ is awesome! My favorite is Growing Up Dead in Texas. Its vastly different than his other stuff, but so hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking.
I'll have to give that one a try
I haven't read it, but I have had my eye on it. Hearing your review makes me a little reticent to buy it, so I may go to the library instead (which is fine. Support your local library). Actually, on my docket from Jones is Night of the Mannequins, which is more a novella, but I'm curious to see what he does with it. I loved the Indian Lake trilogy and I felt like it wrapped up strong overall. Anyway, much love as always, Olly. Until your next vid!
I liked Night of the Mannequins, it's weird but fun
Listening to this while I work editing my own UA-cam video for a channel I want to start. I am interested in this author, so I'll have to check out the books that you really liked from him!
He's generally excellent
Have you read his book Mongrels? I've had it on my Kindle for months but haven't gotten around to it. It doesn't seem to be mentioned much on book tube.
I haven't yet, I do need to though
That Teenage Slasher was set in the 80’s was a big draw for me but I liked My Heart is a Chainsaw much more. If you haven’t already Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar is a great book, more along the lines of literary horror. Great review, thanks!
I haven't read that, will have to check it out!
The only book I’ve read by Stephen Graham Jones was The Only Good Indians and I found that pretty bizarre. I do want to read the Indian Lake Trilogy though unless I find My Heart Is a Chainsaw to be as strange I think I will be done with him.
I really liked them both, but they are definitely weird
In our experience with a lot of books, our reviews can often differ. Simply because you are “so-so” about this book - now I MUST read it. 😄 It may be a winner for me! Plus, I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a slasher book before! 🤷🏻♀️
Ha ha you’re probably right!
@@CriminOllyBlog we shall see after I read it. ☺️
🖤💚
It made you think of Laymon and made me think of I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells which are pretty much opposite ends of the literary spectrum. I was indifferent to this one which is maybe the worst thing you can say about a book.
Yeah it definitely left less of an impression on me than I was expecting
I dnf'd The Only Good Indians, so I probably won't enjoy this one. I recently read a one-star review about another new and ridiculously overhyped horror novel that stated, "Elevated horror was a mistake." I tend to agree. I'd rather read Laymon, "rumps" and all.
Ha! I think they both have their place, sometimes I need a rump but sometimes I need something more challenging
I have no experience with his books. I guess I'll avoid this one then!
Some people seem to love it, but I didn’t think it was best
I guess I'm in the minority here as i loved this book. I thought it was so unique and just a fun ride overall. On the other hand, I absolutely hated My Heart Is a Chainsaw - I did not like the essay things interspersed throughout and the whole premise was just off for me. Jade wasn't my favorite character either. On the other hand, Amber in Slasher was just perfection. To each his/her own, right? Thanks for sharing!
Definitely! We all react to each book differently. Glad you enjoyed it so much