My heart is a chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

I recently saw a post by @spookishmommy on Bookstagram pointing out that Stephen Graham Jones is about to finish the horror series The Indian Lake trilogy. Which is when I remembered I have a weak spot for series and I’ve been saving books by Stephen Graham Jones to my tbr whenever I see them at my library. So I immediately borrowed the audiobook for My heart is a chainsaw and am currently well into the second book in the trilogy.

Synopsis

My heart is a chainsaw follows Jade, a teenager with a deep knowledge of horror movies, specifically slashers, that knows something is wrong in her mountain town. It is not just the stories about Camp Blood, the rich building vacation homes in “Terra Nova” on what was designated park lands, or the rich flora of myths surrounding Indian Lake, Jade knows that something is coming for them all.

Thoughts

Jade was so much better than I expected. What an unusual main character to spend time with. An absolute delight in all the ways that it wasn’t a perfect, lovely, straightforward character. Jade made me think of Lisbeth Salander, there is a darkness and fierceness that both characters share.

The first couple of pages made me so tense. Stephen Graham Jones excels at not giving me the complete picture which is a must for me to get truly scared. When one of my family members by mistake (husband) or on purpose (kid) turns off the light as I’m walking up from the basement I will legit shriek convinced my time has come.

I loved the side characters not being what I expected them to be. They were more human and frequently veered away from stereotypes. The references to horror movies, concepts and references were delicious. I was fighting myself hard to not create a movie tbr. I’m still scarred from Friday the 13th and I know who I watched it with, decades ago. My nervous system cannot handle horror movies and the stress from work, I’ll start screaming out loud the next time someone calls me on Teams.

Mister magic by Kiersten White

The cover of Mister Magic caught my eye when I went on my “build a massive horror TBR just because it is fun” spree. Kiersten White is an author I have read before, I still have to read the last book in the Camelot Rising trilogy. It felt like a safe spot to start my horror exploration (for however long it lasts) and the synopsis screams fun to me.

Synopsis

Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic. 

But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.

Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.

After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?

Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . .

Thoughts

The nostalgic vibes of an old series surrounded by mystery sounded like a fun ride to me and it really was. I was kept guessing and the more I learned the more I could see myself reading up on the fan theories on the show. I really enjoyed the premise of the plot and the reflection of memory after 30 years have passed. Some things remain and other things are just whispers or completely gone while your friend remembers it vividly.

The cast of characters are interesting, some getting more play time than others, the group of childhood friends making me think of Stephen King, but the difference is it is without doubt a story centered on women. There are gay side characters and brief commentary on racism, sexism and homophobia. Overall a story that calls out the nonsense of our society which made me feel safe in White’s hands, just like with the fantasy trilogy. For me the story was ultimately positive as it is a reminder to reflect on what you still carry with you from childhood.

I recommend that you read the afterword by the author because it provides the real life inspiration for the story.

#BodiesInBooks Quotes

This is to me an example of how to include diet culture without praising it, if it is not a major theme of your book. Dieting is briefly mentioned and there is no assumption that dieting is a good thing that people should do.

“She’s short, with a body that hints it would like to be much rounder and softer were it not wrestled into brutal submission.”

“Six kids, and I diet and work out all the time so my husband can brag to people that you’d never guess by looking at her.”

The toll house by Carly Reagon

My first book in 2023 book advent calendar also ended up being my only read from the calendar that was completed in December. Not a surprise at all but I hope to get to one more before the snow leaves us.

Synopsis

“The past isn’t always dead and buried . . .

A house with history. That’s how the estate agent described the old toll house on the edge of the town. For Kelda it’s the perfect rural home for her young son Dylan after a difficult few years.

But when Kelda finds a death mask concealed behind one of the walls, everything changes. Inexplicable things happen in the house, Kelda cannot shake the feeling of being watched and Dylan is plagued by nightmares, convinced he can see figures in his room. As Dylan’s behaviour becomes increasingly challenging, Kelda seeks answers in the house’s mysterious past. But she’s running out of time.

And now it won’t rest . . .

Because something has awoken.“

Thoughts

The toll house was tense from the first chapter and amazingly kept me worried throughout. I wished for Kelda and Dylan to find a happy home in the old toll house with the garden. Making a home your own should never include finding death masks behind the wall. The haunted house seeps through so many aspects of Kelda’s life that the book offers a bit of everything in terms of horror. I especially found the parts where Kelda’s son Dylan was impacted difficult. I just know I will be tested to my limits as my kid points out monsters left and right.

For fans of historical fiction there is a separate timeline set in late 1800s and I appreciated that I got to learn about the toll house’s past through an additional timeline. Learning the history could have been a book in itself and I liked stepping into a world different yet similar to our own.

While reading I kept on guessing what would come next and what things meant. I spent time thinking about what it means to know oneself and own who you are, to truly see yourself. It was easy to imagine the surroundings of the toll house and I found it very atmospheric, as a reader I felt I was right next to the characters. I too want an old remote house with an unkempt garden, minus the hauntings please.

Horror TBR

Anyone else goes on bookish quests instead of reading and doesn’t stop to think if this effort makes any sense or is it just me?

I watched a video on BookTube about reading Goodreads Horror category which made me think that I should get back into horror. Which resulted in me building a quickly growing tbr on StoryGraph which is checked against my 2 libraries.

The slides are a combination of Goodreads horror category this year, the book 101 horror books to read before you’re murdered by Mother Horror on Bookstagram, and some books I’ve seen talked about on BookTube or Bookstagram.

Do I commit to reading all of these? Nope.
Is it a challenge? Nope.
Did I just go with the flow and made several spreads just because? Yep.

Don’t tell me your favourite horror reads. I don’t need more fuel to the fire that is going on over at my StoryGraph.