Literally Dead Book Club discussion

In my edition page 133 ends right before a chapter called Don't Go in the Woods

What do you think so far?
What is intriguing you and how do you feel about the pace?
How do you feel about the writing style?

I read the first part of this book and DNF'd it. I struggled through ALL'S WELL and I just don't want to do that again. I'm not enjoying the writing style, the story and I can't say I like slasher films, so nothing here for me. No offense Kayla, I will try again next month. My personal TBR is full of witch and Halloween stories this month, so I got alot on my plates anyways.

Ive tried reading 4 SGJ books now and I just can't deal with his writing style. I'm going to pass on this one.

I'm going to keep reading because I ended up loving The Only Good Indians even though the writing didn't work for me then either.

What Stephen Graham Jones does right though is that he references slashers in all the right ways imo. I like the transcripts of the paper where Jade explains how the genre works. I think that this is what Riley Sager also tried to accomplish this year but I feel it didn't work for his novel as well as it does here.

I’m feeling so many emotions going through this first half. There’s been many “what da hell” moments, but I’m intrigued. I am a huge fan of the slasher genre, but if you aren’t a fan, you may not be able to fully connect with this book and understand all the references.

Some may say the main character is a morally grey, but in this case I think Jade’s a little—or maybe a lot—morally psycho. I can’t tell if she needs a hug, some zoloft, or Jesus. I don’t like her, yet I feel bad for her, yet her Slasher 101 entries kinda make me like her. I’m very conflicted. The writing style is a little confusing at times, but overall I’m enjoying it.

I have to admit this is my first by this author and I'm struggling a bit. I'm not sure if it's because I'm listening to the audiobook or just the writing style but I was getting a bit confused when she was having her rant at the construction workers. I shall keep going for now as I'm a horror movie fan so that much is keeping me entertained.

I'm seriously contemplating DNFing this. A mix of the slow burn writing style with the constant slasher referencing, as someone who knows just the bare minimum so is very confused almost every time, is making this reading experience more like a chore. I don't know though cause when I read The Only Good Indians I had a similar feeling but the actual killings/horror made it worth it so maybe when we get to the slashing I'll enjoy it.

I love the Slasher 101 sections (clearly SGJ loves slasher films!), but agree overall you really need to be 'in the know' about the genre to appreciate some of the references (I'm pretty certain all the chapter titles are actual movies).

I admit this is even harder for me to get into than The Only Good Indians (which I ended up really loving)—Jade is a very emotionally enclosed character. I am intrigued by the setting, and the cold opening is pretty intense!

Nope I can't continue. I've tried as it's my first literally dead book club book and I'm disappointed but I just can't.

This was a bit slow going for me to get into because we are so much in Jade's spiraling headspace. This girl doesn't have friends, she's depressed and dealing with it by fixating on her slasher films, so it's like we're just riding her every tangential thought. As the reader, i found it difficult to focus and stay awake frankly, but there were moments of humor, or moments that clicked that I appreciated, which made me want to keep going. I'm also intrigued because I feel like we've entered the story at such an off-kilter angle that I'm not sure where it's heading, and even though we know Jade would probably love for a slasher to happen, her "attempt" in the 1st chapter makes her motives kind of unpredictable.

I'm really struggling with this book. I want to enjoy it as a spooky read, but I feel like Jade is very whiny, very enclosed character and other than barraging you with detailed information of slasher movies there isn't much to her.

I found it like endearing or funny when Jade was tapping her foot, sending her bodily energy into the ground for her phone charge to take it or leave it, maybe charge up faster.

I like that Jade is always rooting for her retiring history teacher.

Also it made me smile when the kids were watching horror movies in the garage because what else would you watch in a group at night, because I watched a SGJ interview where he talked about doing that with friends as a kid and getting scared by one of their dads who would creep around the house just to spook them.

I think I’m going to have to DNF this one. I kept thinking I would start to enjoy it more. Maybe it’s just because I’m listening to the audiobook, but the charm of this one is lost on me. I’ll agree with the others above and say you must be a fan of the slasher genre (which I am not) to really enjoy this one. I tried to keep it going as this is my first read for the book club, but I’ve gotta be honest with myself and move on to other reading for this month!

I’m going to have to DNF this book for now… I think it’s the writing style I’m having trouble with. Hopefully I’ll pick it up again before the live show.

I almost DNF'd this book but then I found the audiobook so I listened to more of it so I might be able to finish this. I find the character of Jade to be so unlikeable. It's hard for me to read about her when she all she can talk/think about is slasher films. It's just annoying.

I don’t know about enjoyment but Jade’s voice is SO clear. I can appreciate how SGJ really has a grasp on her character. Maybe it’s because I’m listening to the audiobook (I think the narrator is doing well) but that’s my main thoughts on it right now.

But I’m also just waiting for something to happen haha

Starting this one soon

Ugh, I’m struggling. I really think I don’t gel with the author’s style. I DNF’d the only good Indians too. I’m trying to listen to the audiobook and I’m not sure I’m going to finished. I’ve heard it picks up around page 300 but that a lot to get through before it gets better.

If this helps or convinces anyone to keep going, I too struggled through the beginning but I'm so invested now at the end of part 2! But follow your chainsaw hearts lol <3

Wow, I may be alone here, but I’m really enjoying this. The first chapter was confusing and I needed to restart a couple of times, but I LOVE the Slasher 101 sections and I don’t find Jade to be unlikable at all. She’s more than a bit strange and I can’t figure out what on earth is going on with her or in general, but I’m fully hooked.

Wow indeed. I am loving this so far and I don’t totally know why. I live slasher films, but even these references go over my head. I love the Slasher 101 snippets that are linking the story with movies and the town’s history.
Jade is super annoying, yet, endearing? Lol. I mean her mind just works in such mysterious ways but I want to know what’s happened to her to make her this way. Also, I am thoroughly enjoying the way her movie obsessed mind is manifesting in this book (which I disliked in Survive the Night).
I am just excited to keep going and see where the story goes. I’m hoping I get answers and more connections and more deaths lol.

I like how all over the place this feels. For me it reflects her deep love of all things slasher. It has me invested enough to want to know when and why it all goes wrong. I do admit that if I didn't have the audio to go Ali g I would have found it too disjointed to enjoy on its own.

Go along*

disappointed. i’m incredibly bored. i’m not a fan of how it’s written, the plot is boring, nothings really happened. nothing has intrigued me so far. i’m gonna power through but i don’t see this getting any higher than a 3⭐️ but if i had to rate it right now, id be giving its a 1.25⭐️

I’m glad I’m not the only one who has trouble with his writing, I thought I was just losing my mind lol. Interesting enough to continue but I have no idea where it could be going.

The one thing I do really appreciate about this book is how much it’s making me want to watch horror rn

I am not a slasher filmes type of person. The first chapter of this book freaked me out! I am in the minority on the slasher 101 parts. Again it's probably because I am not into slasher movies. It is a slow burn, but I feel like The Only Good Indians was too. I will keep going. His writing style is unique and different so that may be why so many people are struggling with it. He kind of writes stream of conscience.

I'm really enjoying it so far. I don't get all of the slasher references,  but I don't feel like I need to as I'm really enjoying the story so far. I loved the opening scene! Jade seems to use horror as an escape, but it seems a bit more than that...idk. I can't wait to see what Letha thinks when she checks her mailbox...

I am not a fan of Horror movies so I didn't realise that the chapter titles were names of slasher movies! Thanks to whoever mentioned that. I like Jade as a character but boy, is she weird!

Sorry, I forgot to answer Kayla's questions. I am liking the book so far, it is quite slow moving at the moment though. I want to know what the significance of the Dutch couple is. The writing style is quite like his other novel that I have read, The Only Good Indians.

So far, so good. The first chapter with Jade threw me off for a sec, but I came back to the book and I'm now intrigued. It's a definitely a slow burn but at the same time I want to find wth is up with this girl. SGJ's style is different and can be very confusing in that it tends to be very stream of consciousness, but I like that for horror. The off balance feeling goes well with the type of story being told. I can understand why it doesn't work for everyone though.

I finally got my copy off of hold from the library!

This is my first SGJ book. I can see why some people's first impressions put them off from it. It is very stream of consciousness, but I'm enjoying Jade as the protagonist. She has such a vivid imagination. I like the fact that this book is a homage to slasher films. However, I can see why people are struggling with this. Especially since it's weird that this is being told in third person since I feel like I'm inside the character's head. It feels like the character is telling the story to someone but referring to herself in the third. I'm listening to the audiobook and it definitely helps.

This is my first time reading anything by this author, and I’m struggling a little bit.
I started listening to the audiobook while reading, and while the voice actress does a really good job otherwise, the way she pronounced the Dutch names and words in the beginning was just… aaargh. 😂
The writing style isn’t my cup of tea, but I’m not DNF’ing just yet… I want to see where this goes.

I really wish I knew more about the slasher genre or was more interested in it, this book would have been a lot more enjoyable.

I kept having "aha!" moments throughout this part of the book like i thought i finally understood the writing style and what was going to happen but i was always wrong! i'm entirely and thoroughly still confused

I have never watched a single one of the slashers Jade is talking about hahaha - I do feel like this is making me struggle to understand what's going on. As I did for Only Good Indians, I'm listening to the audiobook alongside reading it and I think that helps alot with getting the writing style. I really like that
I feel like the beginning if this is a lot more boring than Only Good Indians which is a shame - its missing that weird creepy factor.
I also feel that Jade reads as autistic? I'm not sure if this was on purpose but its in her behaviour, reactions, special interest but I'm not too sure.

Even though I'm making really slow progress through this book, I'm LOVING it! SGJ's writing style is definitely different but it works for me. I feel like his books are written in a way that it's almost like watching a movie? I don't know how to explain myself well on that, but it will have "scene changes" where Jade will suddenly be somewhere else location-wise and it's not explained that she went there.

I really like how SGJ has written Jade. She's definitely escaping her home trauma in the slashers she's so obsessed with and I can't wait to see where the rest of the book goes.

I loved the first chapter, but I am not sure how I feel about this book so far. I was shocked that Jade had a suicide attempt in the first 30 pages. It's obvious that she is struggling with mental illness, but she is trying so hard to live her Slasher fantasy that I'm a bit frustrated with her. How she purposely does things to get certain reactions from people, and the destruction of the murder evidence is just not it.

As someone who loves horror, but isn't into the slasher genre, I understand most of the references, but she name drops a few characters that I am unfamiliar with. I just kinda ignore those parts and continue on, but I definitely could not imagine reading this with no knowledge of the genre.

This has also been quite slow so far. I find that there is way too much detail in some scenes as we are just thrown into the depths of Jade's mind. I'm really hoping the pace picks up a bit from here, as I am interested in the story.