Scare the crap out of me!
April 23, 2012 7:48 AM Subscribe
Hey Mefites, I would like you to scare the crap out of me with your horror novel recommendations! I really enjoyed House of Leaves and A Good and Happy Child. I'm looking for books like that.
I guess both the books I mentioned could both be classified as literary novels as well as stories of psychological horror.
I'm not looking for books along the lines of Heart Shaped Box, or books by James Herbert and Stephen King with lots of blood and guts etc. I also don't want short stories, as I've read tons of short horror stories.
Thanks!
I guess both the books I mentioned could both be classified as literary novels as well as stories of psychological horror.
I'm not looking for books along the lines of Heart Shaped Box, or books by James Herbert and Stephen King with lots of blood and guts etc. I also don't want short stories, as I've read tons of short horror stories.
Thanks!
Susan Hill's Woman in Black is sceeeeeaaary.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 8:09 AM on April 23, 2012
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 8:09 AM on April 23, 2012
I really enjoyed Dan Simmon's "The Terror."
posted by Sayuri. at 8:12 AM on April 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Sayuri. at 8:12 AM on April 23, 2012 [3 favorites]
Rosemary's Baby scared me!
posted by two lights above the sea at 8:20 AM on April 23, 2012
posted by two lights above the sea at 8:20 AM on April 23, 2012
I don't read horror any more (nightmares!) but Peter Straub's Ghost Story was super spooky.
For real life horror (totally different, but you asked to be scared) Helter Skelter. I drove to my bf's workplace and read it in the lobby because I couldn't be in the house alone.
posted by Glinn at 8:53 AM on April 23, 2012
For real life horror (totally different, but you asked to be scared) Helter Skelter. I drove to my bf's workplace and read it in the lobby because I couldn't be in the house alone.
posted by Glinn at 8:53 AM on April 23, 2012
Mr. Shivers by Robert Jackson Bennett.
White Is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:18 AM on April 23, 2012
White Is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:18 AM on April 23, 2012
I've just discovered Blake Crouch. Fast, quick reading with some interesting twists and turns. Right now I'm in the throes of Abandon, a story about how the people in a Colorado mining town mysteriously disappear in the 1800s. Fast forward to 2009 when a mismatched group of people head on an expedition to find out what happened....
posted by HeyAllie at 9:29 AM on April 23, 2012
posted by HeyAllie at 9:29 AM on April 23, 2012
I read a ton of horror and am pretty jaded. That being said, Children of Night by Dan Simmons scared the CRAP out of me. I was literally afraid to walk home alone at night. And his The Terror suggested above was also awesome. And right now I'm reading Drood and I swear this book is haunting me to an alarming extent. I think I"m gonna start hiding it in the freezer. Dan Simmons, you are a spooky, spooky man.
posted by silverstatue at 9:37 AM on April 23, 2012
posted by silverstatue at 9:37 AM on April 23, 2012
Eek, made a mistake (man, I wish we could edit our posts here...) It's actually his SUMMER of Night that really scared me. Children of Night was good but nowhere near as scary as the Summer one.
posted by silverstatue at 9:38 AM on April 23, 2012
posted by silverstatue at 9:38 AM on April 23, 2012
Also, Ramsey Campbell. Really, anything by Ramsey Campbell, though The Face That Must Die is probably the most jolting.
Jago by Kim Newman is a little rambling at parts, but the scary shit is deeply scary. If you want to read a big, sprawling novel about cults and music festivals and fiery alien/supernatural beings, I recommend it.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:59 AM on April 23, 2012
Jago by Kim Newman is a little rambling at parts, but the scary shit is deeply scary. If you want to read a big, sprawling novel about cults and music festivals and fiery alien/supernatural beings, I recommend it.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:59 AM on April 23, 2012
The Alienist (1994) by Caleb Carr
The M.D.: A Horror Story (1991) by Thomas M. Disch
Carrion Comfort (1989) by Dan Simmons
Mystery (1989) by Peter Straub
posted by dgeiser13 at 10:08 AM on April 23, 2012
The M.D.: A Horror Story (1991) by Thomas M. Disch
Carrion Comfort (1989) by Dan Simmons
Mystery (1989) by Peter Straub
posted by dgeiser13 at 10:08 AM on April 23, 2012
I love all of Natsuo Kirino's novels that have been translated into English, but my favorite is Out. It's extremely well-written and the characterization is excellent but it is a bit gory in places. Grotesque is also excellent and less gory.
posted by hazyjane at 10:25 AM on April 23, 2012
posted by hazyjane at 10:25 AM on April 23, 2012
This may be a bit too sci-fi, but the themes are very dark and left me scared shitless by the implications the story left unsaid/said/hanging.
The Carpet Makers
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:45 AM on April 23, 2012
The Carpet Makers
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:45 AM on April 23, 2012
Check out the answers to my similar question here for some good suggestions. I recommend The Red Tree, The Haunting of Hill House, and The Ruins.
posted by Addlepated at 1:01 PM on April 23, 2012
posted by Addlepated at 1:01 PM on April 23, 2012
Also, if you've never read the original Dracula by Bram Stoker, it's actually quite good and creepy.
posted by Addlepated at 1:03 PM on April 23, 2012
posted by Addlepated at 1:03 PM on April 23, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by komara at 7:57 AM on April 23, 2012