Scariest horror novel? - Page 3

Apache · 05-10-2016, 01:27 PM

Horror movies just do not scare me. My first wife liked them and I had to take her to see them. They are mostly boring to me. And stupid. I remember watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and one scene was particularly stupid. A woman was being chased by a man with a chainsaw. (go figure) and she runs into a barn. He follows her in and she hits him with a two by four. He falls to the ground stunned, she drops the board and runs out of the barn. He stands up, picks up the chain saw and the chase resumes. She should have picked up the chain saw and carved him into tiny pieces.
I was startled in a horror movie once. I took my wife to see Carrie and when the hand shot out of the ground a girl in to seats over jumped to her feet screaming at the top of her lungs. She tried to run, but her boyfriend grabbed her and threw her back into her seat. He then had to reach across and grab the other armrest to keep her there. She just kept throwing herself at his arm trying to get to her feet. Meanwhile she kept screaming. This scared everyone in the theater.
Apache

ApK · 05-10-2016, 02:12 PM

I don't like horror. For movies, the most popular ones are either just gore fests (not scary, just gross) and people or things jumping out at you (being startled is not the same thing as being scared. I'm easily startled, and I don't like that either).

I have read a lot of Stephen King, and I agree, the man can tell a scary tale. Most of his stuff I like, while some I found particularly scary: Gerald's Game, and Misery both made me sorry I read them (in, I suppose, precisely the way they were designed to, since I don't like horror...), and I agree that which is scarier depends on what your fears are.

orlok · 05-10-2016, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

The scariest book I ever read is James Dickey's Deliverance; it was made into an even scarier film.

I wouldn't categorise that as horror myself, but boy did that movie affect me. I read the book right after seeing the movie, and it stayed with me for a long time.

I found the satanic novels by Dennis Wheatley the scariest I have ever read (but then I was in my teens). I remember turning to reading the bible at night just to calm my nerves...

willyr · 05-16-2016, 10:17 AM

Not novels, but shorter reads like "Wendigo" by Algernon Blackwood or "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You My Lad" by M.R. James (also his other stories) gave me shivers.
Also, Blood Meridian by C. McCarthy. It's not horror, but it was a gut-wrenching experience. Much better than many actual horror novels.

BrentB · 06-06-2016, 05:17 PM

I second (or third?) "Summer of Night". I typically read this one every couple of years. Also really great nostalgia of small town Illinois in the 60's and 70's. "Pet Semetary" and "It" are definitely a couple of great ones. I love King's description of the deadfall in "Pet Semetary"... and what is on the other side making those noises...

rawling · 01-31-2017, 12:12 PM

It has to be It! I was terrified.

ZodWallop · 02-13-2017, 05:45 PM

It seems appropriate to revive a horror thread.

I love horror movies and books, but very few actually scare me. The scariest thing I ever read was a single scene from Gerald's Game. The book was one of his weaker ones, but there's a scene involving an ear-ring on the floor that made me uneasy in a way few things do.

Netflix is turning Gerald's Game into a movie. I'm curious to see how they do.

Besides King and Straub, I'd also recommend Bentley Little. He can be hit or miss and some of his work has a satiric edge that may not make it 'horror', but he's not a schlock writer. I'd recommend The Ignored and The Summoning (neither yet available as e-book) or The Store. Not as good as the other two, but there's an e-version available.

Dr. Drib · 02-14-2017, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

It seems appropriate to revive a horror thread.

I love horror movies and books, but very few actually scare me. The scariest thing I ever read was a single scene from Gerald's Game. The book was one of his weaker ones, but there's a scene involving an ear-ring on the floor that made me uneasy in a way few things do.

Netflix is turning Gerald's Game into a movie. I'm curious to see how they do.

Besides King and Straub, I'd also recommend Bentley Little. He can be hit or miss and some of his work has a satiric edge that may not make it 'horror', but he's not a schlock writer. I'd recommend The Ignored and The Summoning (neither yet available as e-book) or The Store. Not as good as the other two, but there's an e-version available.

YES!

varlog · 02-14-2017, 06:00 PM

I have no use for horrors. The daily routine is horrific enough

.

ZodWallop · 02-16-2017, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varlog

I have no use for horrors. The daily routine is horrific enough

.

On the other hand, reading about imaginary horrors could make you appreciate your daily routine

issybird · 02-16-2017, 04:36 PM

Daphne du Maurier's novella The Birds is far creepier than the Hitchcock movie based on it.

Rumpelteazer · 02-25-2017, 06:23 PM

I don't scare easily when it comes to books, but two years ago I read Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix, which is a comedy horror set in an Ikea like store (but even cheaper), having worked at Ikea it was incredibly familiar and when reading the book I took a evening time shopping trip to a huge store (though not furniture) which was almost deserted despite it being a Friday night. When I had to go to the bathroom I freaked myself out.

Number9 · 03-09-2017, 03:18 PM

I think the books by John Ajvide Lindqvist is scary.

Sent from my Nexus 5x via Tapatalk.

ReadingManiac · 03-11-2017, 08:38 AM

I like something with a supernatural element to get those hairs on the back of the neck raising. Best one I've read recently is Letters To The Damned by Austin Crawley. Had some real chills in that one!

orlok · 03-11-2017, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReadingManiac

I like something with a supernatural element to get those hairs on the back of the neck raising. Best one I've read recently is Letters To The Damned by Austin Crawley. Had some real chills in that one!

Wonder if that's a pseudonym? Sounds suspiciously close to Aleister Crowley

.

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05-10-2016, 01:27 PM	#31
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,210 Karma: 90000000 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Horror movies just do not scare me. My first wife liked them and I had to take her to see them. They are mostly boring to me. And stupid. I remember watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and one scene was particularly stupid. A woman was being chased by a man with a chainsaw. (go figure) and she runs into a barn. He follows her in and she hits him with a two by four. He falls to the ground stunned, she drops the board and runs out of the barn. He stands up, picks up the chain saw and the chase resumes. She should have picked up the chain saw and carved him into tiny pieces. I was startled in a horror movie once. I took my wife to see Carrie and when the hand shot out of the ground a girl in to seats over jumped to her feet screaming at the top of her lungs. She tried to run, but her boyfriend grabbed her and threw her back into her seat. He then had to reach across and grab the other armrest to keep her there. She just kept throwing herself at his arm trying to get to her feet. Meanwhile she kept screaming. This scared everyone in the theater. Apache

05-10-2016, 02:12 PM	#32
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,355 Karma: 68329346 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	I don't like horror. For movies, the most popular ones are either just gore fests (not scary, just gross) and people or things jumping out at you (being startled is not the same thing as being scared. I'm easily startled, and I don't like that either). I have read a lot of Stephen King, and I agree, the man can tell a scary tale. Most of his stuff I like, while some I found particularly scary: Gerald's Game, and Misery both made me sorry I read them (in, I suppose, precisely the way they were designed to, since I don't like horror...), and I agree that which is scarier depends on what your fears are.

05-16-2016, 10:17 AM	#34
willyr Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2016 Device: Kindle	Not novels, but shorter reads like "Wendigo" by Algernon Blackwood or "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You My Lad" by M.R. James (also his other stories) gave me shivers. Also, Blood Meridian by C. McCarthy. It's not horror, but it was a gut-wrenching experience. Much better than many actual horror novels.

06-06-2016, 05:17 PM	#35
BrentB Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 30012 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage	I second (or third?) "Summer of Night". I typically read this one every couple of years. Also really great nostalgia of small town Illinois in the 60's and 70's. "Pet Semetary" and "It" are definitely a couple of great ones. I love King's description of the deadfall in "Pet Semetary"... and what is on the other side making those noises...

01-31-2017, 12:12 PM	#36
rawling Member Posts: 20 Karma: 68312 Join Date: Jan 2017 Device: tolino vision 2	It has to be It! I was terrified.

02-13-2017, 05:45 PM	#37
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 11,346 Karma: 110455811 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara BW; Nook ST w/Glowlight, Paperwhite 3	It seems appropriate to revive a horror thread. I love horror movies and books, but very few actually scare me. The scariest thing I ever read was a single scene from Gerald's Game. The book was one of his weaker ones, but there's a scene involving an ear-ring on the floor that made me uneasy in a way few things do. Netflix is turning Gerald's Game into a movie. I'm curious to see how they do. Besides King and Straub, I'd also recommend Bentley Little. He can be hit or miss and some of his work has a satiric edge that may not make it 'horror', but he's not a schlock writer. I'd recommend The Ignored and The Summoning (neither yet available as e-book) or The Store. Not as good as the other two, but there's an e-version available.

02-14-2017, 06:00 PM	#39
varlog actually it is /var/log Posts: 341 Karma: 2994236 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: usually Europa Device: prs t1	I have no use for horrors. The daily routine is horrific enough .

02-16-2017, 04:36 PM	#41
issybird o saeclum infacetum Posts: 20,664 Karma: 225870683 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New England Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5	Daphne du Maurier's novella The Birds is far creepier than the Hitchcock movie based on it.

02-25-2017, 06:23 PM	#42
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,210 Karma: 27117938 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	I don't scare easily when it comes to books, but two years ago I read Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix, which is a comedy horror set in an Ikea like store (but even cheaper), having worked at Ikea it was incredibly familiar and when reading the book I took a evening time shopping trip to a huge store (though not furniture) which was almost deserted despite it being a Friday night. When I had to go to the bathroom I freaked myself out.

03-09-2017, 03:18 PM	#43
Number9 Dude Posts: 196 Karma: 2184130 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Dobbstown Device: Kobo Aura One; Kobo Aura H2o; Sony Reader PRS-T3	I think the books by John Ajvide Lindqvist is scary. Sent from my Nexus 5x via Tapatalk.

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03-11-2017, 08:38 AM	#44
ReadingManiac Genre Jumper Posts: 1,070 Karma: 11070900 Join Date: Dec 2015 Device: Kindle paperwhite	I like something with a supernatural element to get those hairs on the back of the neck raising. Best one I've read recently is Letters To The Damned by Austin Crawley. Had some real chills in that one!