Five of the most disturbing books I've ever read.. but you'll have to read them for yourself to find out why.
5. The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien
4. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
3. Pet Sematary by Stephen King
2. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
1. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Oh my god, yes to both House of Leaves and Blood Meridian! Some of the descriptions in Blood Meridian were absolutely horrific, and House of Leaves was the first book that truly scared me. Those passages about the darkness and the maze within the house...so unsettling.
ReplyDeleteTessa / Bramble & Thorn
The Painted Bird by Kosinski for me, some scenes and emotions and visuals from that have stayed with me until today and I read it over 10 years ago. You've also reminded me I have a shit memory as I read Pet Cemetery as a kid and cannot remember what happens! Tempted to go back through Steven King's books :) But yeah, American Psycho, rats, cheese. Say no more.
ReplyDeleteJust in time for Halloween! :D adding some of these to my to read-list :)
ReplyDeleteI try to avoid books that are frightening, but I read The Collector by John Fowles in college and it scared me a lot. The Church of Dead Girls by Stephen Dobyns also terrified me. And I recently finished Gone Girl, which was shocking, too. Such a dark book with disturbing characters.
ReplyDeleteHouse of Leaves is incredible - probably the only book that's really scared/unsettled me. Great list!
ReplyDeleteThe only one I've read out of the lot you posted is Stephen King's Pet Sematary. I read it back when I was in high school and I remember feeling very uncomfortable and weirded-out. I've always wanted to dig into American Psycho and perhaps now would be the perfect time to do so (considering it's Halloween week).
ReplyDeleteSO GOOD. Blood Meridian was beautiful and poignant but so unbearably bleak and House of Leaves really disturbed me.
ReplyDeleteI really need to read The Painted Bird.. I've heard it's TOUGH. I hate how Stephen King chose to spell cemetery.. I always feel wrong writing "Semetary" - what was he thinking??
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! That was my thinking ;))
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestions! Gone Girl was a great quick read, I wasn't scared but it was definitely unsettling.
ReplyDeleteHouse of Leaves is amazing.. and terrifying. Those corridors!
ReplyDeleteI cannot recommend House of Leaves enough, it really terrified me. It messes with your mind in all kinds of ways. American Psycho is very disturbing for totally different reasons..
ReplyDeleteHe didn't anticipate on computers auto correcting it! Ha. Yeah I'd like to get your opinion / re-read it. Really stunning imagery too, albeit bleak. It's unlike anything I'd read before/since. Although I'm not amazingly well read in certain areas.
ReplyDeleteif had house of leaves for such a long time now, but i'm actually to freaked out to read it haha.
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ReplyDeleteI adore the movie American Psycho, and I found the book really compelling, but hard to read. The large paragraphs, the detailed yet rambling descriptions - it was an amazing piece of literature, but it required a fair amount of concentration for a more modern text. I've been meaning to pick up House of Leaves, but they don't have it on e-book and I keep forgetting to grab the actual book, haha.
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Have you read Precious or We Need To Talk About Kevin? Two of my favorite books but also disturbing.
ReplyDeleteI did an exam assignment about American Psycho and citing it was kind of a blast. Had the teacher's attention.
I really should read "House of Leaves." I've been hearing about it. I have watched "Pet Sematary" but never really read it. I guess that one should get added to my to-read list as well.
ReplyDeleteYes! Pet Sematary gave me chills too!
ReplyDeleteNail Masque
Oh my gosh, House of Leaves. Definitely disturbing, but such a fantastic read! I don't know that I've ever been more anxious while reading a book!
ReplyDeleteOh god, Pet Sematary and American Psycho, agree there! :D
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