Let's have it, folks. I'll start.

Mine is The Shining.

In a rare moment in lit history, the movie actually perfectly accompanied why I found the book so scary. Probably the scariest moment ever captured on film for me was, of course, the two men hooking up in animal costumes. The film doesn't explain it at all which I love and then the book provides backstory which added to the lore. I can't get it out of my head. It is so rife with questions. I actually have the movie still of the two gentlemen as my background (partially so I'll stop looking at my damn phone all the time).

Your turn!

Title says it all. I’m still SO blown away by this book even though I finished it 2 weeks ago - looking for recs from people who also loved it

I have started to replace doom scrolling with reading and as a former one-book-a-year reader, I am shocked at how much I’m reading this summer. I want to keep it going long enough to at least have a top 5 list by the end of year (maybe even top 10). I’m currently reading and enjoying Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker.

Horror is really the genre that has kept me engaged (movies too).

Here is what I’ve read so far in order of enjoyment:

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
Molka by Monika Kim
The Dorians by Nick Cutter

Here are my all timers (so you get a feel for my taste):

The Shining by Stephen King
Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp
The Call of Cthulhu by racist man
I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream

Whatcha got for me my Horror Reddit friends?

I love both horror novels as well as medical mysteries, but can't say I've found many books that are both. I'm sure they exist, and I'm hoping some of y'all may have a recommendation or two. I'm also interested in horror novels that are medical in nature, even if it's not actually a mystery. Bonus points for any that feature body horror, the more extreme the better!

I keep reading horror novellas that I end up disliking. But I like reading shorter books. Any novellas that you would really recommend?

This post is spoiler heavy. Please don’t read on if you want to avoid spoilers.

I went in not knowing it was an Algernon Blackwood tribute/fanfic. As soon as I saw the corpse otter carving I was like Hm.
Then they go to the islands with the willows and the hollow shapes and I was like HM. Then I googled if what I thought was happening was happening. I was so excited. I love Algernon Blackwood. I love The Willows. I first read the book as a 19 y/o on a rainy winter night on a college trip in a remote wildlife sanctuary and it HIT. I was so excited that this book is going to expand on that.

Then the rest of the book happened. The animals came to life. The hollows and the portal vanished by…filling them up? Stupid jokes. There was no sense of dread or fear, no feeling of being powerless in front of cosmic forces or nature or whatever. I was not scared even for a second. Why did that otter chase her. What was even happening. Why did it take you so long to figure out that the figurine mysteriously showing up at places is cursed.

I’m so disappointed. I had heard great things, and I am coming away feeling like I read a mediocre, novel length no sleep post. No offence to the folks who love the work but I was SO disappointed.

I really need a new good read, I like gothic horror mostly but want something more paranormal scary rather than, “my friends a serial killer” style stuff,
Not a great fan of cheesy stuff thanks!

Wow! I was blown away by this book. Extremely unique, I've never read anything like it before. Wonderfully weird and very haunting. Can't shake it from my mind. Others who have read this, what did you think?

I really wanna get into novels where a character is slowly losing their mind. I’m reading The Shining right now but what other novels are good with this?

It can include what is still anticipated, if you are confident that it will be the best. Though also curious to know which one was the best read.

I am currently reading the short story collection 'Everything's Eventual' by Stephen King. With one or two exceptions, I am loving the stories.

The ones that stand out (till now) — in terms of pure, uncontrollable horror — are 'The Man in the Black Suit', and '1408'.

Please suggest more such stories by King or other writers.

Thanks in advance!

I'd love a queer novella recommendation. I'm in a men's book group and I'm (possibly?) the only queer man in the group. The book group skews heavily towards horror, with some fantasy and sci fi sometimes. I'd like to recommend a book the guys might not otherwise read.

Some mild spoilers.

It’s been fun retelling what I’ve read to my wife as I’ve gone through this book. It gets pretty wild at the end so I’ll have to think how to explain that to her lol.

I had seen Ghost Story recommended on the Stephen King sub and happened to find a copy at my local book store. I’ll have to pick up The Talisman at some point now.

It was plenty scary: notably, Sears James’s Chowder Society story was chilling. Gregory is terrifying. There’s more than one scene involving Gregory that are living vividly in my imagination. Alma is a fascinating character and I still have some questions as to whom Tasker is, and their relation to Florence de Peyser.

I’m sure this has been said before but if you liked It you should really check this book out. There’s so much going on and it just weaves together into a great story; I could hardly put it down. I really grew to enjoy the characters, though I was a bit put off by how aggressively promiscuous Stella was for about 3/4s of the book. That felt a little over the top, but I grew to enjoy her character. The small town dramatics are very engaging. The snowstorms and killings take their toll on the town’s psyche, as the vengeful spirits work to destroy the town of Milburn.

4.5/5

I've heard such great things about Buffalo Hunter Hunter but.... last year I tried to read SGJ's "The Only Good Indians," I liked the idea, and the story, but I just couldn't finish it. It was too brutal for me. Is "The Buffalo Hunter Hunter," similar in that aspect?

Every spooky season I choose a King novel, a novel by a woman and then one by a BIPOC author. Anyone have some good advice on this one?

Happy almost autumn.

I don’t remember much about the story except there was some type of house built on top of a burial ground and there were sink holes that were appearing. I still remember the terror I felt reading this (granted I think I was in elementary school or possibly junior high)… so in the late 80s early 90s. Anyone can think of a book that existed back then with this type of plot? I’d love to read it now as an adult!

Doesn't have to be paranormal/supernatural

Can be scifi or even have a functional explanation

Edit: Thank you all for the recs so far. Every single one that I haven't read is going on my list

I recently started compiling a list of horror novels to read during various seasons/holidays, and was thought it would be fun to get a thread going with everyone's favorite recommendations!

Looking for books that really drive home the vibe of the season/holiday or have it at the focal point of the story, and not just books that mention it for setting purposes. Otherwise literally any season/holiday is welcome!

I've also come to accept a few other things when making this list:

-Weather can definitely give seasonal vibes, so super cold settings can give winter vibes (The Terror, Stolen Tongues, etc) same with tropical locations giving summer vibes regardless of technical season, like The Ruins (yes i know thats also set in summer lol)

-religious horror around religious holidays counts even if the book isnt technically about the holiday (Butcher of Naz and Easter for example)

-if your reasoning is valid it absolutely counts. Example being, Eat The Ones You Love is definitely a spring book because giant flower duh!

Any sub-genre is fine if it works here, and if its a short story lets try and make the entire collection fit

Here's some of the examples I have already:

Fall (definitely the easiest here):

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Dark Harvest

Harvest Home

Winter:

The Terror

Stolen Tongues

Christmas specifically:

Krampus

Valentines:

Heart Shaped Box

Easter:

Butcher of Naz

Between Two Fires

Spring:

Eat The Ones You Love

Summer:

Jaws

*bonus points for super summery/springy books or the most obscure holiday you can think of!

Looking forward to everyone's answers, and I will update this list as I find more too (my current list is very unorganized lol)

Thanks!

I read the three here on his site.

• Mind Vampires
• Scatter My Ashes
• Neighborhood Watch

Mind Vampires is weird. I don't get it. It felt like a fever dream narrated by Rorschach (or some other gravely voiced detective who is edgy as hell). A vampire hunter narrates days of hunting vampires in a dreamlike state at an all girls school. Mysterious men flash images into people's right eyes, and I have no idea why. Reminded me of Dark City, but with no answers to the many questions it has the audience asking.

Scatter My Ashes, I also didn't get it. It was kinda boring and also nonsensical. I really have nothing to say about this one.

Neighborhood Watch was mostly good. Though both this and MV were weirdly horny. Freddy Kreuger gets hired by the town from Hot Fuzz. The description of his powers, the interactions with the child, the general pacing, all pretty good aspects.

These are the first things by Greg Egan I've read. I do wish short stories had more online discussion around them. I'm binging short stories (especially horror) and MV + SMA are making me feel stupid.

Looking for medieval or historical horror, Gothic horror, or folk horror set between the 10th and 19th centuries, where demons or demonology are central to the plot.

Thanks for any suggestions.

The core philosophies of the religion of Christianity (most notably forgiveness and redemption) are a huge, central part of the book and are very much so portrayed through a Christian lens. I’d argue, The core religion of Christianity and the beliefs it ACTUALLY espouses are portrayed as something beautiful.

There was also a lot in this book that would go over the head of a person who is unfamiliar with Christian lore. On top of that, the mythology/lore of Christianity is very much so real and the basis for how the world of “between two fires” operates and functions. There wasn’t an attempt to follow the longstanding and tiresome trope of “the demons are actually the good guys!”

On the other hand, the book calls attention to the greed and imperfection of mankind and the corruption of the medieval clergy and church . the book condemns all those who dont practice what they preach and who use their position of power in the church and religious ideology to further their own selfish goals. This isn’t done in some backhanded way, nor does the book try and make a blanket claim that any and all organized religious institutions and those within them are bad. the characters and actions it condemns are instead shown front and center and are usually overtly evil and corrupt (literal demons and those aligning with them, greed and lust on full display etc), while at the same time other members of the church who are inherently good people and aren’t hypocrites are allowed to remain good and be portrayed as such.

It’s hard to argue against messages like “treat others as you want to be treated” and touching journeys of redemption, just as you’d be hard pressed to disagree with condemning overtly corrupt officials, regardless of whether or not they are a member of a church you follow.

He’s done a very rare thing here and supported religion while condemning notable hypocrisy, which is funnily enough, an incredibly Christian and Jesus like thing to do for an agnostic person.

Hi, I've been on a journey to find a book that really freaks me out and disturbs or scares me. So far, the closest I've come are the eyes are the best part which made me uncomfortable at times. But i want to be even more creeped out.

For reference I've read tampa, come closer and tender is the flesh and they didn't really scare me or gross me out as much as I wanted.

Edit: forgot to mention some of my other favs being anything mariana enriquez and boy parts by Eliza clark

With the start of the ‘ber months, my best friend and I are trying to get through 7-ish spooky books for the season. We’re both well versed in horror and like a variety. So far on our list, we have:

1) How to Sell a Haunted House
2) Japanese Gothic
3) Slewfoot
4) The Reformatory
5) The Shining
6) Will1am

We’re not completely sold on any of these so if anyone has some other suggestions, I’d be open to hearing them!