I’ve never read a horror book. I do not like horror movies, tv shows, Halloween themed amusement parks, etc. I’ve realized it’s more about the feeling of anticipating the scares and the actual jump scares you feel when watching/ experiencing more than the content.
So, is reading horror anything like this? I recently read 11/22/63 which was not very graphic or horror-ish to me. I don’t think it was intended to be but if it was it did not come across like that at all to me. However, the show was a little creepy, and gory. Was it just done up a bit more because it’s Stephen King or was I just not phased by the way it was written? And yes I realize the show is so much different than the book but some parts were the same and were still portrayed this way.
I’d like to add that I always go into a book blind. I will usually go through this sub to get recommendations and when I see something mentioned often I’ll usually read it without looking at any summaries or anything.
So, I’d like to ask if there are any books that are actually scary to you? Or any that you’d recommend for someone like me who’s looking to try it out without that scary feeling?
Thanks in advance!
by Level-Many3384
5 Comments
I enjoy reading horror, but generally I don’t find them scary in the same way you would a movie or tv series.
Read Stolen Tongues. The prologue alone is the scariest thing I’ve ever read.
I have watched Stephen King movies and read his books. Some of the movies I actually found scary and not just the cheap jump scare scary. But the books never scared me.
The only book that ever did and probably because I was too young to be reading it, was Amityville Horror, and probably because I 100% thought it was real.
Personally I think the setting you’re in plays a role. If I’m home reading in the dark at night it’s a bit creepier but for the most part I really don’t find them scary. Especially when I listen to audiobook at work.
11/22/63 isn’t horror just because it’s Stephen King.
But yeah. There are some horror books that are very scary.
Maybe “Mister B. Gone” by Clive Barker if you’re looking for something not too scary.
If you liked Stephen King then “The Long Walk” is good. More gory and sad type of horror.
“Another” by Yukito Ayatsuji is also a sad gory type horror.
Also maybe “Let the Right One In” by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Although there are some pretty heavy topics including child trafficking so maybe don’t go blind into this one.