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Post by windysisters on Jan 14, 2022 16:30:37 GMT
On our Big 40+ challenge there's a category of reading something in a genre you wouldn't normally read. I struggled with this last year as I'm quite an eclectic reader and, apart from misery memoirs, there isn't anything I haven't tried.
Last year I read a graphic novel and now I need to find something for this year. I'm considering horror as I don't think I've read anything which really classes as horror. I think the closest I've come is James Herbert (Crickley Hall - more of a ghost story); Dean Koontz; Thomas Harris - both of these I'd describe more as thrillers..... and last year I read Dracula although it didn't give me nightmares.
So, those of you who are horror fans, can you pick something for me which will be a good one - perhaps the best one by a particular author? Without any advice, I am considering The Shining but if there's something better I'd be pleased to hear about it
Thank you!
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Post by alison44 on Jan 14, 2022 16:54:12 GMT
No suggestions, but interested in what replies you get, as I was thinking of choosing horror for that category too!
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Post by geminii on Jan 14, 2022 18:40:10 GMT
Cool Wendy .. lol I started reading 'Horror' books back in my early teens - but like so many other things in life, what one person finds horrific, another will find mildly scary .. Even books about axe wielding mad men aren't really considered scary these days, worse things happen in real life and we see these scenarios on our TV's (whether in the News or Movies) on an almost daily basis .. As an introduction to the genre, you cannot go wrong with an early Stephen King : The Shining is an amazing read, but you could also go for Carrie, Salem's Lot or Cujo .. I will get around to a re-read of all 4 a some point James Herbert does run a close second, and the early stuff like The Rats, Fluke, The Fog etc are the ones that stick in my head (not read Crickley Hollow yet, but have a copy) .. You could go all out and read IT !!
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Post by natsplatt on Jan 14, 2022 19:24:41 GMT
No suggestions, but interested in what replies you get, as I was thinking of choosing horror for that category too! Same, it’s the only genre I don’t really do too, I was considering It or The Shining purely as I know Zac has both already lol Nat
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peppercricket
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Post by peppercricket on Jan 14, 2022 20:06:55 GMT
natsplatt & windysisters, I started reading SK & JH and DK in my teens. Horror is quite a strong word as Suzanne said upthread, there are different elements to it - even SK says there are three levels, the gross-out, the horror and the terror. I've never found those three authors to be OTT on the gross-out stakes, I'm not a fan of gore fest novels (Shaun Hutson specialises in these), but I do like a novel where the setting is "off" or something else is lurking behind the door, or there's tapping on the window outside. I always used to speed through DK's and loved Watchers. If you've never read SK or JH because of the "horror" tag, that's a shame, because with a few exceptions, they have both written some great novels. Perhaps start with Carrie, as suggested, or Later, which has a supernatural element, but is at its heart, a crime novel. 22/11/63 is excellent too (it's a fattie). Mr Mercedes is the first in a series, Penny has read those ones. The Shining is great! I could wax lyrical about SK, as he is my favourite author. My favourite JH's were Shrine and Creed. If that has spurred you on to try one, just don't make Pet Sematary or IT your first! OO, I must have a re-read. (Pity me, the genre I don't usually read are romances and cozy novels - erk - gimme a horror any day)
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Post by natsplatt on Jan 15, 2022 14:12:08 GMT
It is partly the ‘horror’ tag that has put me off and partly that I know I would struggle to sleep, that something off is always enjoyable but it does make me so paranoid 🤣🤣 I’m that person that no one else likes to watch jumpy films with cos I will full on jump out of my chair!! Zac came with me to see quiet place 2 and swore he’ll never go to anything like that with me again cos at one point I actually squealed out loud in the cinema! (I loved that film so much though! 🤣)
Nat
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Post by windysisters on Jan 15, 2022 14:27:00 GMT
Thanks peppercricket I've read the Mr Mercedes trilogy and enjoyed them, only finding the third one to step outside the "crime" format. Thanks for tips though, both you and geminii suggest Carrie and The Shining so I'll see which of these I come across first. Keep thinking of Joey in Friends reading The Shining and putting the book in the freezer when he gets to a scary bit And natsplatt lol at screaming in the cinema- I've been dragged along to many horror movies by a friend but usually managed to keep to gasping only.
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Post by geminii on Jan 15, 2022 20:04:26 GMT
The Mr Mercedes trilogy is brilliant .. 11/22/63 is a chunkster, but reads so very well, it doesn't seem that long .. nothing horrific happens - but it is amazing that someone dreamed up that storyline & had the ability to get me to almost believe in the possible reversal of time (and I don't read Fantasy) ..
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peppercricket
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Batley Townswoman's Guild presents the Battle of Pearl Harbour
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Post by peppercricket on Jan 16, 2022 9:48:40 GMT
It is partly the ‘horror’ tag that has put me off and partly that I know I would struggle to sleep, that something off is always enjoyable but it does make me so paranoid 🤣🤣 I’m that person that no one else likes to watch jumpy films with cos I will full on jump out of my chair!! Zac came with me to see quiet place 2 and swore he’ll never go to anything like that with me again cos at one point I actually squealed out loud in the cinema! (I loved that film so much though! 🤣) Nat I can't watch jumpy films either, I don't mind the blood and gore! I went to see The Wolfman with a friend, spent half my time peeping from behind my hands, she was killing herself laughing. I'm the person that used to love watching the Walking Dead, but would whizz it on to see if anything would jump out, so I'd be prepared, lol.
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Post by geminii on Jan 16, 2022 15:28:34 GMT
I went to the midnight showing of The Exorcist with a male friend - he kept jumping out of his skin, which made me laugh .. Bit spooky driving myself home along the country roads, tho .. lol
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Post by pennylane on Jan 18, 2022 18:07:47 GMT
I third SK too, and The Shining was v. good! I am working my way through SK's back catalogue.
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin is a good classic horror with a creepy house and disturbing neighbours!!
Only JH I read was The Fog and The Rats way back when I was a teenager.
Dean Koontz I've only read a couple that were more thrillers.
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Post by pennylane on Jan 18, 2022 18:10:20 GMT
(Pity me, the genre I don't usually read are romances and cozy novels - erk - gimme a horror any day) Snap!!! Pity me too
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Post by geminii on Jan 18, 2022 19:36:00 GMT
Maybe something suitable will turn up in the Book Circle, Janice .. lol peppercricket
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Post by windysisters on Jan 18, 2022 20:07:12 GMT
pennylane and peppercricket for romances that aren't too sickly try Marian Keyes. She tackles some serious issues told with humour
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Post by pennylane on Jan 19, 2022 10:37:01 GMT
pennylane and peppercricket for romances that aren't too sickly try Marian Keyes. She tackles some serious issues told with humour Ah yes she is one author I used to read years ago (I had a 2 year Chic Lit phase) and Suzanne sent me one last year Grown Ups I think
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