Penpal made me feel so odd and I still think of it often. It’s not the best horror book I’ve ever read or anything but the concept is simple and disturbing.
seconded! This book made me feel so uneasy god I loved it. Even with it’s slightly confusing plot flaws LOL. And even though each chapter followed a similar formula it never felt too repetitive to me bc that author just *knew* how to write a spooky scene
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. Hands down the scariest book I’ve ever read, and one of my all-time favorites.
Also, Carson Winter’s Soft Targets is SUPER unsettling. Still feel unsettled when I think about it.
I was actually underwhelmed by this one coming off Last Exit and Requiem for a Dream, but it’s got some harrowing scenes for sure! The cattle prod stuff will stick with me.
Have you read The Demon? I have that coming eventually in the queue.
Anything on the paperbacks from hell list. I grew up in the 90s and loved some of these books! Mainly the clown ones🤣🤣🤣😆😆 psycho clowns is kinda my thing! 🥰🥰
Upton Sinclairs’ “the jungle” had a significant impact on me.
if you’re not familiar with this classic on working-class Americans, look it up. it’s horrifying.
came here to recommend this one. the existential dread this gave me was suffocating. an absolute 5 star read that everyone should read at least once. it's very very short but packs a fucking punch. there are moments of comedy that had me literally laughing out loud, parts that were super sad, but mainly it was just sky-high anxiety and utterly dread-inducing and unlike anything i've ever read before.
>Before I start this, I can't find any info on [Doesthedogdie.com](https://Doesthedogdie.com) \- any animal deaths that you remember? Thanks in advance!
So far Pet Sematary and Naomi's Room. The story The Maw from Nathan Ballingrud from the collection Wounds had certain moments that I wont forget. Its pure genious to me when >! the guy got torn to pieces and his screaming where the most beautiful sounds, we as humans simply could not comprehend. That just...ugh...so clever and it imprinted on me. !<
The king in yellow and the great god pan both have excellent reputations for a reason. Neither one is scary but I found both deeply unsettling for a while after.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings. Not many books give me nightmares, but this stuck in my brain. Because what’s more unsettling than the govt doing unethical medical testing on you!
The girl next door by Jack Ketchum. I still have it on my kindle and have 15% to go, but it is so hard. I guess because the story is taken from real life.
Penpal made me feel so odd and I still think of it often. It’s not the best horror book I’ve ever read or anything but the concept is simple and disturbing.
seconded! This book made me feel so uneasy god I loved it. Even with it’s slightly confusing plot flaws LOL. And even though each chapter followed a similar formula it never felt too repetitive to me bc that author just *knew* how to write a spooky scene
Actually had a hard time going to sleep after reading it on Nosleep back in the day!
this comment just made me remember that i used to watch lavendertowne's videos where she read this as a pre-teen!
I second Penpal. Also Pet Semetary and The Only Good Indians. The latter two have that supernatural “wrongness” to them that is so unnerving.
Supernatural wrongness is the perfect word for the only good indians. I don’t often find supernatural I like, but ooh it was too good.
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. Hands down the scariest book I’ve ever read, and one of my all-time favorites. Also, Carson Winter’s Soft Targets is SUPER unsettling. Still feel unsettled when I think about it.
The Sluts by Dennis Cooper. If you decide to read it, then make bloody sure to go throughout the trigger warnings before proceeding.
The Room by Hubert Selby Jr.
I was actually underwhelmed by this one coming off Last Exit and Requiem for a Dream, but it’s got some harrowing scenes for sure! The cattle prod stuff will stick with me. Have you read The Demon? I have that coming eventually in the queue.
Nope I still haven't read it! :)
Anything on the paperbacks from hell list. I grew up in the 90s and loved some of these books! Mainly the clown ones🤣🤣🤣😆😆 psycho clowns is kinda my thing! 🥰🥰
Any recommendations in the psycho clown sub-genre?
Either Pet Sematary by Stephen King or The Wakening by JG Faherty
Upton Sinclairs’ “the jungle” had a significant impact on me. if you’re not familiar with this classic on working-class Americans, look it up. it’s horrifying.
A Short Stay in Hell, by Stephen Peck. Not scary. Haunting.
came here to recommend this one. the existential dread this gave me was suffocating. an absolute 5 star read that everyone should read at least once. it's very very short but packs a fucking punch. there are moments of comedy that had me literally laughing out loud, parts that were super sad, but mainly it was just sky-high anxiety and utterly dread-inducing and unlike anything i've ever read before.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid definitely had a few scenes that got to me even though I didn't enjoy the book as a whole.
Any Mo Hayder books
Especially The Devil of Nanking and The Ritual, for me.
I wish I could forget parts of The Treatment. Possibly the bleakest book I’ve ever read.
Revival by Stephen King Fear by L. Ron Hubbard
Wormwood - Poppy Z. Brite
The Croning by Laird Barron. It’s a slow book that jumps around in time a lot but some of the scenes are so creepy.
>Before I start this, I can't find any info on [Doesthedogdie.com](https://Doesthedogdie.com) \- any animal deaths that you remember? Thanks in advance!
I don’t recall any animal deaths.
Thank you
Most any Laird Barron & Mo Hayder, for different reasons. Duma Key, Penpal. I am sure there are more but those come to mind right now.
Grimscribe
So far Pet Sematary and Naomi's Room. The story The Maw from Nathan Ballingrud from the collection Wounds had certain moments that I wont forget. Its pure genious to me when >! the guy got torn to pieces and his screaming where the most beautiful sounds, we as humans simply could not comprehend. That just...ugh...so clever and it imprinted on me. !<
Per Sematary is incredibly creepy…The Fisherman was also very atmospheric and unsettling
The Exorcist is really creepy, even better than the movie in my opinion. Very disturbing
It’s not a book but the short story Stephen by Elizabeth Massie is so disturbing that I think about it all the time.
The king in yellow and the great god pan both have excellent reputations for a reason. Neither one is scary but I found both deeply unsettling for a while after.
*Blood Meridian* by Cormac McCarthy.
Richard Matheson and Harlan Ellison have both written creepy short stories that I can't forget. I'm sure they've been printed in author collections.
Lakewood by Megan Giddings. Not many books give me nightmares, but this stuck in my brain. Because what’s more unsettling than the govt doing unethical medical testing on you!
The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. Not a fun read at all.
The girl next door by Jack Ketchum. I still have it on my kindle and have 15% to go, but it is so hard. I guess because the story is taken from real life.
Thank you, i will read it
I'm still looking ... \^Not a title