Literary Horror discussion

I need a reading recommendation -- what story or novel, once you finished it, forced you to go back to the first page and reread it?

I didn't actually re-read these(yet) but I wanted to as soon as I was done reading.

The Terror
The Wanderer

Like Randolph, I rarely re-read a book, but the horror novels I consider worthy of a second-go-around that often get overlooked include: Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides (lush Virgina Woolf-style prose); T.E.D. Klein's Dark Gods (especially the Lovecraftian "The Events at Poroth Farm"); and Lisa Mannetti's The Gentling Box (her Bram Stoker-winning debut).

Timothy asked:

I need a reading recommendation -- what story or novel, once you finished it, forced you to go back to the first page and reread it?

I’ll sometimes re-read novels, but for some reason rarely horror novels. On the other hand, I’ll semi-frequently re-visit favorite short stories. Just to keep things to a manageable length, I’ll cite a rather idiosyncratic list of 10.

“Casting the Runes”, M. R. James (1911)
“The Room in the Tower”, E. F. Benson (1912)
“Where Angels Fear…”, Manly Wade Wellman (1939)
“The Summer People”, Shirley Jackson (1950)
“The Events at Poroth Farm”, T. E. D. Klein (1974)
“At the Bureau”, Steve Rasnic Tem (1980)
“River of Night’s Dreaming”, Karl Edward Wagner (1981)
“Weird Tales”, Fred Chappell (1984)
“Not Stopping at Mabb’s End”, Michael Chislett (2003)
“Northwest Passage”, Barbara Roden (2004)

If anyone is looking for some holiday horror books I've just created a list here on Goodreads for it. It contains books recommended by people on a thread over at Horror Afficionados.

Please feel free to get some solid recommendations, add your own books and add your own. Just don't add Halloween books as it's the only holiday that already has lists for it.

Here is the Holiday Horror Books list, enjoy!

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

If anyone is looking for some holiday horror books I've just created a list here on Goodreads for it.

Heh, heh. I’m pretty sure I won’t be picking up The Human Santapede anytime soon. ;-)

David wrote: "Like Randolph, I rarely re-read a book, but the horror novels I consider worthy of a second-go-around that often get overlooked include: Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides (lush Virgina Woolf-s..."

Wow, nice list Canavan. Gaston is a nice touch, ha.

The Late Breakfasters is a book I read relatively recently (not horror but by Robert Aickman who needs no introduction here) that I felt I needed to restart immediately after finishing it to catch the missing clues and allusions apparent only in retrospect.

The book is not fantasy per se but it does have some light, highly evocative supernatural elements and it's a really excellent examination of class and manners at an English country house party for the elite. Highly unusual love story as well.

David wrote: "Like Randolph, I rarely re-read a book, but the horror novels I consider worthy of a second-go-around that often get overlooked include: Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides (lush Virgina Woolf-s..."

I absolutely loved Dark Gods!

Timothy wrote: "I need a reading recommendation -- what story or novel, once you finished it, forced you to go back to the first page and reread it?"
If we talk books that I feel were specifically written in a way that encourages immediate re-reading, then: Malpertuis by Jean Ray, The Devil's Elixirs by E.T.A. Hoffmann, Peace by Gene Wolfe... and so on. In each case, multiple readings are basically required, and second reading presents a very different experience.

Timothy wrote: "I need a reading recommendation -- what story or novel, once you finished it, forced you to go back to the first page and reread it?"

Interesting topic. For me it falls into two categories. Sometimes I re-read the "strange stories" of Robert Aickman, and others who write in that vein, such as Rosalie Parker https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..., in order to interpret the story.

The second category are stories which enthralled me the first time and I reread them to be enthralled again. I highly recommend "Egnaro" by M. John Harrison.

Hi everyone. I really love David Mitchell’s novels – The Bone Clocks is a classic. I was browsing online to find a copy for a friend for Christmas, and ended up going through a webstore called Very Special Editions as they sell things like signed copies, limited editions and gift books.

Just thought I’d let you know that I used a code, GOODREADS10, that’ll give you 10% off as a Goodreads user – might be useful over the Christmas period (free first-class recorded delivery is included).

You can find signed copies of The Bone Clocks, and Slade House, here:
https://www.veryspecialeditions.co.uk...

https://www.veryspecialeditions.co.uk...

Perfect for the horror fan in your life 😊

Thank you!

Timothy wrote: "I need a reading recommendation -- what story or novel, once you finished it, forced you to go back to the first page and reread it?"

Mark Gluth's The Late Work of Margaert Kroftis

Pretty literary and abstract as far as horror fiction goes, but the sort of thing that calls out to be reread immediately. Unlike anything I have read and deeply, deeply saddening as well. We tend to link terror and fear, but there is a certain terror in loss and sadness that fiction seldom touches. Gluth evokes it mightily.

I haven't heard of that one. Sounds interesting.

The Windsome Tree: A Ghost Story
This was one of the best literary horror novels I've read in years.

Timothy wrote: "I need a reading recommendation -- what story or novel, once you finished it, forced you to go back to the first page and reread it?"

The Lesser Dead. The ending changes everything you thought you knew.

M.L. wrote: "Amongst The Mists"

Authors, please do not plug your own books in these "recommendations" threads. The Author Promotion section is more appropriate:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

The Dark Tower V (Wolves of the Calla)
This book could've gone on forever and I would've kept reading.

I asked this question in my general feed, then remembered this group would be the perfect place to ask it:

I'm interested in trying out some offbeat, maybe even darkly funny literary horror. Like, I feel like that movie The Lobster is very close to being horror, also irreal literary fiction like Marie NDiaye's My Heart Hemmed In or Elvira Navarro's Rabbit Island. I find My Heart darkly funny in spots; Rabbit Island I would just call offbeat. Can horror be darkly funny without being overtly satirical or gimmicky? (In other words, not the Scream movies or Krampus?)

I also prefer grim and atmospheric to overt screaming or gore.

I'm interested in trying out some offbeat, maybe even darkly funny literary horror.

The Brains of Rats by Michael Blumlein (only some of the stories would qualify as funny, all are offbeat)

Secret Hours by Michael Cisco (offbeat for sure, debatable whether funny - funny to me though!)

Santa Steps Out by Robert Devereaux (funny and very very offbeat)

The Sorrow King by Anderson Prunty (offbeat, not funny. definitely grim.)

The Eyes of the Carp by T.M. Wright (funny and offbeat)

all very well-written, in the literary rather than jump-scare vein.

Thank you, mark!

I tend not to seek out darkly funny literary horror. But in case you haven't gotten to it, Brian Evenson's The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell has a few horrific and funny pieces. Here's our recent monthly read of the collection:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We also read the Blumlein collection as one of our monthly books. Very enjoyable, as I recall.

Thanks, Bill! I wonder if I've read some of these Evenson stories in Conjunctions. Or if I have some sitting unread in past issues. (I've got quite a stack!) I've definitely enjoyed the creepy ones I've encountered, so I should go pick that one up.

Nathanimal wrote: "I'm interested in trying out some offbeat, maybe even darkly funny literary horror...."

Your mention of The Lobster makes me think you're trying more for an absurdist humor, but since "darkly funny" leaves it open, I'll use it as an excuse to mention some of my favorites.

Grady Hendrix specializes in horror with humor. I recommend trying We Sold Our Souls, which has less of the parody kind of humor that his books like Horrorstör have. Although in Horrorstör the parody is aimed at the soul sucking nature of capitalism and box stores, rather than the actual horrors.

A lot of Shirley Jackson, natch. The master of cutting satire.

Many of Stephen Graham Jones books and stories have a lot of humor, as well as some pretty horrific scares. If you haven't read him, try his novella Night of the Mannequins.

The Cipher, the level of squalidness and degradation is frequently laugh out loud funny.

Matthew Bartlett has a series of stories taking place in the fictional town of Leeds with a creepy radio station run by demonic cultists (WXXT: if it bleeds, it's Leeds). Think Nightvale without the cuteness. Creeping Waves may be a good place to start.

Ring Shout. A book involving demons in the Ku Klux Klan and those who fight them may sounds a bit on-the-nose preachy, but this is anything but. The banter among the resistance fighters is frequently hilarious, and using stupid Klan titles like "Grand Cyclops" as literal monsters is genius. Also some truly terrifying cosmic horror moments.

FantasticLand. An amusement park is cut off by a hurricane. Park employees split into factions based on where they work in the park. Darker then you might think from the description.

Whitney wrote: "Nathanimal wrote: "I'm interested in trying out some offbeat, maybe even darkly funny literary horror...."

Your mention of The Lobster makes me think you're trying more for an absurdist humor, but..."

Whitney, thank you so much for this helpful, lovingly compiled list!

These have all been great. Some great leads here! Thanks, everybody.

Just thought of this favorite:
Shelley Jackson, Riddance: Or the Sybil Joines Vocational School for Ghost Speakers & Hearing-Mouth Children

Bill wrote: "Just thought of this favorite:
Shelley Jackson, Riddance: Or the Sybil Joines Vocational School for Ghost Speakers & Hearing-Mouth Children"

That looks great (despite the gorge rising towards the end). Thanks, Bill!

Let me know if you'd like borrow my copy.