Horror Aficionados discussion

Come on in and share your top tens lists of the year with us!

What were your favorite novels? Favorite audio books? Short story collections? Bizarro books? We love lists and we love sharing and talking about them!

In no particular order:


1. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
2. The Journal of Reginald Perigar by David Haynes
3. The Stake by Richard Laymon
4. Carrie by Stephen King
5. The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale
6. Already Dead by Charlie Huston
7. He Who Walks in Shadow by Brett J. Talley
8. The Mysterious Mr. Quin by Agatha Christie
9. The Trials of Obed Marsh by Matthew Davenport
10. Necroscope by Brian Lumley

Ken wrote: "In no particular order:


1. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
2. The Journal of Reginald Perigar by David Haynes
3. [book:The Stake|1..."

Nice, Ken! Lansdale was big for me these year too, plus I'm a huge fan of Fevre Dream. :)

Charlene wrote: "Ken wrote: "Nice, Ken! Lansdale was big for me these year too, plus I'm a huge fan of Fevre Dream...."

Your review and re-reading were the reason I read that book.

Ken I'm going to try some of the books on your list.

It by Stephen King
The stand by Stephen King
Interview with the vampire by Anne rice (started my writing career)
Turning angel by Greg iles
The firm by John Grisham
The witching hour by Anne rice
Cold cold heart by Tami Hoag
Dear mr henshaw (children book)
Belonging
Jessi's secret language (babysitters club)

Ken wrote: "In no particular order:


1. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
2. The Journal of Reginald Perigar by David Haynes
3. [book:The Stake|1..."


I loved fevre dream, too.

Ken wrote: "Charlene wrote: "Ken wrote: "Nice, Ken! Lansdale was big for me these year too, plus I'm a huge fan of Fevre Dream...."

Your review and re-reading were the reason I read that book."

That's pretty cool. Thanks for letting me know. :)

in no particular order after #1 & 2

1. The Last American Vampire
2. Fevre Dream
3 It
4.NOS4A2 (audiobook version)
5.The Martian
6.The Girl with All the Gifts
7. White Trash Zombie Gone Wild
8.Locke & Key
9.Dracula the full cast audible edition
10. Swan Song

Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
V Wars: Blood and Fire by J. Maberry and others
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Saint Odd by Dean Koontz
Steelheart by Brian Sanderson
Locked Doors by Blake Crouch
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
Coldbrook by Tim Lebbon
Wolf Hunt by Jeff Strand

...and even though I haven't finished it: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke may be my favorite book this year.

In no particular order and excluding re-reads


1. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
2. The Girl on the Train
3. A Curious Tale of the In-Between
2 Big Shoes
3 Watch Me Burn
4 Still Waters
5 Think of England
6 Deadtown
7 Lonesome Dove
8 The Child Thief
9 Batman: The Long Halloween
10 Watchmen

The Girl With All The Gifts
Ready Player One
All Heads Turn When The Hunt Goes By
Tampa
Bird Box
Penpal
Brother
Corrosion
Come Closer
Wool Omnibus
Ceremonies
The Border
A Rose For Emily (ss)
Stay Awake
Horus Rising

Erin (Paperback stash) *is juggle-reading* wrote: "In no particular order and excluding re-reads


1. Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
2. The Girl on the Train
3. [book:A Curious Tale of the In-Between..."

Erin, wasn't Lonesome Dove so good? :)

In no particular order:

1. Toybox by Al Sarrantonio (short story collection)
2. The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon (novel)
3. La mort est mon métier by Robert Merle (novel)
4. Dreamsongs Volume I by George R. R. Martin (short story collection(s), audio book (Traumlieder 1: Erzählungen) )
5. The Bottomsby Joe R. Lansdale (novel)
6. A Fine Dark Line by Joe R. Lansdale (novel)
7. The Best of Robert Bloch by Robert Bloch (short story collection)
8. Clickers by J. F. Gonzalez (novel)
9. Flood by Andrew Vachss (novel)
10. Punk Land by Carlton Mellick III (novel)
11. Cthulhu Comes to the Vampire Kingdom by Cameron Pierce (novella)
12. Eden: It's an Endless World, Volume 1 by Hiroki Endo (manga series)
13. Madrapour by Robert Merle (novel)
14. Horowitz Horror: Stories You'll Wish You Never Read by Anthony Horowitz (short stories)
15. More Horowitz Horror by Anthony Horowitz (short stories)

Ekel wrote: "In no particular order:

1. Toybox by Al Sarrantonio (short story collection)
2. The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon (novel)
3. [book:La mort est mon métier|944..."


The Traveling Vampire Show is one of my all-time favorites

llibrro wrote: "The Girl With All The Gifts
Ready Player One
All Heads Turn When The Hunt Goes By
Tampa
Bird Box
Penpal
Brother
Corrosion
Come Closer
Wool Omnibus
Ceremonies
The Border
A Rose For Emily (ss)
Stay A..."

I'm glad "all the heads turn when the hunt goes by" made yout top 10. I've had that on my to read list for a while. I like bird box, too but I read that last year.

Tentative Top 10 of 2015: (I usually post a "top 25" at the end of the year, since I read @ 250 books & anthologies a year).
1. CONDEMNED, Michael McBride Condemned: A Thriller
2. THE STRAW MEN, Michael Marshall The Straw Men
3. SNOWBLIND II: The Killing Grounds, Michael McBride Snowblind II: The Killing Grounds
4. SEEING EVIL, Jason Parent Seeing Evil
5. SWEETHEART, SWEETHEART, Bernard Taylor Sweetheart, Sweetheart
6. LITTLE GIRLS, Ronald Malfi Little Girls
7. SOUR CANDY, Kealan Patrick Burke Sour Candy
8. THE CORMORANT, Stephen Gregory The Cormorant
9. THE GODSEND, Bernard Taylor The Godsend
10. LAST DAYS, Adam Nevill Last Days
COLLECTIONS
1. QUIET, KEEPS TO HIMSELF, Michael McBride
2. NIGHT MUSIC: Nocturnes Volume 2, John Connolly
3. BLACKWATER: The Complete Caskey Family Saga , Michael McDowell
4. DEAD ROSES, Evans Light, Adam Light, Jason Parent, Gregor Xane, Ed Lorn
5. THROUGH A MIRROR, DARKLY, Kevin Lucia
6. BAD APPLES 2, Evans Light, Adam Light, Jason Parent, Kealan Patrick Burke, Gregor Xane, Ed Lorn

llibrro wrote: "The Girl With All The Gifts
Ready Player One
All Heads Turn When The Hunt Goes By
Tampa
Bird Box
Penpal
Brother
Corrosion
Come Closer
Wool Omnibus
Ceremonies
The Border
A Rose For Emily (ss)
Stay A..."

It's very nice to see John Farris getting some love with All Heads Turn As the Hunt Goes By.

Kimberly wrote: "Tentative Top 10 of 2015: (I usually post a "top 25" at the end of the year, since I read @ 250 books & anthologies a year).
1. CONDEMNED, Michael McBride Condemned: A Thriller
2. T..."

Awesome lists, Kimberly!

Charlene wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Tentative Top 10 of 2015: (I usually post a "top 25" at the end of the year, since I read @ 250 books & anthologies a year).
1. CONDEMNED, Michael McBride [book:Condemned: A Thrill..."

(There are quite a few more Valancourt titles on my top 25....)

I'm reading less horror now, but here are the stand outs from 2015


And here's the non horror top 10 (well, 11, no, ok, 12, oh crap, ok 14 it is)

Bandit wrote: "[bo..."

I can't wait for the sequel to KIN!!!!!

Kimberly wrote: "Bandit wrote: "[bookcover:Hope for the Wick..."

Me either! Nice list, Bandit!

In horror, I enjoyed: , and I'm going to add some amazing sci-fi:

Heidi wrote: "In horror, I enjoyed: [bookcover:The Girl with ..."

I need to read me some Stephen Graham Jones. I like your lists, Heidi!

Heidi, on my phone your list looks good but I can't make out what's what. I'm going to look when I get home. I bet I'll ending up saving a bunch of those to my to read list.

Thanks, Charlene.
When is that coming out?
Now I'm wondering if In the Country of Last Things is really horror...love that book.

Latasha wrote: "Heidi, on my phone your list looks good but I can't make out what's what... "

I usually go with title links, but I was trying to have fun. Now I see why title links are better!

Bandit wrote: "Thanks, Charlene.
When is that coming out?
Now I'm wondering if In the Country of Last Things is really horror...love that book."

Well, I see it as pretty grim speculative fiction, and at times I was totally horrified, so to me it's horror like The Road is horror. Whatever it is, I loved it too!

llibrro wrote: "The Girl With All The Gifts
Ready Player One
All Heads Turn When The Hunt Goes By
Tampa
Bird Box
Penpal
Brother
Corrosion
Come Closer
Wool Omnibus
Ceremonies
The Border
A Rose For Emily (ss)
Stay A..."

Horus Rising, nice. I've read the first four or so in the series.

It's ok Hiedi, I did check them out on my phone. I added a few and there was some already on my to read list.

Heidi wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Heidi, on my phone your list looks good but I can't make out what's what... "

I usually go with title links, but I was trying to have fun. Now I see why title links are better!"

Yeah, I read Goodreads on a 10" tablet most of the time, so I personally much prefer title links to covers, because the covers are small, and some have the actual title in very small print or poorly contrasted color. Not a huge deal, just agreeing with your point. :-)

Ctgt wrote: "llibrro wrote: "The Girl With All The Gifts
Ready Player One
All Heads Turn When The Hunt Goes By
Tampa
Bird Box
Penpal
Brother
Corrosion
Come Closer
Wool Omnibus
Ceremonies
The Border
A Rose For E..."

Ctgt wrote: "llibrro wrote: "The Girl With All The Gifts
Ready Player One
All Heads Turn When The Hunt Goes By
Tampa
Bird Box
Penpal
Brother
Corrosion
Come Closer
Wool Omnibus
Ceremonies
The Border
A Rose For E..."

Horus Rising is a new direction for me but I love it so far.

Heidi wrote: "In horror, I enjoyed: [bookcover:The Girl with ..."

Good list. I had a hard time with "The Book Of Strange New Things" though. Probably because I read it immediately following "Under the Skin," which I thought was brilliant, and was expecting too much.

Latasha wrote: "llibrro wrote: "The Girl With All The Gifts
Ready Player One
All Heads Turn When The Hunt Goes By
Tampa
Bird Box
Penpal
Brother
Corrosion
Come Closer
Wool Omnibus
Ceremonies
The Border
A Rose For E..."

Well I didn't really rank them in order of preference yet. Was just "writing out loud" I guess. "All Heads Turn..." is one hell of a read, but I'll say it's probably not for everybody. It's a little long and rambling, but I thought well worth it.

Charlene wrote: "llibrro wrote: "The Girl With All The Gifts
Ready Player One
All Heads Turn When The Hunt Goes By
Tampa
Bird Box
Penpal
Brother
Corrosion
Come Closer
Wool Omnibus
Ceremonies
The Border
A Rose For E..."

Have you ever read "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner. I read it in high school i think but found a copy on the shelf over Thanksgiving and reread it. Very interesting.

That's on my to read list. *sigh* one day...

I used to teach "A Rose for Emily" in a college lit class. so much fun to watch them work it out for the first time. (evil cackle)

Charlene wrote: "Erin, wasn't Lonesome Dove so good? :)
"

Yes, it really was! Had characters in there you never quite let go of.

Lonesome Dove

The Dark Descent

Summer of Night

Paradise Sky

Beyond Redemption

The Six-Gun Tarot

The Croning

The Sparrow

Annihilation

Burning Amber

collections

Three Moments of an Explosion: Stories

Beautiful Sorrows

Hair Side, Flesh Side

non-fiction

Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man’s Fight for Justice

H is for Hawk

The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance

Loitering: New & Collected Essays

Ctgt wrote: "Lonesome Dove

The Dark Descent

Summer of Night

Paradise Sky

Beyond Redemption

The Six-Gun Tarot

T..."</i>

You have some awesome books on your list, Ctgt! It's great to see [book:Lonesome Dove get so much love this year. Man, I loved that book!
I'm listening to Paradise Sky right now and I have a feeling it's going to end up on one of my top 10 lists too. :)

In no real order...

A Monster Calls
The Lottery and Other Stories
The Martian
Koko
The Rats
Neverwhere
The Wanderer
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Cosmicomics

Charlene wrote: "I'm listening to Paradise Sky right now and I have a feeling it's going to end up on one of my top 10 lists too. :)"

Lonesome Dove was the best book I've read in years.

Don't have a full Top Ten. Sad, but a number of books I read disappointed me this year.

But these, at least, were really good.

More Happy Than Not
Bird Box
The Girl on the Train
The Kind Worth Killing
Bring Up the Bodies
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Find a Victim
The Postman Always Rings Twice

Kenneth wrote: "Don't have a full Top Ten. Sad, but a number of books I read disappointed me this year.

But these, at least, were really good.

More Happy Than Not
Bird Box
[book:T..."

Nice, Kenneth! Love me some James M. Cain.

Ctgt wrote: "Charlene wrote: "I'm listening to Paradise Sky right now and I have a feeling it's going to end up on one of my top 10 lists too. :)"

Lonesome Dove was the best book I've read in years."

I know! I resisted reading it for years and when I finally gave in and read it, I was so pissed at myself for putting it off. It has everything...including one of the best, strongest friendships ever created in a novel.
Have you read the other ones, Ctgt?

Nope. Gonna be real hard to top LD.

My mom loves the movie. Maybe I should buy her the book?

Latasha wrote: "My mom loves the movie. Maybe I should buy her the book?"

I've only seen the last half of the movie, but what I saw was excellent. Duval and Tommy Lee Jones, I think it was, but to me, the book was even better. All the Feels as the young kids say. ;)

that's good. I'll either buy it for her or tell her about it. I vaguely remember the movie from watching it with her during my younger years.

I don't have a top ten yet, but I think my biggest (pleasant) surprise from 2015 was reading In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware. I won it in a giveaway and didn't really know what to expect. Creepy and mysterious. I'll definitely read her next book.