The 52 Book Club: 2026 Challenge discussion

31. Includes A Personal Phobia

What is a phobia? A phobia is an extreme or irrational fear or aversion to something. It could be fear of an object, situation, or activity. Common phobias include spiders, heights, snakes, drowning, flying, small spaces, etc, but they also can include more specific fears like turophonia (fear of cheese) or arachibutyrophobia (fear of having peanut butter stick to the roof of your mouth.)

For this prompt, pick a book that includes a phobia personal to you. It may be a fear you’ve experienced in the past, or one you have currently. (It’s up to you how deep you want to dive into your phobias! It may be a mild fear or something more intense that you want to explore and work through.)

You can get as creative as you like when picking a book for this prompt. For example, Liz has a rather silly fear (her words) of drinking hot drinks (otherwise known as hygrothermophobia) so for this prompt, she may choose a book with a steaming cup of tea on the cover.

You might decide on a book where the character experiences the same fear as you. (For example, both you and the character may share a fear of flying.) Or, you may go the opposite direction and pick a character who is a pilot and loves to fly (even though that’s your personal fear.) The book’s plot may center around that specific fear or it may only appear in a small scene. As long as the phobia is somehow connected to the book, it works for this prompt.

Another idea is to interpret the prompt as a “personal phobia” for the book character and not for yourself. In which case, you would choose a book with a character who has a specific phobia — but you wouldn’t necessarily have to share that fear. This phobia would likely (but not necessarily) be key to the plot.

Other options include non-fiction reads on overcoming general fears or anxieties.

Creative Interpretations: You may also choose a book in which your personal fear appears in the title but that phobia doesn’t actually play a part in the story. (For example: Wuthering Heights for a “fear of heights” or Along Came a Spider for “arachnophobia.”) You may also choose a phobia that is personal for a lot of people, but not yourself.

Feel free to get really creative with this one! As always, if you think the book fits – it does!


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I have a fear of heights, so I'm going to read High-Rise: A Novel by Ballard J. G.

My claustrophobia is so strong that I am incapable of reading anything about it. I can't even read books about submarines or scuba diving without it sending me into an anxiety attack. Don't even ask about the MRI I destroyed because I lost it when I was put in one and the techs didn't get me out fast enough.

I might have to go with acrophobia (heights) or my coulrophobia (clowns--I effing H-A-T-E clowns). They're not remotely in the claustro category of disabling for me, so I should be okay with reading those.

Maybe.

Note: NO STEPHEN KING. Bloody hell, I'm still having nightmares from Misery.

So I finally settled on the phobia--I'm a huge baby about needles.

And where does one see lots of needles? Books that relate to medicine, and books about addicts.

Beth Macy's Raising Lazarus, about the opioid crisis has been beckoning from my TBR pile, so I'll read that.

I will reading The Autumn Balloon by Kenny Porpora. I loathe balloons.

I have a phobia of insects. Ants, wasps, bees, even flies are fine, but beetles, no. Not even ladybugs. Or butterflies. Brrr.... Centipedes are creepy. I would have let Indy die in Temple of Doom :-D
I am OK with spiders and snakes, but insects...

So, I could read James and the Giant Peach again. Insects are our friends and more afraid of us (with reason) than we are of them.
I could read The Metamorphosis
I could read Entomophobia
I think Bedbugs could count
and perhaps The Mist

Animatronics on theme park rides and stuff really creep me out. I’ll be reading ‘The Last Bloodcarver’ by Vanessa Le

I have acrophobia, so I will be reading Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

When I was 16, we drove from Chicago to Arkansas for vacation. I read The Exorcist. For months my dad had to sleep in my room. Satanic possessions have always been my issue. Disabling. I've tried movies, worse. Audible, somewhat better but couldn't finish. Not important enough for me to pursue.

I'll read something after the holidays. I need rest. LOL

i’m definitely very scared of snakes. so i’m reading stone blind which has medusa as the main character, and ofc, medusa is all snake-y

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte'

I have a phobia of rodents. I read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires earlier this year. I wish I could erase those scenes from my memory.

I don't know if I can do another book with rodents. Maybe it was a cute rodent. Like Legends & Lattes was great. Perhaps I can take some creative liberties and use Bookshops & Bonedust. Looks like there's a big mouse on the cover.

Villessa wrote: "I have a phobia of rodents. I read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires earlier this year. I wish I could erase those scenes from my memory.

I don't know if I can do another book wi..."

The princess bride has rodents of unusual size which in reality is terrifying, but overall the book is cute and nostalgic

I'm afraid of spiders so I think I will try Charlotte's Web.

Dead Silence - also helps with my "space" goal

The main character in Emily Austin's upcoming release Interesting Facts about Space has a phobia about bald men. It's not MY personal phobia but I'm planning to use it anyway to fulfill the prompt.

Any ideas for orinthophobia?

I am really afraid od grasshoppers so I will probably go with Steinbeck -in my research I came out with this: "In John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath," there's a memorable scene where a character, Rose of Sharon, encounters a grasshopper, which triggers her fear."
I only hope I can deal with that...

I am going to read either The Bookshop of Second Chances (I'm afraid of being fired from a job) or Fahrenheit 451 (the idea of no books terrifies me)

Taking a breath, being able to breath, my biggest fear is losing that capability. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi will be the book for me.

I have a fear of eye injury and similar things. I've narrowed it down to a clockwork orange by Anthony Burgess or who goes there by John W Campbell. I'm not even totally sure how much my phobia features, just that I can't look at/hear about iconic movie scenes. I'm nervous and excited, and think I probably want to start early in case it takes me the whole year to finish.

I plan on reading The drowning by J.P Smith.

My book choice is My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrick Backman

I will be reading A State of Emergency: The Story of Ireland’s COVID Crisis by Richard Chambers - because I challenge any of you to find anything more terrifying than a global pandemic 😷

I have sever claustrophobia and particularly being trapped underground by dirt or debris. I will read 102 minutes which is about 9 11. This will no doubt be a very difficult read.

I have had Along Came a Spider on my Kindle for years. I'll take this opportunity to actually read it.

Our Brothers at the Bottom of the Bottom of the Sea

Fear of Drowning, I think this one will work.

I finished The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife Vol. 1, which includes the fear of the dark (him, not her, she's blind). It's a delightful story in manga.

Human-like things and the science behind the Uncanny Valley both fascinate and terrify me so I’ll be reading ‘Unbearable Splendor’ by Sun Yung Shin

The person that wanted ornithophobia - Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen or Weyward by Emilia Hart

I've been avoiding It for the longest time for one reason only: it's too damn big sjpaopiohguia
but now, it is time. Are clowns my phobia? No. But It is a book about fears so I think it's still fitting.

I'm scared of spiders, so I reread Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce, which has giant spider/people hybrids.

Villessa wrote: "I have a phobia of rodents. I read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires earlier this year. I wish I could erase those scenes from my memory.

I don't know if I can do another book wi..."

One of the main characters of the story is a ratkin, so this could work for your mouse/rat phobia.

I am afraid of wasps. I decided to read Endless Forms: The Secret World of Wasps by Seirian Sumner https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... I hope learning more about them will lessen my fear.

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare

I read Phobia by Dean Crawford for this prompt. In this book set in London, DS Honor Mcvey finds herself chasing a murderer like no other - one who kills his victims by exposing them to their greatest fears. Two of the victims shared my personal phobias of Acrophobia & Claustrophobia. ( Read 22nd Jan; 4*)

Hi guys, I suffer from ornitophobia, does anybody know a good book (tales or novels) related to it? I can't find anything related, neither in English nor Spanish (my native language).

Joy wrote: "Hi guys, I suffer from ornitophobia, does anybody know a good book (tales or novels) related to it? I can't find anything related, neither in English nor Spanish (my native language)."

You could try Daphne du Maurier’s The Birds, or Birds/Lysistrata/Women at the Thesmophoria by Aristophanes. Or just any book about birds.

Phil wrote: "I read Phobia by Dean Crawford for this prompt. In this book set in London, DS Honor Mcvey finds herself chasing a murderer like no other - one who kills his victim..."

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman has some terrifying scenes involving birds. I don't have ornithophobia myself, but those scenes still haunt me.

For this prompt I am reading The Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones.

Pretty sure my phobia of mannequins can be traced back to the Twilight Zone episode “After Hours”.

Kara wrote: "For this prompt I am reading The Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones.

Pretty sure my phobia of mannequins can be traced back to the Twilight Zone episode “After Hours”."

35 years ago and I still remember that episode - and now I rewatched it - not as scary as it was but still brings out the chill;-)

I read A Gathering of Shadows Phobia being trapped, small dark place

I read A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

I read Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler

I read Aussie Rules by Jill Shalvis. Nice romance with a side character who is into spiders. I hate spiders!

I read "The Miracle Worker" by William Gibson

Villessa wrote: "I have a phobia of rodents. I read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires earlier this year. I wish I could erase those scenes from my memory.

I don't know if I can do another book wi..."
You might consider The Complete Brambly Hedge. Cutest mice ever wear beautiful clothes, live idylic houses, even get married! The illustrations are lovely and the stories are sweet.

Raini wrote: "Any ideas for orinthophobia?"

I suggest the beautiful The Song of the Cardinal by Jean Stratton Porter. About a bird looking for a mate and the farmer who adopts/protects him. I found it engaging.

Joy wrote: "Hi guys, I suffer from ornitophobia, does anybody know a good book (tales or novels) related to it? I can't find anything related, neither in English nor Spanish (my native language)."
This book isn't about the phobia, but it is about a bird. The Song of the Cardinal by Jean Stratton Porter. I found it an engaging story about a bird seeking a mate and the farmer and his wife who protect it.

For the prompt "includes a personal phobia" (#31) I am using The Wedding Date by Jasmine Gaillory. Our protagonist has a phobia of her partners seeing her naked and it gives her anxiety. My present husband is the only man I have been with that hasn't commented on my "jiggly bits" in a negative way. Bless him.