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[Rest]

In my adult life I don't find fiction of any type scary. Or so I would think, except that I've never read a horror book as an adult. I had a teacher tell me that The Shining by Steven King legitimately scared him as an adult, so I think I'll start there. But what are some other scary books?

 

[Woody Nvincible]

House of Leaves by Danielewski

Edit: Also, if I had to recommend any King book, it would be Skeleton Crew. Excellent short stories.

 

[TransTrender]

1984

 

[Doom85]

House of Leaves by Danielewski

So many people throw out the “this book can never be adapted properly” phrase so easily (assuming we’re talking both film and TV, obviously some books/book series are too long to fit in a movie(s) runtime) and so often it shows a lack of severe underestimation towards skilled filmmakers.

Having said that, this is the rare exception. The insane nature of the book due to it being so insanely ambiguous how much is real, the labyrinth-like nature of the footnotes, and other details would make a film or TV adaptation just not feasible IMHO.

 

[haxan7]

I find that if I read disturbing books (or listen to audiobooks as I’ve been doing lately) I don’t get scared while reading. But I often have nightmares because of it or get a general morbid feeling while I’m going to sleep. Happened to me when I played through Evil Within 2 also.

 

[BaneIsPain]

Fundamental of quantum mechanics

 

[teezzy]

 

[MudoSkills]

That very much depends on what scares you - I really loved reading The Shining but I wouldn't describe it as scary.

There are a few books I've read with castration scenes that made me super uncomfortable, and have stuck with me. If there's something that makes you squirm, I'm sure someone will be able to recommend a book containing it.

 

[haxan7]

That very much depends on what scares you - I really loved reading The Shining but I wouldn't describe it as scary.

There are a few books I've read with castration scenes that made me super uncomfortable, and have stuck with me. If there's something that makes you squirm, I'm sure someone will be able to recommend a book containing it.

I felt that way reading a Murakami novel during a flaying scene. It’s all peaceful, no sense that something bad will happen soon, then BAM a human being skinned alive.

 

[Rest]

I felt that way reading a Murakami novel during a flaying scene. It’s all peaceful, no sense that something bad will happen soon, then BAM a human being skinned alive.

What's the name of the novel?

 

[haxan7]

What's the name of the novel?

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

 

[IDKFA]

Stephen King calls this his darkest book. So much so that he almost didn't submit it for publishing. When I first read this book, my own was around the same age as the main characters son, Gage, which is possibly why I found it so unsettling. Shame that both film adaptations failed miserably to capture the horror and macabre book. If you've only seen either of the adaptations then don't let them put you off. This is one of Stephen Kings best novels and some would say his most disturbing.

 

[poppabk]

Reading doesn't really give the visceral scares that a movie or TV show can. Books tend to give you more of an uncomfortable feeling of dread or distaste or anxiety that while less intense can stick with you for a long time.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Books tend to give you more of an uncomfortable feeling of dread

That is why books > movies, it's your imagination messing up with you.

 

[Peggies]

"Zombie" by Joyce Carol Oates made me feel uncomfortable.

"No One Gets Out Alive" by Adam Nevill gave me goosebumps.