DARKNESS READABLE
LITERARY DARKNESS is a book discussion group on Goodreads with roughly two thousand members, many of them teachers, librarians and writers – passionate readers all. For three years, our knowledgeable and enthusiastic members have been analyzing and appreciating dark literature. This first annual list of notable books is in no way intended as an award, nor is it meant to be exclusive. Many wonderful books are out there, and we hope to read them all. Our goal is to help others discover them as well.
Some books become lights in the eternal darkness. What follows is a list of recommendations and commendations… combined with heartfelt thanks to the many fine writers who keep readers awake at night.
* * *
Fresh Blood:
These are new titles selected by the group for having made a considerable impact during the past year.
THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME by Donald Ray Pollock
THE DROWNING GIRL by Caitlin R. Kiernan
THE FACELESS by Simon Bestwick
THE FLAME ALPHABET by Ben Marcus
GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
HABIT by Stephen McGeagh
THE HOARD by Alan Ryker
JOHN DIES AT THE END by David Wong
KIN by Kealan Patrick Burke
WESTLAKE SOUL by Rio Youers
Contemporary Titles:
These may be collections of short fiction or literary essays, anthologies or novels. All are from the (more or less) recent past and all are extraordinary.
THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE by Thomas Ligotti
THE HAIR WREATH AND OTHER STORIES by Halli Villegas
KNOCK KNOCK by SP Miskowski
THE LITTLE STRANGER by Sarah Waters
THE MARBLED SWARM by Dennis Cooper
A MATRIX OF ANGELS by Christopher Conlon
OCCULATION by Laird Barron
THE ROAD by Cormac McCarthy
THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt
ZOMBIE by Joyce Carol Oates
Vintage Works:
Sometimes calling a book a Classic is like entombing it. Many readers would sooner pry open the lid of a coffin than peer between those musty pages. Often this represents a sort of tragedy. Many of these books seethe with life and emotion… and cry out to be read. These are amoung our favorites.
THE CASTLE by Franz Kafka
THE GOLEM by Gustav Meyrink
GRENDEL by John Gardner
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson
MCTEAGUE by Frank Norris
NARROW ROOMS by James Purdy
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA by Yukio Mishima
THE STRANGER by Albert Camus
TALES OF MEN AND GHOSTS by Edith Wharton
Buried Treasures
This is a list of titles, some celebrated, some obscure, that in so many ways evoke the finest qualities of literary darkness.
ICE AGE by Iain Rowan
KELLAND by Paul G. Bens, Jr.
THE KING IN YELLOW AND OTHER HORROR STORIES by Robert W. Chambers
LET’S PLAY WHITE by Chesya Burke
SOUTHERN GODS by John Horner Jacobs
STAY AWAKE by Dan Chaon
SUICIDE BLONDE by Darcey Steinke
SUSPICIOUS RIVER by Laura Kasischke
THE WASP FACTORY by Iain Banks
WORSE THAN MYSELF by Adam Golaski
* * *
Literary Darkness is dedicated to an appreciation of important works of literature, both classic and contemporary, that happen to fall into the category of Dark Fiction. We tend to avoid the big, banal blockbusters (and the more lurid fare) in favor of beautifully written explorations of the unknown, many obscure, all extraordinary.
Group Reading
This final list represents the heart of Literary Darkness, the books we most wanted to read together and talk about, arrived at by (seemingly) endless voting, polling and discussion: our 2012 list of books selected by the membership for group reading. The links provided should help clarify some of the criteria involved in making these choices.
THE COLLECTED STORIES OF ELIZABETH BOWEN
http://www.gothic.stir.ac.uk/blog/bow...
CONJURE WIFE by Fritz Leiber
http://www.conceptualfiction.com/conj...
GARDENS OF NIGHT by Greg F. Gifune
http://literarymayhem.com/wordpress/2...
HOUDINI HEART by Ki Longfellow
http://thelibrariowan.wordpress.com/2...
HOUSE OF LEAVES by Mark Z. Danielewski
http://www.themodernword.com/review_h...
MARTYRS & MONSTERS by Robert Dunbar
http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews...
THE NIGHT STRANGERS by Chris Bohjalian
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/20...
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury
http://www.raybradbury.com/books/some...
VERLAND: THE TRANSFORMATION by B. E. Scully
http://horrornews.net/46521/book-revi...
Our group discussions of these works may be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...
We are currently reading Robert Aickman’s collection THE WINE-DARK SEA.
Join us at: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...
Some books become lights in the eternal darkness. What follows is a list of recommendations and commendations… combined with heartfelt thanks to the many fine writers who keep readers awake at night.
* * *
Fresh Blood:
These are new titles selected by the group for having made a considerable impact during the past year.
THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME by Donald Ray Pollock
THE DROWNING GIRL by Caitlin R. Kiernan
THE FACELESS by Simon Bestwick
THE FLAME ALPHABET by Ben Marcus
GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
HABIT by Stephen McGeagh
THE HOARD by Alan Ryker
JOHN DIES AT THE END by David Wong
KIN by Kealan Patrick Burke
WESTLAKE SOUL by Rio Youers
Contemporary Titles:
These may be collections of short fiction or literary essays, anthologies or novels. All are from the (more or less) recent past and all are extraordinary.
THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE by Thomas Ligotti
THE HAIR WREATH AND OTHER STORIES by Halli Villegas
KNOCK KNOCK by SP Miskowski
THE LITTLE STRANGER by Sarah Waters
THE MARBLED SWARM by Dennis Cooper
A MATRIX OF ANGELS by Christopher Conlon
OCCULATION by Laird Barron
THE ROAD by Cormac McCarthy
THE SECRET HISTORY by Donna Tartt
ZOMBIE by Joyce Carol Oates
Vintage Works:
Sometimes calling a book a Classic is like entombing it. Many readers would sooner pry open the lid of a coffin than peer between those musty pages. Often this represents a sort of tragedy. Many of these books seethe with life and emotion… and cry out to be read. These are amoung our favorites.
THE CASTLE by Franz Kafka
THE GOLEM by Gustav Meyrink
GRENDEL by John Gardner
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson
MCTEAGUE by Frank Norris
NARROW ROOMS by James Purdy
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA by Yukio Mishima
THE STRANGER by Albert Camus
TALES OF MEN AND GHOSTS by Edith Wharton
Buried Treasures
This is a list of titles, some celebrated, some obscure, that in so many ways evoke the finest qualities of literary darkness.
ICE AGE by Iain Rowan
KELLAND by Paul G. Bens, Jr.
THE KING IN YELLOW AND OTHER HORROR STORIES by Robert W. Chambers
LET’S PLAY WHITE by Chesya Burke
SOUTHERN GODS by John Horner Jacobs
STAY AWAKE by Dan Chaon
SUICIDE BLONDE by Darcey Steinke
SUSPICIOUS RIVER by Laura Kasischke
THE WASP FACTORY by Iain Banks
WORSE THAN MYSELF by Adam Golaski
* * *
Literary Darkness is dedicated to an appreciation of important works of literature, both classic and contemporary, that happen to fall into the category of Dark Fiction. We tend to avoid the big, banal blockbusters (and the more lurid fare) in favor of beautifully written explorations of the unknown, many obscure, all extraordinary.
Group Reading
This final list represents the heart of Literary Darkness, the books we most wanted to read together and talk about, arrived at by (seemingly) endless voting, polling and discussion: our 2012 list of books selected by the membership for group reading. The links provided should help clarify some of the criteria involved in making these choices.
THE COLLECTED STORIES OF ELIZABETH BOWEN
http://www.gothic.stir.ac.uk/blog/bow...
CONJURE WIFE by Fritz Leiber
http://www.conceptualfiction.com/conj...
GARDENS OF NIGHT by Greg F. Gifune
http://literarymayhem.com/wordpress/2...
HOUDINI HEART by Ki Longfellow
http://thelibrariowan.wordpress.com/2...
HOUSE OF LEAVES by Mark Z. Danielewski
http://www.themodernword.com/review_h...
MARTYRS & MONSTERS by Robert Dunbar
http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews...
THE NIGHT STRANGERS by Chris Bohjalian
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/20...
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury
http://www.raybradbury.com/books/some...
VERLAND: THE TRANSFORMATION by B. E. Scully
http://horrornews.net/46521/book-revi...
Our group discussions of these works may be found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...
We are currently reading Robert Aickman’s collection THE WINE-DARK SEA.
Join us at: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...
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message 1:
by
Carolyn
(new)
Mar 11, 2013 07:36PM
Really excellent lists. So many authors I know, but some I definitely want to get to know. Thanks!
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Excellent list. My TBR list just got longer!
This is a superb list. I can't wait to get started on the ones I haven't yet read.
I will so enjoy getting to know these books. Of those I am familiar with, I smiled to see some favorites!
Incredible list! Printed it out and am using it as my go-to book shopping list.
Great list. My must-read list just got longer too!!
Thanks for the feedback, folks.Kealan, your name came up SO many times.
This is a great list!!! Thanks for sending this to me. Sorry not too talkative on here, I have been busy with my online college work lately. Plus finally working again after six months of no work. Second shift hours so it sleep, work, schoolwork, repeat...Oh, don't forget the kids too, lol.Anyway thanks again for this list very impressive.
Tim
Yikes, Tim. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.
I will so enjoy getting to know these books. Of those I am familiar with, I smiled to see some favorites!.www.unn.edu.ng
I will so enjoy getting to know these books. Of those I am familiar with, I smiled to see some favorites!.www.unn.edu.ng
I recommend adding Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelly's Frankenstein to the vintage list. In my opinion, they're mandatory.
Oh, and The Portrait of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. That's all I can think of, the rest looks good.
For Fresh Blood:Kathryn Davis, Duplex
Gabriel Blackwell, The Natural Dissolution of Fleeting-Improvised Men
Sarah Blackman, Mother Box and other stories
Jeff Jackson, Mira Corpora
Matt Bell, In the house upon the dirt between the lake and the woods
Brian Allen Carr, Edie & the Low-Hung Hands
Michael Seidlinger, My Pet Serial Killer
Karen Russell, Vampires in the Lemon Grove
Mike Kitchell, Land Grid
For Contemporary Titles:
Michel Faber, Under the Skin
Andy Duncan, Beluthahatchie and other stories
Todd Grimson, Stabs at Happiness
Karin Tidbeck, Jagannath
Brian Evenson, Altmann's Tongue
Brian Evenson, Fugue State
Brian Evenson, Last Days
Patricia Duncker, The Deadly Space Between
Al Columbia, Biologic Show
Hans Rickheit, The Squirrel Machine
Blake Butler, Scorch Atlas
Lily wrote: "Oh, and The Portrait of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. That's all I can think of, the rest looks good."I second that. A definite classic.
Robert, I'm going to have to pass. I'm too busy promoting and writing my own books to be a part of this read. I will, however, put one or two of these books on my TBR list. Thanks!
Lily wrote: "I recommend adding Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelly's Frankenstein to the vintage list. In my opinion, they're mandatory."Me too... :)
I rarely get the chance to submerge myself into these groups, but looking at that reading list I know that needs to change. So many forum sites are filled with the mundane and catfights, but here we have brains and good taste a-plenty. My TBR pile just wrapped around a tree on a misty road .... I see trouble ahead :)
