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Book Recommendations > Something unique please

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message 1: by Anna (Bananas) (last edited Mar 01, 2013 09:00PM) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments I'm looking for unusual horror, anything that can't be easily categorized. I want something GOOD, something with emotional impact, something unforgettable...but mainly, unique.

This one always stands out to me. Even though I didn't love it, it was certainly memorable.
Under the Skin by Michel Faber

Also, this sounds interesting. Has anyone read it?
Cold Skin by Albert Sánchez Piñol

Need to read it. I've had a paperback for years.
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn


message 2: by Jon Recluse (new)

Jon Recluse | 12043 comments Mod
The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum


message 3: by Anna (Bananas) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments Jon Recluse wrote: "The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum"

:) I'm reading it this month!!


message 4: by Jon Recluse (new)

Jon Recluse | 12043 comments Mod
Great minds! ;)

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks


message 5: by Cindy (new)

Cindy | 728 comments Anna (Bananas!) wrote: "I'm looking for unusual horror, anything that can't be easily categorized. I want something GOOD, something with emotional impact, something unforgettable...but mainly, unique.

This one always st..."


I actually liked Under the Skin very much. I have come to really like all of his books!!


message 6: by Anna (Bananas) (last edited Mar 01, 2013 09:05PM) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments Jon Recluse wrote: "Great minds! ;)

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks"


^ That's what I'm talking about. That's unique. Thank you.

Are you reading/re-reading Girl Next Door?


message 7: by Jon Recluse (new)

Jon Recluse | 12043 comments Mod
You're welcome.

Not at the moment.


message 8: by Anna (Bananas) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments Cindy wrote: "I actually liked Under the Skin very much. I have come to really like all of his books!!"

I was looking at this other books, briefly. Is there any other good horror?


message 9: by Anna (Bananas) (last edited Mar 01, 2013 09:06PM) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments Jon Recluse wrote: "You're welcome.

Not at the moment."


Ah, this brevity thing you do, McQueen... Conversate!


message 10: by Cindy (new)

Cindy | 728 comments Anna (Bananas!) wrote: "Cindy wrote: "I actually liked Under the Skin very much. I have come to really like all of his books!!"

I was looking at this other books, briefly. Is there any other good horror?"


From this particular author?? no. I think that was his only really sorta horror one.


message 11: by Jon Recluse (last edited Mar 01, 2013 09:14PM) (new)

Jon Recluse | 12043 comments Mod
Anna (Bananas!) wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "You're welcome.

Not at the moment."

Ah, this brevity thing you do, McQueen... Conversate!"


I answered the question.

I reread it last about a year ago. That would make it three times in total, I think.


message 12: by Cindy (new)

Cindy | 728 comments It's not exactly horror, but one of my favorite books is The Horned Man by James Lasdun . And I love everything by Patrick McGrath!! You may be interested it these. maybe...


message 13: by Anna (Bananas) (last edited Apr 12, 2013 11:51AM) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments Jon Recluse wrote: "I answered the question.

I reread it last about a year ago. That would make it three times in total, I think."


You did indeed. Bravo, sir!
3x means it must be very good then. Looking forward to it.


message 14: by Jon Recluse (new)

Jon Recluse | 12043 comments Mod
Anna (Bananas!) wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "I answered the question.

I reread it last about a year ago. That would make it three times in total, I think."

You did indeed. Bravo, sir!
3x means it much be very good then. ..."


It's a powerful book. It lingers in your mind long after you finish it.

Are we talking about The Girl Next Door or The Wasp Factory? My mind wandered off....


message 15: by Anna (Bananas) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments The Horned Man sounds good. I'm a little scared by the overall mid-scale rating though.

McQueen, I thought we were talking about Girl Next Door, lol. Which one did you read three times? But feel free to wander off on tangents.
I'm getting a bit sleepy myself.


message 16: by Jon Recluse (new)

Jon Recluse | 12043 comments Mod
The Girl Next Door.

I reread The Wasp Factory about the same number of times.

I'm a rereader.


message 17: by Cindy (new)

Cindy | 728 comments Anna (Bananas!) wrote: "The Horned Man sounds good. I'm a little scared by the overall mid-scale rating though.

McQueen, I thought we were talking about Girl Next Door, lol. Which one did you read three times? But feel f..."


Well, to be fair... I had a friend read it and she thought it was "okay" but overall it wasn't really her kind of read either. I just love it. But I don't want to steer you wrong either. I could be just the only person who loves it. lol I don't know...


message 18: by Justin (new)

Justin (justineaton) | 1099 comments I recently read The Cannibals of Candyland The Cannibals of Candyland by Carlton Mellick III and loved it. Very unique with a great ending.


message 19: by Char (new)


message 20: by Anna (Bananas) (last edited Mar 02, 2013 10:30AM) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments Have got to try that Candyland book. One, because I loved Candyland as a kid and two...how can I not?? It's so bizarre, lol.
Checking out the rest, but so far The Other looks good; I'm always interested in twins. I'm a little scared of Pilo but still drawn to it. Can't decide!


message 21: by Jeff (new)

Jeff | 1131 comments For the unusual and for soemthing that will make you think try Messenger-Edward Lee. This is a link to the synopsis.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/e...

The premise in it self is scary. And its at a time before Edward Lee goes even more beyond the things he has been writing, but then again, I love that stuff too.

Also try "The 13th" by John Everson another differnt kind of Horror.


message 22: by 11811 (Eleven) (new)

11811 (Eleven) (11811) | 1561 comments Charlene wrote: "The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott"

Charlene beat me to it. I'll go now.


message 23: by Cindy (new)

Cindy | 728 comments Survivor by J.F. Gonzalez is particularly horrifying and emotionally devastating.


message 24: by Feliks (last edited Mar 04, 2013 08:24PM) (new)

Feliks (dzerzhinsky) I'm going to recommend some picks.

The first several are from HP Lovecraft's survey of horror in literature.
The House on the Borderland
The Night Land
The Ghost Pirates
Clark Ashton Smith

Meanwhile these two I pretty much always find myself recommending on Goodreads:
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes By


message 25: by Char (new)

Char | 17457 comments 11811 wrote: "Charlene wrote: "The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott"

Charlene beat me to it. I'll go now."


Awww, 11811. I'm sorry if I jumped the gun! :)


message 26: by Char (new)

Char | 17457 comments Feliks wrote: "I'm going to recommend some picks.

The first several are from HP Lovecraft's survey of horror in literature.
The House on the Borderland
The Night Land
The Ghost Pirates
Clark Ashton Smith

Meanwh..."


That's weird, Feliks! I just listened to We Have Always Lived in the Castle and just read All Heads Turn.
A tip for anyone wanting to read
All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes By, the e-book version of it has some formatting issues.


message 27: by Tony (new)

Tony Seek out Toplin by Michael McDowell. It is in no way indicative of his other (terrific) work, but if you can make it through the whole thing - you will never forget it.

It is my least favorite of his stories, but it the strangest book that I have read.


message 28: by Tressa (new)

Tressa  (moanalisa) | 19903 comments I bought Toplin back before Christmas but haven't read it yet.


message 29: by David (new)

David Wilson Skin This one stayed with me a long time. Also this one: Kink - not your standard horror novels by any stretch...not easy to forget. Kink made me so angry when I was reading it, made me feel so deeply for one of the characters, that I got angry, walked away (read it on watch in the US Navy) then compulsively walked back and read on.


message 30: by Anna (Bananas) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 183 comments David wrote: "Skin This one stayed with me a long time. Also this one: Kink - not your standard horror novels by any stretch...not easy to forget. Kink made me so angry when I was reading it, made me feel so..."

These look great!


message 31: by Donna (new)

Donna | 49 comments Westlake Soul by Rio Youers, one of the best books I've read in a long time. Unique and definitely has emotional impact.


message 32: by Reed (new)

Reed (TexasReed) | 18 comments I'll jump in and recommend The Panama Laugh by Thomas Roche. Deconstructed, it's another zompocalypse novel, but the author's gonzo style of storytelling makes this a rather unique spin on the sub-genre. I think it was nominated for a recent Stoker award.


message 33: by Hudson (new)

Hudson (bostonrich) | 47 comments Geek Love was disgusting, perverted and just plain sick. I highly recommend it. Arty my man!!


message 34: by Tressa (new)

Tressa  (moanalisa) | 19903 comments Wow, thanks for those great suggestions. Just added them to my list.


message 35: by David (new)

David Wilson Hudson wrote: "Geek Love was disgusting, perverted and just plain sick. I highly recommend it. Arty my man!!"
I have to add my vote for Geek Love...pretty disturbing stuff, but a great book.


message 37: by Robert Krone (new)

Robert Krone | 76 comments The Hangman's Replacement Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko

Reading this right now and it is definitely unique


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