What books have effected you the most?

[Char]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Kin for reminding me that there is an aftermath, not a sequel, at the end of a story. Of how horror has consequences that ripple outward. And the toll it takes in human lives and sa..."

Fantastic choices, Jon!

[Jim]

I think what I always find personally interesting, mine would be JawsJaws and ComaComa, both of which proved to me that events which could really happen can be as scary as those of the imagination.

[Pierre]

Kin is really great that way.
As a note, Gregor, I didn't have you in mind when I posted the comic. An unfortunate coincidence. :-)

[Gregor]

Pierre wrote: "Kin is really great that way.
As a note, Gregor, I didn't have you in mind when I posted the comic. An unfortunate coincidence. :-)"

It didn't bug me in the least.

[Kate]

Amanda wrote: "I would agree with Charlene, and for me something doesn't necessarily have to be of the highest echelon of human intelligence to affect me in some way emotionally. I thing it's more a visceral thin..."

Beautifully put, Amanda. :)

[Layton]

The main books that are really never far from my mind are:

1. The Dunwich Horror. I really think this story and the Colour Out of Space were just amazing.

2. The Colour Out of Space (of course).

3. Red by Jack Ketchum. It still makes me so thankful for my dog it isn't even funny.

[Jon Recluse]

Gregor wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Kin for reminding me that there is an aftermath, not a sequel, at the end of a story. Of how horror has consequences that ripple outward. And the toll it takes i..."

You're welcome, Gregor. Hope you enjoy them.

[Jon Recluse]

Charlene wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Kin for reminding me that there is an aftermath, not a sequel, at the end of a story. Of how horror has consequences that ripple outward. And the toll it takes i..."

Thanks, Charlene!

[Pierre]

Gregor wrote: "Pierre wrote: "Kin is really great that way.
As a note, Gregor, I didn't have you in mind when I posted the comic. An unfortunate coincidence. :-)"

It didn't bug me in the least."

Good pun! :-)

[Gregor]

Pierre wrote: "Gregor wrote: "Pierre wrote: "Kin is really great that way.
As a note, Gregor, I didn't have you in mind when I posted the comic. An unfortunate coincidence. :-)"

It didn't bug me ..."

I didn't know there was such a thing as a good pun. But, thanks!

[Char]

Pierre wrote: "Gregor wrote: "Pierre wrote: "Kin is really great that way.
As a note, Gregor, I didn't have you in mind when I posted the comic. An unfortunate coincidence. :-)"

It didn't bug me ..."

What is the problem with The Metamorphosis? You didn't like it, Pierre?

[Pierre]

Man! I just finished writing a great reply and the site responded that it couldn't save it!
Anyway, I love Kafka. His books had a great influence on how I view the world.
The point I'm floundering about to make is that there are great authors and works to be found in all lines of writing: horror, science fiction, comics, children's books and so on.
After all Charles Dickens wrote for periodicals to make money (paid by the word which explains the length of his works), not necessarily to deliver what we now consider to be great literature.

[Kate]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Kin for reminding me that there is an aftermath, not a sequel, at the end of a story. Of how horror has consequences that ripple outward. And the toll it takes in human lives and sa..."

I still need to read Ghost Story and Summer of Night. You are spot on with the others.

[Rhian]

we need to talk about kevin is one thats stayed with me and two short stories big driver and the gingerbread girl by stephen king gave me nightmares for weeks, also remember being terrified years ago reading amityville I don't know if I would feel like that now so may have to re-read it

[sonny (no longer in use)]

kafka gives me nightmares for some season but the castle did waffle on in the last 100 pages.

Dennis cooper is a author that you can't shake off after reading.

the rape of Nanking is probably the book that has effected me most, I woke up screaming and had a night terror after reading that one.

[Kim]

The Girl who loved Tom Gordon and Bag of Bones by Stephen King for me. I've the-read these books over and over. I love a story that stays with a reader and for me both if these stories touched me in a way that has left an impact. They make you think about yourself and any opportunity to turn the focus inward is a good one in my opinion.

[Gary]

Kim wrote: "The Girl who loved Tom Gordon and Bag of Bones by Stephen King for me. I've the-read these books over and over. I love a story that stays with a reader and for me both if these stories touched me i..."

I forgot about The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. That book stayed with me a long time.

[Frank]

Charlene wrote: "Frank wrote: "Charlene wrote: "We Need to Talk About Kevin This book broaches the subject, is evil born or made?

The Girl Next Door (because it's based on a true story.)..."

Oh, I will, Charlene. :D

[[deleted user]]

Frank wrote: "Charlene wrote: "We Need to Talk About Kevin This book broaches the subject, is evil born or made?

The Girl Next Door (because it's based on a true story.)

[book:Ghost ..."

Ghost Story is one of my favorite scary books.

[Char]

Kathryn wrote: "Ghost Story is one of my favorite scary books.
"

It's one of my all time favorites as well, Kathryn.

[Kit]

'The Exorcist' really unsettled me, I don't know why. Also 'House of Leaves', I found the book so disorientating and it really got inside my head.

[Joe]

It by Stephen King is my choice. I don't know that it was his scariest. For me it was the sharp contrast between childhood and adulthood that got to me, perhaps because I first read the book as an adolescent. It's his longest book I thhink, but I've read it several times since then. Each time I come away with something different. That's the sign of an epic story for me. I certainly hope that in my early 30's I have not lost the magic that made childhood so awesome.

[(shan) Littlebookcove]

for me off the top of my head it would have to be "The lovely bones" It reduced me to tears. it's not so much a horror but it is a novel that will stay with me.

[Elke]

Definitely It by Stephen King. Maybe because I was in my teens and thus still easy to impress, but to me that novel is an absolute masterpiece. And ever since reading it, I hate clowns and feel uncomfortable whenever seeing one. I always wonder what hideous truth may be hidden behind that funny facade...

[Jacob]

I'd say Girl next door too. It made me feel guilty like I was there and had done nothing to stop it

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

V.W. wrote: "The first Graham Masterton book I ever read was "Devils of D Day" and I realised that it was different from anything I had read before such as The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, and so on. I went on to..."

I don't get creeped out much by horror novels, never did, but I agree with Graham Masterton. That is one talented guy when it comes to writing some chilling scenes. He especially seems drawn to creepy blank faced kids on animal heads and stuff like that. *shudder*

[Chris]

Scariest Book - The Shining (Stephen King)OR Blood Meridian by Cormax McCarthy
Bleakest Book - 1984 (George Orwell)
Funniest Book - The Discworld novels (Terry Pratchett)
Favorite Book from childhood - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (C.S. Lewis)

Saddest Book - Islands in the Stream (Ernest Hemmingway)
OR The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

These are the books that affect me the most.

[Goo]

Stephen King's "It," which I read as a kid. I liked clowns before I read that book. Now, as an adult, I still do everything possible to avoid them.

[Elke]

Goo wrote: "Stephen King's "It," which I read as a kid. I liked clowns before I read that book. Now, as an adult, I still do everything possible to avoid them."

Same here, but I didn't much care for clowns before already. Guess SK ruined their image for a whole generation.

[Kimberly]

Elke wrote: "Goo wrote: "Stephen King's "It," which I read as a kid. I liked clowns before I read that book. Now, as an adult, I still do everything possible to avoid them."

Same here, but I didn't much care f..."
Clowns...one of the few things I feel are genuinely creepy!!!

[Steven]

Oh I've hated clowns ever since going to Circus World in Florida when I was 5 yrs old...nobody is that happy and silly all the time...a clown is just a ticking time bomb ...very scary

[Jason]

I'm adding to this list. Utterly disturbing.

[K4tie]

I love clowns, I must be an anomaly.

[Steven]

K4tie wrote: "I love clowns, I must be an anomaly."

Yes...yes I think you might be or you haven't had one effect you negatively yet :o)

[Kasia]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Important literature?

Literature is important if it means something to the reader.
And the ability to reach out and touch something as visceral and personal as a person's fear is something that few "serious" authors could accomplish. "

Big fat YES to that!

[Kasia]

Probably Dune and Game of Thrones books, both series are almost bigger than life.

[Steven]

I'd say the book that touched me the most would be the one my father or mother would have grabbed and bopped me over the head with for doing something stupid :O)
Seriously though, I think Worlds Away...Miles Apart by Alan Sakowitz would have been one that really opened my eyes to things a bit.