Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
2016 Read Harder Challenge
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Task 1: Read a Horror Book
Happy Jan 1! Started Slade House this morning, but also have Bird Box out from the library after a couple of rec's on here... Just in case! :)
Sandra wrote: "I have never read horror because it is not my favorite genre. I want to use this challenge to stretch myself and I thought I would choose a book by Stephen King or Dean Koontz, but I really don't k..."Carrie is classic Stephen King and it's only 7 hours on audiobook. It's narrated by Sissy Spacek (who played Carrie in the original movie).
John Dies at the EndThis Book is Full of Spiders
and Turn of the Screw
I've read Dracula several times, but I don't think I've ever read Frankenstein and not 100% sure about Dr Jekyll either... But I might just have both of them on my shelves!!! (classics bought years ago). So time to dust one of those off, or maybe some Edgar Alan Poe...
Um, I am slightly terrified of this topic. I do not do scary very well. Let's just say I'll have nightmares if I read or see something very scary. I've already read some classics, Frankenstein, Dracula etc. for school. What can I read for horror that is light on the nightmare-inducing? LOL I have had We Have Always LIved in the Castle by Shirley Jackson on my list forever; is it scary? I don't want to completely fudge a challenge but don't want to have to medicate myself to sleep for weeks either.
I'm going to read Frankenstein (finally!). If I'm not mistaken, it's 2 for 1, because another task is to read a book from before 1900.Girl on a train is more thriller than horror, so I would say: no no! ;)
Michelle wrote: "Um, I am slightly terrified of this topic. I do not do scary very well. Let's just say I'll have nightmares if I read or see something very scary. I've already read some classics, Frankenstein, Dra..."Hi Michelle, I also don't do scary and will have nightmares after reading scary things, so I was hesitant about the horror book category. I'm on page 80 or so of Slade House by David Mitchell and it's not too scary. For most people it would probably be pretty tame, but for me it's plenty ghosty.
I will read Hollow City, the second book by Ransom Riggs in the series of Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children. I was not aware this was horror when I read the first one!! I just searched on goodreads to confirm that it is-because I really didn't think it was. Definitely knew if was science fiction, but horror surprised me :) Horror is not something that I usually read, and I received that book in a goodreads giveaway and really enjoyed it!!
Just finished reviewing Tales from Valleyview Cemetery. It was good. Nice size like a novella almost. Kept my interest the entire time.
Not a Horror fan, but I'm doing this challenge to push my boundaries so looking forward to getting stuck into Bram Stokers Dracula this evening!
Caitlin wrote: "I moved to Barcelona in 2015 and have promised myself that I'd read books by authors from Catalonia so I'm going to read Cold Skin by Albert Sanchez Pinol for this task."Hello Caitlin. I've just loved Carlos Ruiz Zafon's books all of which I've read are set in Barcelona. I can thoroughly recommend them. This is his website. http://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/abou...
Alice wrote: "I'm hoping Horrorstör will fit as horror! It's one I'm going to read for another group, so it'd be awesome to get both done with one book."I'm going to read Horrorstör, too. I was having trouble getting jazzed about a more traditional horror book, and then I stumble across Horrorstör on a book list and remembered that I had really wanted to read it when it came out. For those who are wondering what we're talking about, it's a horror tale set in an Ikea store. I thought the concept was hysterical so i'm psyched to read it.
I'll be reading:
Four Floor by A. Lopez Jr
Based on a few suggestions by others here, I'll be reading The Library at Mount Char, which is not heard of before. The challenge is already doing what I'd hoped - broadening my horizons and introducing me to new books! Hooray!
The Library at Mount Char is so darn good! I am also jealous that I cannot use it this year!!! I am planning on using The Ocean at the End of the Lane, which was one of BookRiot's deal of the day! This is so much fun!
Sandra wrote: "I've gotten on the waitlist at my library for 
I enjoy books based off of classics and just the cover gives me chills!"
I got this for Christmas so it's my pick for this category too!
Helen wrote: "Let's be honest here, I'm a total wuss when it comes to anything horror and was less than thrilled when I saw this as the first item on the list. However, I read Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Pict..."Thank you, I am definitely worried about scaring myself while reading. Appreciate the recommendations.
Since Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is listed as a horror, I wonder if the third book in the series would count, Library of Souls. Anyone have an opinion?Also wondering about The Lifted Veil.
My goal this year is to read books I already own and I have both of these.
I read Midnight by Dean Koontz for this challenge. And, sorry to say, the book didnt work for me. But on the bright sight: I completed the first task of the challenge.
Bea wrote: "Britta wrote: "Bea wrote: "Britta, I am also reading Midnight for this task, but I would recommend Breathless also."Thanx! I think I will then read Midnight, great tha..."
Bea wrote: "Britta wrote: "Bea wrote: "Britta, I am also reading Midnight for this task, but I would recommend Breathless also."
Thanx! I think I will then read Midnight, great tha..."
I read the book over the weekend, and sadly, it didnt work for me… But at least I am happy to have completed the first task. And: curious about your thoughts on the book.
Britta wrote: "Bea wrote: "Britta wrote: "Bea wrote: "Britta, I am also reading Midnight for this task, but I would recommend Breathless also."Thanx! I think I will then read Midnigh..."
I haven't read it yet, but what did not work for you? Was it not scary? Too scary?
Congrats on getting the task done!
I don't want to spoil it for you, so I am not going into plot details, but I didn't think it was scary at all. And rather slow paced, and too explanatory. You know what is going on in the town and why prety much from the start (after the appearance of Loman Watkins and Shaddack), and I was rather sure about how it would end (i.e. who survives). But maybe Koontz just isn't for me… So I hope you enjoy it!!
My first book this year was a horror, before I knew about this challenge. Gyo - Junji Ito can be read in a day and is really quite disturbing, I loved it.
I'll be reading a lot of horror this year though, so may be able to throw some other suggestions out to people. I know nothing about Bird Box though and I think that's going into my Kindle want list...
Sarah wrote: "What are folks' thoughts on the Parasitology series by Mira Grant? Would those count?"I'd say so yes. I'd go for it.
Scared! But starting with The Library at Mount Char thanks to the recommendations here.
My first read of the year was Suicide Forest, which was a fast paced read and very, very spooky. I love horror so I enjoyed this one. I actually gave it 5 stars, because it was perfect through and through.
Does Mrs Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children count as a horror
Krisha wrote: "Horror is definitely not my thing, but I love Shirley Jackson so I think I'm going to read The Haunting of Hill House. I might have to save it for Halloween though."I don't really love horror either, but I do love Shirley Jackson! They're quick, but spooky in a "slow-burn" kind of way, rather than a BOO kind of way.
Haunting of Hill House is good, but my favorite is We Have Always Lived in the Castle if you're looking for something a little less haunt-y but still spooky.
Has anyone read We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory? The premise sounds engrossing, but I am a bit of a wuss, so I don't know if I can handle it. One blogger called the Scrimshander the most terrifying villain of all time, guaranteed to make adults lose sleep. Wondering if anyone can back that up, or refute? Thanks!
Deborah wrote: "I'm not a fan of scary things - I've seen Welcome to Night Vale listed as horror. It might have to be horror-lite for me!"I don't like horror either, but I really enjoy Jennifer McMahon's books, which several others have mentioned in this thread , so although I never really thought of them as horror, I think they qualify. And they are horror-lite. :)
Sarah wrote: "Sarah wrote: "What are folks' thoughts on the Parasitology series by Mira Grant? Would those count?"I'd say so yes. I'd go for it."
I was hoping so! They seem more 'thriller' than 'horror' to me, but much of Mira Grant's other books are considered horror. They're some of the few 'scary' books I've been brave enough to try!
Sarah wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Sarah wrote: "What are folks' thoughts on the Parasitology series by Mira Grant? Would those count?"I'd say so yes. I'd go for it."
I was hoping so! They seem more 'thriller' than '..."
As with the Newsflesh books, there's a lot of science behind the Parasitology series, but there is also (imho) a definite squick factor that puts it into horror. I still have the second 2 to read too... must get on that
Just finished Neil Gaiman's American Gods and absolutely loved it. As I shared earlier, I prefer any horror I read on the milder side, so this book fit the bill. Fantasy and sci-fi with some mythology and a little horror thrown in. (It won the 2001 Bram Stoker Award [Horror], 2002 Nebula Award [Sci-fi/Fantasy], and 2002 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel) Check!
Kelli wrote: "Would Mr. Mercedes (Steven King) count as horror? I've read some of his classics - It, The Stand, The Shining, but I'm not sure about some of his more recent stuff. I read 11/22/63, but not sure I'..."I really enjoyed MM -- the sequel, Finders Keepers, is even better, and yes I think it would count; it's still horror, it's just that it's missing the supernatural elements King uses in his earlier works. There is an element of subjectivity in genre, imho. :-)
Sarah wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Sarah wrote: "What are folks' thoughts on the Parasitology series by Mira Grant? Would those count?"I'd say so yes. I'd go for it."
I was hoping so! They seem more 'th..."
The squick factor is definitely what pushes it over. I still need to read the second as well, and the third was just released, so that's a convenient fit for this category. =D
SibylM wrote: "I'm thinking either Bird Box or Slade House for this one. Probably whichever I can get first from the library!"Haven't read Slade House yet, but man oh man, Bird Box was INSANE. And I mean that in a good way. I highly, highly recommend!!
BookDrunkard wrote: "I'm planning on either NOS4A2 or Slade House they've both been recently added to my TBR list this year!"Just finished NOS4A2 late last year and let me say - YES! Awesome, awesome book, and a great way to get into Joe Hill if you haven't read him before.
Doing Katie Alender's "The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall" for this one, which apparently is also a YA read? Looks like it'll be a quick one. I don't usually read this genre, but I'm hoping to get spooked a bit.
Natalie wrote: "Now thinking of reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I think that counts as a horror, right?"Yeah, I guess you could call it horror. I thought of it more as an "action" book and had so much fun reading it, so labeling it horror would be difficult for me, but I think it hits people differently. Happy reading!
I read Bird Box for this challenge and honestly haven't been that scared in a long time. (It probably didn't help that I started it at about 8pm and finished it around 2am plus my husband was out of town while I read it.) I also recommend Slade House!
Does anyone have a good recommendation of a horror book that's not too scary? I'm admittedly a bit of a coward and would like to be able to sleep :) Thanks!
Hayley wrote: "Does anyone have a good recommendation of a horror book that's not too scary? I'm admittedly a bit of a coward and would like to be able to sleep :) Thanks!"I recommend Neil Gaiman's American Gods. I prefer any horror I read on the milder side, so this book fit the bill. Fantasy and sci-fi with some mythology and a little horror thrown in. (It won the 2001 Bram Stoker Award [Horror], 2002 Nebula Award [Sci-fi/Fantasy], and 2002 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel)
Elle wrote: "Hayley wrote: "Does anyone have a good recommendation of a horror book that's not too scary? I'm admittedly a bit of a coward and would like to be able to sleep :) Thanks!"Hi! I searched under the words "horror comedy" here in Goodreads and there was a long list of books:
https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8....
I don't like horror stories and to fill this task, I decide to search this way. I hope it helps. :)
Elle wrote: "Hayley wrote: "Does anyone have a good recommendation of a horror book that's not too scary? I'm admittedly a bit of a coward and would like to be able to sleep :) Thanks!"I recommend Neil Gaiman..."
Someone else recommended Neil Gaiman to me as well, thank you!
Chelsea wrote: "Elle wrote: "Hayley wrote: "Does anyone have a good recommendation of a horror book that's not too scary? I'm admittedly a bit of a coward and would like to be able to sleep :) Thanks!"Hi! I sear..."
Thanks Chelsea, it definitely helps!
I really like horror stories but somehow it's very hard for me to find something that would scare me :(I see that someone mentioned Mira Grant's Newsflesh books: well, I highly recommend Feed, it's the kind of science fiction I like: it focuses on a very small story (although from what I got the focus gets wider in later installments) but shows great world-building, quite consistent with the plot, and has great characters.
The book is also (mostly?) a horror book of course, although it did not scare me.
Two books that really really scared me were House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (which can be considered a horror book) and Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay (maybe not exactly a horror book... but then it very much depends on how you interpret it, what you make of the never-published chapter, etc.). I highly recommend these two as well.
I'm quite excited for this task! I was thinking of reading We Are All Completely Fine by Daryl Gregory, several options from Octavia Butler, My Soul to Keep by Tananariva Due, The Cipher by Kathe Koja or John Dies at the End by David Wong, but I'll be following this discussion as I'm not quite decided yet and maybe this way I'll find a great (and hopefully, scary, since it's what I'm looking for!) read.
(I already see that someone mentioned Cold Skin by Albert Sanchez Pinol - it's in my TBR and I've completely forgotten about it, and now I'm intrigued.)
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Anna Dressed in Blood (other topics)We Have Always Lived in the Castle (other topics)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (other topics)
We Have Always Lived in the Castle (other topics)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Shirley Jackson (other topics)David Mitchell (other topics)
Shirley Jackson (other topics)
Susan Hill (other topics)
Shirley Jackson (other topics)
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I'm so glad you posted this! I will absolutely give myself nightmares if I pick something too scary. I think I'll go with The Picture of Dorian Gray, since I was gifted that one a couple years ago.