June 2014 Group Read Suggestions

[Jon Recluse]

What do we want?

Beach Horror suggestions!

Think sand, surf and the shore!

[Missy]

Well I have never read Jaws and now seems like a good time to do just that. I nominate Jaws!

[Walter]

Duma Key

[Marc-Antoine]

Not sure if this fits, but if it does I'll nominate Summer of Night by Dan Simmons

[Tressa]

Has anyone read The Beach? What an unsettling, fantastic book. Not bloody horror, but psychological horror.

[Kirstin]

I've only seen the movie The Beach but I would read the book based on that. I would read any and all of the suggestions so far!

My pick

[Tressa]

Haven't seen the movie of The Beach, and if I remember correctly it got mixed reviews, but the book is just unputtdownable.

[Rob]

I'd be happy with any suggestion so far, although I don't think I have The Beach

[Kate]

[Latasha]

I haven't read any of the suggestions and I can't seem to find any on my to read list to suggest. I found several with the setting of a lake front-summer vacation home- but no beach :(

[K4tie]

I'm down with psychological horror. I would be interested in The Beach. Duma Key sounds interesting as well. It's one of King's that I haven't picked up. (That it's saying much I haven't read too many of his books and would be happy to read one I have already read again.)

[K4tie]

Island and Castaways fit the bill of being about the beach, but they sound cliche. No offense, but when I read a movie title that starts with 4 friends (or any number, pick a number) go to (are stranded whatever) a desert island and something (an alien, a killer shark, an axe murderer, etc) starts killing them... I don't watch it or read it because it has been done.

Granted, our last book was just about exactly that, but it had hiking and camping and not just college kids drinking and having sex in a cabin. So it was different, somewhat, and I totally enjoyed it! So... I suppose if one of those get the vote I'll try. But I'm kicking and screaming about it now!!!

[Amanda]

Love the nomination of Summer of Night!

[Tressa]

K4tie wrote: "Island and Castaways fit the bill of being about the beach, but they sound cliche. No offense, but when I read a movie title that starts with 4 friends (or any number, pick a number) go to (are stranded whatever) a desert island and something (an alien, a killer shark, an axe murderer, etc) starts killing them... I don't watch it or read it because it has been done..."

I feel the same way. I read Island a long time ago, and there are enough twists and a humorous, puzzling, wishy-washy but interesting main character to keep it fresh, but it's still a story that's been done to death. I love many Keene books but Castaways is just one big, uninteresting, murder-by-number cliche.

[Tressa]

Amanda wrote: "Love the nomination of Summer of Night!"

I read this book so long ago I only remember the barest plot, but for some reason I remember really enjoying it. I didn't know it was a beach book though.

[Amanda]

It's a Simmon's I'd really like to read, but whichever wins I shall join in.

[Kirstin]

No offense taken K4tie! :) I was going through my TBR pile and this was the only one to fit the bill. Plus I had just picked it up at a used bookstore and have never read any Laymon.

I'm interested to see all the suggestions. I found it hard to find a book that fit the bill and that was surprising.

[[deleted user]]

I also think Summer of Night is an excellent nomination. His SF series Hyperion is making a comeback after 20 years. I think it's important for people to know he writes horror as well. Plus, I've never read it and my local library has it available for check out, currently.

[Jon Recluse]

Even though Summer of Night isn't a beach book, I will add it to the poll when the time comes.

And lakefront stories are acceptable.

[Kasia]

Love the theme and loved some of the books mentioned, Duma, Island.. pondering what to suggest :)

[Tressa]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Even though Summer of Night isn't a beach book, I will add it to the poll when the time comes.

And lakefront stories are acceptable."

Ha. I don't even remember a lake, that's how long ago it was that I read this book.

[Kasia]

I've had my eye on Below by Ryan Lockwood for a while. I will keep thinking through the day, this is a good topic, makes me wish that I read Jaws and Benchley's Beast as well.

[Jon Recluse]

Tressa wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Even though Summer of Night isn't a beach book, I will add it to the poll when the time comes.

And lakefront stories are acceptable."

Ha. I don't even remember a lake, that's ..."

There is no lake, but since it seems to be a popular choice.

And I'm willing to allow lakefront stories if it helps build an interesting voting pool.

[Kimberly]

Argg! I'm coming up with all short stories. DUMA KEY was the first one to cross my mind, and I love Summer of Nght...

[Kasia]

Kimberly wrote: "Argg! I'm coming up with all short stories. DUMA KEY was the first one to cross my mind, and I love Summer of Nght..."

I agree, both are superb!

[Kimberly]

How about THE LOCH, by Steve Alton? Also MEG, (same author--more on the line of JAWS).

[Redrighthand]

You all should read The Elementals by Michael McDowell. It's got sea, ghosts, monsters, and lots and lots of sand...
It was the scariest book I've read this year- and I've been reading a lot.

Summer Of Night doesn't fit this theme in any way at all, but it would make a fine nomination for a "coming of age" theme later this summer.

[Kimberly]

DEAD SEA, by Tim Curran? Not so much beach, though....

The Elementals sounds good.

[Jon Recluse]

Redri9hthand wrote: "You all should read The Elementals by Michael McDowell. It's got sea, ghosts, monsters, and lots and lots of sand...
It was the scariest book I've read this year- and I've been reading a lot.

S..."

I have to go by nominations. Summer of Night has four.
And the ebook version of The Elementals won't be available in time for this read.

[K4tie]

I searched for something to nominate and I keep coming up with YA Christopher Pike books that would take about 2 hours to read. Also probably not as enjoyable. For example: Beach Party.

I don't even want to know what it's about :(

[Latasha]

The Elementals does sound good!
it's lake front. I do enjoy John Saul and I noticed this one earlier before Jon said we could submit lake property settings.

[Tressa]

Dayum, why didn't I, Michael McDowell's biggest cheerleader, not think of The Elementals?!

Oh, this book is such a fun ride! - Natural Selection

[Kimberly]

K4tie wrote: "I searched for something to nominate and I keep coming up with YA Christopher Pike books that would take about 2 hours to read. Also probably not as enjoyable. For example: Beach Party.

I don't e..."

I've read them all--LOL! My "middle school" shelf!

[Kimberly]

I'm in an 80's horror-mood lately....,.can anyone suggest something along those lines? Trying to go through my shelves, but a lot of them aren't available for kindle readers.....

[Chris]

Video Night by Adam Cesare. 80's retro horror. Like....totally, man

[Kimberly]

Chris wrote: "Video Night by Adam Cesare. 80's retro horror. Like....totally, man"

I second that one! I have it on my kindle TBR pile!!!!!!

[Chris]

No lake or large body of water though.

[Kimberly]

Chris wrote: "No lake or large body of water though."

Hmmm. ISLAND LIFE, by William Meikle.

[K4tie]

I don't expect this to get votes, but it fits the bill. Sadly it is a murder by number with a psychopath on an island.

Island 731 by Jeremy Robinson

[Kasia]

K4tie wrote: "I don't expect this to get votes, but it fits the bill. Sadly it is a murder by number with a psychopath on an island.

Island 731 by Jeremy Robinson"

I will still read it, thanks K4tie! :P

[[deleted user]]

I, too, am a fan of Duma Key.

[K4tie]

This is more murder mystery than horror, but it sounds like a pretty wild psychological ride:

The Islanders by Christopher Priest

[Kirstin]

I still haven't read The Island of Dr. Moreau

[Amanda]

Duma Key and Summer of Night sound great!

[11811 (Eleven)]

If The Beach wins, blame Tressa or Kimberly. I wasn't involved.

[Kasia]

Kirstin wrote: "I still haven't read The Island of Dr. Moreau"

Short and super creepy, you should check it out one day:)

[Kimberly]

<
Psychological horror sounds good. LOL--I'll second Tressa's THE BEACH, as I haven't read it yet, nor seen the movie based upon it.

[Missy]

So many choices! When do we vote?

[Kim]

How about Fangtooth? It seems to have the elements suggested for next months group read... Just a thought.

[Kate]

I thought Fangtooth looked quite good.