42. A book with a monster or "monstrous" character

[SadieReadsAgain]

I'm not a fantasy reader, so I'm going with monstrous humans. And there are few things more monstrous than people who pray on children, which I believe is a trait of someone in Watch Me Disappear.

[L Y N N]

How about Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance? It sounds as if it should have monsters or monstrous characters. I had only read the first 4 pages and really want to finish it early in 2019 since a very good friend loaned it to me.

[Anastasia]

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance does not have monstrous characters. It is a good story that suits realism better.

[Heather]

Milena wrote: "Emily, have your read The Golem and the Jinni? It's wonderful, and not too scary."

Thanks for the suggestion, Milena. I wasn't looking forward to this one.

[Adam]

The book I'm doing for this is KIZUMONOGATARI: Wound Tale.

It's about a slacker high school student who encounters a dying vampire and gets dragged into a series of supernatural battles against his will.

I've been meaning to reread this. It is so much fun. If you haven't seen the pure awesomeness that is the Monogatari series, I highly recommend.

[Courtney]

What are you reading this week?
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
Non human monsters

[Sheri]

- What are you reading this week?
Into the Drowning Deep

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?

It featured sirens. Rather than being pretty sea ladies who sang and were pretty, they were the deepest sea apex predators, full of teeth and claws.

- Did you find the book scary?

I don't know about scary, but suspenseful and gripping yes.

[Elizabeth]

What are you reading this week?Kraken's Keep
- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? a giant octopus
- Did you find the book scary? after reading some of this book I'm not going in the ocean or the sea

[Chelle_Rydz]

Sheri wrote: "- What are you reading this week?
Into the Drowning Deep

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?

It featured sirens. Rather than..."

I'm reading this one right now too.

[Jen]

I did Michael GrantVillain

[GailW]

What are you reading this week?
I read A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne
Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
Human charachter who behaves in monstrous wayS
Did you find the book scary?
Not scary as in horror, but scary in that what he does is totally believable, which in and of itself is scary. I don't think I have ever loathed a character as much as this one and he was the main character!

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

- What are you reading this week? A Monster Calls
- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? nonhuman monster
- Did you find the book scary? No, sad, so sad!

[Jill]

What are you reading this week?
I read The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
A serial killer

Did you find the book scary?
The scary part of it was how people can use the details entered on the internet against you

[Nadine in NY]

I had been planning to read a zombie book for this category (and I WILL still read a zombie book this year, because I read a zombie book every year) but ... I'm reading Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes right now, I'm in the middle of it, and I think it fits really well. There's the title, obviously, but also the characters. I don't know exactly who's doing what, or why, or even if they are human, but some really awful things are happening. It's a very good book, but it's also disturbing.

[Baroness Ekat]

I just finished Bloody Acquisitions and am using it for this category.

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?

several. This is book three in the The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant series. Fred's a vampire, he has were friends, mage friends, dragon friends, even a zombie. There are plenty of monsters in these books.

- Did you find the book scary? Oh man, NO. These books are fun, somewhat light-hearted and a lot of fun. I also recommend them in audio form as the readings really bring the characters to life.

This is a series, however, that you do need to read from book 1, you really cannot jump around in it. But I do highly recommend the books.

reply | flag *

[Silvia]

- What are you reading this week? I tried to read Prince of Thorns, but couldn't :( and at the end I read a graphic novel called Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? Prince of Thorns shows a boy acting like a monster, but it was too hard. I prefer nonhuman monsters. Humans acting as monsters are too scary and that is why I finished reading a graphic novel with some classic and ugly monsters :).

- Did you find the book scary? The one I couldn't finish, yes!!! but more than scared, it caused me anguish. The one I finished was not scary, just gross.

[MN]

I've stretched the meaning of the prompt for this topic, I'm afraid, and focused on 'monstrous' rather than 'horror'. I read Imogen Hermes Gowar, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. I wasn't frightened by the monster, but the characters were. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

[L Y N N]

Anastasia wrote: "Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance does not have monstrous characters. It is a good story that suits realism better."

Thank you!

[L Y N N]

I just finished reading Chocolat. Two monstrous characters (IMHO): Muscat, domestic abuser and arsonist, and the priest Reynaud, arsonist and overall asshole! :)

[Kim]

What are you reading this week? Y is for Yesterday (Kinsey Millhone, #25) by Sue Grafton
- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? A human character that behaves in a monstrous way (psychopathic killer)
- Did you find the book scary? In parts

[Marilyn]

- What are you reading this week?
*THE DAILY DON: ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS INTO TINY, TINY HANDS by Jesse Duquette - finished reading it this morn, rating it 5-stars & writing a review.

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
*Yes. Cartoons by the author/artist that express his (and many others') concerns about the current resident of the WH in the USA. I believe the man is monstrous, his actions abominable; thus my choice for this challenge #.

- Did you find the book scary?
*Yes, because the subject of the book is scary on many level, including this is all really happening. Yet it gives me hope when I witness how the writer/artist manages to make me laugh at how he satirizes actions, statements, etc by the main character, and to remind me that all may not be lost via quotations offered below many of the 'toons from much wiser, saner, more compassionate individuals, both past and present.

[Sarah]

What are you reading this week?
I read The Amityville Horror

Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
Well I would have to say both, but it's more of a paranormal force that affects the people there into acting the way that they do.

Did you find the book scary?
No but it was an interesting read.

[Mio]

- What are you reading this week?
Frankenstein
- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
I would say both.
- Did you find the book scary?
No.

I've wanted to read this for years and I'm glad i finally did. It was great!

[Rose]

The Quiet American by Graham Greene

A human character who behaves in a monstrous way

It wasn't scary just very sad.

[Adriana]

I just finished Owning the Beast by Alexa Riley. The main characters starts out monstrous and I honestly love Alexa Riley's writing

[Jackie]

What are you reading this week?
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
A sleeper is a person who comes back from the dead.

Did you find the book scary?
No, but it kept my attention.

[Karissa]

What are you reading this week? The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? A human character who is constantly called a monster by the other characters because of his looks and behavior.
Did you find the book scary? Not at all.

[[deleted user]]

I read Frankenstein it features a physical monster and a monstrous human. I didn't find the book scary but rather more like a mirror to human nature.

[Laura]

- What are you reading this week?
Of Blood and Monsters by D.G. Swank

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
Mostly, it features nonhuman monsters that the humans are trying to defeat but there are also some human characters that behave in a monstrous way.

- Did you find the book scary?
No, the writing was great and descriptive but it takes a lot to scare me. I thought it was an exciting book.

[Angela]

What are you reading this week?
The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories, by H.P. Lovecraft


Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
It features non-human monsters.

Did you find the book scary?
I haven’t read it yet, but these things don’t necessarily scare me.

[Ashley]

I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This monstrous character is human but in some ways during the book seems nonhuman. he just cares about power and kills plenty of people. It was not a scary book.

[Stacey]

What are you reading this week? Everything Trump Touches Dies: A Republican Strategist Gets Real About the Worst President Ever by Rick Wilson, about the mother (and father) of all monsters!!

Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? This monster is a lot of both.

Did you find the book scary? Oh, yes. A horror-filled story, one that would make for good fiction, if it weren't all true. Scary for present times; ever more scary for the future.

[Sarah]

I just finished The Truth Commission by Susan Juby.

It's a YA book and the monsterous character is an actual person who does horrible things.

It is not scary at all; it is not meant to be. Unless you count how scary being a teenager is right now.

I teach middle years and so read quite a few YA books over the summer to recommend to my students.

I am at the point in this challenge when I need to stop trying to cram books into categories! haha

[Brittany]

- What are you reading this week?
Darkly Dreaming Dexter
- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
human character who is a serial killer
- Did you find the book scary?
not at all. I read a lot of stuff about serial killers though.

[Samantha]

- What are you reading this week? Eliza and Her Monsters
- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? Non human monsters
- Did you find the book scary? Not at all

[Angie]

- What are you reading this week?
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - I started out reading something else for this challenge, but as that book had to go back to the library (and I'm still waiting to get it back so I can finish it), I decided to go with this.

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
Both.

- Did you find the book scary?
Well, no. It's Harry Potter. I didn't find my original book (which, for those still looking for something is Prayers for Rain) scary either, but I did find it and its very human monster disturbing.

[Shelley]

- What are you reading this week?
The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
It's the minotaur from greek mythology trying to get by in modern society (he's a cook at a bar)

- Did you find the book scary?
No. It was so boring. It tried to be super realistic but it didn't even make sense in that way!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

For those of you interested in doing a group read for this prompt, we have just opened the discussion threads for It by Stephen King! You can follow along with the discussion here:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Errlee]

So I’m trying to decide if the monster has to be a character in the book - as in the vampire/zombie etc is a central person to the story or if it can be more in the zombie genre where they form the backdrop. Specifically, I was thinking of doing Mira Grant’s Feed (sorry can’t link since I’m on the app), but the actual characters are human not monsters, and the zombies form the backdrop. What do people think?

I am also tempted by the group read, It, but it’s so LONG and I’m behind in my challenges :) plus there’s a waiting list at my library and not a ton of copies.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Errlee, I'd say that the monstrous characters can be in the background. I'm using Rebecca, which is probably a bit of a stretch, since the characters are actually not all that monstrous, but we think they are for most of the book. I'm considering the house (Manderley) and Mrs. Danvers as both monstrous characters.

If there are actual zombies in the book, I think you're fine, even if they aren't the main character!

[Aine]

What are you reading this month?
My sister the serial killerby Oyinkan Braithwaite Read: 5 Oct 2019

Non human or human?
She is a person

Is she scary?
Yes, because she is such an unlikely monster

[Diane]

I've just begun reading "Motherless Brooklyn". I think both main characters count as ''monsters', but only one is a 'cruel monster'. It was published in 1999.

[Kelly]

- What are you reading this week?
The Warning by James Patterson

- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
Ishango- a computer system that has basically taken over a town. It has turned people into robotic versions of themselves and created robots. "She" basically wants to take over the world. It reminds me of Skynet.

- Did you find the book scary?
It was very weird. I felt it was a mismosh of certain movies.

[Marie]

I read Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King.

It has a human monster. I didn't find it scary at all, maybe I'm getting tougher in my old age, but this was more of a crime/detective thing anyway, so probably not intended to be scary. I finished it at about 1.00am and had no trouble sleeping straight after!

[Sue]

I read We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. I was dreading it because I knew it was about a mother talking about her son who killed several people at his school - I don't enjoy that type of subject matter, but it was so well-written, and I could see why it won awards and was such a best-seller. Kevin was a truly monstrous character.

[Emily]

What are you reading this week?

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories

Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?

Human character who behaves in a monstrous way.

Did you find the book scary?

No--I actually found it rather anticlimactic frankly--the twist is so well-known in pop culture that it ceases to shock.

[SadieReadsAgain]

What are you reading this week? Watch Me Disappear, by Jill Dawson
Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? A human with monstrous qualities.
Did you find the book scary? Not hide-behind-the-sofa scary, but people who prey on children are incredibly worrying.


This story of a woman piecing together and realising things from her childhood - particularly surrounding the disappearance of her friend when they were both ten - was much better than I had expected it to be. Considering the heavy subjects of child abduction, abuse and the sexualisation of young teenage girls, this is not an exploitative or explicit book. Instead it is a layered story that really captured the experiences of friendships and the attentions of men when you're a pre-teen/teenage girl, and while that doesn't make for a comfortable read, it did make it really resonate with me as a reader. There is such a strong sense of time and place too, and the dark elements are balanced out with some beautiful descriptions of the Cambridgeshire Fens and also of seahorses (it makes sense in context, I promise). This book was published before all the Jimmy Saville et al revelations came to light, but it really portrays the downplaying or outright turning of a blind eye to the predatory behaviours of men towards children that lead to those abuses of power. But it does so in a thoughtful rather than a titillating or sensationalist way, and I think that is so important.

[Sara]

- What are you reading this week?
Five Chimneys: A Woman Survivor's True Story of Auschwitz
- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way?
Very real, very human characters.
- Did you find the book scary?
More frightening than anything you could invent. The idea of what was endured by the women at Auschwitz is truly horrifying.

[Andrea]

For this prompt, I read Highfire by Eoin Colfer. It features a dragon, a mogwai, and a psychopath. It is far from scary.

[Joan]

- What are you reading this week?Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History
- Does it feature a nonhuman monster, or a human character who behaves in a monstrous way? Human monster - the doctor in the book was especially scary.
- Did you find the book scary? I find it scary that the Holocaust happened and that it could happen again.