Why do you like Horror?

[Nanette]

I confess, I am NOT a horror reader, so why do you like Horror? Sell me on the genre!

[Jennifer]

I'm a big chicken! I only read J or Y horror, because the adult stuff seems too scary for me. J and Y can be pretty spooky, but you can be reasonably sure the main people will get out alive.

My favorite horror novels are The Graveyard Book and The Monstrumologist series.

[Jewel]

The atmosphere--they really can take you within a few paragraphs from normal to scared.

[Nanette]

I guess I don't like to be scared.

[Whuffaker]

I don't enjoy fear - and yet we have a family tradition of Stephen King month, October, watching a differenct Stephen King movie every night. I ask myself why I do it, each time I do, but continue to do it. I think it makes me a better person.

[Jewel]

Ahh--our Thanksgiving tradition for awhile was "Warlock" with Julian Sands. He is so not nice.

King would be so nice in the winter!

[Darin]

I read "Under the Dome" by King, because I wanted to watch the TV series, but after the first episode, I didn't really want to watch it. The book was okay - edgy. Would you consider this book horror?

[[deleted user]]

I have watched a couple of the episodes of "Under the Dome". I didn't care for them, so I probably won't read the book. The Stephen King books that I have looked at all seem to drag out too long. Is this something someone else has noticed?

[Heather]

I don't necessarily "like" horror. But I was under the impression that all horror books were scary and slasher. They're not. I tend to read favorite/similar authors and sometimes am dragged into the genre unknowingly.

That said, I've enjoyed a few books that I would classify as horror based on the way they made me feel--horrified--usually at the dark sides of human nature. I find that the horror genre to be more emotionally "real" than other genres, and that the characters are deliciously morally ambiguous. When done well, it exposes truth in humanity.

An example would be Horns by Joe Hill. Creepy, dark, disturbing, intriguing, with a happy ending, sort of. LOVED the portrayal of a Satanistic characteristic and power, inflicted upon a Catholic who had lost his faith, to be used for the purpose of good.

[Heather]

Attending the (excellent!) RA training last week was great for me. The trainers really did a great job explaning that being scared/creeped out/experiencing a building sense of dread and anticipation is the main appeal factor of the genre.

Me, I HATE being scared, which explains why I very rarely read anything scary. I loved the Graveyard Book, and we all read Anne Rice vampire novels in the late 80s/90s, but that's about it for me. Do those vampire novels even count? They were a little creepy but more about the characters... Anyway, thanks for the great training.

[Steph]

Heather wrote: "I don't necessarily "like" horror. But I was under the impression that all horror books were scary and slasher. They're not. I tend to read favorite/similar authors and sometimes am dragged into..."

I loved Horns! I think you might have been the one who told me about it. I found myself laughing out loud a few times while reading it because of certain people's reactions to Ig's horns and what true thoughts they divulged. I am excited to see how the movie turns out, especially Daniel Radcliffe's take on Ig.

[Steph]

Heather wrote: "Attending the (excellent!) RA training last week was great for me. The trainers really did a great job explaning that being scared/creeped out/experiencing a building sense of dread and anticipatio..."

Of course The Vampire Chronicles count! Anne Rice is the master of Southern Gothic Vampire novels! When I think of hot, sexy vampires who would never dare to sparkle in the sun, Anne Rice's always come to mind. I also enjoyed her Mayfair Witches series back in the day.

[Sarah]

I like a good gothic or ghost story. Though I wouldn't say I'm a horror reader. I tend to the more romantic gothic--something with atmosphere and a hero who may or may not be good, and a house that may or may not be haunted. I did love Black House and Niceville, both of which are straight up horror.

[Kira]

I'm a big chicken when it comes to horror, but Sarah and Steph, I think you gave me a few books that might convince me otherwise.