Horror Aficionados discussion
What is missing?
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Amanda
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Apr 17, 2011 01:52PM
That same snap of immersion and love I got when I read Stephen King, Clive Barker, Alice Borchardt, Ray Garton, Anne Rice or Bentley Little for the first time. I've loved other books and writers but never so much as with those guys something about their books really sucked me in.
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That substance and depth I find with writers like King and Braunbeck. Like Amanda, I have found other writers and books I like but not like those two.
Most of the time it was actually the prose, sometimes the characters and with other the story was just that powerful. I left out Braunbeck and Poppy Z Brite from that list, so I mention them now. Something just clicked with me that made want to eat up what i was reading and be absorbed there every time.
Can't find much that scares me these days. I also get rather tired of finding horror books that sound appealing but yet are not smooth and easy reading (like Douglas Clegg's stuff....no offense....can't stand his writing at all).I like the more suspenseful and ghostly stories rather than blood and guts. However, there are some thriller type stories with the guts that is creepy as long as the story is good (like much of Laymon's stuff). I never can seem to find stories that are just like Laymon's and Bryan Smith's.
I wish I wasn't so picky.
I'm searching for non-mainstream horror, which means if the horror book is written in the style of a group meets a monster, bands together to fight the monster, and the main character beats the monster and lives at the end, I am not interested. This formula served its purpose for me decades ago, but I want a plot that zig zags and offers me something I've not experienced often, if ever. A good example is Pilo Family Circus. Unique and magnificent from the first page to the last.
Amanda wrote: "That same snap of immersion and love I got when I read Stephen King, Clive Barker, Alice Borchardt, Ray Garton, Anne Rice or Bentley Little for the first time. I've loved other books and writers bu..."I agree with Amanda, the first story I read from Stephen King was the mist. I remember feeling, Wow! I think I did not put it down till I finished reading it. I also feel the same as Tressa, I want something a little more in the story than the usual. Give me a new plot, give me a new twist add something unusual. The only other book I've read recently that gave me that Umphhh was The heart shaped box by Joe Hill. The one I'm reading now I also find it pulls me into the story. It's not exactly horror but it does have a horror twist to it.
When I was young I read all of VC Andrews books. For me her book "My Sweet Audrina" is something I still think about. All of her books (now remember I was in my early teens) took me to places I never knew existed. The stories were incredible and I guess somewhat taboo but at the same time scary for me. I love a horror book that keeps me guessing and gives me twists and turns without the gore. It's what I don't see that scares me the most.
Original ideas. The horror shelves are loaded with vampire huntresses, werewolf detectives, and zombies. It's hard to find something new or just something that doesn't look like everything else.
I agree. That's why I turned to bizarro for a while, and while I enjoyed some that I read, the others left me cold. So not sure how much more bizarro I'm going to try.We need more books like The Ruins.
Tressa wrote: "I agree. That's why I turned to bizarro for a while, and while I enjoyed some that I read, the others left me cold. So not sure how much more bizarro I'm going to try.We need more books like The ..."
Here, here. That was a great read.
Indeed it was. Really odd how the reviews are split on it, though. What the hell did they miss? lol
Not sure, but Smith can write the hell out of a book. Wish he put out more product.
I am in the What The Hell Did They See In It category LOLDidn't like the movie or the book.
The movie was pretty bad. I wish I'd read the book first.
I've only read Ruins and Simple Plan. Not sure if he's written anything else.I can't remember who's been on any Ruins discussions that have popped up over the years. But Michael, what did you not like?
Tressa wrote: "I've only read Ruins and Simple Plan. Not sure if he's written anything else.I can't remember who's been on any Ruins discussions that have popped up over the years. But Michael, what did you not..."
It has been awhile since I read it but I remember I couldn't abide ANY of the characters. The dialogue was inane. When things just started happening they made no attempts to leave or get help. I like my horror but it has to come with some reality.
Forgive for being so vague but I can't remember lunch yesterday much less a five year old book. I would have to revisit to be more specific but that won't happen because of my feelings while reading.
Ha! I understand all too well about the forgetting. You might have forgotten one little thing: they couldn't leave the site after the girl stepped over the vine. (view spoiler)
I usually don't care for stories with a bunch of twentysomethings, but I really liked most of the characters, even the silly girls.
There was nothing they could do to leave or get help. They did try.I thought it was an extraordinarily realistic portrayal of how things would play out in that situation, and that's why it was so good.
I agree, Scott. I usually can't believe the dumb things characters do in situations, but they seemed to do what would come naturally to anyone trying to survive such an ordeal. I loved the characters Jeff and Mathias.
I don't know how to insert a review from a fellow member but there is a review by Austin Campbell dated 3/8/2008 that sums up how I felt.That's what I love about this site and in particular this group we agree to disagree. I really value the varying POV's.
That Campbell guy doesn't know what he's talking about, lol. Just kidding. I respect that the book didn't grab you, Michael. Not trying to sway you over to my side; don't think that's possible. About his review:
I've read many horror books with one-dimensional stock characters, that is NOT what any of these people are, according to ME. He mentions them acting stupid, they didn't act stupid at all. He mentions how the vine isn't explained, I don't think it needs an explanation. It's ancient and it kills and will continue to kill. I think the book is a wonderful study on how the language barrier can lead to some deadly situations. For me that theme ran through the entire book.
Right! The origin of the vine doesn't matter, because the story isn't really about the vine at all.
Whey do people need an evil explained? It just is. The vine was there, is there, will be there...awaiting its next victims.
OK OK you've got me laughing.Have you and Scott ever considered tag team wrestling?
Ha! What a sight that would be.If I didn't truly know that Scott loved The Ruins, I would think he was aiming some sarcasm my way. Scott is kinda obtuse.
I think you mean obese. No, I really did love the novel.
Loved the Ruins! I also really liked A Simple Plan. Looking forward to what Smith brings next.
Obese? Can your vet put you on a diet?Does Smith have anything in the works?
Tressa wrote: "Whey do people need an evil explained? It just is. The vine was there, is there, will be there...awaiting its next victims."Absolutely. What is it with everything weird or evil having to be explained to death? That takes the creepiness away. Just take it for what it is and enjoy. Not everything has an explanation for being. Look at The Backstreet Boys and Justin Bieber as perfect examples.
LOL! Let's book them a tour to the ruins. The vine would love Bieber's sweet little body.
Could we also send the Westboro Baptist folks? Well sans the kids who just need some sorta counselling and deprograming I'm sure there's regular Christians that'd adopt them.
What is up with those turds? I don't even know WTF they're protesting. They don't make any sense at all. I think I saw a joke about sending them to Pakistan to protest a certain funeral. Sounds like a good idea to me. Are they really Christians? They're not like any I know of.
Exactly. They're a nutso wingnut brand of baptist supposedly but mostly they're just insane and hateful people. I think they're not real worried about if they're right so much as that they hurt you or piss you off. Like a bully on the elementary playground.
They rant about some crazy shit, don't they? And they've got the little kids screaming that "God hates fags" when you know those kids have no idea what they are saying and just keep repeating the mantra taught by the loony adults. If there was ever a need for the intervention of Child Services, that is it.
I think at a recent funeral somewhere in Georgia (?) some locals went to the hotel the day of the funeral and blocked every car with a tag from whatever state they're from. So they didn't get to spread their filth at the funeral. I think they complained to the local sheriff's dept. but they didn't give a damn. They are just putrid people who need a good beating from some pissed off funeral attendants.
Of course there will and should be a body count in horror fiction. But they don't necessarily have to be "stock" characters. When they're not, I miss them more.
You should read Ruby Jean Jensen, Tressashe's all about killing off principal likeable characters midway just for the fun of it
and she looks like this
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MZb2WdpX5os...
Haha. You know it's always the unassuming ones you have to be careful of.
yep, it's those sweet southern ladies you gotta watch out forlol
Scratch our surface and we're all kinds of crazy.
I look for stories that scare me so much, I need a light on all night. Haven't found that in a very long time. Kinda sad.
I look for stories that scare me so much, I need a light on all night. Haven't found that in a very long time. Kinda sad. I know exactly what you mean. I'm wondering if I'm just too old to scare anymore :( And Amanda and others are so right about being immersed in a book.
As a writer, I try very hard to create that kind of world within my books, but it's tough. I bow to the masters like King and Gaiman.
These two books aren't necessarily horror, but they did really immerse me in their tales. I highly recommend them if you haven't read them yet.
Oh I totally agree. I LOVED that book :)
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