Disturbing Books

[pezley]

More often than not, I think books have a greater power to disturb me more than movies. A single sentence can repeat through my head and disturb me for days.

But yea, just wondering what stories/books have you read that have been disturbing?

[Deleted]

The Exorcist. I was brought up Catholic and that book freaked me out.

[Deleted]

Probably "Flowers in the Attic" series by V.C Andrews. Once I read the first, I had to read the sequels, but once I finished the series I told myself "No more" by that author--it's been five years probably, and I haven't been tempted. Those books so grossed me out.

[hobbes]

To add on to stargirl, anything by V.C. Andrews, ever.

[Deleted]

The Story of O. I was repulsed and fascinated. And in the end, all was Vanity. And I was queasy, literally, in my tummy.

I guess I'm just a Soft Core Porn Sort of Person.

[ladymadonna]

ITA on The Story of O. Disturbing and yet weirdly fascinating at the same time. Along the same lines, The End of Alice is about a pedophile and his little conquest, who he ends up murdering. A VERY disturbing, yet fascinating read.

Pet Sematary kept me up for weeks, imagining Gage being hit by the truck. *shudder*

I'm oddly fascinated with dark subjects, like serial killers, and true crime and stuff, so I've read lots of disturbing stuff.

[Deleted]

As Smilla would probably agree (where she's been, though, I do not know), The House on Haunted Hill was incredibly disturbing. Creepy. You can't tell if it's a psychological thriller, or a ghost story. Plus, the first and last paragraphs gave me chills.

I also read a lot of true crime/serial killer/Ann Rule stuff, ladymadonna. I think I'm fascinated by the things that make these psychos tick. Mr. Bones is incredibly weirded out by me and wonders when I'm going to start making thigh-skin lampshades down in the basement. It's good to know there are others out there. ;D

[Deleted]

Vinegar Hill left me feeling kind of filthy. It had to do with a family (wife, husband and two kids) who for financial reasons are forced to live with the husband's parents. Just about everyone in the book goes through some sort of emotional or physical abuse. The little girl is suicidal and no one notices (when she's preparing to get into a swimming pool she entertains vivid images of herself drowning and also pictures herself as an angel, safely away from it all). And, wouldn't you know, I'm pretty sure it was an Oprah pick.

And Naked Lunch. I got a quarter the way into it (if that) and realized it was almost literally making me sick. It's probably the only book I've actually thrown in the trash. As a 60's cult classic of course, you're bound to see Amazon reader's reviews that say in essence, "Anyone who doesn't like this book just doesn't get it!"

[Deleted]

Geek Love was pretty disturbing. I read it for book club and everyone hated it but me. What can I say? I'm a sucker for inbred carnie midgets with magical powers.

Anything by Chuck Palahniuk disturbs me but he's a crap writer so I don't want you to think I like him. It's like he purposely goes for the gross-out because he lacks the imagination to write good characters.

Less Than Zero disturbed me. I haven't read anything else by Bret Easton Ellis but I've been told by two friends that American Psycho is so disturbing that you want it out of your house.

[marywebgirl]

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark had me afraid of every creak in my house for years. I don't think the stories would scare me now, but the illustrations are still pretty disturbing.