Monday, September 22, 2014

The Books of Your Nightmares!

Two excellent lists about the scariest books out there recently found their way to my attention, courtesy of a couple friends. Since I've only read a portion of the books on each list, I've decided to read my way through both of them, along with my partners in horror. We're hoping to do some fun stuff with it, including keeping up with our progress on our blogs and discussing/reviewing the books.

If you're interested in the lists, here they are:

Nightmare Magazine's Top 100 Horror Books

Short List's Definitive Scariest Books Ever Written

One of them, M.B. Partlow, has already started. Here's her first post on her progress and what she's doing with the project.

Here are the ones I'm certain I've already read (there are several I'm iffy on, so I am NOT including those until I know for certain I read them):

The Exorcist
Dracula
American Psycho
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Lord of the Flies (multiple times)
Pet Semetary
Frankenstein
The Silence of the Lambs
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Love in Vein
The Haunting of Hill House
Bag of Bones
It
Night Shift
Salem's Lot
The Shining
Skeleton Crew
The Stand
The Bad Place
Strangers
I Am Legend
Interview With the Vampire
The Vampire Lestat
Floating Dragon
Lost Boy, Lost Girl
Rosemary's Baby
Best New Horror, 1st Edition
Sunglasses After Dark

Have you ever undertaken a challenge (of sort) like this? How many of these books have you read? What do you think of the lists? What would you ADD to the lists (I might just incorporate your suggestions into my challenge)?

May you find your Muse.


8 comments:

shelly said...

I couldn't bring myself to watch theExocist. Don't think I could read it either.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Never read the book, but Salem's Lot the movie was really creepy when I was a teen. Pet Semetary though?

J.L. Murphey said...

I've read all but "Floating Dragon."

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I'm going to check out those lists!

I've read all the King books you mentioned. THE STAND is one of my all time favorites. And SALEM'S LOT is incredibly creepy.

Good luck with the challenge!

Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

Stephanie Faris said...

I love The Stand by Stephen King, but I'm not sure it's the scariest--the King novels listed here are scarier, for sure! The Stand is more an epic narrative than sheer scariness. I'm going to have to check these out. I found Dean Koontz's Intensity extremely scary when I read it the first time. The second time I read it, I couldn't get past the second chapter--way too troublesome!

Anonymous said...

I've read a couple of these books, but have seen the movie version of several of them. Good luck with your challenge.

Morgan said...

Oh my gosh! You are brave, Shannon! Talk about nightmares!!! :)

Shannon Lawrence said...

Shelly, it's such a good book! I read it in one sitting.

Alex, a friend of mine questioned Pet Semetary, too. I want to read it again as a mother and see how it impacts me.

J.L., wow! Which would you recommend?

Madeline, The Stand is a good one. Shining is one of my favs, as well.

Stephanie, I don't really remember Intensity, but I'm fairly certain I read it. I may be going through to check out ones I've already read once I get through the ones I haven't.

Susanne, thanks! I think I've seen at least most of the ones that have movies to them.

Morgan, oh, but I love scary books!