What with yesterday being Halloween, and all . . . do you read horror? Stories of things that go bump in the night and keep you from sleeping?
I thought about asking you about whether you were participating in NaNoWriMo, but I asked that last year. Although . . . if you want to answer that one, too, please feel free to go ahead and do both, or either, your choice!
Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!
Well, since I was involved in the RIP Challenge, I'd have to say Yes. Although I prefer psychological thrillers to blood and gore. There are so many sub-genres within horror. There is the Stephen King/Dean Koontz style horror that's in your face or the subtle style of Shirley Jackson. One book that scared the pants off me was The Handmaid's Tale. Not really horror, more a dystopian novel, but horrifying, at least to me. I think everyone has their own definition of horror. Personally, I liked a good scare every once in a while.
Hi Chris! I am not a fan of horror and prefer romance, sci-fi or family genres.
ReplyDeleteWill also be participating in my FIRST NaNo this year. :D
Oh goodness, I agree about The Handmaid's Tale. That's a book I won't be reading again!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of Jackson as horror, though now that I think about it, you're right.
ReplyDeleteIs the Handmaid's Tale similar to 1984? I was a little scared by that book--not in a blood and guts way, but in a "that could totally happen!" way.
Not a big horror fan, although I loved Elizabeth Kostova's erudite Dracula novel, The Historian, and I'm looking forward to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer "season 8" comic book!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'll ever do NaNoWriMo. I write too slowly, and can't resist the urge to polish things up as I go along, which is a NaNoWriMo no-no.
Mei- I haven't read 1984 but yes, it's a 'that could happen' kind of book, mostly about women. It scared me!
ReplyDeleteRob- I'm a dabbling writer. 50000 words in one month scares me. I'm also a nit-picky writer and can't leave a sentence alone.
Handmaid's Tale is Horror for me. So is Heart of Darkness.
ReplyDeletegore tales or not!
You know me. I love the scary, the gholish and the frightening!! I would love to join up in the NaNoWriMo, but I just don't have the time!! Maybe next year!
ReplyDeleteStephanie- I just joined the blogging version of it. Blog once a day. I might be able to handle that.
ReplyDeleteI read The Handmaid's Tale years ago, but it has stuck with me. I never thought of it as a horror, but it is pretty horrific.
ReplyDeleteI've got The Historian in my to-be-read pile - maybe I'll shift it up a bit. I don't like being totally spooked, but a chill is okay every now and again.
ReplyDeleteI'll be reading The Handmaid's Tale next year for the 888 Challenge. I have to day I'm a little bit more interested in it now.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about The Handmaid's Tale but haven't got the chance to read it. I'll have to look out for it.
ReplyDeleteI admit I have trouble sometimes sorting out what is considered horror . I think you are right--there are so many different sub-genres. And like you, I do prefer psychological thrillers to the blood and gore, although I sometimes pick up the other too. I have to be careful though as the blood and gore horror novels tend to be more amusing than frightening for me. I have trouble suspending my disbelief. I'm not sure why that is.
ReplyDeleteI agree, The Handmaid's Tale was pretty horrifying and a Shirley Jackson short story gave me such bad nightmares one weekend back in intermediate (middle) school that I've never read her since.
ReplyDeleteHey, Chris. Chiming in a bit late; I'm with you on what constitutes horror. It's better when it's in your head and not because your brains are splashed across the screen...
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