I found this post on The Guardian about books that have shocked readers and (thankfully?) there were none on the list that I recognized. Well, just one, The Lovely Bones but it’s been so long since I read that I’ve (thankfully) forgotten the really odd twist, though I remember that it had one.
There are times in a book that I’ve been horrified by something. The starvation in Lisa See’s Dreams of Joy comes to mind. But I can’t think of a book that was overall so horrifying or disturbing that I had to put it down and walk away.
I did something no one should ever do and read the comments. One post brought up Katherine Dunn’s Geek Love which was the first book I read for one of my book clubs. It’s a wonder I kept going to that group. I didn’t find the book disturbing, however, just weird and I didn’t like it. I’ve read other books like that (The Children’s House) but I still don’t think I’d describe them as disturbing.
What disturbs one person might not disturb another. A commenter mentioned Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go which is a favorite of mine. Maybe it’s a matter of how you view the book. I saw this one as fantasy so it didn’t bother me. Other commenters mentioned true crime books as disturbing. It’s never done too much for me.
Now I’m trying to find a disturbing book and read it just to see how emotionally dead I am. Does anyone have a particularly disturbing book to wish upon me? Maybe something that would be best in October when it’s time for spooky/creepy reads?
Until next time, write on.
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Taking On a World of Words 
Helter Skelter about Charles Manson. DON’T read it:(
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Oh geeze, that sounds terrible! I’ll pass haha.
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All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood! Interesting physical/romantic relationship. haha
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Hm, sounds like you have to be in a certain frame of mind to read that. Might not be for me then. Happy reading!
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Yea we were not ready in our book club for this type of book. Definitely had some good conversation though which a good book should do!
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The Pianist by Władysław Szpilman it took me about a year to finish it, because it was so upsetting.
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Geeze, I wonder who is publishing these books! Happy reading.
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I liked Never Let Me Go too – I felt the same way about it as you did – that it was more fantasy so it was okay. The most disturbing book for me was The Amityville Horror (the original one). I read this beat up book when I was in grad school and was so freaked out about it – and the realness of it that I threw it out when I was finished. It just felt evil. Also, I should mention I was so freaked out by it that I wouldn’t throw it out in MY trashcan – I took it outside of my apartment complex and tossed it right in the dumpster.
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That’s amazing. I’ve never felt that strongly about the contents of a book before. I’ll be avoiding that one. Happy reading!
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The first chapter of In The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson disturbed me enough to not read further. It was so descriptive of the torture this man went through and since I visualize as I read, I couldnt do it.
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I read that book a few years ago and, funny enough, I don’t remember that part! I remember the daughter of the ambassador best. Happy reading!
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Nine Minutes by Beth Flynn was disturbing but addictive. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma was disturbing but well written.
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Sounds like you were still able to enjoy them. Happy reading!
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I loved Nine Minutes. It’s a great audiobook, if you’re interested. The other was not my thing.
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The most disturbing book I’ve ever read is “The 120 Days of Sodom”, but I will never recommend it to anyone for a read. People recommend “Never Let Me Go”, but I think the implications of Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel – “A Pale View of Hills” are even more disturbing that the unsubtle concept of “Never Let Me Go”.
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I have that one on my shelf so I’ll look forward to it! Happy reading.
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas affected me deeply. I had to read it in stages. Generally, I read the good, the bad and the ugly. Books like Helter Skelter, which I read when it was first published, didn’t bother me nearly as much as the actual murders did and The Lovely Bones is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. I actually love that book and think of it often. Is it because of the abuse? Isn’t it interesting how different people read a book differently, no two people actually read the same book.
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I saw the movie of Boy in the Stripped Pajamas and can understand how the book would strike an even stronger emotion. I think we all have a bias. Happy reading!
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AMERICAN PSYCHO is probably the most disturbing and grim book I’ve ever read… but I absolutely LOVED it!! Not sure what that says about the author and me…. ha!
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Haha that’s awesome. Disturbing doesn’t have to be bad! Happy reading.
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Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov comes to mind, though I wasn’t abjectly disturbed by it. It’s more that it’s the most conceptually unsettling example that I can immediately think of.
In terms of body horror The Troop by Nick Cutter was pretty effectively gross.
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Good point about Lolita. It was disturbing in a different way. I hated that I almost liked the narrator. Almost. Happy reading!
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Never let me go was heartbreaking, the Lovely Bones was difficult, but the book that had to go ‘in the freezer’ was Karin Slaughter’s Pretty Girls… she just went too far with the horrific torture and violence against young girls and their bodies- normally her books are a bit dark but this took the biscuit.
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Yikes! And great Friends reference with ‘in the freezer’ lol. I was thinking of that when I wrote this post. Happy reading!
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‘The Butterfly Garden’ by Dot Hutchinson. I really liked it despite the disturbing parts. I feel like it’s because of the MC’s calming personality, but it’s really good overall, and very recommended for what you seek.
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Awesome, thanks!! Happy reading
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None of your links are working for me =[ Is it just me? Anyway, I did find The Lovely Bones a bit disturbing, but I was young when I read it. Like, maybe teenage-ish. So it really freaked me out personally. Devil in the White City also disturbed me, but I was in college IN the city of Chicago at the time I was reading it, so I was pretty much looking for H.H. around every corner.
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Thanks for letting me know, I’ll fix them shortly! That one freaked me out a bit, too! I’m actually headed to Chicago now so I’ll have Holmes stuck in my head the whole time lol. Happy reading!
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lol! Oh no!! Well, Holmes is long gone–just remember that! =]
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It is not the sort of book I usually read, and I’m not sure why I did. But i could not sleep for weeks after reading ‘Before I Go To Sleep’ by SJ Watson. It spooked me so badly I have no idea how I even managed to get through it. I did enjoy it, but I am just so squeamish, or easily scared it was horrible.
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Books like that are the worst but it’s also a testament to how well written it was. Happy reading!
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Yes it must be – I still remember the menacing sense of dread every time I picked it up to read (usually in bed, which in retrospect was probably foolish). It stayed with me for SO long that did. Urrggh I can feel it coming back! Thanks and happy reading yourself, just finished The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald and about to start The Rider by Tim Krabbe – two books I should have read YEARS ago, not sure why I didn’t.
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Enjoy them both!! There are a lot of books I should have read years ago. Happy reading!
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