This should be an interesting section - what are you reading, and what do you think of it (horror literature only!)

I'm trying to read as many short stories as possible, so my next few posts will be along that line.

I'm reading 'Shadows', a compilation of short stories which opens with a Stephen King story, edited by Charles L Grant. Too early to say what I think about it so far.

As for horror, I'm re-reading Psycho by Robert Bloch.

Edit: Yeah... should prolly include my thoughts on it, huh? I'm not usualy this ig'nant (no, seriously), but I've recently had jaw surgery and there's a lot of Valium to be had.

Back to topic- I'm a great fan of this book, enough to read it every few months. It's one of those stories that, despite knowing how it ends, gives you goosebumps.

While a lot of people would describe it as drama rather than horror, especially given today's standards, the reader has to keep in mind that A) it was loosely based off of a real person and B) in the time that this story was introduced, the subject matter was just unthinkable.

Another selling point is that, like a lot of psychological thrillers, the thought that it could happen to you is unsettling.

Who hasn't ever stayed in a creepy hotel and had the feeling they were being watched?

I've been in a "comfort reading rut" here lately. I've basically been going back through my own library and re-reading everything I've got, LOL!

I just finished "Black House" the sequel to "Talisman" by Stephen King and Peter Straub. This was just entering that time period when King was starting to tie all of his books together into the "Dark Tower" series. I had read it before, but now going back and reading it again after that series is complete I kept finding myslef going "oh, oh!" (Kept freaking my husband out, LOL!) I kept seeing all the little things that didn't seem all that important at the time, but show just how much attention King pays to detail - especially over the course of something like 20 books!

But I really need to start some new stuff, need to shake my brain up some.

BellaHarmony ... I hear that Graham Masterton is good ...!!! I've just checked out his website and he's had a few updates. You can download some of his work if you want to check out his style. Try this link:BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Got my hands on a collection of short stories called 'Millennium' which includes the works of Clive Barker, Charles Grant and Ramsey Campbell to name a few. Looks great!

Actually, I'm finishing Joe Hill's "Heart-Shaped Box." Up next...Shaun Jeffries.

Interested to hear your thoughts on Heart-Shaped Box, but even keener to hear what you think about this Shaun Jeffrey chap;)

I love reading but i never tried to read horror literature.i have watched lots of horror movies but Horror Literature, I will never go for it.

You should try it. You never know, you might enjoy it!

Just got through reading "Voyeurs of Death," compliments of Shaun. Working on "White Room" now, although I never usually exclusively stay to one book.

YA! I judt finished Stephen King's new book "Duma Key".

He is finally back to his old writing form! The book was great, I could not put it down.

After his "retirement" and then writing again, I had been very worried, but he seems to be right back on track now.

I just finished reading "Weaveworld" by Clive Barker and thought it was fantastic. Never read anything by him before. Actually, I usually stick to SF rather than horror. But I enjoyed watching Hellraiser and thought - what the heck?

Anyway - it was amazing. His use of descriptive narrative is riveting and I am entirely jealous. It makes me want to get back to writing my own book and try out some new turns of phrase that I edited before because I thought there weren't straightforward enough. But Mr. Barker does a wonderful job turning narrative into almost poetry and I think I might have been on to something....

Anyone else read this book? What did you think?

Melissa

Clive Barker utilizes some fantastic and RICH imagery. I've always been a fan of "The Great and Secret Show" books. He really is a great poet!

I'm reading Kelley Armstrong's new YA book called "The Summoning".

So far it is ok. Not as good as her Women of the Otherworld series, but I haven't read that far into it yet either.

I just finished reading "Duma Key" by Stephen King. I absolutely loved it. There were large sections of the book where it seemed nothing much was happening, but he is such a great storyteller, I was completely spellbound just reading his prose, and in the end, it was all important stuff. I lost a lot of sleep over that book (but only because I couldn't put it down to go to sleep! LOL)

I reread "Ghost Story" every few years. I do love that book. It is extremely unsettling.

Michelle,
I am in total agreement with you on Stephen King and "Duma Key". I really missed his old writing style and was absolutely thrilled with "Duma Key". I hope he keeps up the outstanding work. Books like that are very hard to come by.

Right now I am reading The Throat by Peter Straub and it is so good! I love Straub anyway -- he's a smart guy who writes smart and scary stuff. Check it out! Paula

Paula, welcome to the forum, we hope that you enjoy your stay!
Rosie

I am rereading The Stand - though it feels like the first time because I am reading the unexpurgated version. It is a HUGE book that tires the hands just holding it but the story is enhanced by putting back all those pages that were edited out. This is the way King wrote it and is in his older (and better, I think) style. I am nearing the end and wish I could start all over again having never read it. Knowing how it ends has been a bit of a drawback but not enough to spoil the reread.

Oh - I can't imagine WHY his editors cut all of that. The unabridged version is soooooooo much better! Half of what makes the stand so good are the characters, and that is almost all of what they cut out the first time - character expansion.

Straub is a true horror novelist. His writings remind me very mush of a modern Poe. You just kind of get sucked in and want to figuer out how to hide your eyes and read at the same time.

I used to be a big Stephen King fan but soon gave it up. I can't look at or read horror movies or books anymore. Just can't. So I'm reading something else but you guys enjoy.

I'm more of a horror movie fan than horror book fan, but I received a copy of Duma Key by Stephen King for Christmas (I'm reading it slowly...between work and other projects, it takes me forever to get through a book these days) and I must admit it is fairly well crafted. If nothing else, Stephen King is a fantastic storyteller. It's just too bad they don't translate well to the silver screen (save for The Shining and Carrie). Kimberly, if you are interested in a non-horror genre book and an interesting non-fiction read, I highly recommend Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. It'll have you on the edge of your seat without the blood, guts, gore and terror!

Straub and King are great. I think my favorite Straub was Ghost Story.

I'm reading a lot of urban fantasy and horror right now. Just finished The Resurrectionist, by Jack O' Connell. Sweet! A story where realities mesh. There are direct parallels in three realities: the dreams of a coma patient, the life his father is living while he tries to help his comatose son, and the plot line of a famous series of comic books.

The father is reading the comics because the son loved them and they would read them together.

What the father doesn't realize is that as he reads the comics, the son dreams the incidents in the comics. It's as if the father has a window into his son's mind.

Very dark story with sharp writing, great dialog and strong characterization.

I'm reading "They Thirst" by Robert McCammon. I'm on a huge vampire kick right now. Anything Robert McCammon writes is good by me!

Brian Keene :A Gathering Of Crows If you like really down and dirty, make you squirm horror, this is the book to read. David Moody's : Autumn (just finished) A very fast paced horror almost too visual at some points. Now reading Ghost Writer : Travis Thrasher