Spice up Your Bookshelf: Horror

There is something alluring about the horror genre. Whether it is our own need for survival, or simply a macabre enjoyment of the misfortune of others, there is no doubt that the genre itself is well-liked. Spanning from film to fiction, the feeling of hairs standing up on your arms and the assumption that eyes are constantly watching you is one that some find more exciting than daunting. If you are one of those people, then check out these five books for ultimate thrills!

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Using a now-typical horror trope of an old, haunted house, The Haunting of Hill House focuses on a group of characters — namely Dr. John Montague, a man with an obsession with all things supernatural — investigating the eerie supernatural vibes that Hill House exudes. Through séances and spirit writing, the group slowly find themselves victim of a dark spirit, one that will eventually make their stay something they wish they had never agreed to in the first place.

The Shining by Stephen King

A cult classic by an author considered by many to be the best in the genre, The Shining is now a hit movie. Introducing readers to the Overlook Hotel, nestled deep within the Colorado Rockies, it tells the tale of Jack Torrence, winter caretaker, and his family as they stay in the hotel over the winter break. His young son, Danny, possesses ‘the shining’, a telepathic ability that among other things shows him horrifying visions of the hotel’s past. As these visions become more prominent and the winter rages on around them, Jack begins to lose his mind as the hotel saps his sanity from him.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Taking advantage of the unease that some people have over the carnival, Something Wicked This Way Comes introduces readers to Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonion Shadow Show, a carnival that shows up in teenagers Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade’s hometown late into the year. However, this carnival is far from the standard fare — a series of bizarre and terrifying events around the ground in both daylight and the cover of night cause them to realise that something is horribly, terribly wrong.

In a Dark Place by Ed and Lorraine Warren

Perhaps the most terrifying part of In a Dark Place is the bold statement by the authors — both renowned for their place in the supernatural — that this is not a work of fiction. Allegedly the true story of the Snedecker family, this book details the terrifying paranormal experiences that the family experience after moving into a house that was once a funeral home; from the very beginnings of strange experiences through to the terrifying encounters as the family are forced to live through in absolute terror.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

American Psycho instills terror into the reader in the simplest way — by amalgamating the everyday life of an investment banker with that of a murderous serial killer. Patrick Bateman’s narrative swings abruptly between his everyday life on Wall Street to the equally detailed descriptions of the murders he commits. With his shallow views on life ringing true to some of the views that readers may hold and a strong focus on the capitalistic view of today’s world, Bateman’s confessions are those that could come from anybody — your next door neighbour, a family member, or even the person you sleep beside — and this terrifying realisation is one that can chill you to the very core.

Special thanks to isak valtersen and losing control. for editing!

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