I like psychological horror books if you're into short stories I reccomed "I have no mouth I must not scream" its truly disturbing and left me feeling really sad but I think overall it was a good short story
There was even a game based on that Harlan Ellison story. If you're interested in games, it's a point-and-click released in 1995 and can be found on GOG.
The girl next door is still on my mind 6 months after reading it. It begins very sweetly by introducing the innocent relationship building between the eventual victim and the protagonist, narrator. The way it descends into psychological horror is haunting. I read 4 other Ketchum books after this. They were mostly gruesome and lacked depth. But this one book is just so special. It hits all emotional elements for me.
Ketchum is very hit or miss indeed. That’s why I prefer his short stories. If it’s awful, at least they’re short, lol. The Girl Next Door transcends his other works by far. It just homed in on something so perverse and vulnerable that you cannot deny its force.
@@PlaguedbyVisions best part, it's based on a true story! The book was inspired by the real-life torture and murder of a teenage girl named Sylvia Likens in 1965. No, I'm sorry, that's the worst part, by far.
I’m currently halfway through Blood Meridian and it’s by far one of my top 10’s. I’m obsessed with McCarthy’s ability to paint the vastness and bone dryness of the desert and the sickening brutality of the violence and death. There have been many time already in this book that I’ve had to stop reading after the many particularly brutal parts and just say “what the fuck?” I’ve got No Country For Old Men, The Road and, The Child of God up next on my list. Absolutely phenomenal author. One of the greats for sure! His books are a must read if your not terribly squeamish to very detailed gore and fucked up subjects like the death of children.
I live in the desert McCarthy set Blood Meridian in. I’m sure you can understand why it traumatized me. 😂 Hope you keep enjoying your foray into this brilliant author!
I Loooved Meridian!!! I totally recommend Child of God. It's super interesting how Mcarthy is able to juggle our sympathy for the antagonist as well as those who oppose him. Hella gross though; don't read while eating. The film is also pretty good.
It's actually non-fiction, but "The Elephant Man" by Bernard Promenance probably disturbed me the most. Extremely upsetting throughout and the ending just left me feeling cold. I felt heartbroken for days after. P.S. No need to apologize or be nervous, you did great, dude :)
Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words! If David Lynch’s film adaptation of this story is any telling, then yes, I would say this is an extremely disquieting tale. Thank you! Yes, I was very nervous to be in front of the camera this first time, but over time having made more videos, I think I’ve become a but more comfortable (or so I’d like to think).
I read The Elephant Man years ago. It left me with a lifelong empathy for people who are ugly on the outside. It made me realize don't judge a person by the cover.
When I was a lot younger, about 18. My mum wanted to get me into crime and mystery books so we went to a bookshop and picked two to read and swap. One was a Harlan Coben book and the other was The Birdman. We had no idea what Mo Hayder's writing was like back then. Anyway I got The Birdman first and seeing as it was my first crime novel I thought they were all like this! I was disgusted but couldn't stop reading. When we swapped my mum came running into my room and said 'omg, you read the whole thing? Are you ok?'. 🤣 Anyway, to cut a story short, I didn't pick up a crime novel for a long time but now I write thrillers and I think it might be because of how that book stayed with me. I just wanted to say I really enjoy your videos! I used to read more transgressive fiction than I do now. And I'm thinking of getting back into the genre.
Thank you so much for the support and for your story! I can’t even imagine Birdman being one’s first foray into crime fiction! I actually don’t read that much of the genre myself, but Hayder’s writing is always an exception. So happy to hear you’re getting back into more transgressive fiction. It’s a lot of cultural baggage, but I really do think it’s an important genre.
Fantastic list! For anyone else in the UK, "Birdman" is on a limited time Kindle deal for 99p right now. That's tonight's reading sorted - thanks so much, Juan :) I look forward to more of your videos.
Thank you so much for watching! I’ll pin your comment so anyone else watching knows about this deal! Mo Hayder is incredible and I hope you enjoy Birdman. I’ve since made a part 2 to this video if you’re interested!
"forgive my pronunciation" dude i'm here after videos upon videos of booktubers who can't even pronounce english words right. great video. something that came out since this video, that i recommend to enjoyers of a disturbing read, is May Leitz's work, i was really drawn in by Fluids, can't wait to read Girl Flesh.
I highly recommend Charles Bukowski's More Notes of a Dirty Old Man: The Uncollected Columns. Definitely not for the transgression-shy! Also anything by William Burroughs, but especially his novel The Naked Lunch. It's, um, special. Happy reading and thanks for the great video!
Thank you so much for watching and for the recommendations! I have not been a big fan of Bukowski’s writing (I’ve read Ham on Rye, Women, and Post Office, and they weren’t to my taste), but something a bit more disturbing might do it for me! I’ve reviewed Naked Lunch on my “Top 10 Most Disgusting Books” video if you’re interested!
This might be the first time that Cormac McCarthy and Jack Ketchum have been mentioned in the same video. I love how broadly you read: it's as impressive as it is unfashionable at the moment.
Thank you so much! Interestingly, I see them as very similar, in the way they handle consciousness in the face of horror, and the unnerving brevity of the way they treat atrocity.
We could be best friends if I didn't live on the east coast. Dude...keep on making content...it's great! Also...I highly highly recommend "stranglehold" by Ketchum...there are a handful of things that happen in that book that terrified me and took my breath away.. powerful and disturbing.
We can be friends here on RUclips! Thank you so much for watching! Always nice to hear from fellow lovers of disturbing works! This video has since become an entire series, and we’re up to Part 5 now if you’re interested! Jack Ketchum is someone whose entire bibliography I’ve been slowly working myself through, and I must admit, it’s been an enjoyable ride! I’m sure I’ll eventually find my way to Stranglehold, and now I look forward to it with your added recommendation! Thank you so much for watching, friend!
Great video! I've been trying to find more dark books to read and some other lists on RUclips just don't go dark enough. Piercing was made into a movie as well and it's actually really good! I'm kind of curious how different the book is.
Wow, great list. I've put a couple of the books your mentioned in my to read list. I really hope you keep doing reviews and I look forward to more of your videos in the future.
I clicked on this and the first book i thought of from my experiences was The Girl Next Door. I was validated when you included it on your list. But for me, I was so disturbed by the book that i have refused to read any of his other books. Maybe shame on me but I was afraid to have that kind of imaging stuck in my head.
Thanks for the intro to Matthew Stokoe - based on his writing style, I'm not only going to read Cows (I just read a sample) but also Empty Mile. I recently read The Monstrumologist trilogy by Rick Yancey - disturbing and amazing and most importantly, well written. So many themes.
Happy to have introduced you to Stokoe! He’s quite something. I have never heard of this book series! Thanks for namedropping it! I’ll definitely feature your comment in the next installment. :)
Maybe not as "good" as Stokoe, but check out Matt Shaw. He writes A LOT of books and all of them are pretty disgusting. But they (usually) have something interesting to say beneath all the blood and viscera.
Love this video! It’s hard to find real “readers” to talk books with so I really enjoyed your thoughtful and well-informed video.looking forward to more!
Thank you so much for watching and for your lovely words! They really mean a lot. Check out the playlist on my channel for the rest of my “disturbing books” series!
I was so psyched that you had The Story of the Eye. Have you read Les Chants de Maldoror by Comte de Lautrement. That's really really really disturbing.
I just watched this and found it funny how I can relate to you when it comes to being disturbed. You mentioned how Tampa was something you couldn’t finish because of the content but you finished Cow! I have done the same with books when it comes to sex scenes that are too graphic but I don’t mind reading some disturbing content. There are a couple of books on your list that interest me. Thank you 😊
I think s3x in particular just has such a heft of neuroses and traumas, that it really colors some novels entirely, even if marginally present, doesn’t it? Of course, there is also s3x in Cows, but… It doesn’t compare. 😂
great list, I really appreciate the fact that you really did a mini-review on each book. Sometimes other YT'ers will say the name of the book and a line or two about it...leaving me wondering if I'd like it or not. thanks for taking the time.
Thank YOU so much for taking the time to watch my video! That’s honestly something that motivates me a lot: I do this because I love getting into the nitty gritty of books and sparking conversations. Even if my videos run a bit long, I just love to be thorough and informative. I’m glad to hear you appreciated it! Thanks again!
Thank you for the video! I have added most of these to my TBR pile now. I’m a huge fan of twisted disturbing novels but most of them just try to throw violence at you and don’t really disturb you, they just try to shock you. So thanks for the ideas!
I’m glad you found this list interesting! While I don’t mind “splatterpunk” or “shocking” literature, I do think a lot of fans of disturbing and transgressive fiction tend to ignore other corners and genres of written work with content just as if not more unsettling.
@@PlaguedbyVisions thanks for your responses! I’m definitely a fan of splatterpunk. But I also really love novels that challenge me or make me think about things in a new way. I’m so glad I found your channel!
The Devil of Nanking is a heartbreaking book and yes, a very good one. Sadly, Hayder passed away last year. Her books are amazing. Thank you for the video!
Huge respect for including Cows! Blood Meridian is one of the greatest novels ever written. Definitely McCarthy's most disturbing; although some would argue Outer Dark or Child of God are more disturbing. Personally I don't think either of them are anywhere near as messed up as Blood Meridian. I could never understand Story Of The Eye. I don't like a lot of French authors and especially don't like French philosophy. To me it just seemed like it was disgusting just to be disgusting. Speaking of the French being disgusting for the sake it, have you read 120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade? Now THAT is a messed up book. For some reason de Sade has a lot of apologists these days. American Psycho is probably my favourite disturbing book. Very thought provoking, but also gut wrenching.
Agreed with your assessment of McCarthy! As far as the others, I personally don’t really resent if a work is just “shock for shock’s sake.” I personally do see a mobilizing worth in wrinkling the otherwise spotless texture of taste. I do think great things come of it! I’m not a De Sade apologist per se, lol, but I definitely see there’s a power to how much outrage he historically provoked.
Thanks! I can’t believe I failed to reply to this comment (I try to reply to everyone). My apologies! I’m not too well-versed on thrillers, believe it or not lol, so recommendations are always welcomed!
I've been looking for a well done list like this for awhile, this review was super helpful & I can't wait to watch part two after. keep it the great work!
I've been going back and watching all of your most disturbing book videos and I was like "Girl Next Door" and "Cows" are definitely going to be on the first video. LOL I don't think I could ever bring myself to read either of those, especially "Girl Next Door."
Lol those have definitely become staples for this kind of thing! Definitely not for everyone, and not necessary, as opposed to what some horror fans might say about “you’re not a horror fan unless you’ve read this atrocity.” I will say, however, Cows was way funnier than I thought it would be.
You have become one of my favorite book tubers!! I am in the process sof binge watching all of your "disturbing books" videos!! I have morbid curiosity as well. I have read almost all of these and by far...Cows topped it for me! Pretty bad!!!
Comments like this one really overwhelm me with emotion. I truly appreciate your support and engagement, and I hope you find more disturbing reads that work for you! 😁
After she passed last year, I was totally amazed to discover that Mo Hayder started out as the actress and Eighties topless model, 'Candy Davis,' who played the sexy blonde secretary in the UK comedy series 'Are You Being Served.'
She was also a hostess at a club in Tokyo, I think. I genuinely believe she was a modern-day Renaissance woman. She was incredible, led a fascinating life, and her passing was quite tragic.
What an interesting list, I liked your takes on these books. There was a time when I was interested in BDSM in fiction, so I bought Story of the Eye, The Story of O, and Masochism: Coldness and Cruelty & Venus in Furs by Giles Deleuze. The first one I ended up throwing in the recycling bin without reading and without wanting anyone to read it, the second one made me want to shake O for subjecting herself to all that crap and ended up in the trash after I had read about 3 chapters, and Deleuze's book is still with me, but I also abandoned it as I found it depressing lol.
Another novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans titled La Bas/The Damned has very disturbing and violent sections. I read it last year and honestly it’s become one of my favourite books. The novel seems to have influenced how people within media portray satanic cults and their practices.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I second Kaylem's recommendation of La Bas. It's possibly the best novel about the occult I have ever read. I think what makes it so fascinating is how matter-of-fact Huysmans was in treating the subject matter. Also, knowing that what is being discussed in the novel is based upon actual events and characters makes the story that much more horrific. Also, I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed your video. You are a very articulate speaker. Even without checking to see if you have other videos, I went ahead and subscribed. I also added a couple of your books to my reading list.
@@seamusgaelic6447 thank you so much for subscribing! I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful words. More reviews are coming as soon as we kiss the holidays goodbye!
The girl next door is based on a girl who was abused and tortured in all ways by the kids of the house and the neighbourhood kids, only one of the girls was abused while the other was forced to not do anything, by the time the girl was discovered she was dead. The girls weren’t her nieces in real life but two girls that came from a large circus family that couldn’t afford to look after them after the death of their mother so they were given to the woman because the girls knew her daughter and would have play dates and sleep overs at hers, she would look after them with the promise that he would sent a small sum of money for child support, once the money never came in the abuse started. It’s truely terrifying that he was able to write a book about it. The kids of the neighbourhood got off scot free (apart from two boys) and I think the mother the mother got life in prison on first degree murder
I’m glad I know about against nature now. I’m hesitant to read old French books because I don’t want to read about froofy rich people complaining and the fact that there’s an old French book making fun of that makes me happy. Edit: thanks for the warning about the room I wanted to read it but didn’t realize it was that graphic. Not saying I wouldn’t ever but it’s good to know going in.
Haha! Trust me, the French are hardly all that if you dig a little deep. Some of the most repulsive and degenerate literature I have ever read! Yes, tread cautiously with The Room! It’s a book that took me around 5 months to finish, despite it being relatively slim. It’s pummeling after pummeling.
Hm I'd only vaguely noted Hubert Selby Jr's The Room as something I might want to read someday somewhere way in the back of my mind. I'm kinda intrigued now.
It’s an experience, a trip more than a read. It’s all about frenetic writing, about momentum and then a full stop on the typewriter. It’s strange, disgusting, and VERY thought-provoking!
Really glad I clicked on your video when it popped up in my recommendations! Thanks for bringing up these interesting works. And for your first video you did a very good job, keep it up :)
@@marysol777 I read ebooks from my local library so I’ll try almost anything. This one was such a surprise. I had no clue what it was about nor it’s reputation. Nice surprise.
"The Kid" in " Blood Meridian" sounds very Similar to Samuel Chamberlain who wrote about his very similar and disturbing adventures in the Mexican - American War and riding with a similar group after the war his book is called "My Confession"
Good video! I subscribed. Hubert Selby's "Last Exit to Brooklyn" is a very great novel, I think. Collection of interconnected stories, really... but you should read it! It can be disturbing, but there are beautiful, compassionate things in it. Do you know about Derek Raymond's Factory series? I read all five of them in a row a few years ago, and it almost destroyed me. I just picked up "Birdman" and will read it as soon as it arrives.
Since making this video I have read Last Exit to Brooklyn and I thought it was phenomenal, but not quite as disturbing to me as The Demon or The Room. I have NOT heard of Derek Raymond. I will be keeping that name in mind. I hope you enjoy Birdman!
Not as disturbing, that's for sure! But for me, it's a better book. I don't know why, exactly. Perhaps it's because it was the first one I read, way back in the 1970s, when I was 16 or so. Selby was apparently a very kind-hearted compassionate man. Derek Raymond's He Died With His Eyes Open is the first of five novels about a London police detective. Not as deeply disturbing as most of the books on your list, but very much worth reading. He was a gifted writer. I'll definitely let you know what I think of Birdman!
The girl next door was the most disturbing book i ever read. Read as a teenager and has haunted me since. Horrible and brutal what that young girl experienced. The movie I enjoyed as well.
I love Mo Hayder, I never see anyone talking about here. The first one I read was Poppet. Also, Pig Island is siick. And she has a lot of knowledge about what she's writing about, I love that.
Mo Hayder has such a twisted mind and fluent prose. I really enjoy her writing. I recently read the sequel to Birdman, The Treatment, and it was even more disturbing than Birdman. Definitely should go into a future installment! I knew about her experience as a hostess in Tokyo and how it influenced the Devil in Nanking, but her line of work seems much more extensive than that. Truly a modern renaissance writer!
Thanks for making this video. I'm always interested in stories or novels that push at the bounderies of acceptability or what's considered tabboo. I've never not finished a story that's appauled my sensibilities, in fact i like to challenge myself and go to places way outside my comfort zone. The best works of Fiction (or non Fiction for that matter) should challenge the reader without descending into complete madness just for the sake of it. Self reflection is one of the most challenging and harrowing subjects a reader can absorb in a story as it pushes the reader to go places that makes them feel uncomfortable maybe even unwelcome in certain situations. That's what the best stories do i suppose, challenge the reader to self analyze the situations the story puts them in either as an antagonist or a protagonist without feeling disgusted or affronted with the author for doing so. Thanks again. Liked & Subscribed.
Hello there, James! I’ve undertaken the task of finally replying to all comments I’ve neglected before the year is up, so I went to start with an immense apology for my late response! I absolutely loved your exposition here, and it’s what I connected with when I read Nietzsche’s Birth of Tragedy: This figuration that our psyche is always in a constant tug and pull between propriety and unconscious turmoil, and it is the labor of art and writing to mediate the discourse between these two sides.
@@PlaguedbyVisions No need to apologise lol, but thanks anyway. I'm currently working my way through The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu, it's not the most challenging novel but it poses some interesting moral questions that add accountability as a Species rather than just a personal choice. I find it quite interesting as the choices being made are for 400 years time rather than at the present...a nice touch. I finished The Three Body Problem the other day and intend to conclude the trilogy with Death's End next week. Thanks for replying, and have a Happy New Year.
Thank you so much for watching! I’m currently undertaking the challenge of reading every book by Jack Ketchum, so we’re on the same boat, you and I! There’s also four more installments to this series now, so lots more disturbing stuff if you’re interested!
that's interesting A Rebours likened to instigram, nice bro. Cool list brother. Blood Meridian is the greatest but try The Outer Dark, the final scene is devastating.
Thank you for watching! Outer Dark was a fantastic work of the nihilist imagination. I would say Child of God is also up there in terms of being disturbing, harrowing, and just merciless.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Merciless is an interesting description, Mercy is the anti-text of much of McCarthy's work. I can't help feeling the canvas of Christianity beneath the impasto of horror in his work.
100% agree on huysmans. I saw the title & heard the first few minutes and knew it was going to be the poor turtle. Haven't read it since 1994. Definitely haunts me...
Here are my book recommendations: The Sinistra Zone by Ádám Bodor You Could Do Something Amazing with Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat] by Andrew Hankinson House of Anita by Boris Lurie Queering the Non/Human edited by Myra J. Hird (non-fiction) PS: first time viewer here. Decided to drop my comment here in hopes that it would have the best algorithmic effect for your channel.
Dude, there's literally right behind you a copy of Night Film, which in my opinion, is one of the most disturbing books from recent years. What do you think about that book, since it didn't make your list?
I really liked Night Film! I didn’t necessarily find it that disturbing, but definitely thrilling and disquieting. I used to be apprehensive of the way more modern horror books seem unable to divorce themselves from their visual contemporaries (horror literature is heavily influenced by horror films nowadays, when it used to be the other way around), but I found the experience in Night Film to be immersive, definitely unsettling, and not at all distracting with its multimedia approach-granted, I didn’t use the whole scanning app thing, because holding a phone while flipping through pages is just not how I like to read. Now I look forward to the way contemporary horror literature approaches and wrestles with modern-day elements, and I’d say this book definitely had a lot to do with that!
Juan , acabo de descubrir tu canal. he visto un par de videos y me agradaron bastante. felicidades por el buen trabajo, de esta lista he leído meridiano sangre, against nature y cows que me parecieron geniales. ¿el de Alissa Nutting en español es las lecciones peligrosas? se me antojo mucho leerle.
¡Muchas gracias! Gusto en tenerte aquí en mi canal. Sí, ese mero es el de Alissa Nutting. La verdad me incomodó demasiado, como dije aquí en el video, pero sí es un interesante (y perturbador) estudio de la sociopatía y el abuso. Tengo curiosidad en saber qué tan diferente sería leerlo en español. Como dije, sí se me hace un libro importante y relevante a la sociedad, pero fue mucho para mí.
@@PlaguedbyVisions gracias por la recomendación, acabo de leer el de Alissa Nutiing en español y me dejo bien p3nd...o. está bien retorcido pero no pude despegarme, es de esos que se te quedan en la cabeza por mucho tiempo.
@@diegovaldez9914 La imaginación de Alissa Nutting es tan enferma pero también tan astuta y fascinante. Tal vez debería armarme de valor y ver si lo puedo terminar.
i remember watching this vid a really long time agoooo, and stumbled upon it now today. thank you for recommending Tampa... i forgot who recommended it and turns out, it's you :) that book was,,,, unforgettable.
Welcome back! So glad you have returned to the channel! This series has really grown since then. I also finished Tampa since making this video, and… yeah, what a ride!
If you haven’t, read oryx and crake by margret Atwood, beautiful and unsettling. One of the best books I’ve read and absolutely my favorite dystopian/ sci fi novel
Wow.. all of these books are super interesting. I love transgressive fiction. You should read “Haunted” by chuck palahniuk. He wrote Fight Club. One of the best horrific disturbing books I’ve ever read I think you’d really enjoy it 👏
Thank you so much for your comment! I have actually read Haunted before (you can get some glimpses of it right there behind my shoulder lol). “Guts” is perhaps the most infamous tale of our modern age. 🤢🤯
Just started listening to it on audio for a book group I’m in and Jesus Christ……right off the bat kinky masturbation rituals leading to prolapsed anus….. and it’s supposed to get MORE fucked up? What the hell does this book have in store..
@@PlaguedbyVisionsyah…. I just started reading it and man… guts nearly made me puke…. Fucking disgusting. Will I keep reading though? Absolutely. It’s too interesting a concept and too sharply written to put down
Wow...I liked your review, brother. Very articulate and well explained. You also introduced me to authors I've never heard of. You made a subscriber out of me!!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I'm interested in The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. I've never heard of him so I did some research. Stephen King has some very nice things to say about Jack K.
Oh, wonderful! I’m actually JUST ABOUT to do my review of my reread of the Girl Next Door. It should be up tomorrow! Just in case you’re interested in my further thoughts on it.
In fact, all the books should help the books to find better books with lesser side effects, rather than repressing books. It is stupid. All these books should make an effort that better books are available which give you more euphoria, more joy, and no side effects. Now book is capable of doing it. Books could have figured it out very easily.... BOOKS can be more purified, and then it should be made available without prescription, through medical stores, through hospitals. In fact, every hospital should have a room. Anybody who wants a book experience under medical care, he should be given it, because it is worth having. Our books are nothing but books -- perfect books, without any chemicals in them. A man who can read book will not be able to enjoy the book, any book, because his book gives him so much peace, and the book will disturb it. Books never give you anything. If you are too disturbed, then a book relaxes you. But if you are at the peak of your bliss, a book will relax you downwards. So people who live in the valleys need books. People who live on the peaks don't need them. Sending young people to imprisonment does not help. You simply destroy those young people, you destroy their education. And I have not seen that a single person who has been imprisoned, has been changed. He comes out and again... back to the books. Now he comes out more professional than he had gone into the prison... because there are experts already inside the prison who know more about books. He was just an amateur. From all those people he gets all the ideas of other books. Courts are involved, jails are involved, young people are destroyed. It is the duty of every book to provide people with some kind of relaxation, some kind of peace, some kind of silence. If you cannot provide book, at least you can provide medicine. To me, books should be medicine. And if we want, we can change all bad effects. It can become a healthy thing. Each Sunday morning, rather than going to the church, you just go on a trip!.
Really enjoyed your way of talking about books. Thanks! I'm subscribed. Question: Assuming you've read American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, why do you think that book never appears on lists of "the most disturbing books?"
Huh, really! My experience has been the exact opposite! I always see American Psycho on lists of this kind, and it is recommended to me endlessly. As far as I know, it’s the book that has introduced the most people to transgressive fiction.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Yeah, writing "never" was a step too far. I guess I just don't see it as frequently as I'd expect (at least on the Booktube videos I've watched).
Ive read Tampa and it really messed me up. Its the kind of book that will unfortunately never leave my brain. But I absolutely think cows was worse for me. Cows still makes me feel sick to my stomach.
I now plan to read Tampa soon! Cows is definitely worse in terms of graphic depictions of violence, but sometimes it got so ridiculous, I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit, which I think is entirely intentional.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I think in another video you mentioned that these topics need to be written about lest we forget them or the topic gets pushed underground. That's absolutely how I felt about Tampa. Female abusers and pedophiles are still such an under-talked-about issue, one that's often glorified and sexualized in the media. Depictions like Tampa make it clear how sickening and foul the abuse is. It is absolutely hard to read so I get why you put it down. I see it as a real, unflinching, disgusting look at how damaging this abuse really is and that women predators are no better or somehow more innocent than their male counterparts. Also, the author Nutting went to high school with Debra Lafave which is where she drew her inspiration from. Lafave's lawyer even stated she was "too beautiful to go to prison". Thanks for taking the time to respond!
Where do you find all those books? I have Tampa, Cows, and The Girl Next Door which I only found in a bookstore in Ireland and it took me years 😂. Are they just on Amazon?
Haha! I wish there were a bookstore that specialized in these types of titles! My hometown doesn’t even have bookstores. :( I got the majority of them off eBay. The Girl Next Door I found in a Barnes & Noble. Birdman I got from my college bookstore, since it was assigned reading for a course. I feel you. Trying to find “unusual” titles out in the wild is such a pain.
Thanks for the comment! I agree. I think most people think of smut or exploitation when they hear about literature being “transgressive.” In fact, the literature we know and love today wouldn’t exist were it not for people pushing those boundaries!
Have you read The Songs/Chants of Maldoror (depending on translation - personally I quite like the Alexis Lykiard translation, but there is a new one I haven't read). I haven't gone through your whole channel yet, but if you haven't reviewed it, you really should. Classic piece of Decadent movement literature that was eventually a huge influence on the Surrealists who praised it to heaven (or hell as it were). I'd almost describe it as if Baudelaire wrote Naked Lunch. It has some truly revolting imagery among all the nightmarish vignettes.
YES I HAVE! I read this on April of last year while suffering from strong COVID symptoms, and it was... quite an experience. I will never forget Maldoror having sex with a shark...
PS I read the Paul Knight translation from Penguin Classics! And I should definitely review Maldoror on the channel. I want to do a video on surrealist literature. :)
@@PlaguedbyVisions I actually quite disliked the Paul Knight translation because it bizarrely doesn't bother to translate lines of text that are present in the Lykiard translation. There's a particularly "colorful" line involving dogs r*p**g corpses or something like that that somehow escaped his attention. For me though, the scene where Maldoror mutilates the little girl is the most horrific part.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Unica Zurn and Leonora Carringon are great!
2 года назад
Piercing is so good. My favorite Murakami. The total obliteration of human communication in modern society exposed in a masterful manner. I have the same edition as you.
My favorite Murakami is Coin Locker Babies, I think, but I think he explores this theme of the human inability to truly “touch” throughout all his work. There’s no warmth to touch in his books, so stabbing is the next best option.
2 года назад
@@PlaguedbyVisions This is a great summarization of his work. Would make a wonderful quote to put on his book's covers. Audition and Miso presents this same concern with communication, empathy, connection, coldness. In all this books, people try to bound through platonic highly idealized distorted relationships but only truly bound through senseless physical violence.
I read the The Room up to page 100, then I got bored cause the narrator got really repetitive, and got bored, maybe I'm fucked up in the head, but he says the same shit over and over again after a while. I left off where he torched the dog, went to the movies with a girl, and how the police officers raped the women. I skimmed through some chapters after that and it was really repetitive. I still wanna know what happens but the narrator says the same shit over over again. Can you please tell me what happens after that, thank you. And I'm gonna get the first book on your list, seems interesting.
It’s intentionally repetitive considering the mental state and situation the character is in. Since you had such a problem with this the book clearly just isn’t to your taste which is okay. Personally the repetitive nature wasn’t a problem for me nor for another person on RUclips who in fact made a video review on it.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I find it fun! Or rather, my internal hoarder/completist finds it fun. Loves organising and keeping track of things, this one... But the site also lets you see how others have reviewed/rated books, which I always find interesting.
The most disturbing book I’ve read is The Treatment, the sequel to Birdman. An excellent book but I’ve never felt the need to continue the series. Disturbing with a heartbreaking ending.
Bataille is the greatest that ever did it. Story of the Eye is so strange in that it’s intensely sexual, yet not an ounce of actual passionate warmth or love is present. Dennis Cooper’s writing also strikes me the same way.
Since making this video I have read The Treatment and it definitely goes further in terms of despicable human behavior, so much so that I think it would top Birdman in an updated list. Thank you for watching!
Tampa is an amazing book…terrible subject matter, but such a brilliant look at why female pedophiles often “get a pass” (think of how many times Mary Kay Letourneau got away with abusing her student). The main character is a terrifying narcissist, in addition to being a sexual predator. Honestly, there are some darkly hilarious moments in this novel- SO worth the read. Rarely hear anyone talk about this one- so I’m excited to see it made the list. Another disturbing one in this vein is The End of Alice.
Since making this video, I have managed to read Tampa, and I agree-it really explores the deviancy and monstrosity of an almost “invisible” sort of predator, but I think it also brilliantly commentates on how fetishized this kind of abuse is in our culture (Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” and so on). It really was an amazing book and I’m so glad I pulled through and read it. I also read End of Alice… that one was a lot rougher. 😂
Someone mentioned The End of Alice to me before. Man, I don’t think I could get through the first few pages 😂 it’s not so much being disturbed. I simply choose not to put myself through that, I guess. But as I said, I think transgressive fiction is valuable if only to always keep pushing at the limits of taste and censorship.
@@PlaguedbyVisions it is a hard read, it took me awhile to finish it because just reading it made my skin crawl. Both are books I definitely wouldn't recommend to the faint of heart.
Tampa is way worse than Lolita. Lolita is gross, don't get me wrong, but you spend the entire narrative in the one guy's head who often has funny and interesting to say, and the plot is absurd (beyond the child abuse) with dramatic chase scenes and murder. There's only one really disgusting and graphic scene in the book, where 12 year old Dolores is sitting on the narrator's lap. If you know what I mean, you know what I mean. The rest is just sad--you see how her life is slowly being ruined while the narrator sees her pain and wonders how to fix it, but still can't accept any responsibility. Tampa is not only extremely graphic, but every character is a piece of shit. (spoiler alert btw) All the men in the story abuse the protagonist physically. Most of them beat and verbally abuse children. The boys she molests try to kill each other. One straight up becomes an apologist for his own abuse after she rejects him because he finished puberty while she was in jail. And in the end, she does not receive justice for her crimes and spends the last pages of the book fantasizing about hunting down the first boy she molested and murdering him. There are no satisfying character arcs, and it's just written to be as edgy and disturbing as possible. Once again, Lolita is extremely disgusting, but there are still charming things about that book that has made it endure the test of time, and we do get to see the protagonist not only realize he is the problem in the end, but he is also imprisoned and dies for his crimes.
I have since read Lolita, and am planning to tackle Tampa again. I guess Lolita was only disturbing by its implication, but maybe there’s also merit to being as uncompromising and unfiltered as Tampa seems to be!
'...Harmony Korine, which if you know him and what he's about, he's working on an adaptation of this book...' I immediately said 'pfft, of course he is.' Almost in unison with you lol. That guy is... something. That said, I maintain that Gummo is a masterpiece of the bizarre and slightly surreal. That aside, great vid. You're very well spoken and easy to listen to. I'll def. be checking into some of these books.
I love Harmony Korine’s films! He even has a book, A Crackup at the Race Riots, that I’m particularly attached to. Thank you so much for your wonderfully kind words! I really appreciate you watching.
I was not aware of that. Thank you for sharing this info. Even the most disturbing of fiction will pale in comparison to real-life atrocities. I do wonder if there’s ethical issues in “immortalizing” such a story through fictitious written work. What I can say is that Jack Ketchum pulled no punches, and the grueling violence and abuse simply leaves you welling with disgust and rage. Nothing is glamorized or romanticized, and I feel like fictional violence should always remind you of its real-life weight and consequences. RIP Sylvia Likens.
When he was describing the story I was thinking how similar it sounded to her story! That story is so infuriating and awful, ive heard the case twice and don’t know if I want to subject myself to more... lol
@@PlaguedbyVisions I think a story like this immortalises not only the idea of atrocities of a human being but also a victim. Not in the way like "infinite torture", but like a "last song". Because of such stories we try to understand a victim and a killer. Or not, who knows)
Ah, Blood Meridian. That book literally makes me sleep on the floor and cook bacon with a knife because I am mentally tough. Sleeping in beds makes us soft. Brandy in my coffee!
Hehe, nice to see another alpha male in this comment section full of softies. Yeah, if that novel doesn’t give you a half-chub, you’re probably super weak. Hit me up if you ever want to comb each other’s chest hair, brethren.
DISTURBING BOOKS, PART 2 (my sequel to this video):
ruclips.net/video/slDVZm9eMPk/видео.html
I like psychological horror books if you're into short stories I reccomed "I have no mouth I must not scream" its truly disturbing and left me feeling really sad but I think overall it was a good short story
I love Harlan Ellison! This short story in particular was incredible. I really enjoyed it! Ellison definitely belongs in this list.
I also heard really good things about that!
There was even a game based on that Harlan Ellison story. If you're interested in games, it's a point-and-click released in 1995 and can be found on GOG.
Bro just recommended one of the most popular pieces of sci-fi horror ever
The girl next door is still on my mind 6 months after reading it. It begins very sweetly by introducing the innocent relationship building between the eventual victim and the protagonist, narrator. The way it descends into psychological horror is haunting. I read 4 other Ketchum books after this. They were mostly gruesome and lacked depth. But this one book is just so special. It hits all emotional elements for me.
Ketchum is very hit or miss indeed. That’s why I prefer his short stories. If it’s awful, at least they’re short, lol. The Girl Next Door transcends his other works by far. It just homed in on something so perverse and vulnerable that you cannot deny its force.
@@PlaguedbyVisions best part, it's based on a true story! The book was inspired by the real-life torture and murder of a teenage girl named Sylvia Likens in 1965. No, I'm sorry, that's the worst part, by far.
oops, someone below already commented this...so I guess it's a sacrifice at the altar of the Almighty Algorithm.
I’m currently halfway through Blood Meridian and it’s by far one of my top 10’s. I’m obsessed with McCarthy’s ability to paint the vastness and bone dryness of the desert and the sickening brutality of the violence and death. There have been many time already in this book that I’ve had to stop reading after the many particularly brutal parts and just say “what the fuck?” I’ve got No Country For Old Men, The Road and, The Child of God up next on my list. Absolutely phenomenal author. One of the greats for sure! His books are a must read if your not terribly squeamish to very detailed gore and fucked up subjects like the death of children.
I live in the desert McCarthy set Blood Meridian in. I’m sure you can understand why it traumatized me. 😂 Hope you keep enjoying your foray into this brilliant author!
I Loooved Meridian!!! I totally recommend Child of God. It's super interesting how Mcarthy is able to juggle our sympathy for the antagonist as well as those who oppose him. Hella gross though; don't read while eating. The film is also pretty good.
I've added a lot of these books in my list. Amazing review 👏
Hey, thank you! Let me know which ones you end up reading :)
It's actually non-fiction, but "The Elephant Man" by Bernard Promenance probably disturbed me the most. Extremely upsetting throughout and the ending just left me feeling cold. I felt heartbroken for days after.
P.S. No need to apologize or be nervous, you did great, dude :)
Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words! If David Lynch’s film adaptation of this story is any telling, then yes, I would say this is an extremely disquieting tale.
Thank you! Yes, I was very nervous to be in front of the camera this first time, but over time having made more videos, I think I’ve become a but more comfortable (or so I’d like to think).
I read The Elephant Man years ago. It left me with a lifelong empathy for people who are ugly on the outside. It made me realize don't judge a person by the cover.
I felt that way watching the movie but I was really young and never seen anything like his disease!
When I was a lot younger, about 18. My mum wanted to get me into crime and mystery books so we went to a bookshop and picked two to read and swap. One was a Harlan Coben book and the other was The Birdman. We had no idea what Mo Hayder's writing was like back then. Anyway I got The Birdman first and seeing as it was my first crime novel I thought they were all like this! I was disgusted but couldn't stop reading. When we swapped my mum came running into my room and said 'omg, you read the whole thing? Are you ok?'. 🤣 Anyway, to cut a story short, I didn't pick up a crime novel for a long time but now I write thrillers and I think it might be because of how that book stayed with me. I just wanted to say I really enjoy your videos! I used to read more transgressive fiction than I do now. And I'm thinking of getting back into the genre.
Thank you so much for the support and for your story! I can’t even imagine Birdman being one’s first foray into crime fiction! I actually don’t read that much of the genre myself, but Hayder’s writing is always an exception.
So happy to hear you’re getting back into more transgressive fiction. It’s a lot of cultural baggage, but I really do think it’s an important genre.
“The Treatment” also by Mo Hayder is even more disturbing than Birdman.
why on earth would a mother want her child to get into reading crime
@@Archonsx so that we had something to talk about. She likes lighter crime like Harlan Coben or Lee Child and made a mistake with the Mo Hayder book.
@@Archonsx because it’s good?
Fantastic list! For anyone else in the UK, "Birdman" is on a limited time Kindle deal for 99p right now. That's tonight's reading sorted - thanks so much, Juan :) I look forward to more of your videos.
Thank you so much for watching! I’ll pin your comment so anyone else watching knows about this deal! Mo Hayder is incredible and I hope you enjoy Birdman. I’ve since made a part 2 to this video if you’re interested!
"forgive my pronunciation" dude i'm here after videos upon videos of booktubers who can't even pronounce english words right. great video. something that came out since this video, that i recommend to enjoyers of a disturbing read, is May Leitz's work, i was really drawn in by Fluids, can't wait to read Girl Flesh.
I highly recommend Charles Bukowski's More Notes of a Dirty Old Man: The Uncollected Columns. Definitely not for the transgression-shy! Also anything by William Burroughs, but especially his novel The Naked Lunch. It's, um, special. Happy reading and thanks for the great video!
Thank you so much for watching and for the recommendations! I have not been a big fan of Bukowski’s writing (I’ve read Ham on Rye, Women, and Post Office, and they weren’t to my taste), but something a bit more disturbing might do it for me!
I’ve reviewed Naked Lunch on my “Top 10 Most Disgusting Books” video if you’re interested!
Bukowsky?? Fucking bullshit!😂😂
This might be the first time that Cormac McCarthy and Jack Ketchum have been mentioned in the same video. I love how broadly you read: it's as impressive as it is unfashionable at the moment.
Thank you so much! Interestingly, I see them as very similar, in the way they handle consciousness in the face of horror, and the unnerving brevity of the way they treat atrocity.
We could be best friends if I didn't live on the east coast. Dude...keep on making content...it's great! Also...I highly highly recommend "stranglehold" by Ketchum...there are a handful of things that happen in that book that terrified me and took my breath away.. powerful and disturbing.
We can be friends here on RUclips! Thank you so much for watching! Always nice to hear from fellow lovers of disturbing works! This video has since become an entire series, and we’re up to Part 5 now if you’re interested! Jack Ketchum is someone whose entire bibliography I’ve been slowly working myself through, and I must admit, it’s been an enjoyable ride! I’m sure I’ll eventually find my way to Stranglehold, and now I look forward to it with your added recommendation! Thank you so much for watching, friend!
Great video! I've been trying to find more dark books to read and some other lists on RUclips just don't go dark enough. Piercing was made into a movie as well and it's actually really good! I'm kind of curious how different the book is.
Since making this video I watched the film adaptation... I would stick to the book, lol.
Wow, great list. I've put a couple of the books your mentioned in my to read list. I really hope you keep doing reviews and I look forward to more of your videos in the future.
I have done this too:)
I clicked on this and the first book i thought of from my experiences was The Girl Next Door. I was validated when you included it on your list. But for me, I was so disturbed by the book that i have refused to read any of his other books. Maybe shame on me but I was afraid to have that kind of imaging stuck in my head.
Thanks for the intro to Matthew Stokoe - based on his writing style, I'm not only going to read Cows (I just read a sample) but also Empty Mile. I recently read The Monstrumologist trilogy by Rick Yancey - disturbing and amazing and most importantly, well written. So many themes.
Happy to have introduced you to Stokoe! He’s quite something. I have never heard of this book series! Thanks for namedropping it! I’ll definitely feature your comment in the next installment. :)
Maybe not as "good" as Stokoe, but check out Matt Shaw. He writes A LOT of books and all of them are pretty disgusting. But they (usually) have something interesting to say beneath all the blood and viscera.
Love this video! It’s hard to find real “readers” to talk books with so I really enjoyed your thoughtful and well-informed video.looking forward to more!
Thank you so much for watching and for your lovely words! They really mean a lot. Check out the playlist on my channel for the rest of my “disturbing books” series!
I was so psyched that you had The Story of the Eye. Have you read Les Chants de Maldoror by Comte de Lautrement. That's really really really disturbing.
I have not heard of this book! Thank you for the recommendation and your comment. I really appreciate it!
I just watched this and found it funny how I can relate to you when it comes to being disturbed. You mentioned how Tampa was something you couldn’t finish because of the content but you finished Cow! I have done the same with books when it comes to sex scenes that are too graphic but I don’t mind reading some disturbing content. There are a couple of books on your list that interest me. Thank you 😊
I think s3x in particular just has such a heft of neuroses and traumas, that it really colors some novels entirely, even if marginally present, doesn’t it? Of course, there is also s3x in Cows, but… It doesn’t compare. 😂
great list, I really appreciate the fact that you really did a mini-review on each book. Sometimes other YT'ers will say the name of the book and a line or two about it...leaving me wondering if I'd like it or not. thanks for taking the time.
Thank YOU so much for taking the time to watch my video! That’s honestly something that motivates me a lot: I do this because I love getting into the nitty gritty of books and sparking conversations. Even if my videos run a bit long, I just love to be thorough and informative. I’m glad to hear you appreciated it! Thanks again!
Thank you for the video! I have added most of these to my TBR pile now. I’m a huge fan of twisted disturbing novels but most of them just try to throw violence at you and don’t really disturb you, they just try to shock you. So thanks for the ideas!
I’m glad you found this list interesting! While I don’t mind “splatterpunk” or “shocking” literature, I do think a lot of fans of disturbing and transgressive fiction tend to ignore other corners and genres of written work with content just as if not more unsettling.
@@PlaguedbyVisions thanks for your responses! I’m definitely a fan of splatterpunk. But I also really love novels that challenge me or make me think about things in a new way. I’m so glad I found your channel!
The Devil of Nanking is a heartbreaking book and yes, a very good one. Sadly, Hayder passed away last year. Her books are amazing. Thank you for the video!
Yes, I was very saddened when I learned about her passing. She was definitely the master of the dark thriller in my eyes!
I have just subscribed! I appreciate your taste in books and your review was great!
Huge respect for including Cows!
Blood Meridian is one of the greatest novels ever written. Definitely McCarthy's most disturbing; although some would argue Outer Dark or Child of God are more disturbing. Personally I don't think either of them are anywhere near as messed up as Blood Meridian.
I could never understand Story Of The Eye. I don't like a lot of French authors and especially don't like French philosophy. To me it just seemed like it was disgusting just to be disgusting.
Speaking of the French being disgusting for the sake it, have you read 120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade? Now THAT is a messed up book. For some reason de Sade has a lot of apologists these days.
American Psycho is probably my favourite disturbing book. Very thought provoking, but also gut wrenching.
Agreed with your assessment of McCarthy! As far as the others, I personally don’t really resent if a work is just “shock for shock’s sake.” I personally do see a mobilizing worth in wrinkling the otherwise spotless texture of taste. I do think great things come of it! I’m not a De Sade apologist per se, lol, but I definitely see there’s a power to how much outrage he historically provoked.
Nice job on the book review! Your knowledge and education shines through- please keep sharing books with us- maybe psychiatric thrillers
Thanks! I can’t believe I failed to reply to this comment (I try to reply to everyone). My apologies! I’m not too well-versed on thrillers, believe it or not lol, so recommendations are always welcomed!
I've been looking for a well done list like this for awhile, this review was super helpful & I can't wait to watch part two after. keep it the great work!
Thank you so much for watching! I’m glad you found the list helpful. That’s my goal!
I've been going back and watching all of your most disturbing book videos and I was like "Girl Next Door" and "Cows" are definitely going to be on the first video. LOL I don't think I could ever bring myself to read either of those, especially "Girl Next Door."
Lol those have definitely become staples for this kind of thing! Definitely not for everyone, and not necessary, as opposed to what some horror fans might say about “you’re not a horror fan unless you’ve read this atrocity.” I will say, however, Cows was way funnier than I thought it would be.
Great video! I’m definitely picking up some of these titles.
well done list its all over the place lots of stuff to check out been getting into a bit of reading lately cheers all the best
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
The shoe maker based on a real person I couldn't finish it
I believe I heard about this in The Last Podcast on the Left. A guy who forced his children to help him murder people? Absolutely revolting.
A perfect video to pop up in my recommended, love the video and will definitely be checking these books out!
Subscribed !
Welcome aboard! Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing this excellent presentation with us! Subscribed!
Amazing first video! Amazing video all around. Thanks!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Well done on your first video! Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much!
You have become one of my favorite book tubers!! I am in the process sof binge watching all of your "disturbing books" videos!! I have morbid curiosity as well. I have read almost all of these and by far...Cows topped it for me! Pretty bad!!!
Comments like this one really overwhelm me with emotion. I truly appreciate your support and engagement, and I hope you find more disturbing reads that work for you! 😁
I plan on it 😁😁
Glad I could be of assistance in creating for you some (hopefully pleasent) overwhelming emotions!!!
Great job on the video!👍🏼
Best online reviews! Detailed, literate. Thank you!
😭 Thank you so much! ❤️
After she passed last year, I was totally amazed to discover that Mo Hayder started out as the actress and Eighties topless model, 'Candy Davis,' who played the sexy blonde secretary in the UK comedy series 'Are You Being Served.'
She was also a hostess at a club in Tokyo, I think. I genuinely believe she was a modern-day Renaissance woman. She was incredible, led a fascinating life, and her passing was quite tragic.
What an interesting list, I liked your takes on these books. There was a time when I was interested in BDSM in fiction, so I bought Story of the Eye, The Story of O, and Masochism: Coldness and Cruelty & Venus in Furs by Giles Deleuze. The first one I ended up throwing in the recycling bin without reading and without wanting anyone to read it, the second one made me want to shake O for subjecting herself to all that crap and ended up in the trash after I had read about 3 chapters, and Deleuze's book is still with me, but I also abandoned it as I found it depressing lol.
I’m glad you mentioned Lolita. It’s the most disturbing book I’ve ever read.
I actually just read it recently and… yeah.
Another novel by Joris-Karl Huysmans titled La Bas/The Damned has very disturbing and violent sections. I read it last year and honestly it’s become one of my favourite books. The novel seems to have influenced how people within media portray satanic cults and their practices.
I can’t believe I have not heard of this! Thank you! I think that’s going into my holiday reading list. Lol. Thank you for watching!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I second Kaylem's recommendation of La Bas. It's possibly the best novel about the occult I have ever read. I think what makes it so fascinating is how matter-of-fact Huysmans was in treating the subject matter. Also, knowing that what is being discussed in the novel is based upon actual events and characters makes the story that much more horrific.
Also, I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed your video. You are a very articulate speaker. Even without checking to see if you have other videos, I went ahead and subscribed. I also added a couple of your books to my reading list.
@@seamusgaelic6447 thank you so much for subscribing! I really appreciate your kind and thoughtful words. More reviews are coming as soon as we kiss the holidays goodbye!
The girl next door is based on a girl who was abused and tortured in all ways by the kids of the house and the neighbourhood kids, only one of the girls was abused while the other was forced to not do anything, by the time the girl was discovered she was dead. The girls weren’t her nieces in real life but two girls that came from a large circus family that couldn’t afford to look after them after the death of their mother so they were given to the woman because the girls knew her daughter and would have play dates and sleep overs at hers, she would look after them with the promise that he would sent a small sum of money for child support, once the money never came in the abuse started.
It’s truely terrifying that he was able to write a book about it. The kids of the neighbourhood got off scot free (apart from two boys) and I think the mother the mother got life in prison on first degree murder
I just found your channel and I love it so much !! Great job keep making amazing videos
Thank you so much! This means so much to me. I'm always happy to hear that people are enjoying my content. There's a new video coming later this week!
I’m glad I know about against nature now. I’m hesitant to read old French books because I don’t want to read about froofy rich people complaining and the fact that there’s an old French book making fun of that makes me happy.
Edit: thanks for the warning about the room I wanted to read it but didn’t realize it was that graphic. Not saying I wouldn’t ever but it’s good to know going in.
Haha! Trust me, the French are hardly all that if you dig a little deep. Some of the most repulsive and degenerate literature I have ever read!
Yes, tread cautiously with The Room! It’s a book that took me around 5 months to finish, despite it being relatively slim. It’s pummeling after pummeling.
Hm I'd only vaguely noted Hubert Selby Jr's The Room as something I might want to read someday somewhere way in the back of my mind. I'm kinda intrigued now.
It’s an experience, a trip more than a read. It’s all about frenetic writing, about momentum and then a full stop on the typewriter. It’s strange, disgusting, and VERY thought-provoking!
Really glad I clicked on your video when it popped up in my recommendations! Thanks for bringing up these interesting works. And for your first video you did a very good job, keep it up :)
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the video!
Have you read Perfume by Patrick Suskind? I read it on a whim cuz I liked the cover. It’s really eerie. If you start it, stick with it.
literally my favorite book of all time!
@@marysol777 I read ebooks from my local library so I’ll try almost anything. This one was such a surprise. I had no clue what it was about nor it’s reputation. Nice surprise.
I have read it! It’s been a long time, though. Maybe I need to revisit it! I remember really liking it.
"The Kid" in " Blood Meridian" sounds very Similar to Samuel Chamberlain who wrote about his very similar and disturbing adventures in the Mexican - American War and riding with a similar group after the war his book is called "My Confession"
My Confession is one of the books that McCarthy used as source material for Blood Meridian.
Good video! I subscribed. Hubert Selby's "Last Exit to Brooklyn" is a very great novel, I think. Collection of interconnected stories, really... but you should read it! It can be disturbing, but there are beautiful, compassionate things in it. Do you know about Derek Raymond's Factory series? I read all five of them in a row a few years ago, and it almost destroyed me. I just picked up "Birdman" and will read it as soon as it arrives.
Since making this video I have read Last Exit to Brooklyn and I thought it was phenomenal, but not quite as disturbing to me as The Demon or The Room.
I have NOT heard of Derek Raymond. I will be keeping that name in mind. I hope you enjoy Birdman!
Not as disturbing, that's for sure! But for me, it's a better book. I don't know why, exactly. Perhaps it's because it was the first one I read, way back in the 1970s, when I was 16 or so. Selby was apparently a very kind-hearted compassionate man.
Derek Raymond's He Died With His Eyes Open is the first of five novels about a London police detective. Not as deeply disturbing as most of the books on your list, but very much worth reading. He was a gifted writer.
I'll definitely let you know what I think of Birdman!
The girl next door was the most disturbing book i ever read. Read as a teenager and has haunted me since. Horrible and brutal what that young girl experienced. The movie I enjoyed as well.
Agreed, it is a haunting and visceral book. Very few things like it have been written!
I love Mo Hayder, I never see anyone talking about here. The first one I read was Poppet. Also, Pig Island is siick.
And she has a lot of knowledge about what she's writing about, I love that.
Mo Hayder has such a twisted mind and fluent prose. I really enjoy her writing. I recently read the sequel to Birdman, The Treatment, and it was even more disturbing than Birdman. Definitely should go into a future installment! I knew about her experience as a hostess in Tokyo and how it influenced the Devil in Nanking, but her line of work seems much more extensive than that. Truly a modern renaissance writer!
Thanks for making this video.
I'm always interested in stories or novels that push at the bounderies of acceptability or what's considered tabboo.
I've never not finished a story that's appauled my sensibilities, in fact i like to challenge myself and go to places way outside my comfort zone.
The best works of Fiction (or non Fiction for that matter) should challenge the reader without descending into complete madness just for the sake of it.
Self reflection is one of the most challenging and harrowing subjects a reader can absorb in a story as it pushes the reader to go places that makes them feel uncomfortable maybe even unwelcome in certain situations.
That's what the best stories do i suppose, challenge the reader to self analyze the situations the story puts them in either as an antagonist or a protagonist without feeling disgusted or affronted with the author for doing so.
Thanks again.
Liked & Subscribed.
Hello there, James! I’ve undertaken the task of finally replying to all comments I’ve neglected before the year is up, so I went to start with an immense apology for my late response!
I absolutely loved your exposition here, and it’s what I connected with when I read Nietzsche’s Birth of Tragedy: This figuration that our psyche is always in a constant tug and pull between propriety and unconscious turmoil, and it is the labor of art and writing to mediate the discourse between these two sides.
@@PlaguedbyVisions
No need to apologise lol, but thanks anyway.
I'm currently working my way through The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu, it's not the most challenging novel but it poses some interesting moral questions that add accountability as a Species rather than just a personal choice.
I find it quite interesting as the choices being made are for 400 years time rather than at the present...a nice touch.
I finished The Three Body Problem the other day and intend to conclude the trilogy with Death's End next week.
Thanks for replying, and have a Happy New Year.
These sound fascinating! I am jotting them down as I always do with viewers’ recs (yes, the list is long lmao). Happy New Year to you as well!
Great video looking forward to watching more and getting in to Ketchum's work
Thank you so much for watching! I’m currently undertaking the challenge of reading every book by Jack Ketchum, so we’re on the same boat, you and I! There’s also four more installments to this series now, so lots more disturbing stuff if you’re interested!
that's interesting A Rebours likened to instigram, nice bro. Cool list brother. Blood Meridian is the greatest but try The Outer Dark, the final scene is devastating.
Thank you for watching! Outer Dark was a fantastic work of the nihilist imagination. I would say Child of God is also up there in terms of being disturbing, harrowing, and just merciless.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Merciless is an interesting description, Mercy is the anti-text of much of McCarthy's work. I can't help feeling the canvas of Christianity beneath the impasto of horror in his work.
Hubert Selby Jr. also wrote "Last Exit to Brooklyn" which was made into a film too.
I’ve read that as well! Somehow I didn’t find it quite as disturbing as the rest of his books.
100% agree on huysmans. I saw the title & heard the first few minutes and knew it was going to be the poor turtle. Haven't read it since 1994. Definitely haunts me...
🐢💎💔
Here are my book recommendations:
The Sinistra Zone by Ádám Bodor
You Could Do Something Amazing with Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat] by Andrew Hankinson
House of Anita by Boris Lurie
Queering the Non/Human edited by Myra J. Hird (non-fiction)
PS: first time viewer here. Decided to drop my comment here in hopes that it would have the best algorithmic effect for your channel.
Great vid. Keep at it!
Thank you so much! This “Most Disturbing Books” concept has no turned into a 7-part series on my channel, if you’re interested!
Dude, there's literally right behind you a copy of Night Film, which in my opinion, is one of the most disturbing books from recent years. What do you think about that book, since it didn't make your list?
I really liked Night Film! I didn’t necessarily find it that disturbing, but definitely thrilling and disquieting. I used to be apprehensive of the way more modern horror books seem unable to divorce themselves from their visual contemporaries (horror literature is heavily influenced by horror films nowadays, when it used to be the other way around), but I found the experience in Night Film to be immersive, definitely unsettling, and not at all distracting with its multimedia approach-granted, I didn’t use the whole scanning app thing, because holding a phone while flipping through pages is just not how I like to read. Now I look forward to the way contemporary horror literature approaches and wrestles with modern-day elements, and I’d say this book definitely had a lot to do with that!
I just stumbled on your channel. Great reviews.
Welcome! So glad to have you here, and thank you for the kind words!
Juan , acabo de descubrir tu canal. he visto un par de videos y me agradaron bastante. felicidades por el buen trabajo, de esta lista he leído meridiano sangre, against nature y cows que me parecieron geniales. ¿el de Alissa Nutting en español es las lecciones peligrosas? se me antojo mucho leerle.
¡Muchas gracias! Gusto en tenerte aquí en mi canal. Sí, ese mero es el de Alissa Nutting. La verdad me incomodó demasiado, como dije aquí en el video, pero sí es un interesante (y perturbador) estudio de la sociopatía y el abuso. Tengo curiosidad en saber qué tan diferente sería leerlo en español. Como dije, sí se me hace un libro importante y relevante a la sociedad, pero fue mucho para mí.
@@PlaguedbyVisions gracias por la recomendación, acabo de leer el de Alissa Nutiing en español y me dejo bien p3nd...o. está bien retorcido pero no pude despegarme, es de esos que se te quedan en la cabeza por mucho tiempo.
@@diegovaldez9914 La imaginación de Alissa Nutting es tan enferma pero también tan astuta y fascinante. Tal vez debería armarme de valor y ver si lo puedo terminar.
Great video! Love your channel!
Thank you!
i remember watching this vid a really long time agoooo, and stumbled upon it now today. thank you for recommending Tampa... i forgot who recommended it and turns out, it's you :) that book was,,,, unforgettable.
Welcome back! So glad you have returned to the channel! This series has really grown since then. I also finished Tampa since making this video, and… yeah, what a ride!
If you haven’t, read oryx and crake by margret Atwood, beautiful and unsettling. One of the best books I’ve read and absolutely my favorite dystopian/ sci fi novel
Wow.. all of these books are super interesting. I love transgressive fiction. You should read “Haunted” by chuck palahniuk. He wrote Fight Club. One of the best horrific disturbing books I’ve ever read I think you’d really enjoy it 👏
Thank you so much for your comment! I have actually read Haunted before (you can get some glimpses of it right there behind my shoulder lol). “Guts” is perhaps the most infamous tale of our modern age. 🤢🤯
I was hoping someone would mention this one! 😄
Just started listening to it on audio for a book group I’m in and Jesus Christ……right off the bat kinky masturbation rituals leading to prolapsed anus….. and it’s supposed to get MORE fucked up? What the hell does this book have in store..
@@PlaguedbyVisionsyah…. I just started reading it and man… guts nearly made me puke…. Fucking disgusting. Will I keep reading though? Absolutely. It’s too interesting a concept and too sharply written to put down
Wow...I liked your review, brother. Very articulate and well explained. You also introduced me to authors I've never heard of. You made a subscriber out of me!!
Thank you so much! That means a lot. I’m glad you enjoyed the recommendations! Which called your attention the most?
@@PlaguedbyVisions I'm interested in The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. I've never heard of him so I did some research. Stephen King has some very nice things to say about Jack K.
Oh, wonderful! I’m actually JUST ABOUT to do my review of my reread of the Girl Next Door. It should be up tomorrow! Just in case you’re interested in my further thoughts on it.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Awesome!! I'll definitely check it out. Thanks a bunch!!
Tampa was a lot. Have you read "The End of Alice" by A. M. Homes. Same subject matter, maybe a little more fleshed out. I recommend it.
I have not read the End of Alice, although many people have recommended it throughout this series. I don’t want to read it, although maybe I have to…
@@PlaguedbyVisions Nah. If you don't want to read something don't. I've done that a couple times and it's not worked out. :)
Cool to see Hayder get a shout out. RIP Mo
She was a real one.
Amazing Review! i love the way you describe the novels, i added all of these to my cart LOL
Thank you so much! Happy shopping 👐🏽
In fact, all the books should help the books to find better books with lesser side effects, rather than repressing books. It is stupid. All these books should make an effort that better books are available which give you more euphoria, more joy, and no side effects. Now book is capable of doing it. Books could have figured it out very easily.... BOOKS can be more purified, and then it should be made available without prescription, through medical stores, through hospitals. In fact, every hospital should have a room. Anybody who wants a book experience under medical care, he should be given it, because it is worth having. Our books are nothing but books -- perfect books, without any chemicals in them. A man who can read book will not be able to enjoy the book, any book, because his book gives him so much peace, and the book will disturb it. Books never give you anything. If you are too disturbed, then a book relaxes you. But if you are at the peak of your bliss, a book will relax you downwards. So people who live in the valleys need books. People who live on the peaks don't need them. Sending young people to imprisonment does not help. You simply destroy those young people, you destroy their education. And I have not seen that a single person who has been imprisoned, has been changed. He comes out and again... back to the books. Now he comes out more professional than he had gone into the prison... because there are experts already inside the prison who know more about books. He was just an amateur. From all those people he gets all the ideas of other books. Courts are involved, jails are involved, young people are destroyed. It is the duty of every book to provide people with some kind of relaxation, some kind of peace, some kind of silence. If you cannot provide book, at least you can provide medicine. To me, books should be medicine. And if we want, we can change all bad effects. It can become a healthy thing. Each Sunday morning, rather than going to the church, you just go on a trip!.
Thx a billion mate. SUSCRIBED!!!
Thank YOU so much! I truly appreciate the support.
Really enjoyed your way of talking about books. Thanks! I'm subscribed. Question: Assuming you've read American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, why do you think that book never appears on lists of "the most disturbing books?"
Huh, really! My experience has been the exact opposite! I always see American Psycho on lists of this kind, and it is recommended to me endlessly. As far as I know, it’s the book that has introduced the most people to transgressive fiction.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Yeah, writing "never" was a step too far. I guess I just don't see it as frequently as I'd expect (at least on the Booktube videos I've watched).
I’m defending reading the first book today 😳
Cool list , thank you
Ive read Tampa and it really messed me up. Its the kind of book that will unfortunately never leave my brain. But I absolutely think cows was worse for me. Cows still makes me feel sick to my stomach.
I now plan to read Tampa soon! Cows is definitely worse in terms of graphic depictions of violence, but sometimes it got so ridiculous, I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit, which I think is entirely intentional.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I think in another video you mentioned that these topics need to be written about lest we forget them or the topic gets pushed underground. That's absolutely how I felt about Tampa. Female abusers and pedophiles are still such an under-talked-about issue, one that's often glorified and sexualized in the media. Depictions like Tampa make it clear how sickening and foul the abuse is. It is absolutely hard to read so I get why you put it down. I see it as a real, unflinching, disgusting look at how damaging this abuse really is and that women predators are no better or somehow more innocent than their male counterparts. Also, the author Nutting went to high school with Debra Lafave which is where she drew her inspiration from. Lafave's lawyer even stated she was "too beautiful to go to prison".
Thanks for taking the time to respond!
Exquisite corpse by poppy z brite
If you’re interested, I made a video on queer horror literature in which I talk about this book!
@@PlaguedbyVisions omg no way I'm gonna check it out
Where do you find all those books? I have Tampa, Cows, and The Girl Next Door which I only found in a bookstore in Ireland and it took me years 😂. Are they just on Amazon?
Haha! I wish there were a bookstore that specialized in these types of titles! My hometown doesn’t even have bookstores. :( I got the majority of them off eBay. The Girl Next Door I found in a Barnes & Noble. Birdman I got from my college bookstore, since it was assigned reading for a course. I feel you. Trying to find “unusual” titles out in the wild is such a pain.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I know right? It literally took me like 4 years trying to find a copy of Ketchum’s The Woman! Why must it be so hard!!!!
Juan, you could teach an introductory university course on this genre of material.
Hahaha, thank you! But I wouldn’t go that far 😅 I think I dropped out of my doctorate program for a reason.
Try Mutilation Song by Jason Hrivnac I never hear it mentioned but I think it should be
Thank you so much for the recommendation! I will include it in a future installment.
Thanks for putting list in the description,, I did sit through the entire video, pretty insightful 👌
Thank you so much for watching! I really appreciate it. I’m glad you found it insightful!
Right on, bro. Transgressive Lit is definitely a deep subject. It has a long history and their are even good modern examples.
Thanks for the comment! I agree. I think most people think of smut or exploitation when they hear about literature being “transgressive.” In fact, the literature we know and love today wouldn’t exist were it not for people pushing those boundaries!
Have you read The Songs/Chants of Maldoror (depending on translation - personally I quite like the Alexis Lykiard translation, but there is a new one I haven't read). I haven't gone through your whole channel yet, but if you haven't reviewed it, you really should. Classic piece of Decadent movement literature that was eventually a huge influence on the Surrealists who praised it to heaven (or hell as it were). I'd almost describe it as if Baudelaire wrote Naked Lunch. It has some truly revolting imagery among all the nightmarish vignettes.
YES I HAVE! I read this on April of last year while suffering from strong COVID symptoms, and it was... quite an experience. I will never forget Maldoror having sex with a shark...
PS I read the Paul Knight translation from Penguin Classics! And I should definitely review Maldoror on the channel. I want to do a video on surrealist literature. :)
@@PlaguedbyVisions I actually quite disliked the Paul Knight translation because it bizarrely doesn't bother to translate lines of text that are present in the Lykiard translation. There's a particularly "colorful" line involving dogs r*p**g corpses or something like that that somehow escaped his attention. For me though, the scene where Maldoror mutilates the little girl is the most horrific part.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Unica Zurn and Leonora Carringon are great!
Piercing is so good. My favorite Murakami. The total obliteration of human communication in modern society exposed in a masterful manner. I have the same edition as you.
My favorite Murakami is Coin Locker Babies, I think, but I think he explores this theme of the human inability to truly “touch” throughout all his work. There’s no warmth to touch in his books, so stabbing is the next best option.
@@PlaguedbyVisions This is a great summarization of his work. Would make a wonderful quote to put on his book's covers. Audition and Miso presents this same concern with communication, empathy, connection, coldness. In all this books, people try to bound through platonic highly idealized distorted relationships but only truly bound through senseless physical violence.
No Tommy Wiseau jokes when talking about "The Room"?
I can only read so many atrocities. I’ll steer clear from this one.
This is a well made first video.
Thank you so much for watching!
I read the The Room up to page 100, then I got bored cause the narrator got really repetitive, and got bored, maybe I'm fucked up in the head, but he says the same shit over and over again after a while. I left off where he torched the dog, went to the movies with a girl, and how the police officers raped the women. I skimmed through some chapters after that and it was really repetitive. I still wanna know what happens but the narrator says the same shit over over again. Can you please tell me what happens after that, thank you. And I'm gonna get the first book on your list, seems interesting.
It’s intentionally repetitive considering the mental state and situation the character is in. Since you had such a problem with this the book clearly just isn’t to your taste which is okay. Personally the repetitive nature wasn’t a problem for me nor for another person on RUclips who in fact made a video review on it.
Hi, I really enjoyed the video! Will be coming back. Do you have a goodreads account by any chance?
Thank you for watching! I don’t have a goodreads account, but maybe I should!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I find it fun! Or rather, my internal hoarder/completist finds it fun. Loves organising and keeping track of things, this one... But the site also lets you see how others have reviewed/rated books, which I always find interesting.
I loved listening to your video.
Thank you so much for doing so! ❤️🙏
A king is born!
😂😂😂 Thank you! ❤️
The most disturbing book I’ve read is The Treatment, the sequel to Birdman. An excellent book but I’ve never felt the need to continue the series. Disturbing with a heartbreaking ending.
Since making this video I’ve read The Treatment and… yeah, would totally swap it for Birdman. I will never forget that opening scene…
Bataille is one of my favourite authors and Story of the Eye is one of his best. Great to see him in a list.
Bataille is the greatest that ever did it. Story of the Eye is so strange in that it’s intensely sexual, yet not an ounce of actual passionate warmth or love is present. Dennis Cooper’s writing also strikes me the same way.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I haven't read Against Nature by Husymans but I recommend his very odd novel The Damned if you haven't read it.
I’m planning on reading it! It was recommended by a couple of other people as well.
Birdman is disturbing, the second one in the series, The Treatment is perhaps more disturbing.
Since making this video I have read The Treatment and it definitely goes further in terms of despicable human behavior, so much so that I think it would top Birdman in an updated list.
Thank you for watching!
Tampa is an amazing book…terrible subject matter, but such a brilliant look at why female pedophiles often “get a pass” (think of how many times Mary Kay Letourneau got away with abusing her student). The main character is a terrifying narcissist, in addition to being a sexual predator. Honestly, there are some darkly hilarious moments in this novel- SO worth the read. Rarely hear anyone talk about this one- so I’m excited to see it made the list.
Another disturbing one in this vein is The End of Alice.
Since making this video, I have managed to read Tampa, and I agree-it really explores the deviancy and monstrosity of an almost “invisible” sort of predator, but I think it also brilliantly commentates on how fetishized this kind of abuse is in our culture (Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” and so on). It really was an amazing book and I’m so glad I pulled through and read it.
I also read End of Alice… that one was a lot rougher. 😂
If you thought Tampa by Alissa Nutting was disturbing check out The End of Alice by A.M. Homes and Gemma by Meg Tilly they're really messed up.
Someone mentioned The End of Alice to me before. Man, I don’t think I could get through the first few pages 😂 it’s not so much being disturbed. I simply choose not to put myself through that, I guess. But as I said, I think transgressive fiction is valuable if only to always keep pushing at the limits of taste and censorship.
@@PlaguedbyVisions it is a hard read, it took me awhile to finish it because just reading it made my skin crawl. Both are books I definitely wouldn't recommend to the faint of heart.
Blood Meridian is my favorite book! 👍
An excellent one!
@@PlaguedbyVisions
Indeed!
Tampa is way worse than Lolita.
Lolita is gross, don't get me wrong, but you spend the entire narrative in the one guy's head who often has funny and interesting to say, and the plot is absurd (beyond the child abuse) with dramatic chase scenes and murder. There's only one really disgusting and graphic scene in the book, where 12 year old Dolores is sitting on the narrator's lap. If you know what I mean, you know what I mean. The rest is just sad--you see how her life is slowly being ruined while the narrator sees her pain and wonders how to fix it, but still can't accept any responsibility.
Tampa is not only extremely graphic, but every character is a piece of shit. (spoiler alert btw) All the men in the story abuse the protagonist physically. Most of them beat and verbally abuse children. The boys she molests try to kill each other. One straight up becomes an apologist for his own abuse after she rejects him because he finished puberty while she was in jail. And in the end, she does not receive justice for her crimes and spends the last pages of the book fantasizing about hunting down the first boy she molested and murdering him. There are no satisfying character arcs, and it's just written to be as edgy and disturbing as possible.
Once again, Lolita is extremely disgusting, but there are still charming things about that book that has made it endure the test of time, and we do get to see the protagonist not only realize he is the problem in the end, but he is also imprisoned and dies for his crimes.
I have since read Lolita, and am planning to tackle Tampa again. I guess Lolita was only disturbing by its implication, but maybe there’s also merit to being as uncompromising and unfiltered as Tampa seems to be!
'...Harmony Korine, which if you know him and what he's about, he's working on an adaptation of this book...' I immediately said 'pfft, of course he is.' Almost in unison with you lol. That guy is... something. That said, I maintain that Gummo is a masterpiece of the bizarre and slightly surreal. That aside, great vid. You're very well spoken and easy to listen to. I'll def. be checking into some of these books.
I love Harmony Korine’s films! He even has a book, A Crackup at the Race Riots, that I’m particularly attached to.
Thank you so much for your wonderfully kind words! I really appreciate you watching.
The girl next door is actually based on the true story of Sylvia Likens. horrifying and disturbing what this poor girl had to go through.
I was not aware of that. Thank you for sharing this info. Even the most disturbing of fiction will pale in comparison to real-life atrocities. I do wonder if there’s ethical issues in “immortalizing” such a story through fictitious written work. What I can say is that Jack Ketchum pulled no punches, and the grueling violence and abuse simply leaves you welling with disgust and rage. Nothing is glamorized or romanticized, and I feel like fictional violence should always remind you of its real-life weight and consequences. RIP Sylvia Likens.
When he was describing the story I was thinking how similar it sounded to her story! That story is so infuriating and awful, ive heard the case twice and don’t know if I want to subject myself to more... lol
Ketchum even wrote it from the neighbors perspective as he found the story disturbing as well.
Worst than any fiction
@@PlaguedbyVisions I think a story like this immortalises not only the idea of atrocities of a human being but also a victim. Not in the way like "infinite torture", but like a "last song". Because of such stories we try to understand a victim and a killer. Or not, who knows)
"Horror is my favorite genre"
*subscribe*
I loved this video! Your recommendations are refreshingly unique, and I'm looking forward to more :)
Ah, Blood Meridian. That book literally makes me sleep on the floor and cook bacon with a knife because I am mentally tough. Sleeping in beds makes us soft. Brandy in my coffee!
Hehe, nice to see another alpha male in this comment section full of softies. Yeah, if that novel doesn’t give you a half-chub, you’re probably super weak. Hit me up if you ever want to comb each other’s chest hair, brethren.