i love your broader concept of 'disturbing literature' because being disturbed is a common, everyday experience not really linked with violence or sex. Those are often present at the periphery, but the feeling of being unsettled can come from a sound or a place or from something you can't even identify in the moment. I am obsessed with your channel atm
As someone who is just getting into horror/disturbing novels, I can't thank you enough for this channel and your videos!! I absolutely love other types of horror content, like movies and video games, so your videos have come at a perfect time for me. Keep up the amazing work!! I've subscribed and can't wait for more!!
Oh my God, thank you! I see now you watched more installments. I’m glad you found them! I’m glad it can serve as an introduction to horror literature for you! I appreciate the support so much. 🖤
A book that disturbed me is "What Lies Between Us" by John Marrs... It's about two women living in the same house but one is chained on her bed in a locked attic. Every night, they have their dinner together, the other woman goes about her day and the other one goes back to the padlocked attic. It disturbed me deeply because I get both sides. There isn't any black and white on morality that was discussed in the book and that's what's disturbing to me. The fact that the author makes me empathize with both women makes it such a good book.
Never heard of this one! I’ll feature it in the next installment. Thanks for the detailed description of why it’s disturbing. Definitely sounds like something right up my alley.
You're the kind of booktuber that I'm looking for, please keep the recommendations and reviews coming, I love getting titles both from you and the comments on your videos, thank you sm
Your description of the illustrations in “zombie” was enough to interest me. I’m going to have to check that out! Another great video! I love how much love you show to your viewers and include them in most of your videos.
It’s an amazing novel! Like I said, maybe not everyone, but if the narrator’s voice traps you, it will NOT let you go. It’s very much a “I need to shower” kind of book.
I'm so happy I found this channel! I've recently been wondering why I'm drawn to disturbing and dark reads, but the way you explain why people engage with disturbing literature has given me so much insight into WHY I read what I read. I absolutely love the way you discuss books -- you have such a great perspective and I really appreciate how in depth you go into your descriptions of the books you highlight in your videos. I would say the most disturbing book I have ever read is "We Need to Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. It was a really dark exploration of nature vs. nurture within a fictional setting and it really made me look critically at what is within our control when raising children, what is not, AND whether the narrator can even be trusted. I haven't seen all of your videos yet, so I'm unsure if you have already read it, but I definitely recommend it!
Thank you so much for your beautiful words! I’m happy to have you here! :) Yes, there is a big stigma around disturbing literature and its contents, because of assumptions that are made about those who engage with it. But I’d venture to say, those who engage with disturbing fiction do so because they are much better at compartmentalizing it. I don’t find it titillating or attractive (as I’ve been accused of by a couple of comments in the past lol), but rather intriguing, fascinating, and always fearsome and puzzling. I have seen the film adaptation of We Need to Talk About Kevin (amazing performances), but I’ve never read the book. I do see it mentioned often in lists of this kind, but I haven’t mentioned it yet in my channel. I’ll be sure to do so in the next installment. Again, thank you so much for your lovely comment!
2 года назад+1
In 2 days, this became my favourite channel on youtube. Great content.
Hi! Recently found your channel and I am a big fan! Glad to see Joyce Carol Oates made the list. Another book by them that disturbed me greatly is "Daddy Love". I couldn't stop thinking about the book for weeks after reading it.
Thank you so much! Happy to hear you’ve been enjoying the videos. It means a lot. That’s one I’ve heard of before but have yet to get to. It sounds disturbing in a more understated way. I will say, it was incredible how well she entered the mind of a male psychopath in Zombie! Truly seamless first-person narration.
Not a lot of youtubers talk about OUT by Nastuo Kirino, I appreciate the fact that you talk about books that does not follow current trends. I've read Grotesque by the same author, I did not enjoy it as much as OUT. However, I've heard that Grotesque was censored in North America. Thanks for your hard work.
I honestly don’t do it on purpose to be different! Lol. I’m just stuck reading older, less popular books. I do find they hold bigger treasures! I have her other novels, Grotesque and Real World, but have yet to dive into them. Hopefully I’ll do it soon! Thank YOU so much for watching!
I know this is an older video and I’m coming in late. I just wanted to say that I super respect that you are anti censorship in are while acknowledging your own limits. Ps. Lolita is one of the best books I have ever read in terms of quality, but the subject matter is a big bummer.
It's quite interesting the fact the disturbing is a word that can describe a multitude of things, allowing for this variety of points of view on the subject. I might find something to be disturbing but the same thing could be 'normal' to someone else. Keep it up, man!
I believe someone in these comments found some passages in LOTR deeply disturbing. Indeed, it’s the subjectivity that keeps me wanting to do this series-to truly uncover what’s so disturbing about any given work! The usual blood and guts works sometimes, but there’s other titles that are deeply unsettling for darker, even personal, reasons. Thanks for watching once more!
Hey Juan, brilliant video as always! Just wanted to ask, you raised a point about writers in the 21st century being more aware of what they write for various reasons. Chuck Palahniuk raised a good point in an interview that a lot of editors won't let writers publish certain stories because they're too disturbing or harrowing (even if based on real life experiences). Have you by chance come across any literature/stories that have made it out to the public and can you recommend any authors who aren't afraid to write in their own style with their own content?
That’s an excellent point! Yes, perhaps publishing companies are largely responsible for this filtering of content in mainstream media. I think this what also has relegated “extreme” and “transgressive” fiction to the realm of independent publishing and boutique publishers. I think that’s usually where you’ll find the most disturbed narrative voices today, but sadly, the lack of editing and publishing support often steeps them in a sort of amateurish presentation. Sadly, as I stated, I’m not well-versed at all in 21st-century literature (besides works from earlier in the millennium, but not of the horrific/disturbing kind). Dennis Cooper comes to mind as an unabashedly twisted author. There’s also Mark Z. Danielewski, who is still playing with form and narrative, and of course authors from outside the US (part 3 of this series has that covered pretty well). But I may not be the most qualified person to answer this question, sadly.
I just found about you yesterday and not only do I love and admire your channel and have became an instant subscriber, I’ve read almost every book on your first list and a few books on your second and third list. And to be honest, I’m surprised that you haven’t mentioned any of The Marquis de Sade’s works. Considering he wrote majority of them in an asylum in the 1700’s, 120 days of sodom is by far the worst of the worst in my opinion and one of the only book that I’ve read where I had to stop reading just to physically vomit.
Thank you so much for watching! I’m really happy to hear you’ve been enjoying this series! You’re right, I’ve yet to introduce De Sade’s works formally into this list. I’ll be sure to include your comment and suggestion in the next installment. Pasolini’s film adaptation of this particular book remains, to me, one of the most powerful spells cinema has ever cast over me.
Thanks so much for watching once more, Mae! And I hope you “enjoy” Tender is the Flesh. It’s definitely powerful. I look forward to whatever else Bazterrica chooses to write.
Love your videos! The Butterfly Garden is a book I’ve read a long time ago and still find disturbing indeed. I love many books you recommended and will be adding lots to my Readlist. Have you read “La Bête Humaine” by Zola? a classic but makes me feel very uneasy
This is truly a strange coincidence-just this past Thursday I went to a garage sale and found a copy of La Bête Humaine, and had to get it because I remembered this comment! So needless to say, thank you so much. It is now in my radar!
Dude! I just found your channel today! Finally I have my extreme horror fix! I was curious if you’ve heard/read “No Longer Human” by Omazu Dazai and/or “Goodnight, Punpun” by Inio Asano. I read the manga adaptation of “No Longer Human” and finished Punpun a few years ago. Both left me incredibly depressed post-read.
Welcome to the channel! Always happy to meet others with similarly rotted interests. I reviewed Goodnight Punpun on my channel, if you’re interested in watching that! And Dazai’s novel was pretty great, but it didn’t impact me quite as much as I thought it would. Punpun definitely ruined my day, though!
Hello, Juan. Found your channel yesterday and watched almost all the videos, you're doing a great job! As for suggestions... In the first episode you've mentioned Ryu Murakami, as he's an author who specializes in this kind of literature. In my opinion, his "War begins beyond the sea" is his most disturbing work: barely has any plot, has pretty much all the possible triggers, and most of all, it's not just a meaningless gorefest, its actually just good literature. Another japanese author I really like is Kobo Abe, and his "The box man" may be to your taste. It would rank pretty low on the disturbing scale, because it's not gory or anything, it's just super-super weird and undecypherable. His classic "woman in the dunes" would also fit into the disturbing category. "Earthlings" by Sayaka Murata is another one that is described as that. Haven't read it myself, as it is not yet translated in my native language, but heard very good reviews. Love from Russia
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, this particular Murakami novel seems to have never been translated into English or Spanish (the only two languages I'm able to read in), so I will sadly be unable to read this one, which pains me greatly. :( Coincidentally, Kobo Abe will be featured in a future video I'm working on! His novels are so perplexing and enigmatic. I love his style! I have never heard of Sayaka Murata, so thank you so much for that recommendation! And thank you for such a thorough and amazing comment. I really appreciate your support!
Too bad you couldn’t finish Lolita. It is actually one of my top favorite books of all time (maybe number one). I found it so emotionally torturous. That rare case where you find yourself feel bona ride sympathy for someone who, intellectually, you know shouldn’t deserve it, but for whom, emotionally, you can’t help feeling empathy. And written beautifully... still so amazing to me that English was not Nabokov’s first language. I never heard of The End of Alice, but I may need to try this one.
I love Nabokov’s prose, and it’s indeed his enchanting language that makes Lolita so disturbing. His novels, Pnin and Pale Fire, are among some of the best I have read as well. But as I said, purely for personal reasons, I can’t get myself to get through Lolita. But I agree with you on everything, and recognize it as a justified classic. I believe that’s BECAUSE English was his second language that Nabokov took careful and meticulous attention to dissect and mull over each word.
I love your channel so much! I took up reading Tampa bc of your channel and am nearly done with it. Very intense but also healing for me for personal reasons. It has helped me realize I was still a kid at 14 when things happened. Very disturbing narration style which at some times gets a bit too graphic for me but beyond those parts it’s worth the read
I’m really happy to hear that Tampa helped you in that way. I truly believe that lots of disturbing fiction is like smelling salts: Brutishly waking you to a personal reckoning. I know it has helped me in similar terms as well.
Juan i absolutely love your videos. Disturbing literature is something i always look for. I always look for a title or two to have on my reading list. You have done the research for me in this area so i can follow your interesting choices. I will recomend you to try The Tenant by Roland Topor and J.F. Gonzalez Survivor. Keep them going
Thank you so much for your kind words! I really appreciate it. The Tenant might be a strong contender for Part 5 🤫 I am absolutely fascinated by Topor. Such a strange guy. I couldn’t believe he also wrote Fantastic Planet. I REALLY couldn’t believe that was him playing the crazy guy in Herzog’s Nosferatu. Polanski’s film adaptation of the Tenant is one of the strangest things I’ve ever witnessed. I think I’ve heard the name J.F. Gonzalez before. He’s an extreme fiction writer, a la Wrath James White, no? I’ll keep an eye out for him! Thanks for all the support!
I haven’t read the Troop yet, but Nick Cutter’s The Deep was easily the scariest book I read last year. The setting is claustrophobic to the highest degree possible
Your point about unexpected disturbing content is so true. It’s almost worse in a way when something disturbing comes out of nowhere, because at least in the case of something you know is gonna be disturbing you can mentally prepare yourself. Not so when your just trying to play a Nintendo game and then BAM eldrich abomination! It wouldn’t be so bad by itself but the context of being in something otherwise innocent makes it so much worse then it is.
Ah, yes, I do believe this is why Earthbound became so infamous! Childlike things are definitely always unsettling for this reason: We don't expect that turn into Disturbing Land! Those are definitely the most memorable stories for me as well.
Juan, thank you for another wonderful packed video. I always find something I think I might be interested in picking up. I will check out Zombie and We Who Are About To. I have read many of Joyce Carol Oates's novels but not Zombie. Joanna Russ is an author I haven't read but that book sounds like it's right up my alley. It also reminds me of from your description of "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell Sci-Fi Philosophy written in 1996. It's about an expedition to Rakhat, the world that is sending the music that is being picked up on radio waves. The mission is organized by the Society of Jesus, known for its missionary, linguistic and scientific activities in the year 2060, only one crew member, the Jesuit priest Emilio Sandoz, survives to return to Earth, and he is damaged physically and psychologically. I think you might like it, it is disturbing and I still think about it. Hugs, Maggs
Thank you so much, Maggs, for another wonderful comment! Look forward to my next video, where I will go more in depth on Joanna Russ as a writer and feminist figure. Thank you for the recommendation! It sounds very interesting. I’ll keep an eye out for it. I do love my sci-fi more on the philosophical and disturbing side (evidently). 😎
My brother gave me we who are about to... a few years ago and i haven't read it yet. It's sitting right in front of me on my desk. Excited to get to it!!
I hope you enjoy it! I thought it was fantastic and such a punch to the gut.
2 года назад+1
Joyce Carol Oates short tale "where are you going, where have you been?" really creeped me out. Bone chilling mundane cold portray of a sexual abuse case where the perpetrator makes it seen like a courtship.
Hey man! I recently read a book called the Siberian Incident, my sister got it me for christmas and its pretty short (280 or so pages) and it was quite good its like a 80's creature horror movie and is really fun with some gory parts. I also read Uzumaki and finished in 1 afternoon, this is my first manga and was surprised by how great and engaging it was
Thanks for leaving this title in the comments! It sounds like a good time. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it. So glad to hear you enjoyed Uzumaki! It’s an amazing work of surreal horror. Only Juji Ito could turn spirals into a full-blown hellish nightmare. Gyo is similar: Bizarre concept, great, disturbing execution, although the ending was a bit lacking in my opinion.
Thank you again for another great video! I really enjoy your thoughts on these books (most of which I'll probably not have the stomach to read myself ;)) as well your very considerate approach. Regarding disturbing books: The most disturbing book i probably ever read was "Hot Zone" by Richard Preston. Mortifying. A very graphic and utterly horrifying depiction of Ebola outbreaks. However, as I later found out it is not quite to be treated as non-fiction and seems to be overly dramatic at times (to an admittedly disturbing effect). A more nuanced view is presented in "Ebola" by Davin Quammen. Looking forward to see you breeze past 1000 subscribers, Juan! :) Edit: spelling
Thank you so much for your amazing and kind words, and for the recommendation! I can’t believe I haven’t yet explored the subject of disease in my recommendations! That certainly needs to be represented much more! And thank you for your own suggestions. I haven’t heard of these books, but I’ll certainly look into them! 1K subscribers is a dream! 🙌🏽
One book I really liked that was really sad and disturbing was Sarah by JT LeRoy. There is some bad stuff happening to a young boy that could be hard for you to read if you haven't yet but its not like Tampa or Lolita where it is constant throughout the book. Also I have read off season and the girl next door by jack Ketchum. What book by him do you recommend I listen to next(preferably not short story)?
I PURCHASED THIS BOOK RECENTLY! It’s revving up as a strong contender for part 5! Lol. Yes, I agree, very different from other books mentioned in this series dealing with similar subject matter. Dare I say, it’s strangely endearing. As for Mr. Ketchum, I would suggest either Offspring or Joyride as a followup. Joyride is more of a thriller, Offspring more straight up horror. Your choice!
Hi again, you've done a lot of videos on books you've found disturbing/weird etc. I know you talk about authors along the way but could you possibly do an author focused video, where you talk about authors that have stood out to you because they're good writers or write disturbing fiction?
The house that jack built is a movie that sounds like it would be a perfect combo while reading or after reading zombie. Jack wants to turn these victims into something...else. Thanks for this great list man.
Lol I remember that movie! I actually didn’t like it that much, but definitely, the obsession seems similar. Zombie is quite a superb novel! It’s one of those you read in one sitting and then feel gross about it afterward.
I almost feel bad suggesting this because I really don't think people find it disturbing, and as someone who's read a lot of the books you've pointed out I can agree it's not exactly on the same level, but one of my favourite books of all time is Flowers fir Algernon. My mother was a Special Education Teacher and thought it was a very important book so she gave it to me when I was ten or eleven, I was not prepared to feel the way I did by the end. I've reread it a few times since then and it still makes my chest knot up when I get to it. I understand that the implications of the book are hopeful to some, but it still makes me sad.
I was literally seconds away from going up to bed, and then this notification popped up, and I had to go open another beer and park myself in front of the iPad 😜
I love this series of videos. Thoughtful, intellectual, and not offering the same predictable entries. Try the short story “People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water” by Annie Proulx. From her short story collection Close Range: Wyoming Stories published in 1999.
Thank you so much, Nathan! Always makes me happy to hear that people are enjoying this series! I’ve never heard of this author, so I’ll definitely be checking this out. Thank you so much!
@@PlaguedbyVisions Annie Proulx also wrote the short story Brokeback Mountain, which is featured in the same story collection. The collection has a lot of haunting imagery (such as in the story "The Half-skinned Steer"), and her prose is enviable!
Hi Juan, your videos are peaking my curiosity more and more into the realm of dread, which I’ve been avoiding fervently . But I think it’s time to dip my foot in, hopefully I’ll return with all my toes. I’m starting with crash by jg Ballard, have you read it ? Thanks for the vids!
Thank you so much for watching! I’m glad you are thinking of giving this darksided literature a chance. Welcome! :) and yes, I talk about Crash in part 2 of this series!
Thank you so much for watching! I really appreciate it. I read Off Season maybe 12 years ago, so it’s a big foggy, but there’s so much of that violence that is truly unforgettable. I’m rereading it soon! I’m doing a challenge where I read (or reread ones I already read in the past) every book by Jack Ketchum. Off Season is next on my list!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I have to do a similar challenge too. Great content man! Planning to lay down and watch all your videos non-stop! Thanks to you I bought 3 diamonds of literature that I didn’t knew they even existed! Marianna Enriquez and Kobo Abe are bombs!
I read Zombie and loved it! Joyce is a great talent; she's one of those writers whose prose exults in less is more understatement. I love how she really puts you into the mental illness of the main character. To me it takes a real genius to get you to empathize with such a deranged personality, but I think Joyce does just that. Am I wrong? Maybe I'm sick. Zombie reminds me of the song "John Wayne Gacy Jr" by Sufjan Stevens. (Check out the song on RUclips. It's brilliant!) I've added Father of Lies to my Want to Read list on goodreads. I never seem to get away from watching your vlogs without adding at least one book to my list. Another great book vlog, Juan! As always, you blow me away with your level of erudition.
Seamus! Always a pleasure reading your comments. You’re not sick due to your thoughts on Zombie-or maybe we’re both sick, haha. But yes, I also thought the narrator’s quotidian lifestyle, his constant worries about his self-image, his life permeated by loneliness and an inability to connect. You do start to feel for him in some way.
Dear God, The Troop messed me up. And I will admit that it actually scared the hell out of me. The hardest moments to stomach were the animal deaths. They were described so well, it seemed like I was watching Cannibal Holocaust. Added a few of these to my TBR.
Oh, definitely, the violence was especially relentless against the critters (I have now read it since making this video). The chimp scenes… Let’s just say I got a bit itchy.
Thank you so much for such a kind compliment! I often doubt my communication skills (maybe a result of being an English learner), so this really means a lot.
Thank you for watching! I’m happy to hear you’ve enjoyed this series. I just recently discovered the works of Dennis Cooper. You can find a review of his novel, The Sluts, in my channel. He is twisted for sure!
Survivor by JF Gonzalez is the most disturbing book I have ever read. There is a insane amount of dread in the book as well. This book forces the reader to confront how far they would be willing to go to save their own lives, to be a survivor.
Thank you for the recommendation! I keep hearing the name JF Gonzalez, along with a similar author, Wrath James White. I’ll be sure to name this in the next installment!
I acknowledge that I am too fragile minded to read many of the transgressive works that you review but I find your well thought out analysis of these books fascinating 👍
A book that really got to me was A Child Called it by Dave Pelza. Somehow I got it when I was young and it just stuck with me. I'm not sure it would have the same effect if I had read it as an adult. Actually there is a lot of stigma around this book because the author put the book out as a account of his childhood and the abuse he was subjected to as a child but it was alleged that he made it all up. I really have never properly looked into it so I'm not sure how that was left but I just remember a lot of people outraged by him.
That’s interesting, this constant fascination that some “memoir writers” have with fabricating trauma. To me, that’s an incredibly disturbing aspect on its own. I have been thinking about doing a “disturbing books” installment centered on nonfiction, so this would absolutely be a great title to mention!
I keep resisting the urge to suggest To Train Up a Child for the disturbing list, since not only is it nonfiction, it's disturbing because of the author's intent the impact of the book itself. As far as actual fiction, there's always the works of Edward Lee and Scott McKenzie. Also one that comes to mind is Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs. It concerns Burroughs' childhood with his violently abusive father, although some moments (monologues for example) are so detailed that they feel a tad appended from actual childhood memory. That said, it's a frustrating and unnerving account of the abuse and narcissism he experienced.
My God, I wish I would’ve known about How to Train Up a Child while making my “Why Do Children Love Horror?” video! It sounds absolutely mortifying. I will surely include it in the viewers’ suggestions for part 5. I HAVE read A Wolf at the Table! Yes, very disturbing, although what enveloped me the most while reading it was a profound sadness and rage. Very relatable to many people, too, which is horrible.
I've been meaning to read Zombie for a while it's been on my kindle waiting for me to get to it lol. I think the most disturbing book I've read was "Along The Path Of Torment" by Chandler Morrison. It explored some stuff that was very devastating in certain ways.
I’ve heard very mixed things about Chandler Morrison. Some say he’s a really good writer, others disagree. I don’t know if shock for the sake of shock is really my thing, but you never know what the future holds!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I think a lot of people misinterpret his work as extreme horror when it's more satire, think Stokoe meets Ellis. Definitely not for everyone though. If you're going to try one of his books I definitely recommend starting with Along the Path of Torment, basically about the pedophilic elite in hollywood
Thanks for the recommendations! The Phillip K. Dick's one is right up my alley. Some recommendations. About Feminism: "The Marabou Stork Nightmares" by Irvine Welsh. (Trippy, hallucinatory, real and deeply disturbing) Japanese: "A Personal Matter" by Kenzaburō Ōe (The one that made fall in love with literature, it is disturbing because it is so human) And Also because of "Father of lies" I recommend you two chilean movies that are very similar in content (I don't remember the directors sorry) "El Club" "El Bosque de Karadima"
Thank you so much for the recommendations! And I hope you give Palmer Eldritch a chance. It’s really out there. PKD was genuinely insane. I love him. Irvine Welsh, I’ve read Trainspotting and it was a struggle with the Scots jargon. I’ll have to mentally prepare if I ever tackle another one of his books. I’m curious if you read a Spanish translation? I’m genuinely bewildered trying to figure out how you would go about translating Welsh. I’ve heard of Kenzaburo Oe, but never read his work. Maybe this is a sign! I hear he is of the same discipline as Yukio Mishima (who I’m obsessed with currently) and Osamu Dazai: Tackling interpersonal and emotional conflicts with defeat and torturous thoughts. I’ll keep an eye out for this one! And thanks for the film recommendations as well! I don’t know how much I would be able to tolerate but like I said, this is important subject matter we need to continue to educate ourselves on. Gracias siempre por tus comentarios. La verdad siempre se me hacen interesantísimas tus recomendaciones. El de Donoso ya lo terminé y me quedé con un gran asco y pavor (para mí, esas son buenísimas reacciones 🤣).
@@PlaguedbyVisions I have read "Trainspotting" and "The acid house" translated into Spanish. They were European translations and I didn't like them because the characters' jargon felt too Spaniard. Irving Welsh language is difficult but it is really worth it. I read Mishima "The sailor who.." and I am reading "Confession of a Mask" Kenzaburō is similar in some ways, especially in historical and personal influences in their literature.
@@m.c.a9677 Glad I’m not the only one uncomfortable with Spanish translations of the Spain kind! I had a traumatic enough experience reading Don Quixote in college. Another amazing (and super short) Mishima work is Star. Highly recommend it as well!
2 года назад
I would suggest you talk about early Ian McEwan. Love The Comfort of Strangers. Flannery O'connor is on a league of her own when it comes to disturbing fiction. Also find some shorts from Joyce Carol Oates very unsettling.
I do talk about The Cement Garden in part 2 of this series! I did also live the Comfort of Strangers. I discuss O’Connor in a video I made on Southern Gothic. I really have to read more JCO!
2 года назад
@@PlaguedbyVisions I've watched your video on southern gothic after posting this comment. Great video. I need to find me some copies of the authors you recommend on that video. I've only read Flannery.
A few which left deep and lasting impressions because of the quality of writing and the emotional and psychological impact they've had on me. Johnny Got His Gun, by Dalton Trumbo. A devastating novel about the deafening silence and indifference following those twisted and broken by war. Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollack. A collection of short stories about no-collar folk kicking Horatio Alger's corpse into dust. Whiskey and fishsticks thrown in for good measure. Flannery O'Connor meets Larry Brown. Think William Gay's The Paperhanger, Breece D.J. Pancake's entire body of work, Raymond Carver's Popular Mechanics and Tell the Girls We're Coming, and Daniel Woodrell's The Outlaw Album. Netflix recently released an adaptation of Pollock's The Devil all the Time. Joe R. Lansdale's The Drive-in. A fun and disturbing tale of the collapse of civilization popcorn, heavy petting, and a smiling comet the Baptist Church has been saying would happen. His short story, The Night They Missed the Horror Show is a very hard read which, I think, is one of the scariest tales ever written. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado . Short stories about agency, consent, queer bodies, Law and Order:SVU, and sex at the end of the world. City of Night, by John Rechy. Young lad flees Texas for 60's Time Square and Castro Districts. Sex workers, hustling, trans and drag and queer characters, rotten pigs, cheapo professors who won't come off an extra stinkin nickel down at the automat ferchristssake. You mentioned Selby Jr. In your first video. Last Exit to Brooklyn really got to me. Have more, but ill wait for your next video.....
I don’t read that much disturbing fiction but if I can suggest a title it would be “the collector” by john fowles. It has actually inspired a couple of serial killers. It’s a sick book that paints the killer in a positive light. Really gross too.
I have heard of this book before! I believe someone mentioned it in my “Can a Book Kill You” video in reference to what you just described. It would definitely be an interesting book to explore. Thanks for your constant support, CJ! 🤙🏽
@@PlaguedbyVisions hey no worries, man. I always get excited when you post new videos. You’re one of my favorite youtubers and you should have waayyyy more subs!
I just finished reading Cows by Matthew Stokoe and I pride myself on being able to enjoy reading messed-up stuff, but this one actually made me feel sick at times. The End of Alice was very disturbing, but I don't blame anyone for not wanting to read that kind of subject material. I plan on reading Tampa by Alissa Stutting at some stage. The next one I plan on reading is Audition by Ryū Murakami. I have watched the movie, and it has quite a memorable scene, but the books are always better, right.
Cows is definitely revolting! Curiously, people are either deeply affected by it or find it laughable-the power of subjectivity! I have since read both End of Alice and Tampa, and I found them quite horrid, but deeply compelling works of transgressive art. Sadly, I must say, I actually like the film version of Audition more than the novel!
I think you would really enjoy The Push-by Ashley Audrain, a newer book (2021) that is a cross between The Omen and We Need to Talk About Kevin! Really good, riveting book about a manipulative, sociopathic child.
Oh no way! You’ve actually dropped this suggestion at a most opportune time. I’m planning a video on literature about “killer kids”! Already have The Bad Seed and The Midwich Cuckoos revved up for my May reading. Might just add this one!
Have you read the catholic banned books ? Some on the list confuse me by why they were put on the list. The kansas city library had the entire banned list printed and every book on it available to read.
Thank you for help with my uzumaki questions. I did end up buying the full volume edition and flying though the whole thing. It was so good!! And creepy
So happy to hear you enjoyed it! A really twisted and weird book. Junji Ito is an incredible visionary. He really is the living Lovecraft, in my opinion.
I recommend you "Abducted" by Ann Andrews and Jean Ritchie. I was always afraid of being abducted by aliens, and this book freaked me the fuck out. I could not finish it. It is a true account of a mother who thinks, her son tells crazy stories, until she realizes that they are being stalked by mysterious beings, that the son has physical marks and wounds, and that she and her husband were also abducted before, and whatnot. And when people claim it is real, then you wonder.. "what if that would happen to me?" Its fucking creepy! I stopped reading in the middle, I lend it to someone, and never asked for it to be returned!
I haven't watched all of this series but I haven't seen mentioned yet is Poppy Z Brite's Exquisite Corpse. It's a romance between 2 serial killers. She no longer writes horror which is disappointing. Lost Souls and Drawing Blood are her other novels. She has 2 short story collections whose names escape me.
I had a strong phase with Plath in high school. Her writing really spoke to me back then. I’m not sure what it would be like to go back to her now, but yes, the descriptions of depression and also the depersonalized experience of receiving psychiatric help back in the 50s and 60s. Powerful stuff.
What a great list of books! I did enjoy Thomas Ligotti's Songs Of A Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe and I've also read The Conspiracy Against The Human Race. His writing style is nearly the same in this book but of course it's nonfiction. It's nihilistic, pessimistic, and bleak.
I do have a copy of both of those! I’m more than willing to give him another chance. I do always try to consider the fact that maybe I wasn’t in the right mental space the first time. Surely, after COVID, his work is bound to hit a different way!
I was going to suggest The End of Alice by AM Homes which is very dark. Miss Homes is a very gifted writer. I recommend her short story collection The Safety of Objects, specifically the story Esther in the Night, which is beautifully vivid language and is quite disturbing. Unlike Alice, there is no pedophilia involved. It has been made into a film but they melded the stories together altering them quite a bit which I found ultimately disappointing. Glenn Close is excellent in the film regardless. She plays Esther.
Ah, that sounds intriguing! I would definitely be willing to give her short fiction a try. I might also end up reading The End of Alice, just out of sheer curiosity.
I know this video is like 2 years old already but uhh it’s not a book but have you heard of Deathconciousness by have a nice life? Stuff about death and nihilism and stuff and there’s a little booklet to accompany it. My boyfriend also has been reading N0SFERA2 or whatever it’s called, I forget the name of the author but he thinks that one’s pretty screwed up.
I have read The Troop. I thought it was great. I dont consider it a classic or even truly disturbing but it was a quick well written story with lots of body horror and strong feeling of despair.
The Butterfly Garden was disturbing because it involved children abductions and the horror that ensues. It is not very graphic, but very psychological.
Oh no! I think in a previous installment someone mentioned they read Birdman by Mo Hayder thinking it was a nice and cozy police procedural. 😂 That must certainly elevate the disturbing factor for these books!
And re: Zombie, I also found the parallels to John Fowles’ The Collector interesting. Both novels center around deeply disturbed individuals that blend into society unnoticed. But while Fowles’ character simply wants to “collect” and observe a seemingly untaintable and intelligent woman, Joyce’s character wants to grossly and violently defile and control a “specimen” of his choosing.
Alex! I’m so sorry about that! I always try to use gender-neutral pronouns, but I guess I slipped up. Interesting insight on collecting vs. possessing. I guess it’s just reflected in the essence of what each represents: the beautiful butterfly in captivity vs. the enslaved, brainless zombie. Truly disturbing, especially the constant obsessive thoughts the narrator has over bodies, and how offhand he names the depraved acts he has committed. Also interesting that The Collector inspired serial killer Robert Berdella, who has a lot of parallels with Dahmer. It’s such a sick obsession and detachment from reality. JCO is a master at unraveling the darkness of the mind.
Agree! Her ability to tap into the most disturbed minds, or even the most disturbed parts of “normal” peoples’ minds is uncanny. The only other book of hers I have read so far is A Fair Maiden and similarly I found her characters inner monologue so dead on. Btw, A Fair Maiden is also disturbing but in a very different way. I know you don’t like sexual abuse of minors in books but I think you will be able to handle this one because it’s not clear if the older man has a sexual attraction to the girl or not.
@@Alex-rz3hy If it’s of a more subtle and significant kind, I tend to not have a problem with it, so I’ll keep an eye out for it! Also, to reciprocate the JCO recommendation, her short novella, The Doll Master, is straight-up horror, and amazing. Her short story, “Demon,” is about five pages long, and my absolute favorite work of hers (I may have mentioned this one to you before). Both are amazing, deeply psychological studies on derangement.
The Consumer by Michael Gira. Nothing comes close in terms of just horrid and vile depictions. It's almost impossible to find and when you do it's hundreds of dollars, and I just barely finished it after taking nearly a year. Take a gut of steel to read.
Thank you so much for the suggestion! I have never heard of this book, but is that Michael Gira as in, the Swans frontman?! If so, I need to get a hold of this somehow!
@@PlaguedbyVisions it sure is haha its a book of short stories, but the cohesiveness is top notch and the man knows how to write. Loved his music and had to check the book out. If you can find it, it leaves a lasting impression. The stories range from 1983-1994. After Michael got so much backlash for how decrepit his writing was, it stopped being published. And he said he never wants it published again.
@@eMTy_One That is so relatable honestly. Yeah, I had a first peek and copies are $300-$400. Man, I might have to crowdfund for this one lmao. But I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it! I love Swans so this sounds like something I would really be into. I also really enjoyed Nick Cave’s writing (though his novels are not as “disturbing,” just more disquieting and beautifully written).
Regarding the realisation that a lot of disturbing lit was published in the 90s; One theory that I have is that (at least in America that is and I guess a portion of Europe) nihilism got an upswing during that decade - like with grunge movement for ex. Also, according to my own observations, it seemed like it had begun coming a wider recognition and Inde of mental illness, among other things. Could be a couple of the reasons? Hmm…
I love your theories! There’s definitely something to nihilism being en vogue during the decade. I think also in academia in particular, deconstruction/poststructuralism really eroded… well, the foundations of thought, of knowledge. Things definitely fell apart during these years. It made for beautifully decadent gloom and doom haha!
Love this book! And McCarthy’s earlier works in general. Blood Meridian I talked about in Part One of this series, and Outer Dark is also incredible. I’ll be sure to mention this in the next installment. Thank you!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I read them some time ago (20 years?) so I don't know if they are worthwhile, but I remember the books very fondly. Kind of post post-apocalypse. Themes of slavery, some disconcerting sexual politics, but handled very smartly. May not be up your alley?
Actually, sir, you just described my alley down to a T, including the grimy pavement and the trash on the corners. 😂 I’ll definitely have to look into this! It sounds exactly like the explorations I enjoy scifi authors undertaking.
I have somehow never read any Philip K. Dick, but I am going to amend that in the next month. I've placed a bind-up with 4 of his novels on hold at my library! I'm going to read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The Man in the High Castle, and/or Ubik.
I wish you the best of luck exploring good old PKD. His ideas are out there, an amazing exploration of the limits of the body, the mind, and the soul(?). Ubik in particular hits all three marks, so that’s MY personal recommendation!
The Troop was great, but the cover is not nearly as good as the version made by @codeinesnaps ( ruclips.net/video/bWiubJZ4QX4/видео.html ). And you just made me order We Who Are About To... seems like required reading.
Wait, you mean THE graphic artist extraordinaire Gio?! I think you’ll enjoy We Who Are About To. It still very much reads like classic scifi (it’s the discipline Joanna Russ is emerging from) but like I said, of a deeply nihilist and mean-spirited sensibility, and really deconstructs the entire “space colonization” premise. It’s a very short read, too!
Man you are very underrated, keep making videos please.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your support and kind words. I’m not stopping any time soon!
i love your broader concept of 'disturbing literature' because being disturbed is a common, everyday experience not really linked with violence or sex. Those are often present at the periphery, but the feeling of being unsettled can come from a sound or a place or from something you can't even identify in the moment. I am obsessed with your channel atm
As someone who is just getting into horror/disturbing novels, I can't thank you enough for this channel and your videos!! I absolutely love other types of horror content, like movies and video games, so your videos have come at a perfect time for me. Keep up the amazing work!! I've subscribed and can't wait for more!!
Oh my God, thank you! I see now you watched more installments. I’m glad you found them! I’m glad it can serve as an introduction to horror literature for you! I appreciate the support so much. 🖤
A book that disturbed me is "What Lies Between Us" by John Marrs... It's about two women living in the same house but one is chained on her bed in a locked attic. Every night, they have their dinner together, the other woman goes about her day and the other one goes back to the padlocked attic.
It disturbed me deeply because I get both sides. There isn't any black and white on morality that was discussed in the book and that's what's disturbing to me. The fact that the author makes me empathize with both women makes it such a good book.
Never heard of this one! I’ll feature it in the next installment. Thanks for the detailed description of why it’s disturbing. Definitely sounds like something right up my alley.
This is a good one!
You're the kind of booktuber that I'm looking for, please keep the recommendations and reviews coming, I love getting titles both from you and the comments on your videos, thank you sm
Glad to hear it, and thank YOU so much for watching! I hope you find other recommendations to your liking around here. 😁
Your description of the illustrations in “zombie” was enough to interest me. I’m going to have to check that out! Another great video! I love how much love you show to your viewers and include them in most of your videos.
It’s an amazing novel! Like I said, maybe not everyone, but if the narrator’s voice traps you, it will NOT let you go. It’s very much a “I need to shower” kind of book.
@@PlaguedbyVisions definitely checking it out! I’ll just have to be in the mood to read it 🤣
I'm so happy I found this channel! I've recently been wondering why I'm drawn to disturbing and dark reads, but the way you explain why people engage with disturbing literature has given me so much insight into WHY I read what I read. I absolutely love the way you discuss books -- you have such a great perspective and I really appreciate how in depth you go into your descriptions of the books you highlight in your videos.
I would say the most disturbing book I have ever read is "We Need to Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. It was a really dark exploration of nature vs. nurture within a fictional setting and it really made me look critically at what is within our control when raising children, what is not, AND whether the narrator can even be trusted. I haven't seen all of your videos yet, so I'm unsure if you have already read it, but I definitely recommend it!
Thank you so much for your beautiful words! I’m happy to have you here! :) Yes, there is a big stigma around disturbing literature and its contents, because of assumptions that are made about those who engage with it. But I’d venture to say, those who engage with disturbing fiction do so because they are much better at compartmentalizing it. I don’t find it titillating or attractive (as I’ve been accused of by a couple of comments in the past lol), but rather intriguing, fascinating, and always fearsome and puzzling.
I have seen the film adaptation of We Need to Talk About Kevin (amazing performances), but I’ve never read the book. I do see it mentioned often in lists of this kind, but I haven’t mentioned it yet in my channel. I’ll be sure to do so in the next installment. Again, thank you so much for your lovely comment!
In 2 days, this became my favourite channel on youtube. Great content.
Thank you so much! 😭
Hi! Recently found your channel and I am a big fan! Glad to see Joyce Carol Oates made the list. Another book by them that disturbed me greatly is "Daddy Love". I couldn't stop thinking about the book for weeks after reading it.
Thank you so much! Happy to hear you’ve been enjoying the videos. It means a lot. That’s one I’ve heard of before but have yet to get to. It sounds disturbing in a more understated way. I will say, it was incredible how well she entered the mind of a male psychopath in Zombie! Truly seamless first-person narration.
Not a lot of youtubers talk about OUT by Nastuo Kirino, I appreciate the fact that you talk about books that does not follow current trends. I've read Grotesque by the same author, I did not enjoy it as much as OUT. However, I've heard that Grotesque was censored in North America. Thanks for your hard work.
I honestly don’t do it on purpose to be different! Lol. I’m just stuck reading older, less popular books. I do find they hold bigger treasures! I have her other novels, Grotesque and Real World, but have yet to dive into them. Hopefully I’ll do it soon!
Thank YOU so much for watching!
I know this is an older video and I’m coming in late. I just wanted to say that I super respect that you are anti censorship in are while acknowledging your own limits.
Ps. Lolita is one of the best books I have ever read in terms of quality, but the subject matter is a big bummer.
Keen on reading The Butterfly Garden. Have been interested in that book for months!
I don’t know much about it. If you end up reading it, I look forward to your review so I can make my own decision!
It's quite interesting the fact the disturbing is a word that can describe a multitude of things, allowing for this variety of points of view on the subject.
I might find something to be disturbing but the same thing could be 'normal' to someone else.
Keep it up, man!
I believe someone in these comments found some passages in LOTR deeply disturbing. Indeed, it’s the subjectivity that keeps me wanting to do this series-to truly uncover what’s so disturbing about any given work! The usual blood and guts works sometimes, but there’s other titles that are deeply unsettling for darker, even personal, reasons.
Thanks for watching once more!
Hey Juan, brilliant video as always! Just wanted to ask, you raised a point about writers in the 21st century being more aware of what they write for various reasons. Chuck Palahniuk raised a good point in an interview that a lot of editors won't let writers publish certain stories because they're too disturbing or harrowing (even if based on real life experiences). Have you by chance come across any literature/stories that have made it out to the public and can you recommend any authors who aren't afraid to write in their own style with their own content?
That’s an excellent point! Yes, perhaps publishing companies are largely responsible for this filtering of content in mainstream media. I think this what also has relegated “extreme” and “transgressive” fiction to the realm of independent publishing and boutique publishers. I think that’s usually where you’ll find the most disturbed narrative voices today, but sadly, the lack of editing and publishing support often steeps them in a sort of amateurish presentation. Sadly, as I stated, I’m not well-versed at all in 21st-century literature (besides works from earlier in the millennium, but not of the horrific/disturbing kind). Dennis Cooper comes to mind as an unabashedly twisted author. There’s also Mark Z. Danielewski, who is still playing with form and narrative, and of course authors from outside the US (part 3 of this series has that covered pretty well). But I may not be the most qualified person to answer this question, sadly.
I just found about you yesterday and not only do I love and admire your channel and have became an instant subscriber, I’ve read almost every book on your first list and a few books on your second and third list. And to be honest, I’m surprised that you haven’t mentioned any of The Marquis de Sade’s works. Considering he wrote majority of them in an asylum in the 1700’s, 120 days of sodom is by far the worst of the worst in my opinion and one of the only book that I’ve read where I had to stop reading just to physically vomit.
Thank you so much for watching! I’m really happy to hear you’ve been enjoying this series! You’re right, I’ve yet to introduce De Sade’s works formally into this list. I’ll be sure to include your comment and suggestion in the next installment. Pasolini’s film adaptation of this particular book remains, to me, one of the most powerful spells cinema has ever cast over me.
Another great vid! Thanks for this! Got a copy of Tender is the Flesh because of your recommendation 😁 so excited to read it!
Thanks so much for watching once more, Mae! And I hope you “enjoy” Tender is the Flesh. It’s definitely powerful. I look forward to whatever else Bazterrica chooses to write.
Love your videos! The Butterfly Garden is a book I’ve read a long time ago and still find disturbing indeed. I love many books you recommended and will be adding lots to my Readlist. Have you read “La Bête Humaine” by Zola? a classic but makes me feel very uneasy
This is truly a strange coincidence-just this past Thursday I went to a garage sale and found a copy of La Bête Humaine, and had to get it because I remembered this comment! So needless to say, thank you so much. It is now in my radar!
@@PlaguedbyVisions Wonderful! Excited to hear what you think. Cheers!
Dude! I just found your channel today! Finally I have my extreme horror fix! I was curious if you’ve heard/read “No Longer Human” by Omazu Dazai and/or “Goodnight, Punpun” by Inio Asano. I read the manga adaptation of “No Longer Human” and finished Punpun a few years ago. Both left me incredibly depressed post-read.
Welcome to the channel! Always happy to meet others with similarly rotted interests. I reviewed Goodnight Punpun on my channel, if you’re interested in watching that! And Dazai’s novel was pretty great, but it didn’t impact me quite as much as I thought it would. Punpun definitely ruined my day, though!
Hello, Juan. Found your channel yesterday and watched almost all the videos, you're doing a great job!
As for suggestions... In the first episode you've mentioned Ryu Murakami, as he's an author who specializes in this kind of literature. In my opinion, his "War begins beyond the sea" is his most disturbing work: barely has any plot, has pretty much all the possible triggers, and most of all, it's not just a meaningless gorefest, its actually just good literature.
Another japanese author I really like is Kobo Abe, and his "The box man" may be to your taste. It would rank pretty low on the disturbing scale, because it's not gory or anything, it's just super-super weird and undecypherable. His classic "woman in the dunes" would also fit into the disturbing category.
"Earthlings" by Sayaka Murata is another one that is described as that. Haven't read it myself, as it is not yet translated in my native language, but heard very good reviews.
Love from Russia
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately, this particular Murakami novel seems to have never been translated into English or Spanish (the only two languages I'm able to read in), so I will sadly be unable to read this one, which pains me greatly. :(
Coincidentally, Kobo Abe will be featured in a future video I'm working on! His novels are so perplexing and enigmatic. I love his style!
I have never heard of Sayaka Murata, so thank you so much for that recommendation! And thank you for such a thorough and amazing comment. I really appreciate your support!
I'm really enjoying this series! We Who Are About To... is probably the book that messed me up the most.
Thank you so much for watching! Joana Russ is a master of taking an already uncomfortable idea and making it fester and worsen.
Too bad you couldn’t finish Lolita. It is actually one of my top favorite books of all time (maybe number one). I found it so emotionally torturous. That rare case where you find yourself feel bona ride sympathy for someone who, intellectually, you know shouldn’t deserve it, but for whom, emotionally, you can’t help feeling empathy. And written beautifully... still so amazing to me that English was not Nabokov’s first language. I never heard of The End of Alice, but I may need to try this one.
I love Nabokov’s prose, and it’s indeed his enchanting language that makes Lolita so disturbing. His novels, Pnin and Pale Fire, are among some of the best I have read as well. But as I said, purely for personal reasons, I can’t get myself to get through Lolita. But I agree with you on everything, and recognize it as a justified classic. I believe that’s BECAUSE English was his second language that Nabokov took careful and meticulous attention to dissect and mull over each word.
I love your channel so much! I took up reading Tampa bc of your channel and am nearly done with it. Very intense but also healing for me for personal reasons. It has helped me realize I was still a kid at 14 when things happened. Very disturbing narration style which at some times gets a bit too graphic for me but beyond those parts it’s worth the read
I’m really happy to hear that Tampa helped you in that way. I truly believe that lots of disturbing fiction is like smelling salts: Brutishly waking you to a personal reckoning. I know it has helped me in similar terms as well.
I love these videos! Excellent job👌👍💕
Love your comments! Again, thanks for suggesting The Butterfly Garden! I do hope I can get to it sometime.
Juan i absolutely love your videos. Disturbing literature is something i always look for. I always look for a title or two to have on my reading list. You have done the research for me in this area so i can follow your interesting choices. I will recomend you to try The Tenant by Roland Topor and J.F. Gonzalez Survivor. Keep them going
Thank you so much for your kind words! I really appreciate it. The Tenant might be a strong contender for Part 5 🤫 I am absolutely fascinated by Topor. Such a strange guy. I couldn’t believe he also wrote Fantastic Planet. I REALLY couldn’t believe that was him playing the crazy guy in Herzog’s Nosferatu. Polanski’s film adaptation of the Tenant is one of the strangest things I’ve ever witnessed.
I think I’ve heard the name J.F. Gonzalez before. He’s an extreme fiction writer, a la Wrath James White, no? I’ll keep an eye out for him!
Thanks for all the support!
I haven’t read the Troop yet, but Nick Cutter’s The Deep was easily the scariest book I read last year. The setting is claustrophobic to the highest degree possible
Thanks for the comment! If I end up enjoying The Troop, I’ll definitely give The Deep a try as well!
The Troop was great, The Deep is on my list.
Your point about unexpected disturbing content is so true. It’s almost worse in a way when something disturbing comes out of nowhere, because at least in the case of something you know is gonna be disturbing you can mentally prepare yourself. Not so when your just trying to play a Nintendo game and then BAM eldrich abomination! It wouldn’t be so bad by itself but the context of being in something otherwise innocent makes it so much worse then it is.
Ah, yes, I do believe this is why Earthbound became so infamous! Childlike things are definitely always unsettling for this reason: We don't expect that turn into Disturbing Land! Those are definitely the most memorable stories for me as well.
Juan, thank you for another wonderful packed video. I always find something I think I might be interested in picking up. I will check out Zombie and We Who Are About To. I have read many of Joyce Carol Oates's novels but not Zombie. Joanna Russ is an author I haven't read but that book sounds like it's right up my alley. It also reminds me of from your description of "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell Sci-Fi Philosophy written in 1996. It's about an expedition to Rakhat, the world that is sending the music that is being picked up on radio waves. The mission is organized by the Society of Jesus, known for its missionary, linguistic and scientific activities in the year 2060, only one crew member, the Jesuit priest Emilio Sandoz, survives to return to Earth, and he is damaged physically and psychologically. I think you might like it, it is disturbing and I still think about it. Hugs, Maggs
Thank you so much, Maggs, for another wonderful comment! Look forward to my next video, where I will go more in depth on Joanna Russ as a writer and feminist figure.
Thank you for the recommendation! It sounds very interesting. I’ll keep an eye out for it. I do love my sci-fi more on the philosophical and disturbing side (evidently). 😎
My brother gave me we who are about to... a few years ago and i haven't read it yet. It's sitting right in front of me on my desk. Excited to get to it!!
I hope you enjoy it! I thought it was fantastic and such a punch to the gut.
Joyce Carol Oates short tale "where are you going, where have you been?" really creeped me out. Bone chilling mundane cold portray of a sexual abuse case where the perpetrator makes it seen like a courtship.
I’ve read that story! Ketchum adapted the same true story in his novel The Lost, but I think JCO’s reigns superior.
Hey man! I recently read a book called the Siberian Incident, my sister got it me for christmas and its pretty short (280 or so pages) and it was quite good its like a 80's creature horror movie and is really fun with some gory parts. I also read Uzumaki and finished in 1 afternoon, this is my first manga and was surprised by how great and engaging it was
Thanks for leaving this title in the comments! It sounds like a good time. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it.
So glad to hear you enjoyed Uzumaki! It’s an amazing work of surreal horror. Only Juji Ito could turn spirals into a full-blown hellish nightmare. Gyo is similar: Bizarre concept, great, disturbing execution, although the ending was a bit lacking in my opinion.
@@PlaguedbyVisions yeah ive been looking into getting more horror, maybe some short story manga collections too!
@@Jake-rv9hr try Ito’s “Fragments of Horror” for some great horror oneshots!
@@PlaguedbyVisions i will for sure sounds awesome, thanks man!
Thank you again for another great video! I really enjoy your thoughts on these books (most of which I'll probably not have the stomach to read myself ;)) as well your very considerate approach.
Regarding disturbing books: The most disturbing book i probably ever read was "Hot Zone" by Richard Preston. Mortifying. A very graphic and utterly horrifying depiction of Ebola outbreaks. However, as I later found out it is not quite to be treated as non-fiction and seems to be overly dramatic at times (to an admittedly disturbing effect). A more nuanced view is presented in "Ebola" by Davin Quammen.
Looking forward to see you breeze past 1000 subscribers, Juan! :)
Edit: spelling
Thank you so much for your amazing and kind words, and for the recommendation! I can’t believe I haven’t yet explored the subject of disease in my recommendations! That certainly needs to be represented much more! And thank you for your own suggestions. I haven’t heard of these books, but I’ll certainly look into them!
1K subscribers is a dream! 🙌🏽
One book I really liked that was really sad and disturbing was Sarah by JT LeRoy. There is some bad stuff happening to a young boy that could be hard for you to read if you haven't yet but its not like Tampa or Lolita where it is constant throughout the book. Also I have read off season and the girl next door by jack Ketchum. What book by him do you recommend I listen to next(preferably not short story)?
I PURCHASED THIS BOOK RECENTLY! It’s revving up as a strong contender for part 5! Lol. Yes, I agree, very different from other books mentioned in this series dealing with similar subject matter. Dare I say, it’s strangely endearing.
As for Mr. Ketchum, I would suggest either Offspring or Joyride as a followup. Joyride is more of a thriller, Offspring more straight up horror. Your choice!
@@PlaguedbyVisions thank you!
Hi again, you've done a lot of videos on books you've found disturbing/weird etc. I know you talk about authors along the way but could you possibly do an author focused video, where you talk about authors that have stood out to you because they're good writers or write disturbing fiction?
Hmm, I’ll let this idea mull over in my mind. There’s definitely authors with a... reputation out there, lol. I’ll see what I can come up with!
The house that jack built is a movie that sounds like it would be a perfect combo while reading or after reading zombie. Jack wants to turn these victims into something...else. Thanks for this great list man.
Lol I remember that movie! I actually didn’t like it that much, but definitely, the obsession seems similar. Zombie is quite a superb novel! It’s one of those you read in one sitting and then feel gross about it afterward.
I almost feel bad suggesting this because I really don't think people find it disturbing, and as someone who's read a lot of the books you've pointed out I can agree it's not exactly on the same level, but one of my favourite books of all time is Flowers fir Algernon. My mother was a Special Education Teacher and thought it was a very important book so she gave it to me when I was ten or eleven, I was not prepared to feel the way I did by the end. I've reread it a few times since then and it still makes my chest knot up when I get to it. I understand that the implications of the book are hopeful to some, but it still makes me sad.
Can you believe I’ve never read Flowers for Algernon? What blasphemy! I definitely have to. It sounds fascinating. Thank you for the suggestion!
I was literally seconds away from going up to bed, and then this notification popped up, and I had to go open another beer and park myself in front of the iPad 😜
You’re a real trooper, Dave. I salute you with honor 🖖🏽
Sounds like ur living the life hahaha
I love this series of videos. Thoughtful, intellectual, and not offering the same predictable entries. Try the short story “People in Hell Just Want a Drink of Water” by Annie Proulx. From her short story collection Close Range: Wyoming Stories published in 1999.
Thank you so much, Nathan! Always makes me happy to hear that people are enjoying this series! I’ve never heard of this author, so I’ll definitely be checking this out. Thank you so much!
@@PlaguedbyVisions Annie Proulx also wrote the short story Brokeback Mountain, which is featured in the same story collection. The collection has a lot of haunting imagery (such as in the story "The Half-skinned Steer"), and her prose is enviable!
Hi Juan, your videos are peaking my curiosity more and more into the realm of dread, which I’ve been avoiding fervently . But I think it’s time to dip my foot in, hopefully I’ll return with all my toes. I’m starting with crash by jg Ballard, have you read it ? Thanks for the vids!
Thank you so much for watching! I’m glad you are thinking of giving this darksided literature a chance. Welcome! :) and yes, I talk about Crash in part 2 of this series!
@@PlaguedbyVisions ah yes chronology, my weakness, I will check it out thanks!
Great content man! Binge watched your disturbing books videos. Got a proposal! What do you think about Jack Ketchum’s off season?
Thank you so much for watching! I really appreciate it. I read Off Season maybe 12 years ago, so it’s a big foggy, but there’s so much of that violence that is truly unforgettable. I’m rereading it soon! I’m doing a challenge where I read (or reread ones I already read in the past) every book by Jack Ketchum. Off Season is next on my list!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I have to do a similar challenge too. Great content man! Planning to lay down and watch all your videos non-stop! Thanks to you I bought 3 diamonds of literature that I didn’t knew they even existed! Marianna Enriquez and Kobo Abe are bombs!
I read Zombie and loved it! Joyce is a great talent; she's one of those writers whose prose exults in less is more understatement. I love how she really puts you into the mental illness of the main character. To me it takes a real genius to get you to empathize with such a deranged personality, but I think Joyce does just that. Am I wrong? Maybe I'm sick. Zombie reminds me of the song "John Wayne Gacy Jr" by Sufjan Stevens. (Check out the song on RUclips. It's brilliant!)
I've added Father of Lies to my Want to Read list on goodreads. I never seem to get away from watching your vlogs without adding at least one book to my list.
Another great book vlog, Juan! As always, you blow me away with your level of erudition.
Seamus! Always a pleasure reading your comments. You’re not sick due to your thoughts on Zombie-or maybe we’re both sick, haha. But yes, I also thought the narrator’s quotidian lifestyle, his constant worries about his self-image, his life permeated by loneliness and an inability to connect. You do start to feel for him in some way.
Dear God, The Troop messed me up. And I will admit that it actually scared the hell out of me. The hardest moments to stomach were the animal deaths. They were described so well, it seemed like I was watching Cannibal Holocaust.
Added a few of these to my TBR.
Oh, definitely, the violence was especially relentless against the critters (I have now read it since making this video). The chimp scenes… Let’s just say I got a bit itchy.
You were made to be a communicator. Love your videos
Thank you so much for such a kind compliment! I often doubt my communication skills (maybe a result of being an English learner), so this really means a lot.
Hi! Really like this series of videos.
Do you know the work of Dennis Cooper? He's the most disturbing I've read.
Thank you for watching! I’m happy to hear you’ve enjoyed this series.
I just recently discovered the works of Dennis Cooper. You can find a review of his novel, The Sluts, in my channel. He is twisted for sure!
out of every book youve covered in this the one i think i have to pick up is "three stigmata"
A great choice! A truly unsettling phasing through realities and cognition. It is insane writing.
Survivor by JF Gonzalez is the most disturbing book I have ever read. There is a insane amount of dread in the book as well. This book forces the reader to confront how far they would be willing to go to save their own lives, to be a survivor.
Thank you for the recommendation! I keep hearing the name JF Gonzalez, along with a similar author, Wrath James White. I’ll be sure to name this in the next installment!
Another great video my friend.. When you mention the end of alice the other book besides Lolita is it Hug or Hog?
It's Hogg
They need to direct all these Hogg questions to you now, Gio, since you’ve actually read it. I pass this curse on to you.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I NEED TO BURN THAT BOOK IN MY BRAIN. hahahha I'll have to relive it again while filming the review :'(
DJ, if you’re interested, I talk all about my experience with Hogg in my “Books I Cannot Read” video. :-)
I acknowledge that I am too fragile minded to read many of the transgressive works that you review but I find your well thought out analysis of these books fascinating 👍
A book that really got to me was A Child Called it by Dave Pelza. Somehow I got it when I was young and it just stuck with me. I'm not sure it would have the same effect if I had read it as an adult. Actually there is a lot of stigma around this book because the author put the book out as a account of his childhood and the abuse he was subjected to as a child but it was alleged that he made it all up. I really have never properly looked into it so I'm not sure how that was left but I just remember a lot of people outraged by him.
That’s interesting, this constant fascination that some “memoir writers” have with fabricating trauma. To me, that’s an incredibly disturbing aspect on its own. I have been thinking about doing a “disturbing books” installment centered on nonfiction, so this would absolutely be a great title to mention!
I keep resisting the urge to suggest To Train Up a Child for the disturbing list, since not only is it nonfiction, it's disturbing because of the author's intent the impact of the book itself. As far as actual fiction, there's always the works of Edward Lee and Scott McKenzie. Also one that comes to mind is Wolf at the Table by Augusten Burroughs. It concerns Burroughs' childhood with his violently abusive father, although some moments (monologues for example) are so detailed that they feel a tad appended from actual childhood memory. That said, it's a frustrating and unnerving account of the abuse and narcissism he experienced.
My God, I wish I would’ve known about How to Train Up a Child while making my “Why Do Children Love Horror?” video! It sounds absolutely mortifying. I will surely include it in the viewers’ suggestions for part 5.
I HAVE read A Wolf at the Table! Yes, very disturbing, although what enveloped me the most while reading it was a profound sadness and rage. Very relatable to many people, too, which is horrible.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Totally, it seemed like every chapter had something different to angry about on Augusten's behalf.
I've been meaning to read Zombie for a while it's been on my kindle waiting for me to get to it lol. I think the most disturbing book I've read was "Along The Path Of Torment" by Chandler Morrison. It explored some stuff that was very devastating in certain ways.
I’ve heard very mixed things about Chandler Morrison. Some say he’s a really good writer, others disagree. I don’t know if shock for the sake of shock is really my thing, but you never know what the future holds!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I think a lot of people misinterpret his work as extreme horror when it's more satire, think Stokoe meets Ellis. Definitely not for everyone though. If you're going to try one of his books I definitely recommend starting with Along the Path of Torment, basically about the pedophilic elite in hollywood
That’s good to know! I’ll definitely keep in mind not to take him too seriously. Thank you, and thank you for tuning in to the live, Tobias!
The Troop is wonderful but warning for some very upsetting instances of animal cruelty
I have since read The Troop and thought it was quite great! And the animal cruelty CW is one of the first things I threw in in my review!
can't wait for the 1000 subscribers haircut reveal!!
😂 hopefully by then I will have outgrown this nightmare.
Thanks for the recommendations! The Phillip K. Dick's one is right up my alley.
Some recommendations.
About Feminism:
"The Marabou Stork Nightmares" by Irvine Welsh. (Trippy, hallucinatory, real and deeply disturbing)
Japanese:
"A Personal Matter" by Kenzaburō Ōe (The one that made fall in love with literature, it is disturbing because it is so human)
And Also because of "Father of lies" I recommend you two chilean movies that are very similar in content (I don't remember the directors sorry)
"El Club"
"El Bosque de Karadima"
Thank you so much for the recommendations! And I hope you give Palmer Eldritch a chance. It’s really out there. PKD was genuinely insane. I love him.
Irvine Welsh, I’ve read Trainspotting and it was a struggle with the Scots jargon. I’ll have to mentally prepare if I ever tackle another one of his books. I’m curious if you read a Spanish translation? I’m genuinely bewildered trying to figure out how you would go about translating Welsh.
I’ve heard of Kenzaburo Oe, but never read his work. Maybe this is a sign! I hear he is of the same discipline as Yukio Mishima (who I’m obsessed with currently) and Osamu Dazai: Tackling interpersonal and emotional conflicts with defeat and torturous thoughts. I’ll keep an eye out for this one!
And thanks for the film recommendations as well! I don’t know how much I would be able to tolerate but like I said, this is important subject matter we need to continue to educate ourselves on.
Gracias siempre por tus comentarios. La verdad siempre se me hacen interesantísimas tus recomendaciones. El de Donoso ya lo terminé y me quedé con un gran asco y pavor (para mí, esas son buenísimas reacciones 🤣).
PS I still owe you that video on “el gótico latino.” I really want to make it happen!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I have read "Trainspotting" and "The acid house" translated into Spanish. They were European translations and I didn't like them because the characters' jargon felt too Spaniard. Irving Welsh language is difficult but it is really worth it.
I read Mishima "The sailor who.." and I am reading "Confession of a Mask" Kenzaburō is similar in some ways, especially in historical and personal influences in their literature.
@@m.c.a9677 Glad I’m not the only one uncomfortable with Spanish translations of the Spain kind! I had a traumatic enough experience reading Don Quixote in college.
Another amazing (and super short) Mishima work is Star. Highly recommend it as well!
I would suggest you talk about early Ian McEwan. Love The Comfort of Strangers. Flannery O'connor is on a league of her own when it comes to disturbing fiction. Also find some shorts from Joyce Carol Oates very unsettling.
I do talk about The Cement Garden in part 2 of this series! I did also live the Comfort of Strangers. I discuss O’Connor in a video I made on Southern Gothic. I really have to read more JCO!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I've watched your video on southern gothic after posting this comment. Great video. I need to find me some copies of the authors you recommend on that video. I've only read Flannery.
A few which left deep and lasting impressions because of the quality of writing and the emotional and psychological impact they've had on me.
Johnny Got His Gun, by Dalton Trumbo. A devastating novel about the deafening silence and indifference following those twisted and broken by war.
Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollack. A collection of short stories about no-collar folk kicking Horatio Alger's corpse into dust. Whiskey and fishsticks thrown in for good measure. Flannery O'Connor meets Larry Brown. Think William Gay's The Paperhanger, Breece D.J. Pancake's entire body of work, Raymond Carver's Popular Mechanics and Tell the Girls We're Coming, and Daniel Woodrell's The Outlaw Album. Netflix recently released an adaptation of Pollock's The Devil all the Time.
Joe R. Lansdale's The Drive-in. A fun and disturbing tale of the collapse of civilization popcorn, heavy petting, and a smiling comet the Baptist Church has been saying would happen. His short story, The Night They Missed the Horror Show is a very hard read which, I think, is one of the scariest tales ever written.
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado . Short stories about agency, consent, queer bodies, Law and Order:SVU, and sex at the end of the world.
City of Night, by John Rechy. Young lad flees Texas for 60's Time Square and Castro Districts. Sex workers, hustling, trans and drag and queer characters, rotten pigs, cheapo professors who won't come off an extra stinkin nickel down at the automat ferchristssake.
You mentioned Selby Jr. In your first video. Last Exit to Brooklyn really got to me.
Have more, but ill wait for your next video.....
WOWZA! Thank you so much for such a comprehensive and detailed list! I’ll certainly find a way to implement it in the next installment!
I don’t read that much disturbing fiction but if I can suggest a title it would be “the collector” by john fowles. It has actually inspired a couple of serial killers. It’s a sick book that paints the killer in a positive light. Really gross too.
I have heard of this book before! I believe someone mentioned it in my “Can a Book Kill You” video in reference to what you just described. It would definitely be an interesting book to explore. Thanks for your constant support, CJ! 🤙🏽
Was there a movie on this? I swear there's a franchise called The Collector
@@codeinesnaps there’s a movie based on it from like the 60s or 70s. There’s a more recent horror movie also called the collector but it’s unrelated.
@@PlaguedbyVisions hey no worries, man. I always get excited when you post new videos. You’re one of my favorite youtubers and you should have waayyyy more subs!
I just finished reading Cows by Matthew Stokoe and I pride myself on being able to enjoy reading messed-up stuff, but this one actually made me feel sick at times. The End of Alice was very disturbing, but I don't blame anyone for not wanting to read that kind of subject material. I plan on reading Tampa by Alissa Stutting at some stage. The next one I plan on reading is Audition by Ryū Murakami. I have watched the movie, and it has quite a memorable scene, but the books are always better, right.
Cows is definitely revolting! Curiously, people are either deeply affected by it or find it laughable-the power of subjectivity! I have since read both End of Alice and Tampa, and I found them quite horrid, but deeply compelling works of transgressive art. Sadly, I must say, I actually like the film version of Audition more than the novel!
I think you would really enjoy The Push-by Ashley Audrain, a newer book (2021) that is a cross between The Omen and We Need to Talk About Kevin! Really good, riveting book about a manipulative, sociopathic child.
Oh no way! You’ve actually dropped this suggestion at a most opportune time. I’m planning a video on literature about “killer kids”! Already have The Bad Seed and The Midwich Cuckoos revved up for my May reading. Might just add this one!
@@PlaguedbyVisions Oh, wow! It's sooooo good! Gabby from Gabbyreads (who I also love!) recommended it - and I finished it in one weekend! Yay you!!!
Have you read the catholic banned books ? Some on the list confuse me by why they were put on the list. The kansas city library had the entire banned list printed and every book on it available to read.
I’m not familiar with this subject matter! Care to explain a bit further?
I too am yet to be convinced by Ligotti!
We’re not alone, my brethren!
Thank you for help with my uzumaki questions. I did end up buying the full volume edition and flying though the whole thing. It was so good!! And creepy
So happy to hear you enjoyed it! A really twisted and weird book. Junji Ito is an incredible visionary. He really is the living Lovecraft, in my opinion.
I recommend you "Abducted" by Ann Andrews and Jean Ritchie. I was always afraid of being abducted by aliens, and this book freaked me the fuck out. I could not finish it. It is a true account of a mother who thinks, her son tells crazy stories, until she realizes that they are being stalked by mysterious beings, that the son has physical marks and wounds, and that she and her husband were also abducted before, and whatnot. And when people claim it is real, then you wonder.. "what if that would happen to me?" Its fucking creepy! I stopped reading in the middle, I lend it to someone, and never asked for it to be returned!
I haven't watched all of this series but I haven't seen mentioned yet is Poppy Z Brite's Exquisite Corpse. It's a romance between 2 serial killers. She no longer writes horror which is disappointing. Lost Souls and Drawing Blood are her other novels. She has 2 short story collections whose names escape me.
I talked of Exquisite Corpse in my video for “LGBTQ Horror.” It definitely belongs in this list as well!
The bell jar by sylvia plath. Deals with the end of a bad marriage. The end is very autobiographical to her.
I had a strong phase with Plath in high school. Her writing really spoke to me back then. I’m not sure what it would be like to go back to her now, but yes, the descriptions of depression and also the depersonalized experience of receiving psychiatric help back in the 50s and 60s. Powerful stuff.
What a great list of books! I did enjoy Thomas Ligotti's Songs Of A Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe and I've also read The Conspiracy Against The Human Race. His writing style is nearly the same in this book but of course it's nonfiction. It's nihilistic, pessimistic, and bleak.
I do have a copy of both of those! I’m more than willing to give him another chance. I do always try to consider the fact that maybe I wasn’t in the right mental space the first time. Surely, after COVID, his work is bound to hit a different way!
Love the reviews n butterfly garden good read and love the protagonist
sick new intro
Thanks so much, friend! You’re actually the first to acknowledge it, so I really appreciate it!
They made the butterfly garden into a film called the butterfly collector
I believe that was “The Collector,” an older work from the 60s that someone else mentioned in the comments, but yes, a disturbing work as well!
I was going to suggest The End of Alice by AM Homes which is very dark. Miss Homes is a very gifted writer. I recommend her short story collection The Safety of Objects, specifically the story Esther in the Night, which is beautifully vivid language and is quite disturbing. Unlike Alice, there is no pedophilia involved.
It has been made into a film but they melded the stories together altering them quite a bit which I found ultimately disappointing. Glenn Close is excellent in the film regardless. She plays Esther.
Ah, that sounds intriguing! I would definitely be willing to give her short fiction a try. I might also end up reading The End of Alice, just out of sheer curiosity.
I know this video is like 2 years old already but uhh it’s not a book but have you heard of Deathconciousness by have a nice life? Stuff about death and nihilism and stuff and there’s a little booklet to accompany it. My boyfriend also has been reading N0SFERA2 or whatever it’s called, I forget the name of the author but he thinks that one’s pretty screwed up.
I have read The Troop. I thought it was great. I dont consider it a classic or even truly disturbing but it was a quick well written story with lots of body horror and strong feeling of despair.
I’ve since read the Troop as well! I really enjoyed the passages about the chimp. 🦧
The Butterfly Garden was disturbing because it involved children abductions and the horror that ensues.
It is not very graphic, but very psychological.
I’ve been curious to check it out for over a year now! 😂 I should just bite the bullet!
I swear when my brother cut my hair, I was tempted to wear hats on videos too!!
Hard times 💇🏽♂️
What's the intro song
It’s from the Last House on the Left trailer. I believe Rob Zombie also sampled it in his song, “Living Dead Girl.”
I read Zombie when I was a young teen thinking it was going to be about actual zombies. I was very wrong and very scarred for life lol
Oh no! I think in a previous installment someone mentioned they read Birdman by Mo Hayder thinking it was a nice and cozy police procedural. 😂 That must certainly elevate the disturbing factor for these books!
most people have read it in english class but "a good man is hard to find" by flannery o'connor is extremely disturbing
Love these videos! And thanks for the shoutouts! Btw, I’m a girl Alex. 🙂
And re: Zombie, I also found the parallels to John Fowles’ The Collector interesting. Both novels center around deeply disturbed individuals that blend into society unnoticed. But while Fowles’ character simply wants to “collect” and observe a seemingly untaintable and intelligent woman, Joyce’s character wants to grossly and violently defile and control a “specimen” of his choosing.
Alex! I’m so sorry about that! I always try to use gender-neutral pronouns, but I guess I slipped up.
Interesting insight on collecting vs. possessing. I guess it’s just reflected in the essence of what each represents: the beautiful butterfly in captivity vs. the enslaved, brainless zombie. Truly disturbing, especially the constant obsessive thoughts the narrator has over bodies, and how offhand he names the depraved acts he has committed. Also interesting that The Collector inspired serial killer Robert Berdella, who has a lot of parallels with Dahmer. It’s such a sick obsession and detachment from reality. JCO is a master at unraveling the darkness of the mind.
Agree! Her ability to tap into the most disturbed minds, or even the most disturbed parts of “normal” peoples’ minds is uncanny. The only other book of hers I have read so far is A Fair Maiden and similarly I found her characters inner monologue so dead on. Btw, A Fair Maiden is also disturbing but in a very different way. I know you don’t like sexual abuse of minors in books but I think you will be able to handle this one because it’s not clear if the older man has a sexual attraction to the girl or not.
@@Alex-rz3hy If it’s of a more subtle and significant kind, I tend to not have a problem with it, so I’ll keep an eye out for it! Also, to reciprocate the JCO recommendation, her short novella, The Doll Master, is straight-up horror, and amazing. Her short story, “Demon,” is about five pages long, and my absolute favorite work of hers (I may have mentioned this one to you before). Both are amazing, deeply psychological studies on derangement.
Awesome! Thanks for the JCO rec. I’ll check it out!
Not gonna crucify you, but I love Ligotti! I recommend Conspiracy for the reasons you said: disturbing philosophical/cultural implications.
Also, don't read The End of Alice. It's just gross.
I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it! And yes, I will not be touching End of Alice at all.
I need to read The Lord Of The Flies... It's a classic right?
Very classic! It’s taught at most high schools here in the US. Many other works have referenced it.
Btw i just noticed your hat. Birds aren’t real. Wth? 😂 is that a thing?
The truth is out there, man. 🐦🚫
The Consumer by Michael Gira. Nothing comes close in terms of just horrid and vile depictions. It's almost impossible to find and when you do it's hundreds of dollars, and I just barely finished it after taking nearly a year. Take a gut of steel to read.
Thank you so much for the suggestion! I have never heard of this book, but is that Michael Gira as in, the Swans frontman?! If so, I need to get a hold of this somehow!
@@PlaguedbyVisions it sure is haha its a book of short stories, but the cohesiveness is top notch and the man knows how to write. Loved his music and had to check the book out. If you can find it, it leaves a lasting impression. The stories range from 1983-1994. After Michael got so much backlash for how decrepit his writing was, it stopped being published. And he said he never wants it published again.
@@eMTy_One That is so relatable honestly. Yeah, I had a first peek and copies are $300-$400. Man, I might have to crowdfund for this one lmao. But I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it! I love Swans so this sounds like something I would really be into. I also really enjoyed Nick Cave’s writing (though his novels are not as “disturbing,” just more disquieting and beautifully written).
Regarding the realisation that a lot of disturbing lit was published in the 90s; One theory that I have is that (at least in America that is and I guess a portion of Europe) nihilism got an upswing during that decade - like with grunge movement for ex. Also, according to my own observations, it seemed like it had begun coming a wider recognition and Inde of mental illness, among other things. Could be a couple of the reasons? Hmm…
I love your theories! There’s definitely something to nihilism being en vogue during the decade. I think also in academia in particular, deconstruction/poststructuralism really eroded… well, the foundations of thought, of knowledge. Things definitely fell apart during these years. It made for beautifully decadent gloom and doom haha!
Checkout “Child of God” Cormac McCarthy. Interesting societal and human portrait it’s a quick read
Love this book! And McCarthy’s earlier works in general. Blood Meridian I talked about in Part One of this series, and Outer Dark is also incredible. I’ll be sure to mention this in the next installment. Thank you!
39:23 “Zombie is based”
Ayeeee 😎🚬
😂
Wondering if you'll be talking about Suzy McKee Charnas and her Holdfast Chronicles. Feminist, disturbing, scifi.
I may or may not have a quote by her on the subject matter at hand 🤫 As far as recommendations, I’m ashamed to say I have not read any works by her!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I read them some time ago (20 years?) so I don't know if they are worthwhile, but I remember the books very fondly. Kind of post post-apocalypse. Themes of slavery, some disconcerting sexual politics, but handled very smartly. May not be up your alley?
Actually, sir, you just described my alley down to a T, including the grimy pavement and the trash on the corners. 😂 I’ll definitely have to look into this! It sounds exactly like the explorations I enjoy scifi authors undertaking.
I have somehow never read any Philip K. Dick, but I am going to amend that in the next month. I've placed a bind-up with 4 of his novels on hold at my library! I'm going to read Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The Man in the High Castle, and/or Ubik.
I wish you the best of luck exploring good old PKD. His ideas are out there, an amazing exploration of the limits of the body, the mind, and the soul(?). Ubik in particular hits all three marks, so that’s MY personal recommendation!
The Troop was great, but the cover is not nearly as good as the version made by @codeinesnaps ( ruclips.net/video/bWiubJZ4QX4/видео.html ). And you just made me order We Who Are About To... seems like required reading.
Wait, you mean THE graphic artist extraordinaire Gio?!
I think you’ll enjoy We Who Are About To. It still very much reads like classic scifi (it’s the discipline Joanna Russ is emerging from) but like I said, of a deeply nihilist and mean-spirited sensibility, and really deconstructs the entire “space colonization” premise. It’s a very short read, too!
And again, I’m so sorry for inflating your TBR further. I hope you can forgive me.
@@PlaguedbyVisions the one and only!
Wow.. Thank you so much Dave for the shoutout!!!
Also, going back to this because I'd like to mention that The Troop also tackles masculinity so well... 😂 so yeaa
OUT sounds amazing
Based off your recommendation of Confessions, I feel you would really love Out!
We have to thank french too for french extreme movies hahaha
The French are really effing angry and we love that for them. ❤️🇫🇷
the butterfly garden wasn't disturbing at all hardly! It had the potential to be soooo much more but fell flat! Nothing on page!
Agh, good to know! I have definitely read mixed reviews for it. I guess it really won’t be for me!
I am reading out (natsuo kirino) , and nothing disturbing so far.
@@r.s.5522 yeah it’s not a bloodbath on every page haha
I love Dick! Dude have you read Ubik, that's even more mindbending!
I love Dick, too! And Philip K. Dick is alright, too.
36:19 hahaha
_a_a_er
Yes to another feminist science fiction
Oh, trust. I’m ready to go IN.