Really appreciated your take on 'The Road' - your point about it being more spiritually disturbing than graphically violent really resonated with me. That 'candle flame that could go out at any moment' metaphor perfectly captures the feeling of reading it. Thanks for sharing!
This was a great list! Some books that come to mind that I found disturbing Geek Love - Katherine Dunn- A couple find an interesting solution for their failing traveling circus Blood Meridian - Cormac McCarthy - This disturbed me more than The Road In Cold Blood- Truman Capote- Senseless violence that freaked me out when I read it long ago. I don’t know how I’d react to it now Venniss Underground- Jeff Vandermeer- Very twisted. Body horror
Thank you so much. I have heard that Blood Meridian and In Cold Blood are pretty brutal, will have to give them a read someday. I have also heard the premise for Geek Love, pretty twisted.
Bless your heart for the trigger warnings! I truly appreciate the information. The most disturbing book I've read lately is You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce. It made me want to cry tears of despair several times and it dawned on me I really had no business reading it but on the other hand, I felt so seen and understood by the author it was strangely comforting. I think one would need a very specific background to be triggered by it so probably most readers would be fine.
Great list, The Road, The Wasp Factory and Cuckoo’s Nest are worthy inclusions. I think a great disturbing short story collection is Haunted by Chuck Palahnuik
Great list. You could argue the Books of Blood isn't a cheat from the framing device. It's all one story... kinda. The concept itself was one I found a little disturbing. I appreciate the trigger warnings. I've only read Iain Banks Culture novels and I love them, but I'ma nope out on the animal torture one. I am getting really sick of that. It's *everywhere*. Most disturbing Stephen King for me is the short story 1408. There's something about trauma that cannot be escaped that really chills me. I really appreciate how so much of what disturbs you is dystopia, because you don't worry about the future if you don't think it's redeemable. The ability to worry about the future is a wonderful indication that nihilism and cynicism haven't triumphed in your soul.
Thanks Coreena! Yes, there is a framing device for Books of Blood, didn't think of that. I always try to give trigger warnings if the book is particularly disturbing. 1408 is a terrifying story. Thank you for the kind words.
I envy you. Horror books doesn't disturb me or scare me anymore, and I miss it a lot. It is like nothing shocks me anymore or am I just emotionless? Lol. Hope you'll have a nice week.
Of your list, I read The Long Walk and I think I read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest. Both definitely disturbing. Probably the most disturbing book I read was Wild Blood by Nancy A. Collins. There were a couple of brutal SA scences and a senseless murder. I DNF'ed the book
Really appreciated your take on 'The Road' - your point about it being more spiritually disturbing than graphically violent really resonated with me. That 'candle flame that could go out at any moment' metaphor perfectly captures the feeling of reading it. Thanks for sharing!
Absolute pleasure Razu! I am glad my thoughts on The Road resonated with you.
This was a great list!
Some books that come to mind that I found disturbing
Geek Love - Katherine Dunn- A couple find an interesting solution for their failing traveling circus
Blood Meridian - Cormac McCarthy - This disturbed me more than The Road
In Cold Blood- Truman Capote- Senseless violence that freaked me out when I read it long ago. I don’t know how I’d react to it now
Venniss Underground- Jeff Vandermeer- Very twisted. Body horror
Thank you so much. I have heard that Blood Meridian and In Cold Blood are pretty brutal, will have to give them a read someday. I have also heard the premise for Geek Love, pretty twisted.
Bless your heart for the trigger warnings! I truly appreciate the information. The most disturbing book I've read lately is You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce. It made me want to cry tears of despair several times and it dawned on me I really had no business reading it but on the other hand, I felt so seen and understood by the author it was strangely comforting. I think one would need a very specific background to be triggered by it so probably most readers would be fine.
Absolute pleasure. Agree that in many cases people with different backgrounds would be triggered by different things.
Great list, The Road, The Wasp Factory and Cuckoo’s Nest are worthy inclusions.
I think a great disturbing short story collection is Haunted by Chuck Palahnuik
Thank you Mark! I have mentioned Haunted in another video. It is disturbing, particularly Guts, but not the best read in my opinion.
The lighting is actually getting pretty good! Looks I’ll be adding The Black Farm to the ever growing TBR.
Thanks Matt! The Black Farm is very messed up, you might just enjoy it.
Great list. You could argue the Books of Blood isn't a cheat from the framing device. It's all one story... kinda. The concept itself was one I found a little disturbing.
I appreciate the trigger warnings. I've only read Iain Banks Culture novels and I love them, but I'ma nope out on the animal torture one. I am getting really sick of that. It's *everywhere*.
Most disturbing Stephen King for me is the short story 1408. There's something about trauma that cannot be escaped that really chills me.
I really appreciate how so much of what disturbs you is dystopia, because you don't worry about the future if you don't think it's redeemable. The ability to worry about the future is a wonderful indication that nihilism and cynicism haven't triumphed in your soul.
Thanks Coreena! Yes, there is a framing device for Books of Blood, didn't think of that. I always try to give trigger warnings if the book is particularly disturbing. 1408 is a terrifying story. Thank you for the kind words.
I envy you. Horror books doesn't disturb me or scare me anymore, and I miss it a lot. It is like nothing shocks me anymore or am I just emotionless? Lol. Hope you'll have a nice week.
Thank you! It does take a lot to disturb me but I do have some personal triggers, as mentioned in the video.
Of your list, I read The Long Walk and I think I read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest. Both definitely disturbing. Probably the most disturbing book I read was Wild Blood by Nancy A. Collins. There were a couple of brutal SA scences and a senseless murder. I DNF'ed the book
Thank Stuart! I really need to give The Long Walk a re-read someday. Wild Blood does sound disturbing
The black farm sounds good 👍
It is seriously messed up Vanessa, I think you will love it.