Ever have a book freak you out?

[Nora03]

Yes, two books. The Diary of Anne Frank, and On The Beach, a post apocalyptic novel. It was the sudden endings and realization of what had happened. I was young when I read both books and they hit me hard, thinking about my mortality.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I had a book I was reading with my son (False Prince by Jennifer Nielson). We finished a chapter about 3/4 of the way in and I thought I'd just peak ahead. I was surprised/shocked by the next chapter (in a good way) and had to finish the book that night! Then, the next night, as I was reading to DS, I had to pretend I didn't know what was coming.

It maybe have been written for kids/teens, but so was Harry Potter. It's a great book. I've since bought it on kindle and re-read it several times, along with the others in that series.

https://www.amazon.com/False-Prince-Ascendance-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B007MHVTY0

 

[fab1976]

I had a book I was reading with my son (False Prince by Jennifer Nielson). We finished a chapter about 3/4 of the way in and I thought I'd just peak ahead. I was surprised/shocked by the next chapter (in a good way) and had to finish the book that night! Then, the next night, as I was reading to DS, I had to pretend I didn't know what was coming.

It maybe have been written for kids/teens, but so was Harry Potter. It's a great book. I've since bought it on kindle and re-read it several times, along with the others in that series.

https://www.amazon.com/False-Prince-Ascendance-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B007MHVTY0

Kids of what about what age? I’m always looking for books for my 13 year old boy who devours books!

 

[ronandannette]

Yes, two books. The Diary of Anne Frank, and On The Beach, a post apocalyptic novel. It was the sudden endings and realization of what had happened. I was young when I read both books and they hit me hard, thinking about my mortality.

I was a socially-aware teen when I read that at the height of the Cold War and the entire western world was preoccupied by the idea of nuclear escalation. (Remember Sting singing "I Hope The Russians Love Their Children Too?" ) It was probably the scariest thing I've ever read - I can still remember some of the passages and the vivid way I pictured them in my imagination.

 

[Flight]

Two book that are non fiction about the FBI investigating serial killers that live among us.

John Douglas:
Journey Into Darkness
Mindhunter


Lord of the Flies - disturbing

 

[FigmentSpark]

Kids of what about what age? I’m always looking for books for my 13 year old boy who devours books!

Amazon says about middle school. My DS was probably around 11 or 12 when we were reading it... for a nightly bonding, not because he couldn’t read it for himself.

It has some adventure and intrigue and takes place in a fictional land.

 

[superme80]

I'm a baby so a lot of books have freaked me out. The worst was in 8th grade we were studying the holocaust. My mom refused to let me watch Schindler's List as it as rated R. So I got stuck READING about all the atrocities! It gave me nightmares for months.

 

[angelmav]

Yes. Reading the Harbinger right now and it’s freaking me out. My Mom gave me the sequel for Christmas...

 

[KatMac]

I admit, Hunger Games gave me nightmares. I went to sleep after reading the part where Katniss enters the arena. The dreams were very real and vivid. I loved the books, but the first time reading them, I was freaked out.

I‘m moving in a few months and have already packed a lot of my books, but there was one that freaked me out. I just can’t recall the name. It was a nonfiction book full of stories from people who survived the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Some of those stories were extremely difficult to read.

 

[DisneyOma]

My aunt was a gifted school teacher She was incredible, and she developed a curriculum for gifted elementary students, one of the first in this state. She used to give me a copy of each book (4th-5th grade) she used in her class. Summer of my German Soldier freaked me out at age 8. The Endless Steppe wasn't too bad, and I used that one for book reports for a few years

As an adult I read books for relaxation and to go to a happy place in my mind. Imagine my surprise when I read Nora Robert's Year One. It's even more shocking now as COVID and the Capitol riot are part of our lives.

 

[tvguy]

"A Clock Work Orange". It was a popular book when I was in High school. Checked it out of the library, read the first dozen or so pages, took it back to the library.

 

[J'aime Paris]

This post alone led me to borrow a copy from the public library on my Kindle just now! I love thrillers, and after reading the back cover synopsis, I already know I'm going to love it. I'm sorry you're getting bad dreams, but I'm glad you shared your post because this type of book is right up my alley. Hopefully they will end soon!

I just reserved a copy at my library, too, because of this thread lol


I read a super chilling book once but I can't remember what it was called, who wrote it, or what it was about. I just remember one passage that was so scary that I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading it. I'm used to scary things, I devour Stephen King.


eta- I might not get through Behind Closed Doors if too many bad things happen to the character named Grace...that's my daughter's name.

I hope you both "enjoy" the book. The psychological aspect is what freaked me out the most!

@prairie_girl.....without giving too much away, Grace is a rockstar!!

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Non-fiction: Helter Skelter about the Manson murders. It had a picture section, too. I found the book at my grandparents' house and snuck it home to read because I knew I'd never be allowed to read it if I asked. I hid it in my room and only read it at night when I was sure I wouldn't be caught. Freaked me out is a mild term, but I read the whole thing.

Fiction: Pet Semetary. I don't as a rule read horror fiction, but I was given a copy of this book by a neighbor. I don't remember much about it now, but I know at the time I was looking over my shoulder as I read.

 

[mrs. magoo]

This happened to me with the Shining. I read it while on vacation in Disney and spent the entire time watching every topiary convinced they were going to attack me. When I started Dr Sleep I had to put it down for a bit. My husband asked me why and I said I forgot how scary the shining was.

 

[slo]

Pet Cemetary - the movie was nothing compared to the book. I almost stopped reading it bc it freaked me out. Maybe bc I'm an animal lover and foster sweet, unwanted ones?

The Exorcist - book and movie. Just no to demonic possession.

The Lovely Bones - I still think about how much it would suck to look down after being murdered/raped and have to watch everything unfold. That would not be my definition of heaven.

My Sister's Keeper - I really empathized with all the characters and could not come to a conclusion about what I'd do in that situation in all of their places. Thought about it a lot and it kept me up at night.

I totally agree with Pet Cemetary and The Exorcist.
Gerald's Game is another Stephen King book that kinda freaked me out.

 

[RUDisney]

Hannibal by Thomas Harris

I read this while traveling many years ago. I kept saying, "oh, my God" out loud so often throughout its entirety. The depravity of Hannibal and the other lead character, whose name escapes me, was shocking. To this day I think of it.

However, for as shocking as it was, I wanted to see the movie when it came out. Silence of the Lambs was very true in the movie adaptation from the book, I thought Hannibal would have been the same. HA! I went with my DH and another couple on the night that it opened. I kept apologizing to them after the fact.

The things that got to me was Hannibal's psychological manipulation of Clarise, the LSD trip with his "friend" and the dinner party. Who thinks of things like this?!?

 

[dvcgirl67]

I saw the title and got excited...I need a book to read! But then I went to order it on Audible, and I'd already listened to it...lol. I listed to the first two minutes and remembered it. Those types of books tend to run together in my mind. Still, I did download The Dilemma by the same author because I still needed a book.

I'm with the poster who brought up the books about real serial killers. The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule...about Ted Bundy kept me up for sure, but that was years ago when I was single and a lot younger, and lived alone.

However, I will say that the new doc on Netflix ....Night Stalker, has certainly stuck with me! Richard Ramirez was pure evil. Scary stuff!

 

[gshanny]

When I was in high school someone left The Stand at the place where I worked. Nobody came back to claim it, so I read it. It freaked me out because I had a bad cold when I started reading it.....

 

[MissStitch626]

I read alot of Stephen King and the longer ones in particular tend to find their way into my dreams. I've read The Stand a few times but just started it again on Audible and I just know it's going to freak me out hearing it read aloud.

The Amityville Horror book scared me mostly due to the matter-of-fact way it came across (and because I was probably too young to be reading it).

When I was younger I loved Point Horror books and a few of them got under my skin. Freeze Tag in particular really haunted me.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Yes, every Stephen King book that I’ve read.