My Top 4 Horror Books

Books have held a very special place in my heart since I was super, super young. They were always my outlet when I was having a rough day, or when I used to get in trouble and my parents took my television remote away so I couldn't watch anymore...they thought I didn't like reading so it was always awesome getting some peace and quiet where I could just go through my book collection.
My horror obsession started with a Goosebumps book that I read when I was in kindergarten.

It was this one, you guys! I'm so excited! I couldn't remember the name of it, and it's all coming back to me now! It had all of the alternate endings, so that's why it was called one of the Give Yourself Goosebumps books. Ah, my childhood.

Anyway, as I grew up, my taste in horror changed, and Goosebumps wasn't so scary anymore. I needed something to give me my fix of terror, but I desperately needed it in book form. There's just something about turning pages that's so satisfying.

I went through tons of books, none of which every stuck out to me. It took me a long time to really discover what I loved where horror was concerned, and I found some wonderful books in that time. 

Here are the favorites I found:

4) The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

Not necessarily a book, it's actually a short story, but it's wonderful and so classic. This one gave me such anxiety as a kid when I read it. I used to carry around what looked like a textbook with Poe's complete works in it, and this one was the one that I read over and over, followed by the Cask of Amontillado.

A synopsis:

The narrator of the story commits a murder, and essentially has to convince himself he isn't going completely insane as he hears what he believes to be his victim's heart still beating under the floorboards. (He hacks up the body, for those of you that like gore.) 

I was always terrified of the fact that I truly believed that maybe the body was alive under the floorboards, and always somehow found myself hoping that the narrator wouldn't ruin it for himself. If you haven't read this one, I highly suggest it, along with all of Poe's work. He's classic.

3) The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

I only read this one recently, but it shot up my list to my top 4. I couldn't put this one down, I finished it in 48 hours and I was at work when I read it. I got really lucky, actually, because I went to a comic book store close to me that had a bargain bin full of old, used books. I got this one for $2, it's beat up and falling apart, and that makes me love it even more.
This one was one of my favorite films before it was one of my favorite books, as you guys know. I talk about it all the time. But there's something so terrifying about reading it because you picture it in your own way, and I like to create the scariest scenarios possible. I won't even give a synopsis, because I hope most of you have seen the film (or at least know of it). But I highly recommend reading the book. It's amazing. Good job, WPB.

2) The Dead Zone by Stephen King

This is another one I got from that bin at the comic book store! $3! What a steal! I had no idea what the deal was with this book, I saw Stephen King on the cover, and I knew I loved his work (no one is going to be surprised when they see my number 1) so I went for it, and as it turns out, I absolutely loved it.
There's a film adaptation with Christopher Walken in it, I still haven't seen that one though.
A synopsis:
Johnny Smith is injured in a car accident and wakes up from a coma 5 years later with the ability to see things in other people's lives by touching them, like their family history, and future things they're wondering about.
This thriller is incredibly entertaining; I wasn't sure how I was going to like it until I got a chapter in and really got addicted to the story. There was something about Johnny Smith's character and the turmoil he goes through that is so captivating, plus there's a second story that is going on during all of that that's even more disturbing and strange.
Basically, what I have to say about this story, is it's gripping to the point where it's near impossible to put the book down until you know exactly what happens at the end...I should reread this one.

1) No one is going to be surprised...it's Stephen King's IT. Duh.

Alright, I'll be honest. When I read this one the first time, I totally hated it. I was about 200 pages in and I completely stopped and told myself I'd never pick it up again. I remember where I was at that exact moment. I was waiting for my sister to have her hair cut, and I shut my Kindle off and stared into space, shook my head, and said "nope".
But, something that summer told me to try it again. I was working, but not enough. I had a decent amount of time on my hands. So why wouldn't I try reading something so classic?

And so it began. I sat, I sighed, and I powered my Kindle on. I clicked the title. I sighed again. I read two sentences. Then I sighed again. There was a lot of huffing and puffing in the beginning...but I've come to learn that sometimes, Stephen King likes to start things off slow. That explained so much! And so I dove in headfirst.
About a week later, I was finished, and I was obsessed. In love. Infatuated. Pennywise was always a favorite of mine but that secured him (or her, for those of you that know the real deal that they never explain in the film...you have to read it if you're a fan of the movie. It'll change everything.) as my number two favorite villain.
I feel like this one doesn't require a synopsis because the story is so well-known, but what I DO have to tell you, is if you've seen the film and you've enjoyed it, read the book. If you saw the film and hate it, read the book. If you saw the film and you're indifferent, read the book. The film is long, but it leaves out incredible and insanely important details that change everything. Read it. Seriously. Then report back and let me know how much you love it.

I'm thinking next on the list are some works by Clive Barker. You guys know me and my Hellraiser...Hellbound Heart is probably next.

I also just recently finished some works by my good friend Zach Bohannon called Dark Reveries. It was a collection of 4 short stories were completely wonderful. I won it in a giveaway, and it turns out I loved it so much that I emailed him in a panic about needing more of his work. Check him out, he's awesome.

I'm always very open to book suggestions, let me know in the comments if there are any I've been missing and/or overlooking all this time!
Thanks for reading, my ghouls, see you next time!

My Horror Obsession

A question that I get often is: "where did your love for horror come from?"...it's a perfectly valid question. I know so many people that are absolutely terrified of the genre all together, they don't really give it much of a chance to really change their lives like it did mine.
So let's start at the beginning...I was in kindergarten, and that's my earliest memory of where my love for creepy things really started. I was gifted a collection of Goosebumps books by one of my aunts. When I say collection, it had to be about 50 of them. My favorite was Night of the Living Dummy, because Slappy the dummy had light-up eyes when you pushed his face in on the cover. I used to carry those books EVERYWHERE. I never left the house without one...so naturally, they started coming with me to school. I remember there was one about a zombie camp, where the campers had their entrails falling out and maggots eating away at their clothes and hair; I was loving it, especially because it was one of those cool ones where you got to flip around to find your favorite ending. Remember those?
"To see what happens to Beth, turn to page 49. To see what happens if you take the canoe, turn to page 26." I was enthralled. My parents totally condoned it because it was self-expression for me. I couldn't tell you what it was about it that made me so happy, but I do remember being even more excited that I got weird looks for thinking it was awesome. It made me feel so unique.
Fast forward- Christmas Eve of first grade. Edward Scissorhands was on. I walked into my parents' room, and my mom told me I was going to be too scared of him to watch. I jumped in anyway, and at the end of the movie I looked at her and said "I love him so much."
From then on, I was obsessed with films that had a dark undertone. I was all about Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, and Little Monsters. I used to go to Blockbuster every Saturday (I miss Blockbuster!) and I was allowed to pick out a movie. I always begged to rent IT or The Exorcist, but I was never allowed because I was too young.
It's all stuck with me ever since. I've been fascinated with immersing myself in the supernatural and paranormal. I just love to be scared. I think it's because it reminds me of my entire childhood...except now I'm into the stuff I was never allowed to like as a kid. IT is now one of my favorites of all time (I absolutely LOVE creepy killer clowns), and The Exorcist is classic. Don't even get me started on Hellraiser. I have a tattoo in honor of that one.
But what I love most is the community of people I've become involved with. You'll find me constantly hashtagging #horrorfamily and #horrorgang on Instagram, because you guys have become my family. You all make me feel like as weird as the love is for all of this stuff, there's still a handful of people out there that love it the way I do, and that's why I'm here!
I can't wait to really delve into all the gritty details of the things I do related to horror, and I hope you'll come along for the ride! Until next time, ghosts and ghouls.

Next up: a review of The Babadook!