I was thinking of you only a few minutes ago. I started Hermans' "Beyond Sleep", only read the first 10 pages or so but already feel that cozy, sucked-in feeling - falling into the world of the book, hearing the characters speak, seeing what they're seeing - that's usually the sign of a good book.
I also liked "The Woman in White", and "The Moonstone" by Collins. Good reads.
Have you read any A.M. Homes? I've only read some of the stories in "The Safety of Objects" - fascinatingly weird stories but very cold emotionally (distanced). Never get the impression that the happenings could occur beyond the paper page. In really good fantasy or horror, no matter how far-fetched the concepts, I always feel "well, this might happen, you never know" and that's what makes it scary for me, the possibility. *babbling again*
*beams* I hope you'll like Beyond Sleep, do let me know! I think I wrote before that both books are very different (The Darkroom of Damocles a thriller and Beyond Sleep more of a black comedy), but they're both great in my opinion.
No, I bought The End of Alice 11 years ago, and I have only read bits of it here and there so far (the prison scenes seemed realistic enough to me). If I don't like the book I don't think I'll try anything else by her. A friend of mine read This Book Will Save Your Life and was not impressed.
In really good fantasy or horror, no matter how far-fetched the concepts, I always feel "well, this might happen, you never know" and that's what makes it scary for me, the possibility.
For me it depends a lot on time and place whether I find something plausible and scary. I've already told you I couldn't believe in vampires hanging outside someone's window begging to be let in and that person actually being stupid enough to open the window for them.
But when reading The Shining in bed at night I was scared to go
( ... )
I'm a little more than half way through Beyond Sleep, Alfred's started the expedition, the Lapp strong man has just departed, and the existence of God (or people's need for a God) is being debated. A comedy of errors and an every-man story - Alfred is very specifically drawn but he's generic in that it is so easy to identify with him. Laughed at how when he couldn't fall asleep, his mind created a mosquito dialogue - that was brilliant, and funny.
For me it depends a lot on time and place whether I find something plausible and scary. Yeah, that can work for me too - the dark, or a dismal day, are settings that can make me more susceptible to the creepy power of a book. Other times no, and I think that bright light and everyday noises don't have any effect on banishing the spooked feeling.
The Woman in White is terrific, as is The Moonstone. I always get the urge to read these in January. I have a copy of The Woman in Black but I've never dared read it! Nothing would induce me to read any dark fantasy or horror.
Yours is the third recommendation in a row for Wilkie Collins! Now I must definitely read him, but I think I will follow your idea and wait until winter.
I am just as scared to watch The Woman in Black as you are to read it! I think I will watch it in the daytime and when it gets really scary, keep telling myself that it's only Pauline Moran, whom I need not be afraid of because she also plays the wonderfully efficient Miss Lemon and there is nothing scary about her. Who knows, it might help.
I think you might like the Hermans book. It is a psychological novel/thriller with lots of suspense set in World War II. Such a shame it is only available in an expensive hardcover edition.
So glad you're participating in the challenge. Your entire list is one I would love to read! Looks great. I am especially interested in The Victorian Chaise-longue. I'm going to have to order a copy of that. I've been wanting to order from Persephone for some time anyway!
Nice list! I really need to get round to reading something by Poppy Z. Brite. I have a Subterranean Press edition of Antediluvian Tales on the shelf, I should probably pick it up in the near future!
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I also liked "The Woman in White", and "The Moonstone" by Collins. Good reads.
Have you read any A.M. Homes? I've only read some of the stories in "The Safety of Objects" - fascinatingly weird stories but very cold emotionally (distanced). Never get the impression that the happenings could occur beyond the paper page. In really good fantasy or horror, no matter how far-fetched the concepts, I always feel "well, this might happen, you never know" and that's what makes it scary for me, the possibility. *babbling again*
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No, I bought The End of Alice 11 years ago, and I have only read bits of it here and there so far (the prison scenes seemed realistic enough to me). If I don't like the book I don't think I'll try anything else by her. A friend of mine read This Book Will Save Your Life and was not impressed.
In really good fantasy or horror, no matter how far-fetched the concepts, I always feel "well, this might happen, you never know" and that's what makes it scary for me, the possibility.
For me it depends a lot on time and place whether I find something plausible and scary. I've already told you I couldn't believe in vampires hanging outside someone's window begging to be let in and that person actually being stupid enough to open the window for them.
But when reading The Shining in bed at night I was scared to go ( ... )
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For me it depends a lot on time and place whether I find something plausible and scary.
Yeah, that can work for me too - the dark, or a dismal day, are settings that can make me more susceptible to the creepy power of a book. Other times no, and I think that bright light and everyday noises don't have any effect on banishing the spooked feeling.
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I am just as scared to watch The Woman in Black as you are to read it! I think I will watch it in the daytime and when it gets really scary, keep telling myself that it's only Pauline Moran, whom I need not be afraid of because she also plays the wonderfully efficient Miss Lemon and there is nothing scary about her. Who knows, it might help.
I think you might like the Hermans book. It is a psychological novel/thriller with lots of suspense set in World War II. Such a shame it is only available in an expensive hardcover edition.
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The Victorian Chaise-longue was one of the first books I ordered from Persephone, the story sounded very interesting. Hope you'll enjoy it too!
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~ Quixotic http://blog.quixoticmiss.com
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The one on my list is a small Penguin book with four short stories, maybe I'll like those more.
Antedeluvian Tales sounds very good, a bit of a departure from her other works, it seems.
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