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Scariest book u ever read? Mine currently is Birdbox by Josh Mallerman

Scariest book u ever read? Mine currently is Birdbox by Josh Mallerman

Bill #questionnaire #horror

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223 Answers

Renee

Exorcist

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Elise

Agree! Birdbox!

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Rebecca

Handmaid’s Tale

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Sky

Really is it scary???

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Rebecca

It is to me. Scariest book I ever read. Without doubt.

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Sky

Ok I hope you don’t mind but can i ask why?

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Rebecca

Living under a Theocracy is one of the worst fates that I can imagine as a woman.

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Sky

Ahh yes I see. Its a fate I cant even imagine ?

0
Rebecca

I live in dread of a President Pence one day.

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Sky

Would he be that bad?

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Rebecca

He’d like to be. Have you paid attention to his beliefs, words, and actions? All the Evangelical/Fundamental Faiths and their practitioners scare me.

2
Sky

No not specifically. Im in the UK so we dont hear as much if anything about him just Trump.

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Rebecca

He definitely casts a shadow. ☹️

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Rebecca

There’s a reason that more people aren’t pushing for impeachment and it begins and ends with the words, “President Pence.” Believe it or not, there could be worse. {{Shudders}} to think this is what we’ve come to.

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Sky

Definitely Domain and others in the Rats series by James Herbert ?

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Jerri

I just picked up some of Herbert’s Rat series I found at a thrift store yesterday, looking forward to it…

1
Sky

There amazing esp Domain but kept me awake at night ?

1
Zoe

Naomi’s Room. Can’t remember the author. One line in it towards the end just changes everything and is bloody terrifying!

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Julissa

This made me afraid to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

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Betty

The Shining

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Emeka

1984 and The Picture of Dorian Gray.

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Lily

I’m currently reading Bird Box. Loving it so far!

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Caroline

Heart shaped Box by Joe Hill, and anything by Adam Nevill give me shivers. One of Adam Nevill’s books, I think it was House of Small Shadows, literally had me jumping at shadows.

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Julissa

Heart Shaped Box was creepy for sure!

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Kelsea

House of Small Shadows annoyed me at the end, because I couldn’t tell what the hell happened. I guess I really enjoyed it in hindsight. Edith was one of the most evil characters I’ve ever read!

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Caroline

That’s what I like about Adam’s books. If you haven’t read No One Gets Out Alive, you really should.

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Jerri

The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus by Richard Preston ……because truth is always scarier than fiction ?

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Jennifer

It by Stephen king. I read it in high school and had to put it down until someone came home. I couldn’t be alone in the house while reading it! ??

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Kathy

Read It years ago and still can’t walk past a sewer grate without a little pang of fear.

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Ashlea

Salem’s Lot.

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Julie

My first King. Really scary.

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Nishikido

I dont find reading horror books scary.

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Francesca

Me either

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Nishikido

They mentioned birdbox alot so i would try to read it and see if i would scared just reading a book

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Cassandra

I don’t find them scary either. Honestly, Bird Box was a bit of let down for me.

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Nishikido

Really. I want to feel scared while reading im envious of this people who’d feel that. Lol

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Cassandra

Nope, not much scares me.

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Pat

Communion by Whitley Strieber. Couldn’t sleep for three nights after reading it.

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Julie

Very interesting book that led me off on a rampage reading similar books.

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Bonnie

Cujo

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Roxanne

The Circle and Handmaid’s Tale

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Sara

The Handmaid’s Tale. I read it when it was hot off the presses. It still scares me, and I’ve never reread it.

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Samrat

Half Girlfriend by Chetan Bhagat

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Roxane

I read Hound of the Baskervilles when I was pretty young–8 or 9–and imagined the Hound under my bed for the next five years.

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Denise

Jaws. I read it right before the movie came out.

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Robin

Reading deeper then dead by tami hoag its really good

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Brenda

Deep end of the ocean. Not intended to be in that genre. I read it before having children. Refused to read it again while my babies were little, yet it haunted me often.

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Callie

Bird box was intense.

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Amy

The Stand…the tunnel really freaked me out.

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Melanie

Agreed

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Julie

I have to agree it was really good. I never liked the end, though.

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Amy

I don’t care for the end of a lot of SK’s books. Some just go way out there! Lol!

1
Maurice

Pet Sematary by Stephen King.

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Tina

birdbox was so good!

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Cassie

House of Leaves is probably the only book that really scared me.

I loved Bird Box. If you haven’t read any Paul Tremblay I’d recommend him too. I loved Head Full of Ghosts and Disappearance at Devil’s Rock.

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Gail

Hot Zone by Richard Preston

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Julie

Yes! I loved that book. I’d almost forgotten it. Edge of my seat.

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Marla

It by Stephen King

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Diane

Red Dragon.

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Ann

Wool. It made me feel claustrophobic! I had to quit at about 80% through.

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Julissa

Great series!

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Sharon

Helter Skelter!

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Amy

Hahahaha! Great minds!

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Amy

Not scary in the traditional sense, but definitely Helter Skelter.

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Maudia

How about Fire and Fury in the White House? That sounds scary!

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Julie

Too bad there are spoilers all over the news now. Although, whatever is written, I would not be surprised.

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Kathryn

Oh bird box is soooooo good, had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!!!!

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Caroline

One of Stephen kings.

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BillQuestion author

Thanks I’ve read them all. His son Joe Hill is really good as well.

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Patricia

I’m not usually scared by books, but when I told my sister I was going to read “Interview with the Vampire,” my brother-in-law reminded me to take out the trash before I got started. He then explained that he had begun reading it in the late morning and couldn’t put it down all afternoon until he realized that it was evening and he hadn’t taken out the trash. So he gathered up the trash bags and headed down his long driveway to put them at the curb. He said that as he walked he became eerily aware of the darkness and shadows, and he literally sprinted back to the house, imagining vampires in all those shadows. After I read it Ibtold him that I was intrigued, amazed, enthralled, and fascinated, but not scared by that book. “and to think that was the first book she published!”

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Dara

Flowers in the Attic

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Susan

I thought Bird Box was a thriller, but, oh no, it was much more!

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Gabbi

Hobgoblin. John Coyne

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Erin

Intensity by Dean Koontz

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Tara

I loved Bird Box.

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Jennifer

Instruments of the Night by Thomas Cook.

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Gail

I read about 1/2 of Thomas Tryon’s Harvest Home. Got toooo spooked. Never found out what the “enemy” was. Anyody know?

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Kathryn

I just grabbed the ebook after seeing your comment. I haven’t even finished the first chapter and I think I’m going to like this book!!!!

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Gail

A friend told me the ending today. I thought it was a demonic ending, but it isn’t. IMO, I dont like demonic things. Let me know what you think. (Also, my friend is pushing 80, so she may not remember, or she may have it mixed up with another book)

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Gail

Tryon wrote The Other. It is creepy, but I LOVED it.

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Kathryn

Hey spoilers!!!!! =(

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Kathryn

Nah nevermind the point of this comment thread was to find out the ending, sorry I forgot

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Kathryn

I’m 16% through the book now, he’s riding in the widows buggy around town, and the festival is coming up soon

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Ellen

back when it was the current horror story out there, The Exorcist. I was in college. And one night, just as I was getting into one of the major exorcism scenes, an overloaded washing machine just down the hall in the dorm started spinning and making all kinds of weird noises!

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Anne

The opening scene of Helter Skelter. And In Cold Blood.

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Andreia

Following!

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Debbi

The Shining – I read it while camping – at night – with a flashlight!

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Tara

Oooh, hero! ???

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Gail

The Amityville Horror

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Cassandra

I read it when it was first released, before we knew it was fake. Chills

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Dawn

Birdbox!

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Tara

The Troop. Stephen King wrote a review saying it was the scariest book he ever read. Never finished it because I couldn’t.

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Nicky

I just started it and was wondering if it was good.

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Tara

Don’t read it while you are eating. That’s what did it for me.

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Tara

Let me know if I should finish it!

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Nicky

Ewww! I don’t like gross books, I lose my appetite very easily.

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Julissa

I thought this was really good. Some parts were disturbing but I didn’t find it unusually gross.

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Cynthia

Spindrift: Spray from a Psychic Sea, by Jan Bryant Bartell. This is an account written by a woman who lived in a haunted brownstone in Greenwich Village, New York. Supposedly Mark Twain lived there and had some supernatural experiences there as well. I thought it would be an interesting read, but it scared the hell out of me. I felt like every spirit that haunted that brownstone was gathered in my home as I was reading the book. Still gives me the creeps. I also read that the author died of mysterious circumstances just as the book was published. Also, most of Dean Koontz’s novels 🙂

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Roxanne

That was a super scary one. Creeped me out.

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Nicky

Bird Box is definitely one of the scariest I’ve ever read, probably the scariest. Gerald’s Game also scared me. Also a couple Graham Masterton books.

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Alison

Loved Gerald’s game so good

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Rhea

Oh I am waiting for Bird box to come in the mail .

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Susanne

Ill have to find this book I think!! Xxx

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Guy

American Psycho …

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Tara

Ha, I thought American Psycho was hilarious.

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Guy

@Tara hence …

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Jan

Kiss the girls by James Patterson had me pretty freaked out.

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Jenn

Nos4A2 by Joe Hill

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Leah

Hmmm that’s tough, especially since it depends on what age I was when I read it. First thought is The Shining.

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Leah

Ok, so many recommendations of it… I’ve put a hold on Bird Box!

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Leah

(For all of you who’ve read it: do you RECOMMEND it?)

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Julissa

Yes. Very different.

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Leah

@Julissa thanks!

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Tara

@Leah Yes, particularly if you enjoy dystopian fiction! It’s terrific.

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Leah

@Tara I’ll look forward to it!

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Janet

“It” though it didn’t really scare me it DID give me nightmares.

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Patricia

Heart shaped box, Nos4A2, House of leaves.

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Michele

The stand gave me nightmares….

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Leah

I so loved that book!

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Julissa

No nightmares for me but it freaked me out every time someone sneezed or coughed near me.

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Patricia

Hotzone!!

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Jenn

Just bought Bird Box given how many recommendations there are for it?

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Gabe

The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

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Tilda

The handmaid’s tale.

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Kathie

For me- fiction, The Shining. Non fiction, In Cold Blood.

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Welshie

My current one to be honest!

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Rhea

that looks good

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Caroline

I loved this book, and the movie.

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Welshie

@Rhea very exciting so far!

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Welshie

@Caroline great so far!

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Leah

I can see that the name of the book is Ritual, but who is the author?

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Welshie

@Leah Adam Nevill

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Leah

@Welshie thank you!

1
Melissa

Added to my list! Thank you!

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Welshie

@Leah you’re welcome.

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Welshie

@Melissa you’re welcome!

2
James

The Circle

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Jenn

Also the Scarlet Gospels by Clive Barker

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Carla

Lord of the Flies by: William Golding

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Henry

Theres two. Stephen King Salom’s Lot and Paul Tremblay A Head Full of Ghost

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Marilyn

I read Salem’s Lot when I was about 13 – remember it vividly and loved every scary minute of it.

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Peg

@Marilyn don’t look out the window

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Marilyn

Exactly @Peg!

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Eli

Everyone keeps saying A Head Full of Ghosts but I read it and it didn’t seem scary to me at all. Good book though.

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Charly

Johnny Got His Gun, by Dalton Trumbo.

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Clovia

Anything written by Stephen King.

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Marc

When I was a child it was Amityville horror! Couldn’t read it after the sun went down LOL I will definitely look in the bird box

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Sabrina

IT by Stephen king

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Sonia

Rats by James Herbert. I’m fairly certain it’s why I’m deathly afraid of rodents now that I’m grown up. Read them as a teen when I thought horror books were cool. Ha.

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Jess

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, and Monster House by Carol Topolski

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Leah

Oh, yes, We Need to Talk About Kevin was one of the most disquieting books I’ve ever read… And I cannot erase it from my brain. Not sure I would recommend it, although it certainly offers a lot to think about!

1
Jess

Monster House is kind of similar, though it’s the parents who are the monsters, not the child.

0
Leah

@Jess hmmm, would you choose to read it if you had it to do over?

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Melanie

IT by Stephen King is my current read and it is scaring the daylights out of me.

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Mary

‘That Hideous Strength’ by CS Lewis.

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Peg

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King.

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Darienna

Bad Place by Dean Koontz

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Michael

Pet Sematary – Stephen King

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Barbara

I too am a sucker for a good book… just bought Bird ? Box ?

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Rebecca

I could not get into it for the life of me, but lots of people loved it.

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Jackie

Helter skelter

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Ingibjörg

Ég man þig (I remember you) by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

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Sharon

Exorcist-My husband put his hand on my shoulder from behind me & I swear I levitated when I screamed! Second Behind Closed Doors.

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Leslie

‘Salems Lot by Stephen King

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Melissa

Same ✋✋

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Mycala

Thanks for the warnings! These are all on my “no thanks” list, haha… I get enough nightmares without the help! ?

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Becca

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

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Deb

In cold blood

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Kim

The Devil in the White City by Larsen (nonfiction) and listening to The Historian by Kostova.

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Lynne

Michigan Murders by Edward Keyes

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2430967

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Jan

Yes, definitely Bird Box for me!

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Kelley

Helter Skelter

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Ann

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

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Laura

When I was 19 I had just moved into my first apt in Cambridge. One winter night I read The Shining. I remember being so afraid

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Leah

Yes, that’s the first one I thought of! ?

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Melissa

I read Amityville Horror when I was in 7th grade (in secret because my mom said I couldn’t). I didn’t sleep without nightmares for months!

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Deirdre

The stand

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Carolyn

Bird Box is the creepiest book! I loved it…

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Vickie

The shining girls.

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Marybet

The Exorcist, I didn’t sleep for two weeks.

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Axl

Tell me your dreams by Sidney Sheldon

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Marybet

I hated the ending of “The Other Side of Midnight” by Sheldon so much that I never read another one of his books.

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Kaye

The Silence of the Lambs

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Leah

Yes!

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Gail

I couldn’t even watch the movie!

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Julissa

Endless Night by Richard Laymon. Gave me nightmares…always a sign of a great book!

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Eli

Haunted by Palahniuk

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Eli

Dude! I just read all the comments recommending “IT”, then a commercial for the movie came on TV. I shit you not. ???

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Kat

It. Just put Birdbox on hold!

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Debra

Yep. Birdbox was really scary!

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Julie

It by Stephen King…way back in 1987.

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Andreia

Pet sematary was the first book that made me afraid to move. In my own house, with people in the next room.

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Eliza

Same here! It’s my favorite book ever!! And Salem’s Lot too!!

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Tara

I’m reading American War now and it’s getting under my skin. I don’t know if it’s the scariest I’ve ever read, but it’s making me legitimately worried about the future in my child’s lifetime.

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Alison

Dean kootz, I can’t remember the name but there is something watching a family in their mirrors, I’ve always had a weird thing about mirrors and that made it worse.

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Kathryn

Ooh if you remember let me know what it was, mirrors are splendidly creepy

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Kathryn

Is it what the night knows?

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Kathryn

Do you remember anything else about it? You’ve got me hooked

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Louise

I tend not to read scary books much, but a short story in Gerald Durrell’s book The Picnic and Suchlike Pandemonium absolutely terrified me. I have never really liked mirrors since reading that story.

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Alison

I’ve always found mirrors creepy

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Louise

@Alison I don’t think they bothered me before reading this book, but they have ever since!

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Alison

oh really oops, yeah when I moved into my house there was a mirror covering the entire door, i had to have it covered so that it doesn’t reflect anything, such a silly thing huh

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Heather

Following

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Margaret

I’m not much into scary books either—maybe because I read “Silence of the Lambs” years ago.

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Vickie

I read that alone at a lake cabin and didn’t sleep for two nights.

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Margaret

I never read it a second time. And the movie? Only watched it once.

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Vickie

Every noise my poor cats made scared me. I slept only during the day by the lake. Pretty poor book choice at the time!

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Julie

Christine by Stephen King

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Thayne

Too much of a wimp to read books that I know are going to be scary….though People of the Book left me with a racing heart several times!

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Carolyn

Loved People of the Book! Geraldine Brooks is one of my favorite authors, loved Year of Wonder too…

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Thayne

Will have to look Into that! Also interested in March.

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Pat

@Thayne I read March and enjoyed it.

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Kelsea

Paul Tremblay’s Head Full of Ghosts and The Devil Crept In by Ania Ahlborn.

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Bart

“Birdman” Mo Hayder.

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Robin

Misery by Stephen King

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Bonnie

I quit in the middle and threw it in the garbage.

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Robin

@Bonnie I stoped reading when she chopped off his foot, and could not read anything else written by him.

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Bonnie

I read his non horror, I love his writing but can’t read the horror

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Steve

By far, This Present Darkness, terrifying. I couldn’t put it down.

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Anne

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

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Andreia

oh, i remember that one… and a quote from it appears in “The birthing House” (christian ransom), which is even creepier. That book is awesome on so many levels

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Joan

I agree! I also thought “Night Film” by M. Pessl was a scary read.

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Christa

The Descent by Jeff Long. Read in 2013…still creeps me out.

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