There are many terrifying horror reads out there. What makes them terrifying is not necessarily what gives you nightmares, but how they affect you in the moment. Some, of course, do give you nightmares, but the ones I focused on for this list have to do with that initial scare – the ones that give you goosebumps.
Here it goes.
The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson
This is a short read. It’s not only short, but it is scary in its own right. It doesn’t take long for this book to take off. A doctor rents a house that has been known in the area for a while. He hears tales about how haunted this place is so he decides to conduct an experiment. He contacts four people with distinct personalities and lifestyles that will live in this said house for a period of time.
This just sounds delightful, doesn’t it? The moral of the story for this book: don’t mess around with omens! What’s more, it has an insane ending, which I don’t want to give away. This is also a show on Netflix, so if you are one that likes to watch horror movies or shows rather than read them, I would suggest watching it. Please, please, read this book first before watching the show though!
IT – Stephen King
Alright, yes, this is on a LOT of lists. For good reason. This is a giant read. It is quite a commitment, but when you read it, I promise you won’t be disappointed. I watched the movies all before reading this book, and I was still impressed enough to put it in my Top 5.
The small town of Derry loses a kid mysteriously. He has reported to have last been seen outside of a sewer drain in a small neighborhood. They find evidence that shows he has vanished. Because of this, the kid’s friends all are haunted by his disappearance, and they all find that the reason for his disappearance was due to a clown. This clown, everyone should have heard of by now, is Pennywise. It is not a figment of their own imagination, oh yes, he is real, and they will hate this creature for the rest of their lives.
Take the time to read this book as there are a lot of scary moments and disturbing content.
Frankenstein – Mary Shelley
This is a bit of a harder read. It’s not hard in length, it’s actually relatively short. It’s hard simply because of the language of the time period. This is a book written in the 1800s. It has inspired tons of movies, shows, and books. It’s the origin of the Frankenstein we all know and love.
It is well worth your time and effort to read this at least once in your life. What I love about classic horrors such as this book is how dingy and depressing the setting is. Dingy and depressing are two elements needed in most horror stories. Let’s face it, you’ve heard about this book all your life. Just go read it!
Dracula – Bram Stoker
This is yet another classic that everyone should read if you call yourself a horror fan. Dracula is more sophisticated than modern films give him credit for. This is seen while reading. He is extremely manipulative, and he is also very smart. He knows how to get his victims. You know all about Dracula, so I will spare you the summary. Read the origin story of the fan favorite horror character for yourself. It’s also around the same page content as Frankenstein. While reading, you will love the atmosphere of the setting. I highly recommend!
House of Leaves – Mark Z. Danielewski
Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. This is probably the most complex book in all of literature. This is a manuscript that is found by someone in which he relays the story to you as he is reading it. It’s a story within a story. The manuscript is known as The Navidson Records, and it surrounds this family that has experienced a house that does not function like normal houses. They can’t figure out why. The family becomes obsessed with finding the meaning of this house. Danielewski makes sure to confuse his readers like the family is confused within the story by using literary techniques never-before-seen in any mainstream read. As complex as this book is, it is worth the read. If you are a literary buff, it will blow your mind.
This list is not in any particular order. I just gave you my top five. Comment below if you disagree or have your own horror books you like better!
