5 Novels That Disprove The Myth That Horror Isn’t Literary
We all know number 4
There are a lot of categories in literature and they all seem to get the appreciation they deserve except one, which is horror. Horror books may not always get the recognition they deserve; nevertheless, just because something is frightening does not imply that it is not literary.
If you do like to be scared and want to read some of the best books that the horror genre has ever produced, I will tell you about five books that you should definitely read.
1. Pet Sematary — By Stephen King
Several of King’s novels might be included on this list, but the depth and humanity of his characterizations, as well as the sprawling nature of his tales, often serve to mitigate the horror of his stories.
Through the use of a simple, terrible concept: a magical cemetery where dead objects come back to life — but aren’t exactly what they used to be — Pet Sematary manages to be his most frightening book ever.
In the course of developing that basic premise, King builds to an eerie conclusion that gets under your skin in a manner that most horror tales fail to do.
2. Bird Box — By Josh Malerman
Even though the reader only has access to the information that the characters have.
Malerman’s gripping tale of a society slowly collapsing as individuals go murderously mad after seeing strange monsters is terrifying because the reader has just the knowledge that the protagonists have, which is limited.
The world has crumbled, and the survivors can only shield themselves from the outside world and hope for the best, resulting in a terrible loss of hope that leaves the reader powerless in the face of the terrifying images Malerman conjures up in his imagination.
3. Ring — By Kōji Suzuki
It is well-known that anybody who views a strange DVD with frightening pictures will die within seven days — and then they will die.
This is the book that served as the inspiration for the horror film of the same name.
The inquiry into the recording and how to prevent this terrible destiny leads to an extremely horrific history involving rape, smallpox, and a long-forgotten well, which continues to be startling today.
Even if technology has progressed, the horror has never truly depended on VHS cassettes; rather, it is the notion that ideas can be lethal, and that just by seeing something you may be condemned, that is so terrifying.
4. American Psycho — By Bret Easton Ellis
American Psycho is a 1991 novel by American author Bret Easton Ellis and one of the most noted books in modern American literature.
Patrick Bateman is a stereotypical yuppie, living in a beautiful New York apartment and wearing only the most expensive fashion.
But in the evening, Patrick reveals his true nature as a murderous and raping psychopath on the run.
Despite his many victims Patrick is never caught and punished. The tide turns only after Patrick kills a colleague, he feels that his punishment is coming. After it even becomes too much for him, he decides to confess everything to his lawyer over the phone.
When he runs into his lawyer in a restaurant sometime later, Patrick approaches him to find a solution. But the lawyer doesn’t seem to want to believe Patrick and refuses to accept Patrick’s story. In the end, Patrick remains unpunished, he continues to escape his sentence.
5. The Haunting of Hill House — By Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House is a 1959 romantic horror novel written by Shirley Jackson.
Professor John Montague has leased the Hill House estate for the summer in order to demonstrate the existence of paranormal activity.
That is why he invited a few visitors, only Eleanor and Theodora of whom have replied. Luke Sanderson, the house’s young heir, is also present. The housekeepers, Mr. and Mrs. Dudley, refuse to enter the home after sundown.
The Haunting, based on the novel, was turned into a film in 1963. In 1999, a remake with the same title was released. The Haunting of Hill House is a Netflix original series that includes certain minor characters and aspects from the novel but follows a totally new plot.
