Book Bout 2025 - Terrifying, or Daunting, Books

[Prof. Tarma Amelia Black]

Has there ever been a book which was scary, or terrifying, for you to read? Or maybe, if you aren't into reading (or finishing) books which you find to be scary, has there been a book, or maybe a book series, which seemed intimidating to even start? Why was this?

For this discussion, tell us about a book which you find to be scary to read. Some books come to mind (for me) as possible examples - Coraline, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, (Neil Gaiman), A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle), The Puppet Masters (Robert Heinlein). It's not so much that they are scary, in and of themselves, but somehow I can feel that these works of 'fiction' just might be true ... somewhere.

Or, maybe you wanted to read The Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan) books, but the first book of the series, The Eye of the World, has 814 pages ... That's a little bit dauntingly large! (As a comparison, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the longest Harry Potter book, has 870 pages in the US version and 766 pages in the UK version.)

Please tell us about any books, scary or intimidating -- or maybe there are none which scare or intimidate you! -- in 80 words or more. You’ll earn 10 beans and 5 team points for the Book Bout competition.

Post your response below by 11:59 PM HOL-time on the 31st of August.

[Emily Spencer]

This was a hard call, as I've read many books that scared me. I've even stayed awake all night, too scared to close my eyes. However, by morning's light, the scare was gone and life went on as usual. When I look back at them now, I remember being frightened, but the feeling of being afraid is long gone. That's why I've chosen to write about a book that wasn't traditionally 'scary', but has stayed with me throughout the years.

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin is probably one of the most disquieting books I have ever had the dubious pleasure of reading. On the surface, it seems banal enough, predictable even. In a town ripped straight out of yesteryear, the wives are nauseatingly submissive and the word of the man is law. Cue in a few rebellious women who dare to fight against the status quo, and that is pretty much the basis of the story.

However, Mr. Levin is a master at slow-burning suspense and horror. He doesn't punch you in the face with it, but sneaks it in the most subtle of ways. A simple act, such as putting on a dress and going grocery shopping or having tea with a friend, should not make your chest tighten with dread. But believe me, in this book, it most certainly does. By the end of the book, I was actually crying. The ending felt like a gut punch, and the quiet terror of it is something that doesn't go away easily.

Perhaps the most disquieting thing about this book (for me at least) is that there are no actual monsters in it—no ghosts, ghouls, demons, or possessed cars. The evil comes from other humans, and while the reality isn't really a reality at all, it left me with the feeling of 'it could be'. And contemplating that was the scariest of all.

[Prof. Tarma Amelia Black]

A simple act, such as putting on a dress and going grocery shopping or having tea with a friend, should not make your chest tighten with dread. But believe me, in this book, it most certainly does. By the end of the book, I was actually crying. The ending felt like a gut punch, and the quiet terror of it is something that doesn't go away easily.

Perhaps the most disquieting thing about this book (for me at least) is that there are no actual monsters in it—no ghosts, ghouls, demons, or possessed cars. The evil comes from other humans, and while the reality isn't really a reality at all, it left me with the feeling of 'it could be'. And contemplating that was the scariest of all.

Well, Emily, color me never ever being interested in reading The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin. I hope I don't have disquieting moments from reading your excellent write-up ...

[Emily Spencer]

Let me know how you like it! I might have to give it another go, myself.

[River Fenwick]

A true horror book through and through for me is Tastes Like Candy by Ivy Tholol. It's a typical slasher novel, which can be intimidating in itself, but where it takes place makes it all the more horrible for me. Carnivals have always been a place that I'm on the fence about, since they're not exactly known for being up to code, unlike established amusement parks, which are typically more hands-on with maintenance.

Adding the element running from a murderer after hours into the mix of already shady welding jobs, bolts coming loose without washers or nuts, and rigged games that I can't help but associate with carnivals just seems like my worst nightmare. As far as I'm concerned, the only good thing about carnivals is the candy (I love some cotton candy), and this book did nothing to change my opinion of them.

I also found Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury to be unnerving for this very reason, though it's quite a different horror book than Tastes Like Candy.

(I'm sure most carnivals are relatively safe, I'm just a paranoid overthinker.)

[Janne Halla]

One book that really surprised me with how unsettling it was is Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. When I first picked it up, I expected whatever scary for kids or young adults, but it quite surprised me! It was very strange, eerie, and filled with moments of dread.

I think the use of old, real photographs was what really helped the mood. There were moments when I found myself flipping back to study the images more closely, and then feeling unnerved at them. Not to mention the hollowgasts and their monstrous appearance. All of that makes for one terrifying book (series)!