The most disturbing work of fiction that you have ever read

[sdeangelo]

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen really freaked me out. To be inside that woman's head was pretty weird...I almost didn't finish it because I didn't like thinking about it so much. It was pretty disturbing.

[BigWords]

The most disturbing work of fiction I've ever read... British newspapers FTW.

[bigmac]

Green Mile was a very moving story. But for disturbing fiction Richard Laymon has to have some of the most disturbing stories. Only read a couple of his and no wonder none of his books have turned into films. They would have to bring out a new rating for them 30+ or something.

 

Have been wondering that myself, I am a huge fan of his books. The Island, One Rainy Night and Quake were particularly disturbing but fantastic books.

[Book Fiend]

Without a doubt I'd say Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord by Louis de Bernieres. Unfortunately I can't say much without giving the plot away.

 

 

The bit when Anika is tortured to death is the most disturbing thing I've ever read. I think it's just the way it's written, because I'm a big horror fan and it doesn't normally bother me too much. Also, it's so unexpected, and the book is so funny in places it just made it all the more shocking. I made the mistake of taking this book on holiday with me and I had to stop reading it because I was crying on the beach. In fact it's making me sad thinking about it now. I would quote a little bit of it but I lent it to somebody years ago and never got it back! Gggrrrr!!

 

 

Also, I agree about Richard Layman. I used to read a lot of his books but in the end I stopped because they are quite disturbing. I blame one of his books (Endless Night I think) for the fact that I sometimes have to put the light on when I get up in the night just to make sure there isn't somebody hiding in my bedroom waiting to murder me!

[Chrissy]

Without a doubt I'd say Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord by Louis de Bernieres. Unfortunately I can't say much without giving the plot away.

Yes, I remember this one, an incredibly surreal feel to the book at times. That particular scene is graphic and nasty.

[KW]

Helter Skelter and Mommie Dearest tied for 1st place.

[twinkle]

Me and Emma by Elizabeth Flock had an affect on me. I felt for Carrie, through whose eyes you saw the story of having an abusive step-father and an inadequate mother. You really want an happy ending for the two girls and then you get the twist at the end.

[beautifuldisaster7]

definitely A Child Called It...way hard to read, though it is a great book...

 

 

Also Lord Of The Flies which is in my all time favorites but is still a bit of a disturbing read.

 

 

Has anyone read any books by Marquis de Sade? Just wondering if they are, in fact as violent and disturbing as they are said to be...I've seen a few on some of the "books you should read before you die" lists and I haven't read any because I'm a bit scared lol:mrgreen:

[BookJumper]

Stephen King's Dolores Clairborne is the only book I ever abandoned due to being too disturbed by the subject matter (

a mother killing her husband after realising he's been abusing their daughter

).

[poppyshake]

 

Also Lord Of The Flies which is in my all time favorites but is still a bit of a disturbing read.

 

I haven't read this but I've always been intrigued by it .. I was reading a piece written about Golding yesterday .. that was full of praise for his writing .. infact I think it was a promotional piece for a new biography that has been written about him.

 

The very small piece of info that I know about the plot of 'the Lord of the Flies' (the bit that probably everybody knows) .. has put me off of reading it .. but I'm always thinking I should give it a go.

[BigWords]

Has anyone read any books by Marquis de Sade? Just wondering if they are, in fact as violent and disturbing as they are said to be...I've seen a few on some of the "books you should read before you die" lists and I haven't read any because I'm a bit scared lol:mrgreen:

 

I found the Marquis' work rather dry in places, but he had an exceptional way with words (and twisting expectations), so you shouldn't be too put off by what you hear and read about his books. Kinda reminds me of the way in which Alasteir Crowley's stuff is always regarded as being hardcore devilry when it is, in a lot of ways, a barbed and witty commentary on religion and personal expression.

 

I'm finding it hard to describe these guys, but I really, really believe that their work isn't confined to students and collectors of esoterica. There might not be as much in their work that comes close to the general perception of them (and you can forget the film adaps like Justine, because those were soft-porn first and foremost). There is some degree of 'nasty' in de Sade, but there is just as much laugh-out-loud comedy in his work as well.

 

I may be in the minority on this...

[beautifuldisaster7]

I haven't read this but I've always been intrigued by it .. I was reading a piece written about Golding yesterday .. that was full of praise for his writing .. infact I think it was a promotional piece for a new biography that has been written about him.

 

The very small piece of info that I know about the plot of 'the Lord of the Flies' (the bit that probably everybody knows) .. has put me off of reading it .. but I'm always thinking I should give it a go.

 

It's worth it. One of my all time favorites simply because of how humans evolve and how chaos ensues. It is a good read and rather short so you should be able to get through it fast:mrgreen:

 

 

I found the Marquis' work rather dry in places, but he had an exceptional way with words (and twisting expectations), so you shouldn't be too put off by what you hear and read about his books. Kinda reminds me of the way in which Alasteir Crowley's stuff is always regarded as being hardcore devilry when it is, in a lot of ways, a barbed and witty commentary on religion and personal expression.

 

I'm finding it hard to describe these guys, but I really, really believe that their work isn't confined to students and collectors of esoterica. There might not be as much in their work that comes close to the general perception of them (and you can forget the film adaps like Justine, because those were soft-porn first and foremost). There is some degree of 'nasty' in de Sade, but there is just as much laugh-out-loud comedy in his work as well.

 

I may be in the minority on this...

 

Thanks for the input!! I think I'm gonna read some of his work soon lol adding to my huge list of TBR

[Rawr]

A short story in the collection 'Books of Blood' by Clive Barker is particularly disturbing yet interesting, a guy who is into psychology and the limits of the human mind kidnaps this particularly strong-viewed woman and kind of puts her in isolation and captivity, he puts a joint of meat in this ruined old house which she is trapped in (the woman is strictly vegetarian) and he keeps her there, filming her until she eats some of it, which incidentally, takes a huge amount of time. That stuck with me, it's pretty disturbing.

[BigWords]

Isn't Barker as much a fantasy writer as he is a horror writer? And a good comedy writer to boot... Maybe I find his work more accessable than others, but when he writes something 'dark' it is often paired with comedy elements or surreal moments that make reading his work somehow easier.

 

The Yattering And Jack is a hilarious story, and Caliban almost a comic-book style underworld (like the Morlocks from X-Men). Having said all that, the 'disturbing' aspects of Hellbound Heart are indeed rather sleep-bothering for some... (not least the price of the hardback stand-alone copy released to tie-in with the film)

[Lucybird]

There is a rather disturbing scene in the book I just finished (The Wind-up Bird Chronicle)

when a man is skinned alive

but as a whole I wouldn't say it's a disturbing book

[maymalik]

Though I don't really think it disturbed me but ever since I read it, I know there is something inside me that changed.. and I still feel the book fresh in my mind even though I read it almost 10 years ago.

Edited October 12, 2009 by Nollaig
Spelling and Grammar - please do not abbreviate to 'yrs' and 'tho'.

[Ghost]

John Ringo's Kildare books. The "hero" is a former Navy SEAL and now malitia leader with a hareem of teenage girls and he is into rape... Quite odd books really.

[Nicolle]

I also found 'A Clockwork Orange' disturbing.

'Angel Blood' by John Singleton was very disturbing, I wouldn't recomend it to anyone.

[Ghost]

'Angel Blood' by John Singleton was very disturbing, I wouldn't recomend it to anyone.

 

Just because you have said that I am going to look for a copy in the library

[LL13]

Afraid by Jack Kilborn

 

Very very violent technothriller - gruesome at times!!

 

 

Good read though

[libri vermis]

The Girl in a Swing by Richard Adams. I can't say why, because that would give the plot away.

 

I would like to add that I don't get disturbed easily. I have read many King, Poe, Bradbury, Lovecraft, etc. stories, and while I enjoyed some, the book I mentioned is the only one that has ever haunted me after reading it.

 

Real life is more disturbing than fiction.

Edited October 26, 2009 by libri vermis

[shelley]

Hi. Although i read Stephen Kings 'IT' many many years ago... it still sits on the top of my most disturbing reads list

[Weevilcharley]

To agree with most, 'A Clockwork Orange'. Fascinating, and hideous. Really genuinely disturbing but I can't help myself .... carcrash literature?

[ned]

Hi. Although i read Stephen Kings 'IT' many many years ago... it still sits on the top of my most disturbing reads list

 

 

I have never read a Stephen King before but i saw this for

[ian]

I'd read most of Stephen King's books, and certainly IT is up there as very disturbing. While what happens isn't based on reality, some of what happens to the characters could and does happen to people.

 

I also found The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks quite disturbing.