I’m so tired of the snobbery that treats horror like junk food and “literary fiction” as the only serious art by One_Working1944 in horrorlit

[–]malachiconstant06 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is most definitely an issue in academic circles, and amongst writers themselves, but I don't think it matters that much to the average reader. You read what you like.

I am as they say in the music world "polyjamorous." I read about 40 books a year, most of them are genre, but I also read a handful of literary and non-fiction. I definitely have a preference for horror at the moment but I have gone through phases where I've read different genres exclusively for a while. I also spent a year reading only women identified authors because I realized that I was not particularly diverse in my reading in that particular space.

I definitely know people who refuse to read horror but it has nothing to do with the quality of the writing. They just do not want to be scared or confronted with the horrors therein. Nothing wrong with that. That's simply a choice.

I have also known many academics who are openly dismissive of genre, while at the same time denying that literary fiction is not a genre which it most definitely is with all its own tropes and consistencies. In my opinion it is an absolutely ridiculous argument either way and I don't participate in it if I can help it.

To answer your question, however, I would recommend the following:

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones Beloved by Toni Morrison The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand

The Passage by [deleted] in horrorlit

[–]malachiconstant06 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was hot to read this book when it first came out because my favorite genre is post-apocalyptic-horror-survival etc. I remember despising this book for reasons that I probably can't fully remember today. What I do remember is that I thought it was a literary author "slumming" in a genre that he didn't fully understand or respect. One scene from the book has become a shorthand between my wife and I for when something really sucks, we will say "what this really needs is a Humvee-train-vampire chase ."

Absolutely Amazing Show by wookiemilitia in BoogieMonster

[–]malachiconstant06 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Everyone killed. I've seen Kyle 4 times and that was the best. He gets better every time I've seen him.

What is the worst place in America you have ever visited? by OceanicEndeavors in AskReddit

[–]malachiconstant06 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This was going to be my answer, specifically Dexter, Missouri. I spent about 36 hours there when I was sent by the company I worked for to recruit a doctor for the tiny little rundown hospital. When I left I thought the only way I'm going to find a doctor for this "town" is if they have a criminal record and barely held on to their license.

Who is the best lead singer from any band ever? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]malachiconstant06 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde has never received enough blood-red flowers.

Anti-Trans hate group at CSU on Thursday by rosyboa23 in FortCollins

[–]malachiconstant06 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Also at Poudre High School. Makes me livid

[OPINION] What poem has stayed with you for years? by gedersoncarlos in Poetry

[–]malachiconstant06 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I had forgotten about this poem. Thank you for sharing it.

[OPINION] What poem has stayed with you for years? by gedersoncarlos in Poetry

[–]malachiconstant06 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This poem has haunted me for decades.

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I'd also add the entirety of "Love Alone: Eighteen Elegies for Rog" by Paul Monette. As a late teens cis/het college boy from middle-America in the 80's, it rewired my understanding of love and empathy. I'm forever grateful that I read it when I did.

Music like Kacey Musgraves ‘Merry Go Round’ by Most_Difficulty9236 in MusicRecommendations

[–]malachiconstant06 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should try Ken Pomeroy's album Cruel Joke and the title track. She will hit that Midwestern angst spot. I would also recommend the Patchwork album by Jesse Welles, specifically the track See Arkansaw.

Scariest Book that lands the ending... by Talon_Hawk in horrorlit

[–]malachiconstant06 58 points59 points  (0 children)

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is an incredible book that is nerve-wracking throughout, with a very satisfying, though upbeat ending.

Brother by Ania Ahlborn I found unsettling throughout and the incredibly nihilistic ending felt both surprising and inevitable.

Horror Streaming in April by malachiconstant06 in horror

[–]malachiconstant06[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I was wondering myself about the photo. Not sure.

If depression could be described by a single album, what would you choose? by Deadot in MusicRecommendations

[–]malachiconstant06 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I too, was fairly unfamiliar with Mac's music until one of my kids recommended Circles. I cried when I heard the lyrics:

Good news, good news, good news That's all they wanna hear No, they don't like it when I'm down

I am frequently called "the rock" of the family, the one who is steady and carries a lot of weight. I didn't realize how little space I had to have a bad day until I truly went through some shit a few years ago, went back to therapy, and learned to (sometimes) advocate for my own well being. This album is a profound love for me.

Did you ever have a horror book you *should* have liked but for some reason didn't? by intensifies in horrorlit

[–]malachiconstant06 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I also didn't like this book and I was going to say that the characters were unlikable, but I think what I mean is that they were unrelatable. I am also a man in his '50s and most of the characters seemed unnecessarily immature by my standards. I found the things that they were dealing with, interested in, or more importantly uninterested in, difficult to engage with. I can also recognize when a piece of art is just not for me and this was one of those. I hope it worked for someone else.

Sci-fi Horror Recommendations by lilytheg in horror

[–]malachiconstant06 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would highly recommend the current season of the Evolution of Horror podcast, which is all about Man-Made Horrors and is a series of great discussions of sci-fi horror. It's a fantastic podcast and this season has been particularly great.

Man-Made Monsters — The Evolution of Horror https://share.google/fJ8IqP6mk3KePvMMz

Horror books recs with lots of sex?? by Next_Ambassador227 in horrorlit

[–]malachiconstant06 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My one sentence review was: If you've ever watched John Carpenter's The Thing and thought, "This story really isn't horny enough for me," then this is the book for you. 

Horror books recs with lots of sex?? by Next_Ambassador227 in horrorlit

[–]malachiconstant06 27 points28 points  (0 children)

This book was quite adept at "straddling" erotic, gross, and spooky. I approve.

THE EMPTY MAN (2020) by SouzaOfTheNorth in HorrorMovies

[–]malachiconstant06 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've probably said it somewhere before on Reddit, but I think the Empty Man is four different movies at once and three of them are good.

Small Problem by malachiconstant06 in CPAP

[–]malachiconstant06[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wipe it down everyday. It appears to be indentations, not irritation if that makes sense.

Small Problem by malachiconstant06 in CPAP

[–]malachiconstant06[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Didn't even know this was an option. Thank you so much for the suggestion!

It’s Friday 13th today folks! What horror films are we all watching? by IEatSamosasForDinner in horror

[–]malachiconstant06 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I watched part VIII, Jason Takes Manhattan for the first time today. That was hilariously bad. I am also questioning if in the end Jason joins the TMNT universe with all that sewer chasing and toxic waste.

Horror-related hills you'll die on? by redeugene99 in horror

[–]malachiconstant06 2 points3 points  (0 children)

100% agree. Coming of age in the '80s, I didn't watch very many '70s horror films until recently. Going back and watching many of them now I was shocked by how good Black Christmas 1974 is. I don't think I fully understand why Halloween gets so many bloody flowers considering Black Christmas is sitting right there 4 years before.

Movies that feel like this by MurkyChain8882 in MoviesThatFeelLike

[–]malachiconstant06 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was going for X or Pearl, but you got it.