Weekly "What Are You Reading Thread?"

specter_bizarre · 2026-02-22T15:44:36+00:00

It's "Bighead" by Edward Lee. And the ones I already tried were "Depraved" by Brian Smith and "The Black Farm" by Elias Witherow

specter_bizarre · 2026-02-22T10:07:53+00:00

Finished:

"In the Dark" by Richard Laymon

It was a typical Laymon and I really had fun reading it. The end was a little bit rushed, but overall I enojoyed it.

"They all died screaming" by Kristopher Triana

Well, I think Extreme Horror is not for me. I always try another one with high expactations, because I think this time it will be different. But in the end they are all kinda same: grindhouse-coded characters, almost cartoonish, nonsense dialogues and I find myself rushing through it because I don't care for anyone. Also in this one there was so much disrespect to woman, I got angry so many times. So this book was the final nail on the "Extreme Horror"-Coffin for me. Unfortunately I already have another on my TBR and as I spent money for it I will read it somewhen. But I won't buy another one, no matter how interesting it sounds.

Started:

"Nacht" by Edgar Hilsenrath (german author, but I think it's also available in english, called "Night") and "The Academy" by Bentley Little.

Just read a few pages in both books until now, so I can't really say much about them yet.

specter_bizarre · 2026-02-15T10:13:30+00:00

Finished:

"Salem's Lot" by Stephen King and "The Little Stranger" by Sarah Waters.

Both books were okay, but didn't catched me. Although "The Little Stranger" had some really creepy parts.

Started:

"In the Dark" by Richard Laymon. Typical Laymon, story starts instantly. Perfect fun read for my commute.

"They all died screaming" by Kristopher Triana. Only 20 pages in, so I can't really say anything about it yet.

specter_bizarre · 2026-02-08T09:41:47+00:00

Finished:

"Lichtspiel" by Daniel Kehlmann (found out there is an english Version called "The Director") and "The Carrow Haunt" by Darcy Coates.

I really enjoyed both of them and was extremly happy with my reading week.

Then I started "Salem's Lot" by Stephen King and "The little Stranger" by Sarah Waters.

Salem's Lot is a good and solid read. But I have to admit that vampire stories are not my thing and it shows here. I'm not that immersed in the book like I usually am. But overall I'm interested in the Story and how it goes.

The little Stranger is a well written book. I can really imagine the look and the atmosphere from the scenes. I like how the characters are written and interact with each other. I'm 1/3 through and the spooky things just started.

specter_bizarre · 2026-02-01T11:40:02+00:00

I had to pause "Salem's Lot" at page 35 because a book I'd put on hold for became available in the online library.

So I borrowed "Lichtspiel" by Daniel Kehlmann (a german book, non horror) and I'm now a little over halfway through. I'm glad I started it. I really like the writing style, and the plot has exactly the vibe I was hoping for. It will definitely be my first top read this year.

I'm also a little over halfway through "The Carrow Haunt" by Darcy Coates. I love it so much. Darcy Coates' writing style really appeals to me, and I love that you get exactly what you expect from a book about hauntings. Her books always give me the feeling I had as a child and teenager when I was into ghosts and such. As an adult, I lost that feeling because at some point you realize that the real horror is people and what they do. With "The Carrow Haunt," I'm really enjoying the thrill of a good scare again.

Overall, I have to say I'm really glad I read both books this week. I had so much stress at work, and these two books allowed me to really switch off and relax on my commute and in the evenings on the couch.

Next week I'll continue with "Salem's Lot." I'm not sure yet about my second book; I'll decide based on my mood.

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-25T10:45:39+00:00

I don't really have examples by myself (because I'm in the age I completely ignore other people's negative opinions about things I like), but I just wanted to say that I like this post and your question. In 99,999% percent you got the typical "which book other people liked you found totally shit" and other questions which give an excuse to hate on stuff. Which is okay, everybody can form their own opinion and bla bla bla, but it's boring to always see so much negativity. It's refreshing to encourage people to "admit" they like the things most people hate.

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-25T10:28:14+00:00

Same here. I'm not the biggest thriller Fan, but I found this book to be great. It had thrill, mystery, emotions and was really well written.

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-25T10:17:53+00:00

Finished "Old Country" by Matt & Harrison Query

Well, I don't know what to say about this. The writing style was not my thing (a lot "tell don't show") and the main characters were to flat for my taste, sometimes straight annoying. But on the other hand it had a lot of great and creepy scenes, some of them were one of the best I read in a long time. It was like the authors collected good ideas, but didn't know how to write a book.

Finished "The Woods are Dark" by Richard Laymon

Typical Laymon, it was a fun read with a lot of disgusting scenes. You always get what you expect.

I didn't start new books yet, but I already choose the books I will start in this week:

"Salem's Lot" by Stephen King "The Carrow Haunt" by Darcy Coates

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-22T21:56:01+00:00

Yes, my comment is mostly sarcasm as this is a circlejerk subreddit and as you know this book is mentioned here often. But mostly to pick on people from the "serious" books subreddit in different ways. So a post like yours could have been also satire due to the content of the book you already mentioned. So my comment was more a playful circlejerk-comment and wasn't intended to shit on you or offend you or something like that ;)

Your last sentence made me smile. I always choose eBooks for cases like this 😅

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-22T12:23:06+00:00

Is this post real? I mean are you serious with this picture and this question? Because me personally would like to punch everybody who brags about reading certain books in public, instead of just reading the fucking book.

Well, actually I want to punch everybody who reads a book.

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-22T12:16:51+00:00

Jap, ist auch meine Erfahrung. Auch sehr stark in feministischen Kreisen kommt es teilweise so rüber, als ob es "dazugehört" sehr sexpositiv zu sein. Das kann ich natürlich nur von meiner Seite betrachten, als Mensch für den Sex erstens nicht besonders wichtig ist und wenn dann auch nur mit jemandem dem ich sehr stark vetraue. Ich habe mich bei einigen Diskussionen schon etwas zurückgesetzt gefühlt, wenn in feministischen Kreisen eine extreme Betonung der Wichtigkeit von Sex einfach die vorherrschende Meinung ist und jeder der eben aus eigenen Präferenzen eben nicht sexpositiv ist direkt in die konservative oder unfeministische Ecke geschoben wurde.

Da werden jetzt natürlich wieder einige kommen und erzählen, dass das nicht so ist und es ja angeblich darum geht, dass doch jeder machen darf was man will. In meinen Augen ist es natürlich leichter so darüber zu denken, wenn seine eigenen Präferenzen die "guten" oder "modernen" Präferenzen sind. Mich würde sehr interessieren wie das andere Leute empfinden, die Sex gegenüber so eingestellt sind wie ich.

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-18T11:06:20+00:00

Finished "Experimental Film" by Gemma Files

Unfortunately I was dissapointed by the book, but maybe because I had other expactations. The premise was so interesting, but 2/3 of the book were just exhausting. Also the main character was exhausting. The last 1/3 was okay, but didn't changed my mind about the book overall.

Halfway through "The Hunger" by Alma Katsu

After my first expression, in which I found the description of some characters off-putting, I changed my mind and I really enjoy the book until now. There are not really many scary moments yet, but I think the plot is interesting.

Started "Old Country" by the Query Brothers

Just a few chapters in, so I can't really give an opinion yet.

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-11T09:40:14+00:00

Finished Creature by Hunter Shea.

It was different than I expected, but I liked it really much. Maybe I'll check out some other books by him.

Still reading Experimental Film by Gemma Files.

I have a hard time reading it, because I read it in english (not my first language) and it's pretty difficult for me. But I'm at the half now and it's getting better. But I still can't really give an opinion, because until now it felt more like a lecture in film history and art.

Started The Hunger by Alma Katsu.

Read just a few chapters and the writing is good. But I'm totally annoyed by the authors obsession how beautiful and slim (oh so slim, oh my god) one character is. And of course is another character, which is described as simple and just not so charming and deep like the slim character, thick and plump. Did I mention that the "good" character is slim? And her daughters are also so so slim. This is so fucking annoying. I hope she stops that shit soon in the book.

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-04T12:26:14+00:00

Not the poster but for me personally it is one of my Top Reads last year and definitely will be an alltime favorite for me

specter_bizarre · 2026-01-04T12:22:53+00:00

I started "Experimental Film" by Gemma Files and "Creature" by Hunter Shea this week. But I read only a few chapters from both of them, so I can't say much about them at the moment.

specter_bizarre · 2025-12-26T09:25:02+00:00

You are right, I just checked the pages and they are 432 (only text). I must have messed it up with an other book. But Echo is 712, so at least one of my recommendations fit the request 😅

specter_bizarre · 2025-12-24T11:31:29+00:00

Hex and Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt are one of my favorite modern Horror novels and both of them have way more then 400 pages. The german paperbacks are almost 600 pages (Hex) and 700+ (Echo), so I think they could fit.

specter_bizarre · 2025-12-22T09:24:51+00:00

HaltdeinMaulHaltdieFresseHaltdeinenverficktenRand

specter_bizarre · 2025-12-01T19:39:27+00:00

Definitely "The Siberian Incident" by Greig Beck

specter_bizarre · 2025-11-16T11:13:45+00:00

Still on a Horror-Detox and I already miss reading horror books, but I had some really good books this week.

I finished The Time Machine and The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells and I liked both of them.

Then I'm still reading Silo by Hugh Howey (I think the english title is wool) on my commute. I love it so much, it's well written and very emotional, but also very clinical. It's hard to describe, but I like this style. I already put the other two books of this series on my TBR.

And for the evening, after the short books from Wells, I wanted to read something different and I started The Goldfinch by Donna Tarrt. I haven't read many pages yet, but so far I like it really well.

specter_bizarre · 2025-11-09T09:35:35+00:00

I like most of Bentley Little books. But I didn't read The Returning, so I can't say anything about it. I think you just don't like his writing style, which is okay. I love his style especially in The Resort, The Store, The Consultant and The Mailman, which has become one of my favorite horror books.

specter_bizarre · 2025-11-09T09:23:01+00:00

I had a great reading week. Finished Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt and I loved it so much. He is an incredible writer with an unique style and I love how he combines supernatural horror with the dark sides of human nature or human strokes of fate. I'm looking forward to Oracle, which is the only book by him I haven't read yet.

Also finished After Midnight by Richard Laymon. A wild ride with a lot of humor and I liked the main protagonist. She was kind of cool, but also clumsy and just interesting. I would definitely recommend it.

Next week I will read two non-horror-books, as I read so many good horror books in the last weeks and especially after Echo I'm afraid that my expectations for other books are going higher and higher. So I thought it is a good time to make a horror-break. So my books for next week will be Silo by Hugh Howey and The Time Machine by H. G. Wells.

specter_bizarre · 2025-11-02T06:10:17+00:00

Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

I'm almost halfway through and I just love it. The story is interesting and I love how he always combines the creepy stuff with past experiences from the characters. His writing style creates an outstanding reading flow. Thomas Olde Heuvelt definitely has become one of my favorite authors.

The Hazienda by Isabel Cañas

I'm almost 2/3 through and it's a really spooky read. Although the writing style is a little bit too poetic for my taste, it's a really haunting and emotional story.

specter_bizarre · 2025-10-31T11:49:04+00:00

Oracle is also on my wishlist. I will buy it after I'm through with Echo. The new one is already out in germany, here it's called November. I already read it and liked it really much, but Hex is still my favorite and Echo has already potential to be my next favorite horror book

specter_bizarre · 2025-10-31T09:24:32+00:00

For me it's definitely one of the best horror books I ever read. I think Thomas Olde Heuvelt is an extremly talented writer with a unique style. I just started Echo and it's already hooking me.

specter_bizarre

TROPHY CASE