RMFAO (Reading My Frigging A** Off) discussion

October is here and so is one of the most awaited genre months of Genre Challenge (at least for some of us) - Horror Fiction! Keeping in step with the month of Halloween, we dedicate this month to horror reads that are creepy, scary and utterly disturbing. Supernatural and paranormal becomes a substantial presence in every RMFAO-er's days and nights throughout this month and so clearly, this month is not for the faint-hearted!
If you're new to this genre or just a casual reader of horror, don't worry in joining us on this amazing month-long reading spree because it is wise to read these dark and scary reads in numbers and find some great recommendation along the way. As usual, you can join anytime during the entire month and read as many books as you can manage, no restrictions whatsoever!

Here is the DEFINITION for this month's genre:

Horror: Horror fiction is fiction in any medium intended to scare, unsettle, or horrify the audience. Historically, the cause of the "horror" experience has often been the intrusion of a supernatural element into the everyday human experience. Since the 1960s, any work of fiction with a morbid, gruesome, surreal, or exceptionally suspenseful or frightening theme has come to be called "horror". Horror fiction often overlaps science fiction or fantasy, all three of which categories are sometimes placed under the umbrella classification speculative fiction.

Some genres that are not exactly horror but can be read in this month are:
- Magic-Realism
- Science Fiction with aliens or monsters
- Speculative Fiction
- Psychological thrillers with an element of creep
- Surreal Fiction
- Gothic Fiction
- Occult Fiction
- Dark Fantasy
- Survival
- Slasher/Serial Killer Fiction
- Or anything else that disturbs YOU!

-->>Please Note: There are absolutely no limits so you can interpret this genre in its broader sense and include other similar genres and/or subgenres that you feel might have a wee bit of similarity with the main genre. You can also include books that are not particularly centred around the main genre but has its components or elements somewhere in the story.

Here's a quick summary of the levels:

Level 1: Casual Reader: 1 book (easy)
Level 2: Frequent Reader: 2 books (moderate)
Level 3: Bookworm: 3 books (mildly strenuous)
Level 4: Bibliophile: 4 books (strenuous)
Level 5: Bookiopath: 5 books or more (challenging)

Please mention what type of books you'd be reading:

PB: Paperbacks
HB: Hardback
EB: E-Books
AB: Audio Books

Please feel free to announce your to-read books along with the level you are targeting for below.

PLEASE READ (for new members):
1. You can read any number of books for the respective genre each month in one particular month.
2. Take your time and go through your entire TBR-list before deciding the books to read.
3. You can join the challenge at any stage (in any month.)
4. You can drop out of the challenge any time you like.
5. You can select different levels every month.
6. Use this discussion board to share your reads with other members of the group.
7. Please be active and don't hesitate to ask questions or recommend books.

Note: The main intent of this challenge is to incorporate different kinds of books and genres in our normal reading routine to make the experience more fun and entertaining. Please do not lose yourself in the technicalities as we all know how literary genres can be confusing.

If you have any doubts or questions, then post them below and we'll be happy to answer/discuss them.
Happy reading!

Dagny wrote: "Ta da! A horror book I had pulled off my shelf, paperback with tiny print. Too hard to read, put it back on shelf yesterday. I think the same thing might have happened last October. Maybe even the ..."

Dagny,

That is wonderful! I, too, have passed over some books due to tiny font size. Why do publishers do this? Very frustrating.

1. The Silver Eyes by Scott Cawthorn
2 stars

Graphic novel based on video game Five Nights at Freddy's. Is going to be a movie, too. The book was a bit confusing for those not familiar with this video game (me), so it was a dud.

I am having a hard time finding horror novels that hold my interest. I sent 2 back to the library already without finishing them. I have more on hold, so hopefully they'll be better.

2. The Conqueror Worms by Brian Keene
3 stars

Environmental apocalypse story about non-stop rain and the creatures it brings out - mainly gigantic man-eating worms. Goofy fun, if you're in the right mood.

Dagny,

Yes, I could appreciate this silly story for what it was and have fun with it. The author knows this is a trashy creature feature, and you could tell he had fun writing it.

So frustating this month! Another book came in from my library, but I just couldn't get into it. (I don't even bother entering these in my Goodreads book list.) I still have a few more scheduled to come in this month, so maybe I'll get lucky with one of them.

I'm feeling it too!

1) The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown 2 stars. Space horror. Started off good(ish) but went down a star in the last quarter.

3. The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard by Robert E. Howard
3 stars

A mixed bag - some stories were effectively creepy, but some were just ok. A huge collection, as it contains absolutely eveything labelled Horror by this author - including poems and unfinished stories. A must for real fans, but others might want to browse it to find stories that appeal to them.

Dagny wrote: "Good for you, Cheryl. Three for you so far this month and I haven't even begun the Frankenstein book yet."

I had to go "old school" to find any horror stories that interested me. So many of the recent horror novels rely on gore, and that just doesn't equal horror to me.

4. The Events at Poroth Farm by T. E. D. Klein
Two and a half stars.

Novella inspired by Lovecraft's The Color Out of Space. It doesn't successfully maintain that sense of creeping dread that Lovecraft does so well.

5. The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon
4 stars

Contemporary mystery/horror novel with a mad scientist /Frankenstein theme. A real page-turner!

Dagny, I thought of you when I was reading this because I know you like Frankenstein books. It was written in 2022, so perhaps your library or Overdrive/Libby might have it. It would make a great audiobook, so you could look into that, too.

Dagny wrote: "Have you (or anyone) read anything else by Jennifer McMahon?."

Dagny,

Jennifer McMahon is hit or miss with me. I tried The Night Sister and gave up on it. I was very surprised that The Children on the Hill was so good, but it's a more recent one and perhaps her writing improved over time.

My problem with the book I abandoned was poor character development, but The Children on the Hill had great character development. You could give another of her books a try and see what you think.

I saw 2 of my Goodreads friends really liked My Darling Girl, but there's a long wait list at my library so I haven't read it yet.

2) Holly by Stephen King 4 stars. I gave it four stars because I enjoyed reading it, but it's not top tier King. I also like Holly the character, but the books featuring her have been pretty uneven.

3) The Store by Bentley Little. 2.75 stars. it starts off pretty good but doesn't stick the landing.

Some horror adjacent books:
4) How Can I Help You by Laura Sims. 3 stars. Serial killer thriller in a library.

5) Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon. 3.5 stars. Serial killer thriller/comedy. Not amazing, but I would read a second book.

6) Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll. 4.5 Fictional retelling of parts of the Ted Bundy story. It's hard to explain, but it's not about him. It's really good. (Does have descriptions of violence - albeit not sensationalized.)

"It proposes a new narrative inspired by evidence that’s been glossed over for decades in favor of more salable headlines—that the so-called brilliant and charismatic serial killer from Seattle was far more average than the countless books, movies, and primetime specials have led us to believe, and that it was the women whose lives he cut short who were the exceptional ones."

Dagny wrote: "Thanks, Adelaide. I didn't even realize it was a series. I'll have to check into that. I enjoyed most of King's early books, especially Salem's Lot which remains one of my all time fa"

Salem's lot is SO GOOD.

I've been reading his books for as long as he's been writing them. I don't always like them, but I always give them a chance. Nothing was better when I was young than to get a new King book for Christmas and then spend the rest of the day reading it.

7) Demon Seed by Dean Koontz. 2 stars. At some point Koontz rewrote this novella and, among other things, updated the cultural references, which are already dated.

Dagny wrote: "Seven already, Adelaide! Good going. I may end up with zero horror books for the month. Haven't even started the one I planned. Between being very busy and not really in the mood, October Genre is ..."

Horror is my jam! I also watch 30+ horror movies in Oct. Best month of the year!

Adelaide wrote: " Horror is my jam! I also watch 30+ horror movies in Oct. Best month of the year! ."

Adelaide,

Which of the movies that you watched were your favorites?

I'm slowly catching up to Adelade as more library books come in.

6. Below by Laurel Hightower
3 stars. Action-packed creature feature about Mothman in West Virginia.

Cheryl wrote: "Adelaide wrote: " Horror is my jam! I also watch 30+ horror movies in Oct. Best month of the year! ."

Adelaide,

Which of the movies that you watched were your favorites?"

I liked almost all of them a lot, so here are 5 of my favorites:

The Ghost of Sierra de Cobre
Phantasm
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
Altered States
The Curse of the Crying Woman (1961)

Adelaide wrote: " I liked almost all of them a lot, so here are 5 of my favorites:

The Ghost of Sierra de Cobre
Phantasm
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
Altered States
The Curse of the Crying Woman (1961) ."

These are good ones! I've seen all of them except Hatchet for the Honeymoon. I'll have to look for it.

Dagny wrote: "Adelaide wrote: "Horror is my jam! I also watch 30+ horror movies in Oct. Best month of the year!"

Alright, Adelaide! Happy early Halloween!"

Thanks!!!!!! I also love Altered States. The director, Ken Russell, made a movie called The Devils that I think is maybe the best movie ever made. It's never been released on disc in the US, but I have a region-free player so I can watch.

Cheryl wrote: "These are good ones! I've seen all of them except Hatchet for the Honeymoon. I'll have to look for it.

reply | flag
"

It's directed by Mario Bava. I LOVE Italian horror films from the 60s and 70s. Suspiria being my favorite.

Adelaide wrote: " It's directed by Mario Bava. I LOVE Italian horror films from the 60s and 70s. Suspiria being my favorite. "

I've seen a number of Bava and Argento movies. Right now, Tubi streaming has an entire search category of Italian Horror Films. Hatchet for Honeymoon wasn't there, but I found it on YouTube.

Cheryl wrote: "I've seen a number of Bava and Argento movies. Right now, Tubi streaming has an entire search category of Italian Horror Films. Hatchet for Honeymoon wasn't there, but I found it on YouTube."

Tubi has an excellent catalog, and YouTube has some great stuff on it as well. If I had to get rid of all my paid services, the two of those could keep me busy for a loooong time.

Just because I am a dork, here is my list of what I have watched so far in reverse chronological order. I promise my next post will be about books.

Def by Temptation
The Viewing
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
The Headless Eyes -DO NOT RECOMMEND
Necrophagus
The Dead Can't Talk
Phantasm
The Video Dead
The Tingler
The Bat
Good Night, Mr. Monster - MEH
Santo and Blue Demon Against the Monsters
Assignment Terror
The Curse of the Crying Woman
The Ghost of Sierra de Cobre
Curse of the Black Widow
The Beyond
The Love Witch
Inferno
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
The Legend of Hell House
The Legacy
They Have Changed Their Face
Altered States
The Witch's Mirror
Amityville 1992: It's About Time
Mystery of the Wax Museum 1933
The Cat 1992
Hiruko the Goblin
The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch
Gamera, the Giant Monster

Alot of of good old horror films, Adelaide!

Now turning back to books, can anyone recommend good authors of old gothic suspense novels? My known favorites are Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart and Barbara Michaels. I know there are others that wrote in the 1960s and 1970s, but are less known now. Any suggestions?

Cheryl wrote: "Alot of of good old horror films, Adelaide!

Now turning back to books, can anyone recommend good authors of old gothic suspense novels? My known favorites are Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, Mary ..."

I am also interested in the answer to this. Lots of times when I see a cool looking gothic romance on the internet, it's out of print and expensive to buy because their cool covers make them collectors items.

I found this Listopia list that might be helpful:

20th. Century Gothic Romances
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

Looks like I had voted on it before. One author I gave good ratings to was Madeleine Brent. I am curious about Dorothy Eden, but have never read her books. Maybe Dagny has?

These look like they'd be fun, too:

https://www.goodreads.com/series/4111...

They are novels based on the characters from Dark Shadows. I hear the novels kind of take their own path, rather than closely following the show's episodes.

I have watched the Dark Shadows original series (on Tubi, by the way) up to the middle of the Quentin story ( episode 800 or so) and then gave up on it. The earlier episodes were some campy fun, especially when Willie was around. The Quentin story was when the series took itself too seriously, and so my attention waned. Maybe one day I'll finish it.

Thanks for the info, Dagny! I’ll given Dorothy Eden a try. I remember my mother reading her books when I was young. The one library in my area, about half an hour away, has alot of these old gothics on the shelves and I didn’t know which ones to try.

Some good ones here! I've already read a few, but I'll look for the others on Project Gutenberg.

7. Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett
3 stars

This one is more about figuring out the mystery associated with an abandoned house that's haunted. Not terribly spooky, more like the ghost wants people to find out what happened to her there. Still pretty interesting, though.

8. The Tribe by Bari Wood
3 stars

Horror novel with a Jewish mysticism theme. The first half is a little slow, but it really picks up in the second half. Something a bit different.

8) Slade House by David Mitchell. 4 stars. Immortal bad people are bad.