I'm reading Under The Skin by Michel Faber at the moment. Nasty.
I had to get all of the middle bits out of some tomatoes at the weekend and was nearly sick.
brett easton ellis american psycho, thats some sick sh1t
as was john nivens first book from memory
The true story of Fred and Rose West.
Unbelievable what they did to girls, including their children. And you wouldn't believe who Rose slept with. Gruesome.
No wonder he topped himself. He knew he would never get out.
The Hunger Games. I got quite a disturbing insight into the way the author's mind works while reading it.
Jamie Oliver cookbook(any of them) !
I found 1984 stomach-turning in a strange way - obv it's not blood and guts but it's written at such a psychological pitch that it made me feel queasy.
Remember feeling glad that I'd read it when I was older. I think it's a powerful book to be taking on as a teenager, which is I guess when a lot of people read it.
The Hunger Games. I got quite a disturbing insight into the way the author’s mind works while reading it.
At least you're well prepared for the post Brexit wastelands; which sector are you?
+1 for American Psycho <shudders>
The Road,I felt sick at the hopelessness.
Very well written,just really grim.
+1 for American Psycho and The Road. Both difficult to read at times.
The Wasp Factory
American Psycho was too clearly manufactured
Mo Hayder - The Treatment.
It was very hard reading.
Not just The Road lots of Cormac McCarthy books have gruesome passages. I think it's Blood Meridian that features a character who sucks people's eyes out. It sounds like cheap sensationalism but it's in context and he's such a skilled writer it doesn't come out that way.
Blood Meridian is the best book I never want to read again.
The Collector is pretty dark.
Maribou Stork Nightmares by Irvine Welsh. I know his stuff is always grizzly and dark in places but that was too much.
Good shout on Mo Hayder, her books are quite disturbing (in a good way).
brett easton ellis american psycho, thats some sick sh1t
I only got about half way through American Psycho a couple of years ago before I sort of "lost interest"...
It's on the "to read" pile, but it keeps getting "overlooked" in favour of more pleasant looking reads (i.e. anything).
The wasp factory
Crime and punishment- the description of the crime in the title was pretty disturbing
Chuck Palahniuk's - Haunted
A collection of loosely interconnected short stories, with the opening (I think) story offering one of three wonderfully graphic self-gratification scenes - one in particular involving a swimming pool, powerful suction, and an unravelling of the most cringe worthy nature.
EDIT: OMG, I just read that that particular scene is based on a true story. Holy yikes.
Readers Wives
Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano. It's an autobiographical account of life as a member of Camorra, one of the largest crime syndicates in Italy. The author has been on the run since the book was published and has been given a permanent police escort by the Italian state after being threatened by several godfathers
All the Little Guns Went Bang Bang Bang, by Neil Mackay.
Pretty tough read. Set in Northern Ireland in the 80s. Two kids growing up amidst the troubles attempting to assert control over their chaotic lives via an escalating series of violent acts.
+1 for American Psycho <shudders>
Those bits where he bangs on about how much he likes Huey Lewis and the News are pretty hard to stomach.
The Killing Fields, very disturbing, a difficult read.
Beyond Belief by Emlyn Williams.
The story of Brady and Hindley.
Was warned not to read it, but as a know it all teenager reckoned I knew better.
Proper nightmares.
Chuck Palahniuk’s – Haunted
Chuck does a good stomach turn. Awesome taste slimjim78!
Last one for me was Mischling by Affinity Konar. It’s from the point of view of 2 twins in Auschwitz. First hand descriptions of Mengele’s work. But beautifully written.
Beyond Belief by Emlyn Williams.
The story of Brady and Hindley.
Was warned not to read it, but as a know it all teenager reckoned I knew better.
Proper nightmares.
I grew up not too far from all that but I was a bit too young to take it all in. I've been looking for a good book about it all so I've just ordered this. Thanks for the tip - and the warning!
The road. You know the bit.
The true story of Fred and Rose West.
Agreed but If you think that was bad you should try 'Final Truth', an autobiography by serial killer Don 'Peewee' Gaskins.
If you can find a copy.
The end of Kafka's The Trial is deeply dark.
The Road for me too. The imagery it created in my head was so strong. The film was actually quite good but not as grim as I thought the book was.
Also In Cold Blood, Truman Capote.
Covenants with Death, it's a photographic record of the horrors of WW1 with a "sealed" section which is just horrific.
The Room by Hulbert Shelby Jr
I didn't think The Wasp Factory was as bad as the reviews suggested it would be. Surface Detail was probably worse (and it's such a different book I've only just realised it's the same author!). I think nasty fiction is easier to handle than nasty reality.
Couple of the Jo Nesbo novels have thrilled/freaked med out in equal measures. Snowman and another one where a metal star was found in the throats of victims.
He also writes kids books 😀
*shameless plug
The Bond by Simon McCartney his ordeal climbing in Alaska.
He’s a good pal of mine*
The Wasp Factory
+345 for American Psycho. Got about 3/4 through and just asked myself "why am I reading this?"
It's the only book I've ever read I was repulsed by to the point of not finishing.
I did wonder what the point of it was, so I read a synopsis to save me the effort.
Surface Detail was probably worse (and it’s such a different book I’ve only just realised it’s the same author!).
Never read The Wasp Factory, but I have read Surface Detail, and all his other SF books, and I’m struggling to think of anything in that book that might cause that sort of reaction.
I can imagine JG Ballard’s book ‘Crash’ being a challenging read for some folks, and, while I’ve never got around to reading his book ‘The Atrocity Exhibition’, just the title and knowing what ‘Crash’ is about might prove off-putting to some readers.
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything bad enough to turn my stomach, though.
Intrusion by Ken Macleod, has a moment that unsettled me so much that I just put it down and stopped reading it for a couple of weeks. I think partly because usually his novels are a big warm hug, for me, and partly because it's an absolute masterclass in taking you by surprise, then makes it worse by not actually describing what happens. I reckon he spent years watching his mate Iain Banks being grotesque and went "Nah, watch this"
Irony- Wasp Factory never bothered me at all, even what happened to eric.
I gave up on Surface Detail about a third of the way through. Nothing to do with shock value, I just found it boring.
American Psycho. Got about 3/4 through and just asked myself “why am I reading this?”
It’s the only book I’ve ever read I was repulsed by to the point of not finishing
Loved American Psycho - as far as I remember, very much a reflection of it's time. I tried to read another of his - "Glamorama" and ended up throwing it across the room it was so bad.
