It’s that time of the week again, friends! We’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is: Halloween freebie! Since this week is a freebie, I’ve decided to go with the first topic that came to mind: the spooky books I’d read if I wasn’t such an epic chicken/if I only had the guts. I don’t think it would surprise anyone to know that 90% of this list consists of King books! Is it kind of ridiculous that I don’t want to include these book covers in this post because that means I’ll have to actually look at them up close and I’m frankly terrified? 🙃
IT by Stephen King
I already detest clowns (SORRY NOT SORRY) and call me crazy but the idea of one lurking in wait in the drains is just not my jam? Like, at all.
Bag of Bones by Stephen King
I have this one and I really want to read it but it’s also supernatural ghost-y and that’s usually really not my jam. Serious question: What is with cabins in woods by lakes being haunted?!
The Shining by Stephen King
I was forced to watch the movie and I honestly… Ugh. I questioned my choice of friends for months afterwards. Not cool, people, not cool!
Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill
I really really really want to read this book. BUT IS SCARED.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
I really wish I had the guts to read this because I got the book as part of the September Owlcrate box and I honestly don’t know if I will ever read it.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
This is a legend/story that has creeped me out ever since I heard stories about the headless horseman when I was a kid. Years later, this legend is actually what I always picture when I think Halloween!
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
This one sounds like a total mindfck. Reading the synopsis already has me confused and questioning whether it’s real or not and I’m doubting myself. If I feel this now, how will I feel after reading it?
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
I really really want to read this one but I’m already terrified of the deep, dark ocean and while I love the idea of mermaids and sirens, I’m not a fan of the creepy killing kind lurking in said deep dark ocean.
Pet Semetary by Stephen King
Dead pets… I just… I don’t know if I can handle it? I like my pets alive and not haunting me, thanks!
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
The synopsis of this alone really freaks me out. I’ve come across it several times in store and have always been tempted to buy it but never do because I don’t think my mind will be able to take how horrifyingly messed up this story is? It’s just a feeling lol
Have you read any of these spooky titles? Would you read them? Do you wish you could read them? If you’ve also done a TTT, please leave your links in the comments below so I can come check it out! 🙂
dinipandareads 
Let’s form a club of people who don’t like scary! I couldn’t read any of these and ever sleep again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YAS! The one thing I’ve loved about this month is seeing all the other people who are just as scared as I am to read these types of books 😂
LikeLike
Great list! The Haunting of Hill House is SO worth reading. It is unnerving, but what I love about it is that it lets the reader decide whether something supernatural is happening or the heroine is having a mental breakdown and it’s super interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe one day when I summon up enough courage I’ll read Hill House. I just look at that cover and already become terrified. I’m a total chicken 🙈I think I’d probably be the one to have a mental breakdown trying to figure out whether it’s supernatural or not! Haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
I adore you so so much lmaoooo
bag of bones is probably the only book I will never ever reread because the subject matter really upset me.
one day…one day you will read a king book tho. great post my love.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Amanda! Hahaha indeed, one day I will surprise us all (like I did with Rules for Vanishing) and read myself a scary King book. ONE DAY!
LikeLike
I started It, but it was way too scary for me to finish it. You’re not alone there with your fear of clowns.
My TTT.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t look at that cover without breaking out into shivers. Yeesh, it’s the worst 🙈
LikeLike
I will say that I found the original Legend of Sleepy Hollow story not nearly as creepy as the screen versions so you might still be able to read that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, that’s something to consider. I remember always seeing the trailer for the adaptation with Johnny Depp on TV when I was a kid and cowering in fright. LOL damn that headless horseman! 🙈
LikeLiked by 1 person
Into the Drowning Deep is incredible! It is kinda spooky, but it really focuses on the science of it all so it cuts the edge off the creepiness.
Great list! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds so so good and I really want to read it. Maybe I will find the courage to one day. I think I could possibly do it (and then just not step into the ocean for … a long time afterwards! Haha thanks Nadine 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really liked Into the Drowning Deep, it was such a creepy read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really want to read it!! I think of all of these, that one might be the one I’ll summon the courage to read first. Maybe. It sounds so so good!
LikeLike
Oh look at this lovely list of books I too will never read 😂😂😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha oh hai gurl, we finally on that same boat 🤣🤣🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lolllllll!!! Go us Dini 😂😂😂😂
LikeLike
Your first three books are on my list, too… twinning! Except I did read them. LOL Bag of Bones spooked me good. I think I read that one with my back against a wall so nothing could get me from behind. LOL
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have Bag of Bones but I honestly don’t know if I can pick it up Tanya. The plan was to try this month but yeah, no. Hahaha I think I would read that one only in broad daylight and like … If I didn’t have to leave the bed so I know what’s around me at all times! 🤣🤣🤣
LikeLike
I want to reading Into the Drowning Deep and also The Haunting of Hill House. I may just force myself to lmao.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to read Drowning Deep and I think if I mustered enough courage (and company) I think I could do it. Really don’t know about Haunting of Hill House though lmao 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both books will have to wait on weekends when my husband is home at night. I’m sure I’ll have nightmares lol.
LikeLike
Dini, I have to admit I would be too scared to read most of these too! I read Stephen King’s dark fantasy series, The Dark Tower and that was scary enough, so his actually horror books would probably blow my mind. However I have read The Haunting of Hill House and highly recommend reading, as it is much psychologically creepy: leaving it up to the reader to decide whether there is something supernatural actually going on or not. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear that I’m not the only one who wouldn’t be able to read these! I’m really curious about his Dark Tower series actually. I received the last book in the series ages ago but the person who bought it for me didn’t realize it was a series. Ooh, so Hill House isn’t really supernatural creepy? Haha knowing my mind though I’d probably settle on it being supernatural horror especially since I’m such a chicken when it comes to that stuff 😂 I’ll definitely keep that in mind for the future though (or if I’m feeling brave)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a big horror reader, lol, and have never been brave enough to read one of Stephen King’s novels. But after reading his nonfiction On Writing a few months ago and absolutely loving it, I bought his newest fiction release, The Institute. Still working up the courage to actually read it though, lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve only read two of King’s books and while they were creepy they were more psychologically thrilling/horror than supernatural horror. I’m oddly pretty okay with gore but give me haunted houses, possessions and other ghostly horrors and I’m outta here 🤣I really want to read The Institute! It sounds really good. I hope you enjoy it. You can do it 😍
LikeLike
I’ve never read King! I’ve seen some of the movies based on his books though- does that count lol? I think his books would freak me out. also The Legend of Sleepy Hollow looks awesome! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen some of his movies too (Shawshank, Green Mile, and the Shining – this one by force lol)! I enjoyed them but I don’t know, I think reading about these things would make a bigger impact on me 😅The cover for Sleepy Hollow does look cool, I guess… But I’m still not reading it 🤣
LikeLike
I loved the shining! it wasn’t as scary as I thought that it was going to be!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m the ultimate chicken though and I get spooked really easily (especially by the supernatural ghost-spirit-horror type). I mean, I know I saw the movie (by force! LOL) but … even knowing what’s coming I think I’d still be too scared 🤣
LikeLike
You definitely picked some scary King stories for your list. I’d love to tell you Bag of Bones isn’t as scary as the others you listed, but since you’re not into supernatural stuff it probably doesn’t matter. I actually listed my favorite King books for this week’s TTT! Trust me, they’re not all horror/scary. I promise. I highly recommend Eyes of the Dragon or The Green Mile for how you describe yourself. Or Different Seasons. Or The Long Walk. Okay, obviously I’m a huge fan. BTW, the series they made for Netflix based on The Haunting of Hill House was phenomenal, but terrifying. So was the book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bought Bag of Bones on a whim when I was feeling brave, but I’ve got a feeling it’ll now sit untouched on my bookshelf for a while… LOL I will keep in mind that you said that it’s not as scary as some of the others. Of the Kings I listed, which would you say is the scariest? I’ll be sure to check out your TTT! I do have Green Mile and I know that one isn’t scary. I also have Under the Dome (my first King) and I loved that one. I have heard the Hill House Netflix adaptation was great, but… Yeah, it looks too terrifying for me 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of those listed, I personally find Pet Sematary to be the scariest. I know they recently remade the movie and I found the trailer to be chilling, even after seeing it numerous times.
LikeLike
I’ve read all of those Stephen King books and a few of the others on your list. I love the creepy stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to love the creepy stuff but my imagination just runs insanely wild every time I read anything scary. And then I basically have to sleep with all the lights on for forever 🤣
LikeLike
Stephen King and spooky books do go well with each other, don’t they? I’m also a chicken sadly and never could pick up his books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed, they say he’s the King for a reason, right? I really want to read more of his books because I think it’s safe to say he’s a “classic” now. Maybe one day whenever I find more courage 🤪
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe you will. 🙂
LikeLike
Ya big chicken, you. 😉 I have to admit, I need to really be in a mood to conquer Stephen King books, too, because they’re pretty dang creepy lol. I have to say, though, I read The Haunting of Hill House and I didn’t find it all that spooky? Like, I guess some people did, but … I don’t know. There were only two really ghosty sorts of scenes that I can remember. I guess maybe because I went into it having watched the show, which was uber freaking creepy. The book Hill House is really more psychological horror than the more paranormal stuff I was expecting.
Into the Drowning Deep was definitely super creepy (and maybe unsurprisingly kind of gory). I love monster in the deep books, but if you’re scared of those … maybe pass on this one? You won’t look at the ocean quite the same after reading it. 😛
LikeLike
I’m a complete horror-wimp, but I really enjoyed Into the Drowning Deep 🙂
LikeLike
It’s so interesting to me how differently people experience “scary” things – and how that rush is so fun for some people and not so much for others. I tend to have a lot of fun watching the movies, but then they stick with me for a while and I’ll find myself scared at weird times and then remember, oh.. i’m scared of this random hotel hallway because I saw The Shining when I was 12 and just never really recovered emotionally lol
LikeLike
The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favourites! I hope that if you eventually get to it, you enjoy it and aren’t scared too terribly! Psychologically Horror can be tricky. BUT, if you end up making it into that one I hope you have fun!
LikeLike
Oh this is a really fun list! I have heard a lot of non-horror fans did ok with Into the Drowning Deep, so maybe that one you could start with if you ever get the nerve up LOL
LikeLike
So I’m probably not the best person to give advice, because horror books don’t seem to scare me very much, but I didn’t think The Haunting of Hill House was scary at all. The Netflix adaptation, however, was super creepy! And I just finished reading The Shining for the first time this morning. It wasn’t nearly as scary as I expected, and I’ve never even seen the film. However, I knew all the iconic scenes from the movie and was surprised when none of them were in the book. So maybe it wouldn’t be too bad for you?? 😉
Here’s my much less scary TTT for this week. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m so not a horror fan, so I don’t see myself ever reading a Stephan King novel… which always seem “horror” to me! Plus that “It” cover is just CREEPY!! 🙂 Thanks so much for the Finding Wonderland visit.
LikeLike
Love your take on this week’s theme! I am so with you on It and The Shining – I want to read them but I just know I won’t be able to sleep afterwards! 😅 I didn’t find The Haunting of Hill House too terrifying – it’s definitely spooky but in quite a subtle way so it might be worth giving it a shot! 😊💛
LikeLike
I’m a chicken so I’ve not read any of these except for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which I had as required reading when I was in school.
LikeLike