I like disturbing and scary books because they give me a sense of control. We can't always escape a bad situation in real life, but we can always close a book.
I think what's interesting about reading disturbing books is that since you're reading it, it's easier to take time to think clearly about a situation and what it entails and how you would react if it happened to you, etc...whereas when something disturbing happens IRL you never know how your fight or flight will react Dare I say, disturbing books sharpen your critical thinking skills?
I can only tolerate any media that makes me ponder to some degree, mindless stuff is a boring waste of time. To me, then, any book or movie etc sharpens my critical thinking skill a bit. So...awesome point!
This was a great video and a fascinating topic of conversation. From what I've read and experienced, disturbing media gives as un opportunity to 'live' intense emotional experiences from the 'safety of our homes', which can help us gain emotional intelligence and resilience, and to rationalise our own emotions and the emotions of others when faced with extreme circumstances. I have found that at some points in my life I have craved disturbing media while at others I shy away from it and I suspect it has to do with my emotional state at that time....
It's like telling scary stories round the camp fires. That little spook you get that gets the blood pumping BUT I can close it when it's time to catch a breath. Like controlling the roller coaster rides we thrill over. Love your channel.
Great discussion Olly! Personally I believe that most people in general turn a blind eye and ignore the real horrors and terrors that exist in the world. Most people like to pretend that ugliness and evil doesn't exist and that we should instead only spend our time reading and watching good, wholesome stuff. However, there is darkness in all of us and i reckon horror readers and writers are sensitive enough to recognize this for what it is and ultimately to empathize with the characters and themes of the story. This sensitivity may or may not be as a result of depression, mental illness etc but I know that I have not had the easiest ride in life and reading horror is almost a cathartic experience for me.
I find disturbing fiction simply fascinating and it pairs well with my education. Stepping into another character and living through their experiences is amazing, but being able to close the cover and walk away is the best part. Great discussion, Olly.
Personally I think can also expose us to our emotions more. Like giving us a better understanding of certain circumstances and situations without having to experience it in real life. It can also open are ability to feel empathy more because of the understanding we get. It can for some people at least help them cope with their own issues and in a way face their demons.
Really interesting discussion Olly, loved the part where you talk about why people may be drawn to disturbing books if they've struggled with their own issues
thank you for doing this, we need more discussions about disturbing books I have a fair share of disturbing reads, from Japanese manga that has stories that made me cringe or European stories that leans on philosophical rather than just entertainment i am not a big fan but it allows me to understand that the world is more than it seemed that not everything is all just black and white
Ah interesting. I especially like how you touched on childrens media. And the ideas of your own trauma playing into the draw of it...an excellent talk Olly!
I agree with you. Extreme physical violence (borderline torture) was part of my childhood and it feels like disturbing books have some sort of a cathartic effect on me. When more disturbing it is more I feel attracted to it.
Your insight was incredible and you put a lot of my feelings into words. When I come across disturbing books I often ask myself why would anyone want to read them, then just like you I'm very drawn to them and I want to read them! It definitely is an endurance thing for me and generally how an author is exploring something people don't want to talk about in a meaningful way. It's important to accept that disturbing things exist in the world and that people are doing those things every day but it can be communicated in a way to make you think instead of just to shock you. I was fascinated when I started exploring those ideas as a teenager after a childhood of Disney and cartoons!
Great video as always! I love me some disturbing books. I have always been drawn to the darker side of humour and humanity since I was a child. I do think there might be some merit in what you said about people's experiences. I want to say that much of it is from an upbringing of "wholesomeness" where disturbing things never existed. I think what that did was spark a curiosity and wanting to look behind the mirage that I grew up with.
Hey Catherine, hope you're well! That's a great observation - I think knowing that there is darkness out there but living in a world that refuses to admit that it exists, definitely encourages exploration of it through books.
If you never do anything outside your "comfort zone", You'll never leave the cradle. If you want truly disturbing, watch the news, the word of fiction can NEVER live up to the depravity of REAL LIFE.
I was a timid child, afraid of my own shadow, THEN I discovered Horror movies, and my life changed. Part of that was learning about the difference between fantasy, and reality, something that seems sadly lacking in people today.
I would always use books to escape the awful things around me as a kid, and fantasy and sci-fi were my favorites. As I got older, I slowly started to gravitate towards mysteries, thrillers, and horror books. Looking back, as the world around me got bleaker, my book choices did the same. As an adult with anxiety, I think part of it was escapism and part of it was to soothe the anxiety. I would get into a book, and while my heart would still be racing, at least there was a REASON I could identify while reading. I identified with some characters, and some had personality qualities I saw in myself, and experiencing their world with them helped me figure out how to deal with mine a little easier, although I didn't realize it at the time. Now, I am fascinated by true crime and horror of all kinds. Being disturbed isn't a constant feeling, but I know it well enough to not be frightened of being disturbed. Anything that makes me think is something I'll gravitate towards, and horror (especially psychological horror) is one of those things that nearly always has something to it to make me think.
Thanks Viv, that's a really interesting take on horror and disturbing fiction. I totally get what you mean about it being almost comforting that the feelings of horror come from an identifiable source rather than just being that constant anxiety that sometimes overwhelms one. Thanks for watching and commenting and sorry it has taken me so long to reply.
I read The Road, by Cormac McCarthy and I felt like that was one of the darkest things I'd ever read. Incredibly bleak and disturbing to me. At the time, the only thing I really felt like redeemed it was the prose. I remember telling people it felt like what the world would really be like in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event. Not like in these zombie movies or something which in the light of reading The Road seemed more like action adventures with an air of excitement and thrills. Even the most horrific of them. Now I view disturbing literature through the lens of morbin fascination. And I nearly avoid it altogether. Because all too often my curiosity has gotten the better of me and with these things, what's been read can't be unread.
Interesting video Olly. I've been a horror reader for many years but only recently to get into the more intense disturbing stuff. And this topic has played on my mind quite a bit as I've been reading them. I've even had quite a few conversations with my house mate who is also an avid reader about where the merit or valid substance is in these kinds of books. Because some of them.... I just can't put down. I feel uncomfortable at what i'm reading but its like a car accident that I can't look away from. I'm about to read Jack Ketchum's the girl next door. I've heard from you and others that that is an intense but good extreme horror novel.
For me extreme horror is like fantasy. The creativity that goes into creating something that makes me scream in the car is a skill not all writers possess. I love the chaos of extreme horror. With twists and turns of eating babies vomiting dr@gs and rotting flesh excited me because I for some reason after reading Woom, I was thrilled by the challenge of “how disturbed can I be” and as a psych major with psychology trauma myself, I related to the comment about feeling familiar with the issues the person may be going through. Extreme horror is definitely my favorite genre at the moment!!
I'm really keen to explore extreme horror too. So far most of what I have read in that area has seemed almost cartoonish in its violence rather than actually disturbing.
My experience is almost completely the opposite. I read scary, disturbing, depressing books (or see the same types of movies) because in general, I am quite happy and feel good about myself most of the time. These types of stories make me feel things I wouldn't normally feel. This theory of mine was tested when I became very ill a few years ago. It did bring me down, and whaddya know - I didn't want to read, see, or hear about anything that was a downer, or creepy, or frightening or unsettling at all. I avoided all those types of stories, until long after my illness had passed. Now, I am back to my old interests.
That increased heart rate is also the closest I get to exercise! pfft! I've said many times before that horror appeals to the optimist in me--real life is so shitty and it never ends. In horror, at least the horror I like the most, the monsters are usually beaten and the heroes get a happy ending. The word you keep dancing around but left out...EMPATHY. I read somewhere that reading fiction leads readers to be more empathetic. We've spent centuries getting ourselves to a point where we are very, very safe and we live many decades longer than our forebears, so I agree that we sort of need to test our fear responses now and again. We also need to test our empathy response, I think, because so much of our culture is removed by distance and the Internetz. We always hear about kids who are bullied and who unal!ve themselves, because it's so easy to be cruel at a distance. Horror was always a cautionary medium, as well, with fairly clearly defined messages (don't talk to strangers, don't walk alone in the woods at night, etc.). But as our society progresses, our ideas of what is dangerous and monstrous have changed. As we've made our monsters into heroes (Hannibal Lecter, I'm looking at you), it's easy to lose the empathy we need to have for the victims, and I think horror has to remain clearly empathetic with the victims. OK, that train of thought kind of derailed. As always, I enjoy your videos about these topics.
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply! This is a really great comment and I think the point about us getting less empathetic to victims is very true. That's always been my problem with The Girl Next Door - it feels like it is more about David's pain than that of the girls.
Olly, I have been following your channel for a couple of months. I have been enjoying it greatly. A big part of my library is mostly Grimdark Fantasy and Horror books (Some S.F. as well). The majority of my book collection is what most people would probably call “disturbing fiction”. So I was compelled to comment. Myself, I have been attracted to scary stories since I was a kid. Almost everything I read has a dark theme to it in some way. It’s not always the case, but think that the reader has an “Inner Darkness” such as some kind of depression or trauma. I always say “You gotta be just a little bit effed up on some level to enjoy some of these books.” I also think that writing some of this disturbing fiction is great for the authors. In a way, writing helps to channel that darkness in a positive way. But partly as a horror fan have a bit of a curiosity to see how deep the “rabbit hole” goes. About two years ago I got pulled back into reading. I was on a quest to find a book. That would genuinely scare or disturb the sh*t out of me. To the point where I wouldn’t or couldn’t finish it. I haven’t found that book yet. So the quest continues.
But in the end, I would have to agree the best part about disturbing fiction is that it's fiction. You read it and say “Wow, That’s terrible.” Then you close the book and go on about your day. Thank you for making this video.
Thank you! Really glad you're enjoying the channel! I hope you find that unfinishable book soon! (At least I think I do, can't work out if it's a good thing or not!)
Excellent discussion. I think the exploration of the dark and macabre is an important element of society. I hadn’t thought of it as a “test run” for our adrenal system, but that is a very interesting take. The part about trauma makes sense. I think it also might have some value in that it could potentially make us more empathetic to read dark/disturbing situations (particularly non-fiction)…sort of along the lines of reading about trauma we haven’t experienced.
Yeah I think the empathy point is really important. Books allow us to connect with characters who have gone through these terrible things in a way that just hearing about such abuse doesn't. Thanks for watching and sorry it has taken me a while to reply!
The most disturbing book I've ever read was "The Painted Bird" as all of it is true and disgusting for the gypsy child who lived in Poland during WWII and having both Nazis and Russians being disgusting around him and towards him. The idea of all these horrible things along with the child's view of the world was enough to stop my breath worse than a shot of 200 proof Mexican moonshine or a hornet stinging the front of my throat three times while I was riding my bike. His first love and what happened to her was absolutely miserable. This book comes in at #25 of my favorite books. 25) "The Painted Bird" by Jerzy Kosiński
I’ve always read different types of genres and styles of books, including disturbing, because I think they are a window into the human experience. I’ve always been fascinated with the experiences of others and how those experiences changes the self. I think, for me, reading disturbing books helps me to understand, or at least empathize, with those that have experienced similar things as the characters I’ve read about.
Yes, I completely agree. Some people seem think their is something wrong or distasteful about reading this kind of book, but I tend to think it's an exercise in empathy. Thanks for watching and sorry it has taken so long to reply!
I really like how you put the appeal of being disturbed by a book. Empathizing with a character when they are going through something difficult really can have an impact on the reader. Thanks for the video.
This might sound strange to you depending how much you consider these types of things, but my biggest hesitation in reading and exposing myself to things that are disturbing and a bit too close to reality, is that I’ll attract similar things into my life. What I mean is I’m scared it would put me into a state of mind as if I was living those things, and so attract things in my life that a person whose shoes I’m stepping into would attract. I also believe in the importance of vibrational frequencies and that what you fo us on/experience you get more of. But at the same time, and this is why it’s a dilemma, horror movies have helped me feel better when I’ve felt down and hopeless, slasher movies and head fvk mystery type movies, cause they don’t creep me out even after the movies over in an uncotrollable way like ghost movies do. But I like that I’m safe while I’m watching others go through the things I’m feeling, knowing it’s contained and seperate from me. But disturbing is different and books put you in the shoes of the person (I’m thinking of Notice, and unsure whether to read it)
I think it’s really important to understand your limits and what does and doesn’t work for you. There’s certainly little value in reading or watching something that just ends up making you feel bad.
I´ve been thru some hard stuff & depression in my life and i have always loved horror or crime, both movies and books. And i think i like reading that or watch it because i am watching someone else even if it just a character, go thru problems and that makes me feel less alone because i can relate. Thats why i watch or read horror books, disturbing horror books & movies i tend to read or watch.
Your explanation makes good sense. I have not read many books over the years that I would consider "disturbing", but I understand and can relate to your descriptions as to why someone would. That said, I am going to be exploring more reading opportunities into the "disturbing" genre. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Take care fella.
When it comes to horror and disturbing literature, I like the 'forbidden fruit' aspect of it. I'm always thinking: Mum would not approve! It's my way of bucking my religious upbringing. Admittedly, I'm not a fan of horror or disturbing literature, but a combination of what I just stated and what I've been watching on CZcams has sparked my fascination. I've started writing a slasher novel recently (I got into a bit of trouble when I said it's my revenge fantasy) and it feels very liberating to drop those F bombs on the keyboard when I didn't in my previous works.
I think the forbidden aspect is really important. I think my tastes in literature more widely were formed when I was a teenager and it felt like a way to rebel (in a really tiny way!)
I read disturbing non-fiction more than anything and I think the same appeal works with disturbing fiction, these things happen in the real world. I would say you are a little off the base in terms of your comments about Non-fiction, I'd recommend a book like 'The Great Mortality' by John Kelly it humanizes the black death by incorporating journals from the era, stories of actual people living through it. The world can be a cruel, desolate place but it can be full of love and caring as well. I think not hiding from the disturbing side can help to contextualize all of life at its highs and lows. This was a great discussion!
Thanks Andrew, that book sounds fascinating. And your final point is spot on - if everything is sunshine and roses you soon stop appreciating the sunshine and the roses.
I've been reading horror since the 70s. And while I read...I keep asking myself..."What if...?" And then I decided to pick up an independent book release that said it wasn't for everyone. So I gave it a chance...and I thought...ok. There was definitely that "What the hell??" factor. I know we have news and movies with that slight horror background...and for me, I know how to separate real from fiction. I also know, that like watching TV, I can change the channel or just turn it off. But I'm just describing myself...each person is different...and that's fine... that's what make us so unique in our way. 😊
I agree completely. I think as a child the attraction was that it was taboo and you felt a thrill when you could "handle it." As an adult it is more about building emotional calluses that will help you deal with real world tragedy.
I feel a bit divided as far as disturbing books are concerned. I love them because they bring me knowledge about the human being that is usually not accessible otherwise. It shows how deep and unknown our nature may be. Mainly the psychologically disturbing ones (as opposed to the more bloody/gory ones). On the other hand, some books have gotten me physically sick. I think the line between fiction and reality is perhaps too thin for me. Great question!! Thank you so much for sharing 👍🏻
Great way of looking at it! I’ve been through some very scary experiences in my life. And that might be why I love scary and intense books and movies. Maybe we are subconsciously testing ourselves. And then we feel better afterwards. Great vid! 👍📖📚📙📘🎃🎃
Great topic !! I agree with you & couldn’t have explained my feelings better ! I’ve Always loved scary and disturbing books because I get a rush of adrenaline . Yes ! I feel it is an endurance test , feeling the need to raise the bar while remaining in control , unlike the powerless feeling you can struggle with in real life trauma ! I think it’s a positive , it’s an exercise for critical thinking skills too ! .. Keep your recs coming !Thank you 😊
I highly recommend "The Book of Lost Things" by John Connelly? I believe it's a Grimdark historical fantasy novel but it has written by a Thriller author. It setted in WW2 in London and it followed a boy named David who ran away,but he escaped into a realm where Brother Grimms' Fairy tales. There's very disturbing scenes in that book and there's a well-written villain that will give you...I highly recommend another book and it called Cuckoo Song. This book is a historical dark YA fantasy that took placed in 1920s. Cuckoo Song is about a girl that came from a rich family and came back after she gone missing,but a lot of strange things started happening after she came back. There's a lot of very disturbing and weird stuff had happened in that book,too..They are really good.
It's a good theory. Similar to theories of play for children (as well as other mammals) where they have a safe sandbox in which to test out the parameters of danger, and responses etc. The relationship between the physical and the psychological is not quite as separate though. You can, for example, have anxious thoughts, and your heart rate increase, as well as your levels of noradrenaline. Also works the other way, whereby your heart rate etc increases and your brain constructs narratives to form explanations. We're a fascinating species :). I say this as someone with bipolar disorder and someone who also, ironically, is a psychologist 😆. I love your channel. It's not just book reviews, but genuine thoughts about books as a thing. Keeps me going on bad days. So, thank you for that.
I’ve been watching her channel for a few months now. Even though I do not read crime, pulp, horror, that kind of stuff. I have to say this video brings you to a new level of professionalism. Thank you for helping me understand.
I love horror but not disturbing books, I've stopped reading a book half way through if I know it's not going to end well for the character. My childhood had a few years of living with an abusive steparent (luckily we had family that helped us leave) and I think I have too much empathy for other peoples pain. I tend to enjoy paranormal horror versus real-life monsters.
I've read all of your top 5 disturbing novels except the Heather Lewis one, that was new to me, and I doubt I would enjoy it but I'm going to give it a try, it's on the reading list now. If you want to read a book that's not trash,or horror, but literature, and still disturbing as hell, you should read Jonathan Littel's the Kindly Ones, the fictional (but with a lot of fact thrown in) recollections of a non-repentant SS-man about his deeds on the Eastern Front in WWII. Harrowing, yet fascinating
Interesting thesis. I was trying to figure out whether or not it applied to me (I've certainly suffered from depression and trauma throughout my life) but then I realized I first need to figure out if I DO like disturbing books. I'm not sure I do. And I actually think I've become more averse to them as I've grown older. I certainly don't need my reading to be all sweetness and light, but I know there's a line now where I disengage from a book if it gets too ... something. I must ponder.
I think it's a very personal thing and ends up being different for everyone. I've found myself more drawn to the disturbing (in books) as I've got older.
I think there's recovery from trauma that may get us to a point of allowing us to disengage when we learn we get to draw lines on what we can control of distress and when it's of value.
Great discussion, Olly. I’ve only somewhat recently started reading some disturbing books (thanks Juan), and have sometimes wondered about this question and why I am drawn to them. I think I agree with that “testing” theory as one reason. I think a major reason for me is pure curiosity… an admittedly morbid interest in seeing what might be described in the book.
Thanks Dave. I think that curiosity angle is definitely one that pulls a lot of people in - "how bad can it be?" And yes, Juan has a lot to answer for!
Great chat! I don’t know if I can put my finger on why I like to read disturbing books but you may be on to something with reading them as a way to process some of your own things you’re going to. There’s also the appeal of something just so foreign from my own life also.
For me, there really isn't much difference between horror and disturbing fiction. If something is scary enough to evoke fear, I feel disturbed by it. When I tried to watch the horror movie The Ring when I was a teenager, I broke down sobbing by the end of it. It wasn't just about fear; it was the idea that a terrible, unavoidable death awaits innocent people. (That experience with The Ring taught me that horror is not a good genre for me.) I guess I find *thriller* fiction less disturbing and more heart-racing. But horror... no, that stuff really disturbs me.
That’s interesting, and I guess it’s different for everyone. I agree The Ring is terrifying! There’s something about the concept of the cursed video which you’re then forced to watch which is very effective.
I like reading disturbing fiction books but what disturbs me the most is the mind of the author who dreams these scenarios up and then has the presence of mind to compartmentalise their thoughts into the written word….I mean….where have they been all their lives and what has brought them to this state of mind. Now that’s IS a very disturbing thought!
I like disturbing books too however unless it's based on a true story I only find the creative mind of the author disturbing. I can appreciate the way they articulate such material however knowing that it actually happened is the part for me that really disturbs . The " truth is stranger than fiction" quote certainly sums things up for me and therefore I do not feel the need to read disturbing fiction if there is no element of truth in the story . For the record the most disturbing book I've read is the Gulag Archipelago .
People read disturbing books for the same reason they slow down to look at a car accident... you want to see/know what happened from a safe distance away 🤗
One of the reasons to be disturbed is because some important things _are_ disturbing. It can be a way of reckoning with things like climate change, pandemic or whatever that we might otherwise be reluctant to come to grips with. And horror, yeah, can help us come to grips with any real-life horror we may have experienced. Not that I think about it much🤭
Hi Olly, I realize that I did not do justice to your topic in my previous comment. Firstly, I did not differentiate between scary and disturbing. I was speaking more generally because I think the two sometimes overlap and I have not personally read many deeply disturbing books yet. Secondly, I do believe some people can enjoy the thrills, scares and disturbing moments in horror fiction. but definitely not everyone. Stephen King, for example, has admitted that the process of writing allows him to exorcise his demons. It is the same for readers, who I believe are more emotional and sensitive (not necessarily with mental issues), and therefore enjoy pushing the boundaries of terror to test themselves and exorcise their own demons, resulting in a fulfilling, cathartic experience.
Reading content that may be disturbing, learning how you would react in a situation or reading about situations potentially (subjectively) "worse" than your own, it's cathartic in a way.
I really enjoyed American Psycho, but it didn’t affect me because I think I saw it as too ridiculous. Let’s go play at the Adams did disturb me, probably because of the characters being children 😮
I suffer from depression too, but reading is a sort of release valve. Watching films too.. There is grim and there is soviet grim..and I do quite like grim soviet cinema… watch Come and See or…my fav The Ascent…you are put through the ringer… but maybe it’s all about the feeling that as bad as our lives are those in the books or films have it worse…
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply. Agree that there is something about putting yourself through this kind of pain that can be cathartic. I've heard a lot of good things about Come and See. It's definitely one I'd like to watch at some point.
Very interesting topic! Of course, like for horror films and rollercoasters, there is no universal answer. But why are some disturbing books getting the attention of a larger audience, like American Psycho did? Surely people will be interested for various reasons (including rubbernecking) but shoudn't that apply to more disturbing literature, not a small handfull of exceptions? And how do we handle literature that gets disturbing unexpectedly or how does it effect us maybe differently when we're unaware of those kind of ingredients? I had that experience with Bless the Child by Cathy Cash Spellman. It is an occult horror thriller (made into a film starring Kim Basinger) and contains some unpleasant to read descriptions of satanistic rituals for which I wasn't prepared (and I consider myself pretty case-hardened regarding violent scenes in fictional representation).
Re American Psycho I think some books just sometimes cut through in a way that can’t really be predicted. American Psycho came out around the same time as the Silence of the Lambs movie when there was a sudden public fascination in serial killers. As for books you don’t expect to be disturbing I think that can be a very different experience!
New subbie and avid reader...I'm definitely strongly prefer mysteries more than horror I guess. Though at 40 I'm not sure what I could watch or read that I find truly "scary". It's kinda like going to a hunted/scary house. You know it's not real and they can't do much to you physically so I don't deem "scary" maybe surprised I guess like a jump scare. Anyways I suppose I have read some books that would be deemed disturbing like The Alienist by Caleb Carr (probably my favorite author at the moment.) But I've never thought about WHY I want to read these things other than being intrigued but it's a good question. I haven't finished watching your vid at the time I responded bc I wanted to chime in about the fact that I never considered this question before I heard your reasons. Anyways I'm very interested on your reasons so on to finishing your video.
Thanks for watching and subscribing and sorry it has taken me so long to reply! Really like Caleb Carr, agree that the Alienist was disturbing. I read another book by him (Killing Time, I think) that had a very troubling seen in it
I love disturbing books but draw the line at child and animal cruelty as there's enough cruelty without giving certain people ideas. I like disturbing film too, stuff like Antichrist, the Human Centipede, although that was silly, and even tried August Mordem but it made me nauseated. I have read a fair bit over my lifetime, I see you have the same American Psycho cover as I have, so I have been doing this for a long time, I am a compulsive reader and have been since as far back as I remember. I used to order those Pan Horror Stories books from my local newsagents when I was a kid in the late 60s. I am fairly sure because I got in trouble at school for reading adult stuff at primary school and can't remember if it was Pan Horror Stories or a magazine on Witchcraft and the Occult but the teacher came to see my parents lol! I was recently diagnosed as having an autism spectrum disorder so I think a lot of my prolific reading had something to do with that as I didn't like other kids much, just horses, animals in general and reading anything and everything. I really appreciate your reviews Olly because I haven't the room for tons of books and I love physical books as opposed to audio and you help me pare it down to stuff I really want. I recently read Nick Cutters one about the Cryptkeeper wasps and I recommend that to anyone who likes to be disturbed. (Can't for the life of me remember the title...these senior moments are getting more frequent lol!) The Girl Next Door was a good book but was a true story and I don't like child abuse but this needed to be told. I don't know what the draw is but I would rather read something scary or disturbing if given the choice (of course I have been known to read encyclopedias cover to cover as a kid too!)
Thank you so much, really glad you're finding the channel helpful!. I used to really like extreme movies, but as I get older I find I can't take them. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experiences :)
This is just the channel I was looking for! Disturbing books! Thanks for this video it was very interesting. Would anyone consider A Little Life disturbing? It is not in the horror based disturbing but I considered some scenes to be quite disturbing...
I really liked the theory of why, presumably, we "need" to be scared as a way to test our bodies' ability to react to dangerous situations. However, I wish this video did not present it as an established "fact". Unless there is ample scientific evidence to support this theory (which I doubt is there), the reason this video gives for why people need to be scared is just an opinion. A very interesting opinion, but still... an opinion, not a fact.
You know the boy Sid in Toy Story ? That's me as a kid. Hard to believe but there you go 🙃 I read plenty of disturbing books, it's just not usually fiction.
I like disturbing and scary books because they give me a sense of control. We can't always escape a bad situation in real life, but we can always close a book.
Very true! So many of the things that impact of our lives are out of our control. The last few years more than ever, it seems
Exactly that!!!
What an incredible way of putting it.
I think what's interesting about reading disturbing books is that since you're reading it, it's easier to take time to think clearly about a situation and what it entails and how you would react if it happened to you, etc...whereas when something disturbing happens IRL you never know how your fight or flight will react
Dare I say, disturbing books sharpen your critical thinking skills?
That’s a great point. They definitely allow you to experience and consider things that you wouldn’t have to otherwise.
I can only tolerate any media that makes me ponder to some degree, mindless stuff is a boring waste of time. To me, then, any book or movie etc sharpens my critical thinking skill a bit. So...awesome point!
Great topic. I agree with you. There's a great sense of catharsis that comes with experiencing horror, pain, etc. through literature.
Thanks Jeremy. Catharsis is a great term for it.
This was a great video and a fascinating topic of conversation. From what I've read and experienced, disturbing media gives as un opportunity to 'live' intense emotional experiences from the 'safety of our homes', which can help us gain emotional intelligence and resilience, and to rationalise our own emotions and the emotions of others when faced with extreme circumstances. I have found that at some points in my life I have craved disturbing media while at others I shy away from it and I suspect it has to do with my emotional state at that time....
Yes! Totally agree re emotional intelligence. Books like that alow us to try things out mentally I think. Thanks Michelle!
It's like telling scary stories round the camp fires. That little spook you get that gets the blood pumping BUT I can close it when it's time to catch a breath. Like controlling the roller coaster rides we thrill over. Love your channel.
Thank you Becky! Really glad you're enjoying the channel
Great discussion Olly! Personally I believe that most people in general turn a blind eye and ignore the real horrors and terrors that exist in the world. Most people like to pretend that ugliness and evil doesn't exist and that we should instead only spend our time reading and watching good, wholesome stuff. However, there is darkness in all of us and i reckon horror readers and writers are sensitive enough to recognize this for what it is and ultimately to empathize with the characters and themes of the story. This sensitivity may or may not be as a result of depression, mental illness etc but I know that I have not had the easiest ride in life and reading horror is almost a cathartic experience for me.
I agree catharsis is a big part of the appeal of this kind of book. Thanks Cliff!
I find disturbing fiction simply fascinating and it pairs well with my education. Stepping into another character and living through their experiences is amazing, but being able to close the cover and walk away is the best part. Great discussion, Olly.
Thanks MJ! And yes I think the safeness of the experience is really important
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Personally I think can also expose us to our emotions more. Like giving us a better understanding of certain circumstances and situations without having to experience it in real life. It can also open are ability to feel empathy more because of the understanding we get. It can for some people at least help them cope with their own issues and in a way face their demons.
Yeah I completely agree,. I think the empathy part is really important
Really interesting discussion Olly, loved the part where you talk about why people may be drawn to disturbing books if they've struggled with their own issues
Thanks Crystal! Glad you found it interesting :)
I turn to disturbing books as a way of peaking in on aspects of humanity that I will likely never experience, but I strive to understand anyway.
That’s a great way of describing it
thank you for doing this, we need more discussions about disturbing books
I have a fair share of disturbing reads, from Japanese manga that has stories that made me cringe or European stories that leans on philosophical rather than just entertainment
i am not a big fan but it allows me to understand that the world is more than it seemed that not everything is all just black and white
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
Ah interesting. I especially like how you touched on childrens media. And the ideas of your own trauma playing into the draw of it...an excellent talk Olly!
Thanks Pax - glad you found it interesting
I agree with you. Extreme physical violence (borderline torture) was part of my childhood and it feels like disturbing books have some sort of a cathartic effect on me. When more disturbing it is more I feel attracted to it.
So sorry to hear that, but glad books help now
Your insight was incredible and you put a lot of my feelings into words. When I come across disturbing books I often ask myself why would anyone want to read them, then just like you I'm very drawn to them and I want to read them!
It definitely is an endurance thing for me and generally how an author is exploring something people don't want to talk about in a meaningful way. It's important to accept that disturbing things exist in the world and that people are doing those things every day but it can be communicated in a way to make you think instead of just to shock you. I was fascinated when I started exploring those ideas as a teenager after a childhood of Disney and cartoons!
Thank you, Ellen! I think there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
Great video as always!
I love me some disturbing books. I have always been drawn to the darker side of humour and humanity since I was a child. I do think there might be some merit in what you said about people's experiences. I want to say that much of it is from an upbringing of "wholesomeness" where disturbing things never existed. I think what that did was spark a curiosity and wanting to look behind the mirage that I grew up with.
Hey Catherine, hope you're well! That's a great observation - I think knowing that there is darkness out there but living in a world that refuses to admit that it exists, definitely encourages exploration of it through books.
Growing up embracing disturbing things were so much easier to take than the bleak reality...😭
If you never do anything outside your "comfort zone", You'll never leave the cradle.
If you want truly disturbing, watch the news, the word of fiction can NEVER live up to the depravity of REAL LIFE.
Very true!
I was a timid child, afraid of my own shadow, THEN I discovered Horror movies, and my life changed.
Part of that was learning about the difference between fantasy, and reality, something that seems sadly lacking in people today.
Very good point🙀
I would always use books to escape the awful things around me as a kid, and fantasy and sci-fi were my favorites. As I got older, I slowly started to gravitate towards mysteries, thrillers, and horror books. Looking back, as the world around me got bleaker, my book choices did the same. As an adult with anxiety, I think part of it was escapism and part of it was to soothe the anxiety. I would get into a book, and while my heart would still be racing, at least there was a REASON I could identify while reading. I identified with some characters, and some had personality qualities I saw in myself, and experiencing their world with them helped me figure out how to deal with mine a little easier, although I didn't realize it at the time.
Now, I am fascinated by true crime and horror of all kinds. Being disturbed isn't a constant feeling, but I know it well enough to not be frightened of being disturbed. Anything that makes me think is something I'll gravitate towards, and horror (especially psychological horror) is one of those things that nearly always has something to it to make me think.
Thanks Viv, that's a really interesting take on horror and disturbing fiction. I totally get what you mean about it being almost comforting that the feelings of horror come from an identifiable source rather than just being that constant anxiety that sometimes overwhelms one.
Thanks for watching and commenting and sorry it has taken me so long to reply.
I read The Road, by Cormac McCarthy and I felt like that was one of the darkest things I'd ever read. Incredibly bleak and disturbing to me. At the time, the only thing I really felt like redeemed it was the prose. I remember telling people it felt like what the world would really be like in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event. Not like in these zombie movies or something which in the light of reading The Road seemed more like action adventures with an air of excitement and thrills. Even the most horrific of them. Now I view disturbing literature through the lens of morbin fascination. And I nearly avoid it altogether. Because all too often my curiosity has gotten the better of me and with these things, what's been read can't be unread.
Yeah I do agree, it is possible to go too far. I think we all have our own limits. Sometimes pushing those can be a good thing, sometimes not.
Interesting video Olly. I've been a horror reader for many years but only recently to get into the more intense disturbing stuff. And this topic has played on my mind quite a bit as I've been reading them. I've even had quite a few conversations with my house mate who is also an avid reader about where the merit or valid substance is in these kinds of books.
Because some of them.... I just can't put down. I feel uncomfortable at what i'm reading but its like a car accident that I can't look away from.
I'm about to read Jack Ketchum's the girl next door. I've heard from you and others that that is an intense but good extreme horror novel.
Glad you found it interesting!
The Girl Next Door is very good, but yes definitely intense and disturbing. You won't quickly forget it
For me extreme horror is like fantasy. The creativity that goes into creating something that makes me scream in the car is a skill not all writers possess. I love the chaos of extreme horror. With twists and turns of eating babies vomiting dr@gs and rotting flesh excited me because I for some reason after reading Woom, I was thrilled by the challenge of “how disturbed can I be” and as a psych major with psychology trauma myself, I related to the comment about feeling familiar with the issues the person may be going through. Extreme horror is definitely my favorite genre at the moment!!
I'm really keen to explore extreme horror too. So far most of what I have read in that area has seemed almost cartoonish in its violence rather than actually disturbing.
My experience is almost completely the opposite. I read scary, disturbing, depressing books (or see the same types of movies) because in general, I am quite happy and feel good about myself most of the time. These types of stories make me feel things I wouldn't normally feel. This theory of mine was tested when I became very ill a few years ago. It did bring me down, and whaddya know - I didn't want to read, see, or hear about anything that was a downer, or creepy, or frightening or unsettling at all. I avoided all those types of stories, until long after my illness had passed. Now, I am back to my old interests.
Ah that's very interesting! I think literature gives us all something different
That increased heart rate is also the closest I get to exercise! pfft! I've said many times before that horror appeals to the optimist in me--real life is so shitty and it never ends. In horror, at least the horror I like the most, the monsters are usually beaten and the heroes get a happy ending. The word you keep dancing around but left out...EMPATHY. I read somewhere that reading fiction leads readers to be more empathetic. We've spent centuries getting ourselves to a point where we are very, very safe and we live many decades longer than our forebears, so I agree that we sort of need to test our fear responses now and again. We also need to test our empathy response, I think, because so much of our culture is removed by distance and the Internetz. We always hear about kids who are bullied and who unal!ve themselves, because it's so easy to be cruel at a distance.
Horror was always a cautionary medium, as well, with fairly clearly defined messages (don't talk to strangers, don't walk alone in the woods at night, etc.). But as our society progresses, our ideas of what is dangerous and monstrous have changed. As we've made our monsters into heroes (Hannibal Lecter, I'm looking at you), it's easy to lose the empathy we need to have for the victims, and I think horror has to remain clearly empathetic with the victims. OK, that train of thought kind of derailed. As always, I enjoy your videos about these topics.
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply! This is a really great comment and I think the point about us getting less empathetic to victims is very true. That's always been my problem with The Girl Next Door - it feels like it is more about David's pain than that of the girls.
Oh what good points, especially the concern for empathy. Odd that some people think it's about reveling in nastiness/violence.
Olly,
I have been following your channel for a couple of months. I have been enjoying it greatly. A big part of my library is mostly Grimdark Fantasy and Horror books (Some S.F. as well). The majority of my book collection is what most people would probably call “disturbing fiction”. So I was compelled to comment. Myself, I have been attracted to scary stories since I was a kid. Almost everything I read has a dark theme to it in some way.
It’s not always the case, but think that the reader has an “Inner Darkness” such as some kind of depression or trauma. I always say “You gotta be just a little bit effed up on some level to enjoy some of these books.” I also think that writing some of this disturbing fiction is great for the authors. In a way, writing helps to channel that darkness in a positive way. But partly as a horror fan have a bit of a curiosity to see how deep the “rabbit hole” goes. About two years ago I got pulled back into reading. I was on a quest to find a book. That would genuinely scare or disturb the sh*t out of me. To the point where I wouldn’t or couldn’t finish it. I haven’t found that book yet. So the quest continues.
But in the end, I would have to agree the best part about disturbing fiction is that it's fiction. You read it and say “Wow, That’s terrible.” Then you close the book and go on about your day.
Thank you for making this video.
Thank you! Really glad you're enjoying the channel! I hope you find that unfinishable book soon! (At least I think I do, can't work out if it's a good thing or not!)
Excellent discussion. I think the exploration of the dark and macabre is an important element of society. I hadn’t thought of it as a “test run” for our adrenal system, but that is a very interesting take. The part about trauma makes sense. I think it also might have some value in that it could potentially make us more empathetic to read dark/disturbing situations (particularly non-fiction)…sort of along the lines of reading about trauma we haven’t experienced.
Yeah I think the empathy point is really important. Books allow us to connect with characters who have gone through these terrible things in a way that just hearing about such abuse doesn't. Thanks for watching and sorry it has taken me a while to reply!
The most disturbing book I've ever read was "The Painted Bird" as all of it is true and disgusting for the gypsy child who lived in Poland during WWII and having both Nazis and Russians being disgusting around him and towards him. The idea of all these horrible things along with the child's view of the world was enough to stop my breath worse than a shot of 200 proof Mexican moonshine or a hornet stinging the front of my throat three times while I was riding my bike. His first love and what happened to her was absolutely miserable.
This book comes in at #25 of my favorite books.
25) "The Painted Bird" by Jerzy Kosiński
I’ve always read different types of genres and styles of books, including disturbing, because I think they are a window into the human experience. I’ve always been fascinated with the experiences of others and how those experiences changes the self. I think, for me, reading disturbing books helps me to understand, or at least empathize, with those that have experienced similar things as the characters I’ve read about.
Yes, I completely agree. Some people seem think their is something wrong or distasteful about reading this kind of book, but I tend to think it's an exercise in empathy.
Thanks for watching and sorry it has taken so long to reply!
I really like how you put the appeal of being disturbed by a book. Empathizing with a character when they are going through something difficult really can have an impact on the reader. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Colin, glad you found the video useful
This might sound strange to you depending how much you consider these types of things, but my biggest hesitation in reading and exposing myself to things that are disturbing and a bit too close to reality, is that I’ll attract similar things into my life. What I mean is I’m scared it would put me into a state of mind as if I was living those things, and so attract things in my life that a person whose shoes I’m stepping into would attract. I also believe in the importance of vibrational frequencies and that what you fo us on/experience you get more of. But at the same time, and this is why it’s a dilemma, horror movies have helped me feel better when I’ve felt down and hopeless, slasher movies and head fvk mystery type movies, cause they don’t creep me out even after the movies over in an uncotrollable way like ghost movies do. But I like that I’m safe while I’m watching others go through the things I’m feeling, knowing it’s contained and seperate from me. But disturbing is different and books put you in the shoes of the person (I’m thinking of Notice, and unsure whether to read it)
I think it’s really important to understand your limits and what does and doesn’t work for you. There’s certainly little value in reading or watching something that just ends up making you feel bad.
Simply put.... one enjoys thinking about being a character and the feeling it gives you. Or identifying.
A very succinct description.
I´ve been thru some hard stuff & depression in my life and i have always loved horror or crime, both movies and books. And i think i like reading that or watch it because i am watching someone else even if it just a character, go thru problems and that makes me feel less alone because i can relate. Thats why i watch or read horror books, disturbing horror books & movies i tend to read or watch.
Sorry to hear about your troubles, but glad that books and movies have helped. Thanks for watching :)
It can help to see how one might go through, persevere and meet awful challenges ☺️
Your explanation makes good sense. I have not read many books over the years that I would consider "disturbing", but I understand and can relate to your descriptions as to why someone would. That said, I am going to be exploring more reading opportunities into the "disturbing" genre. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Take care fella.
Thanks Brad - glad you found it interesting!
When it comes to horror and disturbing literature, I like the 'forbidden fruit' aspect of it. I'm always thinking: Mum would not approve! It's my way of bucking my religious upbringing. Admittedly, I'm not a fan of horror or disturbing literature, but a combination of what I just stated and what I've been watching on CZcams has sparked my fascination. I've started writing a slasher novel recently (I got into a bit of trouble when I said it's my revenge fantasy) and it feels very liberating to drop those F bombs on the keyboard when I didn't in my previous works.
I think the forbidden aspect is really important. I think my tastes in literature more widely were formed when I was a teenager and it felt like a way to rebel (in a really tiny way!)
I read disturbing non-fiction more than anything and I think the same appeal works with disturbing fiction, these things happen in the real world.
I would say you are a little off the base in terms of your comments about Non-fiction, I'd recommend a book like 'The Great Mortality' by John Kelly it humanizes the black death by incorporating journals from the era, stories of actual people living through it.
The world can be a cruel, desolate place but it can be full of love and caring as well. I think not hiding from the disturbing side can help to contextualize all of life at its highs and lows.
This was a great discussion!
Thanks Andrew, that book sounds fascinating.
And your final point is spot on - if everything is sunshine and roses you soon stop appreciating the sunshine and the roses.
I love going into the comments because I find recommendations like this!
I've been reading horror since the 70s. And while I read...I keep asking myself..."What if...?" And then I decided to pick up an independent book release that said it wasn't for everyone. So I gave it a chance...and I thought...ok. There was definitely that "What the hell??" factor. I know we have news and movies with that slight horror background...and for me, I know how to separate real from fiction. I also know, that like watching TV, I can change the channel or just turn it off. But I'm just describing myself...each person is different...and that's fine... that's what make us so unique in our way. 😊
Yes definitely agree that each person’s reaction to things is going to be very different.
I agree completely. I think as a child the attraction was that it was taboo and you felt a thrill when you could "handle it." As an adult it is more about building emotional calluses that will help you deal with real world tragedy.
Emotional calluses is an excellent description
I feel a bit divided as far as disturbing books are concerned. I love them because they bring me knowledge about the human being that is usually not accessible otherwise. It shows how deep and unknown our nature may be. Mainly the psychologically disturbing ones (as opposed to the more bloody/gory ones). On the other hand, some books have gotten me physically sick. I think the line between fiction and reality is perhaps too thin for me. Great question!! Thank you so much for sharing 👍🏻
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video. Definitely agree that this kind of books helps us tap into a deeper understanding of all sides of humanity.
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1st disturbing story I ever read was Apt Pupil from Stephen King. Since then I have read way more disturbing stuff, but that's where it started.
That is a good one, not read it for years though
Great way of looking at it! I’ve been through some very scary experiences in my life. And that might be why I love scary and intense books and movies. Maybe we are subconsciously testing ourselves. And then we feel better afterwards. Great vid! 👍📖📚📙📘🎃🎃
Thanks Max! Glad you found it interesting
Great topic !! I agree with you & couldn’t have explained my feelings better ! I’ve Always loved scary and disturbing books because I get a rush of adrenaline . Yes ! I feel it is an endurance test , feeling the need to raise the bar while remaining in control , unlike the powerless feeling you can struggle with in real life trauma ! I think it’s a positive , it’s an exercise for critical thinking skills too ! .. Keep your recs coming !Thank you 😊
Powerless is a perfect word to describe the feeling of actual trauma.
I highly recommend "The Book of Lost Things" by John Connelly? I believe it's a Grimdark historical fantasy novel but it has written by a Thriller author. It setted in WW2 in London and it followed a boy named David who ran away,but he escaped into a realm where Brother Grimms' Fairy tales. There's very disturbing scenes in that book and there's a well-written villain that will give you...I highly recommend another book and it called Cuckoo Song. This book is a historical dark YA fantasy that took placed in 1920s. Cuckoo Song is about a girl that came from a rich family and came back after she gone missing,but a lot of strange things started happening after she came back. There's a lot of very disturbing and weird stuff had happened in that book,too..They are really good.
Thank you! Those both sound great. I’ve read some of Connolly’s Charlie Parker books and really enjoyed those.
I would also recommend John Connolly's Charlie Parker mysteries. Fantastic series imo. Pretty disturbing themes too
Yes John Connolly!
It's a good theory. Similar to theories of play for children (as well as other mammals) where they have a safe sandbox in which to test out the parameters of danger, and responses etc. The relationship between the physical and the psychological is not quite as separate though. You can, for example, have anxious thoughts, and your heart rate increase, as well as your levels of noradrenaline. Also works the other way, whereby your heart rate etc increases and your brain constructs narratives to form explanations. We're a fascinating species :).
I say this as someone with bipolar disorder and someone who also, ironically, is a psychologist 😆. I love your channel. It's not just book reviews, but genuine thoughts about books as a thing. Keeps me going on bad days. So, thank you for that.
One theory suggests people with dopamine depression get a boost of dopamine and feel better after horror movies/games/books. It's an antidepressant.
Oh that’s fascinating! I didn’t know that. Makes sense though.
I’ve been watching her channel for a few months now. Even though I do not read crime, pulp, horror, that kind of stuff. I have to say this video brings you to a new level of professionalism. Thank you for helping me understand.
Thank you David!
I love horror but not disturbing books, I've stopped reading a book half way through if I know it's not going to end well for the character. My childhood had a few years of living with an abusive steparent (luckily we had family that helped us leave) and I think I have too much empathy for other peoples pain. I tend to enjoy paranormal horror versus real-life monsters.
I can completely understand how you'd want to scares to be of the supernatural sort given that background. Sorry to hear you went through that
I've read all of your top 5 disturbing novels except the Heather Lewis one, that was new to me, and I doubt I would enjoy it but I'm going to give it a try, it's on the reading list now. If you want to read a book that's not trash,or horror, but literature, and still disturbing as hell, you should read Jonathan Littel's the Kindly Ones, the fictional (but with a lot of fact thrown in) recollections of a non-repentant SS-man about his deeds on the Eastern Front in WWII. Harrowing, yet fascinating
Someone else suggested that one as well, it does sounds horrific
Interesting thesis. I was trying to figure out whether or not it applied to me (I've certainly suffered from depression and trauma throughout my life) but then I realized I first need to figure out if I DO like disturbing books. I'm not sure I do. And I actually think I've become more averse to them as I've grown older. I certainly don't need my reading to be all sweetness and light, but I know there's a line now where I disengage from a book if it gets too ... something. I must ponder.
I think it's a very personal thing and ends up being different for everyone. I've found myself more drawn to the disturbing (in books) as I've got older.
I think there's recovery from trauma that may get us to a point of allowing us to disengage when we learn we get to draw lines on what we can control of distress and when it's of value.
Great discussion, Olly. I’ve only somewhat recently started reading some disturbing books (thanks Juan), and have sometimes wondered about this question and why I am drawn to them. I think I agree with that “testing” theory as one reason. I think a major reason for me is pure curiosity… an admittedly morbid interest in seeing what might be described in the book.
Thanks Dave. I think that curiosity angle is definitely one that pulls a lot of people in - "how bad can it be?"
And yes, Juan has a lot to answer for!
I think a lot of people go through a phase of wanting to read the most disturbing books they can get their hands on.
True! Mine seems to be a bit extended
Great chat! I don’t know if I can put my finger on why I like to read disturbing books but you may be on to something with reading them as a way to process some of your own things you’re going to. There’s also the appeal of something just so foreign from my own life also.
Thanks, Crystal!
For me, there really isn't much difference between horror and disturbing fiction. If something is scary enough to evoke fear, I feel disturbed by it. When I tried to watch the horror movie The Ring when I was a teenager, I broke down sobbing by the end of it. It wasn't just about fear; it was the idea that a terrible, unavoidable death awaits innocent people. (That experience with The Ring taught me that horror is not a good genre for me.)
I guess I find *thriller* fiction less disturbing and more heart-racing. But horror... no, that stuff really disturbs me.
That’s interesting, and I guess it’s different for everyone. I agree The Ring is terrifying! There’s something about the concept of the cursed video which you’re then forced to watch which is very effective.
Integration of the shadow maybe?..
Thank you Olly this was a very helpful video! Thank you for the link.
My pleasure!
I like reading disturbing fiction books but what disturbs me the most is the mind of the author who dreams these scenarios up and then has the presence of mind to compartmentalise their thoughts into the written word….I mean….where have they been all their lives and what has brought them to this state of mind. Now that’s IS a very disturbing thought!
Yeah that’s certainly something one can’t help but wonder!
I like disturbing books too however unless it's based on a true story I only find the creative mind of the author disturbing. I can appreciate the way they articulate such material however knowing that it actually happened is the part for me that really disturbs . The " truth is stranger than fiction" quote certainly sums things up for me and therefore I do not feel the need to read disturbing fiction if there is no element of truth in the story .
For the record the most disturbing book I've read is the Gulag Archipelago .
Other people have mentioned the Gulag Archipelago, I'll have to try and read it some time.
People read disturbing books for the same reason they slow down to look at a car accident... you want to see/know what happened from a safe distance away 🤗
Very true!
One of the reasons to be disturbed is because some important things _are_ disturbing. It can be a way of reckoning with things like climate change, pandemic or whatever that we might otherwise be reluctant to come to grips with. And horror, yeah, can help us come to grips with any real-life horror we may have experienced. Not that I think about it much🤭
All very true - I hadn't even thought about that wider point of the disturbing world we live in
Hi Olly, I realize that I did not do justice to your topic in my previous comment. Firstly, I did not differentiate between scary and disturbing. I was speaking more generally because I think the two sometimes overlap and I have not personally read many deeply disturbing books yet. Secondly, I do believe some people can enjoy the thrills, scares and disturbing moments in horror fiction. but definitely not everyone. Stephen King, for example, has admitted that the process of writing allows him to exorcise his demons. It is the same for readers, who I believe are more emotional and sensitive (not necessarily with mental issues), and therefore enjoy pushing the boundaries of terror to test themselves and exorcise their own demons, resulting in a fulfilling, cathartic experience.
That's a really interesting observation and I think definitely true for some readers
Reading content that may be disturbing, learning how you would react in a situation or reading about situations potentially (subjectively) "worse" than your own, it's cathartic in a way.
Yes, completely agree!
My thought: maybe that people are interested in disturbing and strange things they can't comprehend themselves. Like the interest in serial killers.
That’s very true. I think there is often a desire for us to try and understand the unthinkable
I really enjoyed American Psycho, but it didn’t affect me because I think I saw it as too ridiculous. Let’s go play at the Adams did disturb me, probably because of the characters being children 😮
Yeah I think Adams is much more disturbing.
American Psycho is basically a very clever satire but to really understand it you must read the sequel Luna Park
I do need to read that. I've only read his early books
I am so glad I have never had a desire to experience horror or be disturbed, in any medium.
That’s great, Elizabeth 😊
Very interesting discussion as always!
Thanks Jennifer!
Love your channel
Thank you so much!
I do like disturbing books now and then. I’m drawn to them for some reason. Maybe because my actual life is rather ordinary without trauma or drama.
Well way to completely disprove my half-baked theory, Greg!
Yeah GREG!
American psycho is disturbing book. Great read.
Yeah, I need to reread it
I suffer from depression too, but reading is a sort of release valve. Watching films too.. There is grim and there is soviet grim..and I do quite like grim soviet cinema… watch Come and See or…my fav The Ascent…you are put through the ringer… but maybe it’s all about the feeling that as bad as our lives are those in the books or films have it worse…
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply. Agree that there is something about putting yourself through this kind of pain that can be cathartic. I've heard a lot of good things about Come and See. It's definitely one I'd like to watch at some point.
Have you read "A short stay in hell"? Very disturbing in a way that I had not experienced before
I hadn't heard of that, but just looked it up and it sounds intriguing - thanks for the recommendation
@@CriminOllyBlog It's a novella, so you can burn through it in a few hours. I found it when searching for "most disturbing books"
Love this topic. Great video
Thanks, man. Watching your response now!
It’s like that Tool song, Vicarious
Good vlog. Thank you.
Thanks Myra!
Very interesting topic! Of course, like for horror films and rollercoasters, there is no universal answer.
But why are some disturbing books getting the attention of a larger audience, like American Psycho did? Surely people will be interested for various reasons (including rubbernecking) but shoudn't that apply to more disturbing literature, not a small handfull of exceptions?
And how do we handle literature that gets disturbing unexpectedly or how does it effect us maybe differently when we're unaware of those kind of ingredients? I had that experience with Bless the Child by Cathy Cash Spellman. It is an occult horror thriller (made into a film starring Kim Basinger) and contains some unpleasant to read descriptions of satanistic rituals for which I wasn't prepared (and I consider myself pretty case-hardened regarding violent scenes in fictional representation).
Re American Psycho I think some books just sometimes cut through in a way that can’t really be predicted. American Psycho came out around the same time as the Silence of the Lambs movie when there was a sudden public fascination in serial killers.
As for books you don’t expect to be disturbing I think that can be a very different experience!
New subbie and avid reader...I'm definitely strongly prefer mysteries more than horror I guess. Though at 40 I'm not sure what I could watch or read that I find truly "scary". It's kinda like going to a hunted/scary house. You know it's not real and they can't do much to you physically so I don't deem "scary" maybe surprised I guess like a jump scare. Anyways I suppose I have read some books that would be deemed disturbing like The Alienist by Caleb Carr (probably my favorite author at the moment.) But I've never thought about WHY I want to read these things other than being intrigued but it's a good question. I haven't finished watching your vid at the time I responded bc I wanted to chime in about the fact that I never considered this question before I heard your reasons. Anyways I'm very interested on your reasons so on to finishing your video.
Thanks for watching and subscribing and sorry it has taken me so long to reply! Really like Caleb Carr, agree that the Alienist was disturbing. I read another book by him (Killing Time, I think) that had a very troubling seen in it
I love disturbing books but draw the line at child and animal cruelty as there's enough cruelty without giving certain people ideas. I like disturbing film too, stuff like Antichrist, the Human Centipede, although that was silly, and even tried August Mordem but it made me nauseated. I have read a fair bit over my lifetime, I see you have the same American Psycho cover as I have, so I have been doing this for a long time, I am a compulsive reader and have been since as far back as I remember. I used to order those Pan Horror Stories books from my local newsagents when I was a kid in the late 60s. I am fairly sure because I got in trouble at school for reading adult stuff at primary school and can't remember if it was Pan Horror Stories or a magazine on Witchcraft and the Occult but the teacher came to see my parents lol! I was recently diagnosed as having an autism spectrum disorder so I think a lot of my prolific reading had something to do with that as I didn't like other kids much, just horses, animals in general and reading anything and everything. I really appreciate your reviews Olly because I haven't the room for tons of books and I love physical books as opposed to audio and you help me pare it down to stuff I really want. I recently read Nick Cutters one about the Cryptkeeper wasps and I recommend that to anyone who likes to be disturbed. (Can't for the life of me remember the title...these senior moments are getting more frequent lol!) The Girl Next Door was a good book but was a true story and I don't like child abuse but this needed to be told. I don't know what the draw is but I would rather read something scary or disturbing if given the choice (of course I have been known to read encyclopedias cover to cover as a kid too!)
Thank you so much, really glad you're finding the channel helpful!. I used to really like extreme movies, but as I get older I find I can't take them.
Thanks so much for watching and sharing your experiences :)
Why can’t I find Notice anywhere?
It's out of print I'm afraid. Check out my community tab for an update on availability of the paper book and a link to a site selling the ebook
Have you done any disturbing dark/black comedy book reviews?
I don't think I have. Thanks for watching!
@@CriminOllyBlog would you consider it for future content? Thanks for the comment engagement.
@@timothydahlin5321 definitely!
No books are distributing.
We Need to Talk About Kevin is brilliantly written.
It is a really great book
Have you read Chelsea Horror Hotel?
I haven’t! Who is that by?
This is just the channel I was looking for! Disturbing books! Thanks for this video it was very interesting. Would anyone consider A Little Life disturbing? It is not in the horror based disturbing but I considered some scenes to be quite disturbing...
Thanks Nicole! I think I found A Little Life sad more than disturbing.
@@CriminOllyBlog Thank you for the comment! I think I am starting to understand the difference. I am excited to read some of your recommendations
@@nicolechacon4257 great!
2:51-3:03
I really liked the theory of why, presumably, we "need" to be scared as a way to test our bodies' ability to react to dangerous situations. However, I wish this video did not present it as an established "fact". Unless there is ample scientific evidence to support this theory (which I doubt is there), the reason this video gives for why people need to be scared is just an opinion. A very interesting opinion, but still... an opinion, not a fact.
That's fair - if I did present it as fact then I didn't mean to, it's all just my opinion
Your bookshelf looks way too organized lol
Ha! What you can't see is the second row of mass market paperbacks on their sides behind the visible books
You know the boy Sid in Toy Story ? That's me as a kid. Hard to believe but there you go 🙃 I read plenty of disturbing books, it's just not usually fiction.
LOL!