Horror Aficionados discussion

Haunted by James Herbert has won our poll for this month's Group Listen!

Please remember to use spoiler tags when necessary and happy listening!

i'll join in but it will probably be later in the month before I get it.

Read it a couple years ago. I will enjoy joining the conversation.

Is it okay if I read instead of listen? If so, I'm in happily. Reading Herbert's The Dark now, and have this on my list already.

Sure! Just list what chapter you're on and use spoiler tags, please. Hopefully the chapters are the same in both. :)

Charlene wrote: "Sure! Just list what chapter you're on and use spoiler tags, please. Hopefully the chapters are the same in both. :)"

Awesome, thanks!

I actually listened to this one a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I will probably pop in on the conversations, at least.

I just downloaded this one and should be starting it later this week.

I'm going to join along too.

This sounds fun, and the book sounds good! I'm in!

Thank you Charlene. I've read all of his books, and some of them are downright creepy. (My fav kind), but how do we listen to the audio version? Do we have to buy it? I know it's a silly question, but I really don't know. :(

I'll read along. This is one of my favourite of Herbert's books.

There was a 1995 film made of this with Aidan Quinn and Kate Beckinsale which, while not quite capturing the atmosphere of the book, is still a very good watch.

Tracy wrote: "Thank you Charlene. I've read all of his books, and some of them are downright creepy. (My fav kind), but how do we listen to the audio version? Do we have to buy it? I know it's a silly question, ..."

You do. Or you somehow need to acquire it, via your local library or other service. :(

Ah, that makes sense. Thank you for letting me know. :)

I've never read Haunted, but I have discovered certain spoilers abut the plot. I'm sure those who have read it will know what I mean. Given that, is it still worth me reading it?

I have read this book (as well as most of james herbert's books) and i know you will all love this book

This was my first group read and I just finished....My goodness I couldn't listen fast enough! I loved this book and will be looking into reading/ listening to more from this author!

I started this one today. I am at about 13% and am liking it so far. He is about to (view spoiler)[explore the house and the grounds. (hide spoiler)] so hoping for some action.
I am not sure if I like the narrator though. How do you guys feel?

I have about 15% left and I've thought he has been OK. I did have one part where the story switched into a flashback and it took me a little bit of time to catch on, but I guess that's not really his fault.

My copy just arrived, will be joining in next couple of days. Liked Ash, as well as the other Herbert novels I've read. Should be fun.


Update: Started it tonight. Am now at the first(?) flashback. Good fun thus far.

Have just finished, rated and reviewed. It was fun, but now I need to sleep so I can work tonight.

I am half way finished, and am thoroughly enjoying this book.

I just finished reading the book and ABSOLUTELY loved it! Thank you so much for offering this up as a group listen (since I already owned the book, I decided to read it instead).

I loved it so much that this morning I ordered The Fog.

Herbert's writing and story are pure fun!

I am at 40%. The part where (view spoiler)[ Ash is having the conversation with Christina about her parents and his sister. (hide spoiler)]
It is starting to pick up for me. I was having a hard time paying attention and following what was going on in the beginning. It was feeling slow to me. Now I am waiting to see what happens.

I finished the audio book a few days ago. This was a new author for me and I really enjoyed test driving his style. His prose is elegant and descriptive, which I prefer over the simple style of some authors. The setting was super creepy and Herbert did a good job of building a sense of dread in me. I liked the narrator, who was an actor as well as a reader; I thought he did a great job conveying emotion.

Naima wrote: "I finished the audio book a few days ago. This was a new author for me and I really enjoyed test driving his style. His prose is elegant and descriptive, which I prefer over the simple style of som..."

Naima, I don't think James's prose could ever be described as 'elegant'. I think he'd have been happy with 'brutally efficient'. And he was. This was one of his best.

Well, I am happy to say I finished listening to this, but sad to say I did not like it that much. My mind was constantly wandering and it did not hold my attention. I didn't think the story was creepy or scary or mysterious. The last hour of the book was the best part, but not good enough to salvage the whole thing.
It is always interesting to me how someone else can love a book I couldn't get into and like to read what they liked/wrote about it. I have definitely enjoyed reading people's comments here more than I enjoyed the book.

I just finished it as well. I did like it, but I think I would have gotten more out of reading it than listening to it. I did find myself wandering a little bit, too.

I agree, Vicki. The story just didn't grab me, and the last bit was better but not good enough to redeem the whole book, in my opinion. I'm glad I tried the group listen/read though, and I look forward to doing more of them! Thanks, everyone!

I thought this was a good one, and will read the sequel soon. I've heard The Ghosts Of Sleath is more typical of Herbert, but that's not a bad thing.

Hey everyone,

If you like books with dark themes, my book The Devil in I is coming out soon :) Its about a character who is the Devil, he lives in new york and his life starts to fall apart when he falls in love with a co-worker

I finished the book. There was something about his writing that really attracted me. But honestly, it wasn't that he challenged me or shocked/scared/excited me as some great authors and books do. This book didn't leave me screaming or shaking or stunned (like my most recent Brother by Ahlborn or The Comorant by Gregory, both of which left me stunned for days at work. It's all I wanted to talk about with friends).

But it reminded me of how I used to feel about reading horror when I was a teen 30 years ago). Everything was new and fresh at the time (not that his story was new and fresh to me at all today, but just it reminded me of how I used to feel when finding everything new and fresh). I actually couldn't wait to get home and continue reading. It was easy, light reading that quickly satisfied. It reminded me of when horror was just plain fun.

I know that it sounds like a negative review, but I did run out and pick up another book of his. Just to get that simple fun feeling again!