Classic Horror Lovers discussion

Thanks, Martha and Danielle! I'll be exploring the different discussion threads, and will chime in where I've got something to contribute. Probably I won't take part in many of the common reads of short stories; I don't like to read whole stories online. But in some cases, I might have access to a story in hard copy, or have already read it, so could be in a position to comment. For instance, I read Burrage's "Smee" this past summer, and it's definitely a good one!

Werner, please feel free to jump into the discussion for the stories you do read. We don't close those threads down, so anyone is welcome to participate at any time.

Thanks, Lady Danielle. Will do!

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Please tell us a little about yourself.

1. Name or Screen Name - Lady Alice Rowhedge a character of Norah Lofts who becomes a ghost!

2. Who are your favorite classic horror writers?
Edgar Allan Poe of course
Le Fanu that I learned about on goodreads
Stephen Kings earlier works
Werner Lind

3. Why do you like classic horror?
sometimes I like cold chills and the imagination of Poe is unmatchable

4. Anything else you'd like us to know about.
I am a big fan of Norah Lofts who has written some mildly scary stuff which is about right for me. I don't want to get to the point where I have nightmares.

Welcome, Lady Alice. I have every intention of reading Norah Lofts when I get a chance.

Alice, thanks for the inclusion on your list of favorites! I don't deserve to be in such distinguished company, but I'm highly honored that somebody thinks I do. :-)

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Welcome, Lady Alice. I have every intention of reading Norah Lofts when I get a chance."

I sure understand! Right now I am trying to read 5 books..sigh! What is wrong with me? One is due back to the library already. Usually in January I leisurely read Norah Lofts but goodreads has caused me to check out too many library books. tee hee...what can I say? I want to read them all. My friend Mare encouraged me in this bad habit of starting more than one at a time.

Werner wrote: "Alice, thanks for the inclusion on your list of favorites! I don't deserve to be in such distinguished company, but I'm highly honored that somebody thinks I do. :-)"

Werner, your book is classic and in time you will be more recognized but as you know these things take time.

Lady Alice, I don't get to the library in my normal routine, and I always feel like I will check out books and not get around to reading them.

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Lady Alice, I don't get to the library in my normal routine, and I always feel like I will check out books and not get around to reading them."

When I was working I stayed away from the library quite often as I didn't really have time but even then I did get there as I first read Norah Lofts when I was living in Suffolk working full time. I think you are a full time student? (if I remember right) When I was a student I had never had time to read anything except what was assigned. One reason I was glad to get out of college was to have more time to read and one reason I was glad to retire was to get even more time. I am switching identities again for please bear with me. I will need to rejoin the group again.
Lady Lavender Alice

Lady Alice, I'm not a student anymore. I just have a busy day/commute and the library's out of my way to get to. Plus, I have a ginormous tbr pile of owned books to get through.

Lady Danielle, I feel your pain on the pile of owned books to get through. I have 2 big boxes full of books and a cabinet in my dinning room full. opps

And yet, my collection keeps growing. :)

haha...mine 2 I have 150 books on my Kobo to read on top of all that...not to mention my friend bought the Anita Blake series and lent them to me. I'm on Blue Moon now

Oh we won't talk about how large my tbr pile is. I have 600 plus docs on my Kindle, and I've maybe read 30 of them!

WOW Danielle I can't come close the that....I think I have 200 or so books to read plus my ones on the Kobo. I'm almost done with my 3rd book on the Kobo

I transferred all the interracial romance ebooks I bought over the years onto my Kindle, plus ones I've bought, and a lot of freebies I've gotten recently, including a lot of good classic horror. What can I say? I have no resistance. I don't think I will fill up my Kindle. It takes 3500 documents.

Danielle, I have no resistance either. My husband looked at my Kobo the other day and was like, this came with 100 book, you bought 10 so how do you have 150 some on here. I looked at him and said they were free so I downloaded them. He asked if I thought I would read all of them, I answered truthfully and said probably not and he did not understand why I put them on there.

It's hard to say no to freebies when it comes to books. If I don't want to read it, I can just delete it. :)

That is the way I feel!! It's free there is no harm in getting it.

I have about 200 unread books on my Kindle. I know what JenC means. I doubt I will ever read all of them, especially considering that the list is always growing. LOL

Jason, I came to the realization that I probably won't read all the books I own or want to read, and that's okay. I am going to give it the college try!

Ha, me too, Lady Danielle!

Lady Danielle, sadly I can't make myself come to that realizations...I live a life of unrealistic dreams

Hey, it's better to dream big! So go for it, Jen.

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Please tell us a little about yourself.

1. Name or Screen Name- Lady Alice Lavender....I love handles online as I can be someone else

2. Who are your favorite classic horror writers?

Edgar Allan Poe! IMO no one can beat him. From reading over this list I realize I am not a true horror fan. I have suffered from nightmares most of my life and some of the names listed here would keep me from sleeping for weeks. I did read Uncle Silas last year and it was too scary for me. I also attempted Lovecraft and it was the same. I am a Twihard and going to Forks soon! Twilight is not horror...its not too scary. Its just right and mainly about LOVE.


3. Why do you like classic horror? from reading the lists below I suddenly realized I am NOT a fan of true horror!!! I did enjoy Rosemary's Baby years ago but I would NEVER consider reading or seeing The Exorcist. More my speed is Norah Lofts Gad's Hall and The Haunting of Gad's Hall.


4. Anything else you'd like us to know about..
I love the neverending quiz!!!!

Welcome, Lady Alice Lavendar!

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Welcome, Lady Alice Lavendar!"


Thanks Lady Danielle ....so far I have loved being here.

I'm glad!

Welcome, Jaime!

Welcome all who've arrived since I've been by!

1. Nathan.
2. Ambrose Bierce, Algernon Blackwood, M.R. James, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Bloch, and many others.
3. I just have an appreciation for classic horror.

Welcome Nathan and Jaime!

Welcome, Nathan!

Hi I'm Lynne from Gillingham in Dorset and I read lots of horror in the late 70's and early 80's and I have not read many for awhile - apart from Stephen King, John Saul and James Herbert.
I found this group through making friends with Kev - so thanks kev for requesting to be a friend here on GRs.

1. Erica
2. Lovecraft, Poe
3. I love that older horror can be really creepy without gore. Sometimes not knowing what's lurking in the shadows is scarier than in your face.
4. Have loved being scared ever since I snuck Poltergeist as a little girl.

Hi Erica. Welcome to the group!

Glad to have you, Erica!

1) Auden
2) HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, MR James,Henry James, Guy de Maupassant, Bram Stoker, William Hope Hodgson
3) I love the language and the atmosphere. Its much more subtle and that leaves a greater impression on me. I don't mind gore but it's gold when a story can scare you using little to no gore.
4) I've been sticking pretty close to the classics because far too many modern horror stories aren't scary to me.

Welcome Auden! I agree with you that classic horror leaves a longer-lasting impression and can be much scarier than modern horror. Take a look at our group reads and feel free to comment if you've read any of the stories in our discussions!

Welcome, Auden.

I agree, too, that classic horror sticks with you longer and that it can be scarier. It can also be so much more intelligent, too.

Welcome, Auden. Great list of favorites. Classic horror is my favorite. I like the atmosphere and the subtlety.

Yes! And I love how they, especially Poe, can pack a sentence full of descriptive words and make them work and that they use words I know in ways I never thought of. I read those stories and I'm just amazed at how beautifully the descriptions are constructed.

Indeed, Auden! I also find that there's a ton of meaning behing their stories. Deeper meaning than there is in a lot of modern horror.

I agree with you both.

1. Aaron Polson (Aaron)
2. Favorites? It's hard to just pick a few: Poe, of course... H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Matheson, Robert Bloch, Algernon Blackwood, M.R. James, I simply adore E.F. Benson's "The Caterpillars". Does Shirley Jackson count? She should.
3. Classic horror isn't just about the slash and spill of blood. Classic horror is deeper. Ancient. It's the terror which haunts children at night as they lay in their dark bedrooms. Most of all, it doesn't insult the reader's intelligence.
4. I write a little horror myself and I love teaching high school English. Yes, I spend my days with teenagers.

Hi Aaron! Welcome to the group! I believe that we do indeed count Shirley Jackson.

Jason wrote: "Hi Aaron! Welcome to the group! I believe that we do indeed count Shirley Jackson."

I love Jackson, from "The Lottery" to The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Wonderful group. I'm looking forward to joining in the discussion.

We have lots in common then. We're happy to have you. :)

Welcome, Aaron. Shirley Jackson and Richard Matheson are automatically grandfathered in. Manly Wade Wellman too. :)