Four Recent-ish Horror Books to Read
So, it's no secret I love horror. Though I mostly study Gothic and Weird fiction from the 1800s and 1900s, I also love contemporary horror, so I've decided to give a list of some of my favorites. Given that there are only four books spoken about here, this is by no means an exhaustive list.
You can click on the book covers to find out more about each recommendation!
Exquisite Corpse by Billy Martin, or Poppy Z. Brite
This is marketed as a weird, gory love story, and this is completely accurate. Billy Martin, professionally published under the name Poppy Z. Brite, is a well-known author who writes under the "splatterpunk" horror subgenre, which includes extremely explicit scenes of violence and sexuality. He's not quite as brutal as Edward Lee, but he's an effective writer who manages to make a story both horrifying and oddly poetic.
Taking place in the French Quarter, Exquisite Corpse is essentially about a heavily fictionalized Jeffrey Dahmer named Andrew Compton and his torrid, deadly love affair with Jay Byrne.
For such a short story (would probably categorize it as a lean novella instead of a novel), this narrative packs a punch with deep, conflicted feelings.
20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
This isn't a novel like the rest; this is a short story collection by Joe Hill, and it's bizarre yet captivating. Also, the stories range from dark to self-aware to actually a little heartwarming. My favorites out of this one were "Pop Art" and "Abraham's Boys."
Check this one out to see a wide range of eerie and spine-chilling tales!
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Listen, I'm biased, since this is my favorite novel of all time. It's a Gothic vampire romance set in the late twentieth century and turns the genre on its head by committing itself to its horror roots while presenting a queer, chaste relationship between a lost, bullied child named Oskar and his vampire friend Eli. You've likely heard of the Swedish movie and its American adaptation, but even if you've seen those, while they are deft, they don't capture the full scope of the heart-rending book that may or may not have made me cry in the last act.
Read it.
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
I reviewed this one here. Essentially, if you adore Lovecraft (my favorite author), this is a wonderful tribute and deconstruction of the much-maligned "The Horror at Red Hook" and Lovecraft's virulent disdain for people of color and immigrants. The protagonist is completely sympathetic, yet societal and universal forces beyond his control make him suffer. This novel ultimately explores the concept of how Lovecraft made monsters out of certain groups of people and denied them their humanity.
As well as that, the prose is quick and beautiful, capturing the world without meandering. A great read, all in all.
What are some of your favorite recent horror books?