Horror Books | Social Media & Possible Possessions

TL;DR

Rachel reviews horror novellas and novels, expressing enjoyment for modern horror with social media elements.

Transcript

hi everyone its Rachel back with the shades of orange and I'm here to do a proper horror wrap-up today this is a combination of books that I received for review as well as books that I've read with my patreon horror book club I have some really great books to talk about as usual so let's get started first I want to talk about the girl in the video ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫠 Novellas like "The Girl in the Video" and "Crazy Times" offer quick, entertaining horror reads with unique premises and strong writing.
• 😱 Stephen Graham Jones' "The Only Good Indians" excels in representation but may not appeal to readers seeking a faster-paced horror narrative.
• 🥳 "The Last Days of Jack Sparks" by Jason Arnott provides a skeptics' take on the supernatural, featuring an unlikable protagonist and unexpected plot twists.
• 💪 Stephen King's "Christine" showcases strong character work but suffers from pacing issues in the latter portion of the story.
• 😱 Contemporary horror with social media and technology elements, as seen in the mentioned books, adds a creepy and unnerving layer to the genre.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the premise of "The Girl in the Video" by Michael David Wilson?

The novella follows a teacher in Japan who receives unsettling videos, blending social media and horror as the story escalates.

Q: How would you describe the writing in "Crazy Times" by Scott Cole?

Scott Cole's writing is engaging and helps build the escalating madness in the novella, making it an enjoyable, quick read with a touch of surrealism.

Q: Why did Rachel DNF "The Only Good Indians" by Stephen Graham Jones?

Despite excellent writing and representation, Rachel struggled with the slow plot progression in the novel, highlighting the importance of balancing character study with narrative drive in horror.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "The Girl in the Video" by Michael David Wilson - A novella blending social media and horror, following a disturbing video's impact on a teacher in Japan.

• "Crazy Times" by Scott Cole - A surreal novella where normalcy descends into escalating madness, offering a quick, entertaining read with strong writing.

• "The Only Good Indians" by Stephen Graham Jones - A Native American horror novel praised for its representation but criticized for slow plot progression.