The Way Some Books Affect Me

Jcas · 11-17-2010, 04:01 AM

Can you close your book and not think about it again until you open it???? I find that if i read anything a bit disturbing it tends to occupy my thoughts, keep me awake etc etc.

I was reading a review into a horror book that was described as one of the most horrific books ever written and while i would like to say that i have read the most horrific book ever written, no way could i ever read it , i often wonder do i take my reading too seriously??

JeremyR · 11-17-2010, 04:53 AM

No. Indeed, there are still things that I've read that really wish I hadn't.

Not horror, but in some historical fiction some horrible things are written so vividly they are hard to forget.

Maggie Leung · 11-17-2010, 10:23 AM

Fiction doesn't trouble me. Some of the stuff that goes on in the world does, though, lol.

If reading troubled me regularly, I'd find something else to read.

FF2 · 11-17-2010, 10:27 AM

I still recall reading The Shinning. I was in complete control of the page turning. I would read slow or fast. I can remember almost jumping out of bed by a quick scene - it was still that startling even though I could, as I say, control the pace. I also vividly recall reading the Confessions of Nat Turner - it disclosed history I was totally unaware of at that time. Two different horrible, horrifying moments of disclosure. Books definitely have their impact.

Pookeysgirl · 11-17-2010, 11:07 AM

There have been a few books I haven't been able to finish because I was so disturbed by them. I can't handle anything that has to do with child abuse, in any form, or rape. Sometimes I can just skip a few pages to get past that part, but if the book is filled with kind of content I have to put it down.

Pomtroll · 11-17-2010, 11:12 AM

There are some books I wish I had never read. Real life is portrayed in many books of fiction & those books haunt me the most. I will not read horror, true crime books, or books that go into great detail with violence & torture.

nursedude · 11-17-2010, 11:40 AM

Depends on the book. I read some books on WW1 that vividly described the experiences of the men in the trenches and had some trouble getting the images out of my head. Still not as stressful as watching the news some nights.

AlbertaCowboy · 11-17-2010, 12:08 PM

I don't do true life ghost stories. I stole a copy of "The World's Most Famous Ghosts" from my dad when I was about six, and didn't sleep for weeks afterwards. My mom still says that she's never heard of another child who has nightmares about Anne Bolyn's ghost. Even now as an adult, if I read something about ghoulies and ghosties and three leggedy beasties it comes back to me at about 3:00 am, where I jump at every creak of the house!

bthrowsnaill · 11-17-2010, 12:30 PM

I think reading a book is like opening a portal to an alternate reality. The contents of the book surely have to bounce around in one's subconscious for a time before being replaced by newer experiences. This is why I've recently stopped reading H.P. Lovecraft right before bed. Whenever I read a spiritual book (eg: something written by the Dalai Lama) I find that it makes me feel more peaceful as I go about my daily activities.

jhempel24 · 11-17-2010, 01:09 PM

There has been only one book that I wish I never read:

The Girl Door by Jack Ketchum.

I can stomach some really rough stuff, even alot of the "torure porn" books and movies...but this....this is just disgusting, and it really made me stop reading at times. It's loosely based on a true story.

The first review in the link pretty much sums up what I felt about it...and I even get a sick feeling just thinking about it....but I wouldn't read it again.

jhempel24 · 11-17-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jcas

Can you close your book and not think about it again until you open it???? I find that if i read anything a bit disturbing it tends to occupy my thoughts, keep me awake etc etc.

I was reading a review into a horror book that was described as one of the most horrific books ever written and while i would like to say that i have read the most horrific book ever written, no way could i ever read it , i often wonder do i take my reading too seriously??

By the way....what book are you talking about??

Figlilly · 11-17-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

There are some books I wish I had never read. Real life is portrayed in many books of fiction & those books haunt me the most. I will not read horror, true crime books, or books that go into great detail with violence & torture.

That is me too. I have no problems with murder stories or discussions of dead bodies and their state of decay. I do have problems reading about them dying if it is with pain and suffering. I don't like horror or ghost stories either.

FF2, the Shining did that to me too. I still remember how terrifying I found it and it must be over 30 years since I read it.

yakuzaboss · 11-17-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jcas

Can you close your book and not think about it again until you open it???? I find that if i read anything a bit disturbing it tends to occupy my thoughts, keep me awake etc etc.

I was reading a review into a horror book that was described as one of the most horrific books ever written and while i would like to say that i have read the most horrific book ever written, no way could i ever read it , i often wonder do i take my reading too seriously??

Which book was being reviewed?

Penforhire · 11-17-2010, 05:17 PM

I can't tell ahead of time what books will have that effect on me. It has less to do with the topic than exactly how the author's prose strikes me. If it somehow resonates in me and causes introspection or fear then, yes, it can keep me up at night.

bjones6416 · 11-17-2010, 11:29 PM

I'll chime in and agree that "The Shining" affected me that way, too. I guess that book was really pretty well written for it to have had such an impact on so many people, huh? So, I'll leave you with...

REDRUM

(I gave myself chills even typing that!

)

11-17-2010, 04:01 AM	#1
Jcas Zealot Posts: 143 Karma: 9668 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kellevie, Tas. Device: Kindle PW2,Kindle DXG,iPhone 4	The Way Some Books Affect Me Can you close your book and not think about it again until you open it???? I find that if i read anything a bit disturbing it tends to occupy my thoughts, keep me awake etc etc. I was reading a review into a horror book that was described as one of the most horrific books ever written and while i would like to say that i have read the most horrific book ever written, no way could i ever read it , i often wonder do i take my reading too seriously??

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11-17-2010, 04:53 AM	#2
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	No. Indeed, there are still things that I've read that really wish I hadn't. Not horror, but in some historical fiction some horrible things are written so vividly they are hard to forget.

11-17-2010, 10:23 AM	#3
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	Fiction doesn't trouble me. Some of the stuff that goes on in the world does, though, lol. If reading troubled me regularly, I'd find something else to read.

11-17-2010, 10:27 AM	#4
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	I still recall reading The Shinning. I was in complete control of the page turning. I would read slow or fast. I can remember almost jumping out of bed by a quick scene - it was still that startling even though I could, as I say, control the pace. I also vividly recall reading the Confessions of Nat Turner - it disclosed history I was totally unaware of at that time. Two different horrible, horrifying moments of disclosure. Books definitely have their impact.

11-17-2010, 11:07 AM	#5
Pookeysgirl Wizard Posts: 1,705 Karma: 12696746 Join Date: May 2010 Device: K3, Kobo Mini	There have been a few books I haven't been able to finish because I was so disturbed by them. I can't handle anything that has to do with child abuse, in any form, or rape. Sometimes I can just skip a few pages to get past that part, but if the book is filled with kind of content I have to put it down.

11-17-2010, 11:12 AM	#6
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	There are some books I wish I had never read. Real life is portrayed in many books of fiction & those books haunt me the most. I will not read horror, true crime books, or books that go into great detail with violence & torture.

11-17-2010, 11:40 AM	#7
nursedude Zealot Posts: 131 Karma: 17102 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo (Original), KT, iPad 1, iPhone 4S, iPad 3rd gen	Depends on the book. I read some books on WW1 that vividly described the experiences of the men in the trenches and had some trouble getting the images out of my head. Still not as stressful as watching the news some nights.

11-17-2010, 12:08 PM	#8
AlbertaCowboy Guru Posts: 819 Karma: 171672846 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: PRS-350, PRS-650, iPhone 6, NVIDIA Shield K1	I don't do true life ghost stories. I stole a copy of "The World's Most Famous Ghosts" from my dad when I was about six, and didn't sleep for weeks afterwards. My mom still says that she's never heard of another child who has nightmares about Anne Bolyn's ghost. Even now as an adult, if I read something about ghoulies and ghosties and three leggedy beasties it comes back to me at about 3:00 am, where I jump at every creak of the house!

11-17-2010, 12:30 PM	#9
bthrowsnaill Dreamer Posts: 112 Karma: 501282 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Device: kindle	I think reading a book is like opening a portal to an alternate reality. The contents of the book surely have to bounce around in one's subconscious for a time before being replaced by newer experiences. This is why I've recently stopped reading H.P. Lovecraft right before bed. Whenever I read a spiritual book (eg: something written by the Dalai Lama) I find that it makes me feel more peaceful as I go about my daily activities.

11-17-2010, 01:09 PM	#10
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	There has been only one book that I wish I never read: The Girl Door by Jack Ketchum. I can stomach some really rough stuff, even alot of the "torure porn" books and movies...but this....this is just disgusting, and it really made me stop reading at times. It's loosely based on a true story. The first review in the link pretty much sums up what I felt about it...and I even get a sick feeling just thinking about it....but I wouldn't read it again.

11-17-2010, 05:17 PM	#14
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I can't tell ahead of time what books will have that effect on me. It has less to do with the topic than exactly how the author's prose strikes me. If it somehow resonates in me and causes introspection or fear then, yes, it can keep me up at night.

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11-17-2010, 11:29 PM	#15
bjones6416 ↓↓ Skirt!! Earrings!! Posts: 3,394 Karma: 17432172 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Acer netbook, JetBook Lite, Sony PRS-300, Kindle 2, Kindle Fire	I'll chime in and agree that "The Shining" affected me that way, too. I guess that book was really pretty well written for it to have had such an impact on so many people, huh? So, I'll leave you with... REDRUM (I gave myself chills even typing that! )