10 Revealing Reasons Readers Like to Read Scary Books

10 Revealing Reasons Readers Like to Read Scary Books

Good horror novels engage readers in ways few other genres can. Here’s a look at ten revealing reasons why people are drawn to horror and scary books, each backed by an example from notable novels:

1. Adrenaline Rush

Reading horror is akin to riding a roller coaster. The suspense and sudden shocks provide an adrenaline rush, much like a physical thrill, but from the safety of your favorite reading nook. For instance, Clive Barker’s Books of Blood presents a collection of horrifying tales that keep readers on edge, offering heart-pounding moments through its inventive and gruesome plot line.

2. Safe Exploration of Fear

Horror allows readers to confront their deepest fears in a controlled environment without real-world consequences. In L. Ron Hubbard’s Fear, the protagonist’s journey through both real and psychological horrors exemplifies this, as readers discover themes of paranoia and reality from a safe distance.

3. Cathartic Release

Engaging with terrifying stories can be surprisingly cathartic. It allows readers to release pent-up emotions and stress, leaving them feeling refreshed and less burdened by their own problems. In The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty, the intense story of possession and exorcism offers a profound cathartic release as the characters face and overcome pure evil. It also gives confidence in the ability of humankind to survive extreme stress and danger.

4. Curiosity About the Unknown

Humans are naturally curious about death, the supernatural, and the unknown. Horror books feed this curiosity, offering explorations into the paranormal, the afterlife, and the mind’s dark corners. H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu caters to this curiosity, leading readers through mysteries that challenge the limits of human understanding.

5. Complex Storytelling

Many horror stories feature rich, multilayered narratives that require deeper intellectual engagement. Bram Stoker’s Dracula combines complex characters and a thick plot involving mystery and survival, captivating readers with its depth.

6. Psychological Insight

The genre often provides profound psychological insights, making readers ponder what scares us and why. Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House explores the psychological impacts of supernatural events on its characters, offering insights into their fears and motivations.

7. Cultural Connection

Horror often reflects societal fears and anxieties, connecting readers with more prominent cultural or historical themes. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein reflects early 19th-century anxieties about science and creation, critiquing the era’s scientific advancements.

8. Escapism

Like any fiction, horror provides an escape from reality, allowing readers to immerse themselves in otherworldly experiences. The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum, though rooted in real-world horror, allows readers to go deep into the dark sides of human nature, offering a disturbing escape into psychological terror.

9. Thrill of the Hunt

The genre’s mysteries and puzzles engage readers in a mental chase akin to solving a detective case. Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris exemplifies this, as it combines horror with a thrilling chase to catch a serial killer.

10. Community and Shared Experience

Horror creates a community of fans who share a common interest in the macabre, often gathering to discuss and dissect their favorite scary stories. Of all the scary books by the king of horror, Stephen King’s Pet Sematary perhaps thrives the most on shared experiences and interpretations of its themes of grief and resurrection.

These attributes and examples of the best horror books illustrate the multifaceted appeal of horror literature. The genre offers much more than scares—it engages readers on emotional, intellectual, and social levels, providing a varied and vicarious macabre reading experience to get the adrenal glands pumping. If you seek emotional distress and adrenaline, there is no need to go to haunted houses and deserted castles. Read scary books.

P.S. If you want to know what scares Stephen King the most, it is not the things that go bump in the night or scary books. It is … elevators. What scares you the most? Which attribute above gives you the biggest kick? Write your answers in the comments below.

1 reply
  1. Wendy Patten
    Wendy Patten says:

    Horror books for me – #1 reason is my reason. Always looking for that scare factor. Still haven’t found a book that scared me as much as (or more than) Fear by L. Ron Hubbard.

    Reply

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