Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Who Needs Sleep?

I love to read at night. You'll often find me curled up in a chair with a hot cup of tea, the house quiet, the blinds closed against the dark sky and all the slithering shadows. I'm also most likely reading something creepy, dark, scary. And while this absolutely goes against my cowardly, chicken-like nature, it gives me a delicious thrill that I refuse to give up.

So, when I came across this article - 11 Creepy Lines from Horror Books that are Honestly Terrifying - I couldn't read it fast enough. Here are some of my favorites:


"THERE WERE WORSE THINGS THAN CRUCIFIXION.
THERE WERE TEETH."
(The Stand by Stephen King)


"THE LAST MAN ON EARTH SAT ALONE IN A ROOM.
THERE WAS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR . . . "
(Knock by Frederic Brown)


"I HAVE NO MOUTH,  AND I MUST SCREAM."
(I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison)


Go ahead, read the whole article. But maybe wait until daylight. Or when you're not alone. Oh, you are alone? Um . . . then who or what (gulp!) is that creaking across the attic, right above your head . . . ?

*****

Do you enjoy reading at night? Are you a fan of creepy stories? Any favorites - books, TV shows, movies? Can you read/watch them before bed or is that just a nightmare waiting to happen? 

26 comments:

  1. Definitely will check out the list. I can think of a creepy line that's not even a horror story - Marley was dead, to begin with.
    I read before going to bed and it's a sure way to put me to sleep...

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  2. LOL! Are you crazy?!

    If I read or watch something scary, it has to be in broad daylight, and there's someone sitting next to me. :)

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    1. Yes. :)

      I like to WATCH scary things earlier rather than later, and then I usually watch something lighter after it, like a sitcom. After reading something creepy, I might flip through a magazine before actually going to sleep.

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  3. I used to read Goosebumps as a kid and they'd give me nightmares! I do read before bed, but it's to my kids, and by then I'm usually exhausted and ready to pass out. If I actually get the opportunity, I'll sit down with my husband and watch something (usually not creepy or scary), but it's been over a week since I could do that.

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    1. I missed the Goosebumps series. I was too old - already reading Stephen King! - but I bet I would've enjoyed those, even though I was - and still am! - a big chicken. :)

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  4. I used to like scary, creepy stuff. When I turned 21 and lived on my own, that cured me. LOL

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    1. Yeah, I'm not sure how brave I'd be if my husband wasn't in the next room or sitting near me on the couch. :)

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  5. I don't dare read a scary book at night when I'm alone. My cat, who's often propped on my shoulder or in my lap in the evening, tends to suddenly turn and stare into the dark dining room behind my favorite chair. Her eyes get big--and I turn to look every time. Of course, there's nothing there, or at least nothing I can see. :D

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    1. Oh, that's creepy - even if you're NOT reading anything scary. :)

      Sometimes the tortoises look like they're watching something I can't see. Of course, they might just be daydreaming about bananas or basil. :)

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  6. Yes, I like to read at night... and in the daytime... and anytime in between. I've read a lot of scary creepy books, and they never gave me nightmares. Watching a scary movie too close to bedtime might, though. Years ago, when my hubby was away on a business trip, my daughter stayed up and watched "Children of the Corn" with me. She was so scared afterwards, she didn't want to go to bed. So we watched some old Honeymooners shows to decompress, so to speak. I still remember the episode... Ralph and Ed were calling water HO, because of its formula. They figured the two was silent. :)

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    1. I find it's more often the movies/TV shows than the books that give me nightmares, too.

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  7. Creepy, scary, and horror stories don't scare me as much as movies do, so I can read them at night and not freak myself out too much.

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    1. Pretty much the same here. I had to read/watch something light when I watched those early seasons of The Walking Dead before bed. :o

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  8. Ooh what a fun article! The knock on the door is my favorite line. Fantastic!

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  9. I used to read at night every night, but now I'm just too pooped.

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    1. That's too bad, Chrys! Maybe you can carve out some time when you're more awake, like in the morning or afternoon instead.

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  10. I don't even have to answer those questions, do I? You know me--I embrace the creepy in all forms (well, except for the men I date, and sadly, sometimes even then).

    If you're ever up to reading more creepy books and reviewing them, let me know. I can always use the boost. :)

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    1. I am very fortunate because when I'm done embracing the creepy stories etc, I can turn to my husband, who is the total opposite of creepy. :)

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  11. I'm with you. Late night reading and lots of creepy stuff. But before that, I'm up late at night writing creepy stuff, sometimes while watching creepy stuff to set the mood, and right that's with the windows and back door thrown wide open, because I love the fresh air when the fires aren't piping smoke our way.

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  12. I read before I go to bed, often times dropping my kindle right on my face.

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    1. Ouch! Kind of like the old-school paper cut...but different.

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