Well, 'Stardust' by Neil Gaiman is a rather weird romance novel. It combines elements of fantasy and romance as a young man crosses into a magical land to find a fallen star, who turns out to be a woman. 'Twilight' could also be considered in a way. The idea of a human falling in love with a vampire and then getting involved with werewolves too is quite out of the ordinary for a romance. And 'The Hunger Games' has a strange undercurrent of romance between Katniss and Peeta, set against the backdrop of a brutal survival game.
Some weird romance novels include 'The Shape of Water' which was also made into a movie. It features a relationship between a human woman and a strange amphibious creature. Then there's 'Gone Girl' which has a very unusual and twisted view of a relationship. It's not your typical love story as it delves deep into the darker aspects of a marriage. Also, 'The Night Circus' has a unique, almost dream - like romance set within the context of a magical circus.
One popular weird novel is 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It plays with the layout of the text, creating a disorienting reading experience. Another is 'The King in Yellow' by Robert W. Chambers, which contains elements of the supernatural and the macabre that are quite strange. And 'Finnegans Wake' by James Joyce is also considered weird. Its language is highly experimental and complex, making it a challenging yet unique read.
One popular 'weird detective novel' is 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'. It presents a very unique take on the detective story as it delves into the duality of human nature. Another is 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer', which combines elements of mystery with the strange and grotesque world of a serial killer with an extraordinary sense of smell. There's also 'The City & The City' which has a really weird concept of two cities existing in the same space but with different rules that the detective has to navigate.
Some 'weird fantasy novels' worth checking out include 'China Miéville's works. For instance, 'Perdido Street Station'. It's set in a very strange and complex world filled with all kinds of grotesque and fantastical creatures. His use of language and world - building is extremely unique. Then there's 'The Etched City' by K. J. Bishop. It combines elements of fantasy, post - apocalyptic, and the weird in a very engaging way, with a world full of strange ruins and stranger characters.
One popular 'weird fantasy horror novel' is 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It has a very unique structure and plays with the concept of a haunted house in a mind - bending way.
In general, they are a niche genre. Most mainstream readers are not interested in them as they often contain content that is considered too strange or not in line with traditional values. However, there is a small subset of readers who are into this kind of very different and edgy erotica.
One popular ghostly weird story is the 'Bloody Mary' legend. People believe that if you stand in a dark bathroom, light some candles, and say 'Bloody Mary' three times into the mirror, a spooky apparition will appear. Another is the story of the Headless Horseman. Legend has it that this spectral rider rides through the night on a black horse, looking for his lost head. And then there's the story of the Grey Lady, often associated with old castles or mansions, a ghostly figure that haunts the halls.
One such novel could be 'The Strange Dream of Love'. In this novel, the main character has these really odd naps where she enters a dream world that's intertwined with her real - life romantic encounters. It's full of unexpected twists and turns in the relationship.
A rather unique gay romance novel is 'Giovanni's Room' by James Baldwin. It delves deep into the protagonist's internal struggles and his relationship with Giovanni in a very intense and somewhat off - beat way. The exploration of identity and love in a less than conventional setting makes it stand out as a bit 'weird' in the genre.
One popular weird tale is 'The Monkey's Paw'. It's about a magical paw that grants wishes but with terrible consequences. Another is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' with the headless horseman. Ghost stories like 'The Amityville Horror' are also well - known. It tells of a haunted house where terrifying events occur.
Well, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde is a rather weird classic. Dorian Gray's portrait ages and shows the signs of his immoral life while he himself remains young and beautiful. It's a very unique take on the relationship between appearance, morality, and time. Another one could be 'Ulysses' by James Joyce. Its complex narrative structure and the stream - of - consciousness writing style make it seem quite strange to many readers, but it is also a very important work in modernist literature.