Well, 'The Woman in Black' by Susan Hill is a very good literary horror novel. The eponymous woman in black is a haunting figure that brings death and misfortune. The desolate setting of the marshy landscape adds to the overall sense of doom. Another one is 'Let the Right One In' by John Ajvide Lindqvist. It combines elements of vampire horror with a coming - of - age story, exploring the relationship between a bullied boy and a young vampire girl in a really interesting and often terrifying way.
Some of the best are 'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski. It's a very experimental and complex horror novel that plays with the form of the book itself. The story of a house that is larger on the inside than it is on the outside and the horrors that lurk within is both mind - boggling and terrifying. Also, 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' by Shirley Jackson. It has a claustrophobic atmosphere as it tells the story of the Blackwood sisters who are ostracized from their village, and there are some very creepy undertones throughout the story.
Sure. 'The Exorcist' by William Peter Blatty is a classic. It's based on a true story of demonic possession, and the way it delves into the psychological and spiritual turmoil of the possessed girl and those trying to save her is hair - raising. 'Rosemary's Baby' by Ira Levin is also great. It creates a sense of paranoia as Rosemary slowly realizes that there are sinister forces at work around her pregnancy.
Another great one is 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss. The story is about Kvothe, a gifted young man with a tragic past. Rothfuss's writing is lyrical and the world - building is very detailed, making it a captivating read.
Sure. 'The Institute' by Stephen King. It's a great horror novel with a plot that involves a mysterious place and strange happenings to the kids there.
Sure. 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' is a great one. It explores the psychological state of a mother trying to understand her son who has committed a heinous crime. It makes you question nature vs. nurture and the psychological development of a child in a disturbing yet fascinating way.
Sure. 'Zuleika Dobson' by Max Beerbohm is a notable Oxford novel. It's a satirical look at Oxford life, full of humor and clever observations about the students and the university's social scene.
A lesser - known but excellent horror graphic novel is '30 Days of Night'. It's set in a town in Alaska during a month - long polar night, when vampires descend upon the town. The isolation and the vampires' brutality make for a truly terrifying read.
Sure. 'The Waste Land' by T.S. Eliot is a great one. It's a complex poem - novel hybrid that reflects the disillusionment of the post - World War I era. 'The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas' by Gertrude Stein is also notable. It gives a unique perspective on the Parisian art scene and modernist culture. And 'Passing' by Nella Larsen, which explores race and identity through the story of two light - skinned African - American women, is among the best American modernist novels.
Sure. 'The Silence of the Lambs' by Thomas Harris is a classic. The cat - and - mouse game between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter is thrilling. Lecter's brilliant and deranged mind makes the story both terrifying and fascinating.
Definitely. 'The Invisible Bridge' by Julie Orringer is a good choice. It has mystery elements in the story of a Hungarian Jew during WWII. 'The Light of Paris' by Eleanor Brown is also worth mentioning. It combines a modern - day story with a mystery from the Paris of WWII. And 'The Secret Wife' by Gill Paul is an interesting read. It delves into the secrets and mystery surrounding the Romanov family during the war.
Sure. 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' by David Sedaris is really good. His memoir - style essays are filled with self - deprecating humor and observations about life. For example, his experiences learning French in Paris are both awkward and funny.
Sure. 'The Prophet' by Kahlil Gibran is a great one. It contains a lot of wisdom and spiritual teachings that are relevant to the Muslim faith. Another is 'The Conference of the Birds' by Farid ud - Din Attar, an old and important Persian work that has deep spiritual and moral lessons within a Muslim context.