TikTok Made Me Read DISTURBING HORROR BOOKS (& now I'm traumatized) | READING VLOG

[@AFrolicInTheTomesxx]

Gone to see the river man was one of my favorite reads as of recent! I really loved your cut from not being too sure about it being disturbing to obviously realizing why it’s said to be so disturbing 😂

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Hahaha yeah I got my ass handed to me QUICK with that one

[@ReadingWryly]

Okay, yes. First of all, thank you for featuring my tiktok. I think your review of Any Man was phenomenal. You’re right , it’s not a “good for her” book. But I think it is for the same audience. The thing I loved about it so much was exactly what you said Amber Tamblyn was trying to do with it. The juxtaposition of flipping the script makes it seem so ludicrous in comparison to how we react when this happens to women. The word “re-sensitizing” is the perfect way to put it!

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

I credit Amber Tamblyn for helping me get it & the “resensitization” piece! This is the interview I watched if you’re interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGW7aJ18Zb2brLs

[@iheartcats4life_]

Ashley: don't pick up exquisite corpse!!!! Me: already have it requested from the library 👀

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Don’t say I didn’t warn you! 😱

[@iheartcats4life_]

Update: I finished and you were right 😭😭😭

[@miquesbookvlogs372]

It should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that I gave Exquisite Corpse 5 stars 😂 love this!! Glad you’re giving these books a shot 😁

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Not a surprise at all 😂

[@matthampton8692]

The Wasp Factory is an amazing book and you will not guess the twist based on what you’ve said so far about the book, one of the few times I was gagged by the reveal

[@gabbyreads]

I love the concept of this video so much! 😍 I’ve been wanting to do something like this for so long but I’ve always backed out haha. After hearing your thoughts on Gone to See the River Man and Exquisite Corpse it has me ten times more intrigued to read them haha 👀

[@gabbyreads]

Yeah splatter punk is a genre I’m not sure if I can handle tbh haha but I feel like I should give it a try at least once? 🤨

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Gone to See the River Man is definitely a more accessible entry point to the disturbing; Exquisite Corpse however is a full on deep dive into absolute depravity so proceed with caution there 😂😅

[@jillypepper_]

I don’t read a lot of ultra-disturbing horror, but I’ve been getting into more horror lately and I feel like violence against animals is in everything I’ve been reading lately (horror or not) and I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE pls… I’m about to enter my middle grade era to cleanse my soul. 😂💀

[@NakiasHideaway]

Thank you! I'm right there with you. I don't do animal abuse or cruelty. Nope.

[@reverendmary7237]

Nor me. I love horror, I have many horror books, but I refuse to have anything to do with scenes of needless animal cruelty in any medium.

[@RavenhallowGrey]

Found your video after having just finished Exquisite Corpse and I definitely feel the book hangover. I really enjoy the experience of taking in disturbing media for how it leaves a mark on you, like a fresh dent in your skull that you'll never be able to stop picking at. But with the fun of it being fiction so you don't feel quite so icky after the fact. Definitely going to read Gone To See the River Man after I finish Tender is the Flesh and Less Than Zero. Great video, thanks for your suffering through! 😂 💀

[@djgoa]

Im reading riverman now. About 80% in and really enjoying the back story that unfolds. Didnt expect it. I like ur reviews keep up the good work

[@Kenzikins]

💀💀💀 I'm really late to this video but I'm SO glad you read Exquisite Corpse. I first read it when I was 15 and I still have that copy! It's totally disturbing but so beautifully written, it's been an extreme horror favorite of mine for half my life!

[@jrobertlysaght]

Exquisite Corpse is Poppy Brite's most extreme offering, and a thing, having read all Poppy's early work, that feels very deliberately way way over the top. If you liked Brite's style, way of developing characters, please consider reading 'Lost Souls.' It's about vampires (sort of) but nowhere near as disturbing.

[@NakiasHideaway]

I don't do disturbing horror or TikTok so it was fun to watch you do this! I barely read horror anymore because I don't do books that contain animal cruelty or sexual assault against children or abuse of children at all and so many horror books contain that. No thank you. ☠ I love your porch though! Looks like such a cozy spot to read! 🌳 📖 ☕

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

It was definitely... a lot 😅 & thank you! I love my little outdoor reading space 😊

[@shinypeanut8631]

This video is exactly what I've been wanting from booktube. 1,000/10

[@DeniseDivesIn]

Listening to you talk at the end this is how I feel a lot. I watch disturbing movies and true crime and I’m like tempted to try books but I talk myself out of it usually like what do I get from it, I’m already pessimistic and paranoid lol💀

[@SorryBookedSolid]

Hahaha I love this content. I don’t read horror and don’t think I have much of a desire to read anything that disturbing but I do love watching other people react to them!!

[@SorryBookedSolid]

Oook yeah especially sexual violence towards children, not for me! But I’m interested to watch you continue your disturbing horror exploration! 🤣

[@HannahsRecentReads]

i don’t think i will ever be able to read extreme horror like this lol. thanks for taking that bullet for me 🖤💀

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Hahah anytime 😂

[@dessertcomes1st]

Thanks (i think) for putting yourself through this for all of your subs, Ashley. I used to read horror but real life is horrific enough. I'll stick to mysteries and thrillers.

[@iheartcats4life_]

I just read the troop and gave it 5 stars and that is my segue into reading more disturbing horror, especially for fall. I definitely have limits but idk what those are yet and for me the fun is how ridiculous and over the top horror books are, like an action movie. It's just so ridiculous that it becomes entertaining!

[@zachreads]

Try Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates. It's on the same level as these. And be careful the waters get way deeper and darker.

[@michaelortiz9359]

Hahaha the transition to your final review of Gone to see the River Man. So good

[@teresarollen7425]

I loved this video! It was great seeing and hearing your reaction to these books. It does make me more curious though. 💀

[@BookedandBusy]

Ooooh I keep seeing the wasp factory at my bookstore 👁👁

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Proceed with caution 😅

[@BookedandBusy]

@@ashleyslittlelibrary after your review I think I’ll pass 😂

[@renparsons4826]

I felt exactly the same about the wasp factory but was never able to put my finger on why but you’ve summed it up perfect. The theme of the book is disturbing but I think that the lack of details on the disturbing aspects within the book plays down this aspect.

[@conniemartinez3173]

💀 thank you for introducing me to splatterpunk genre!

[@sahara0]

For more disturbing horror recommendation I so recommend To Be Devoured. It’s about a woman that’s obsessed with vultures and it spirals from there.

[@The-Shadow-Realm]

So I’m a Professional Historian (I was a Combat Historian in the Army prior) - and I primarily focus on German History to 1945, as well as US History - both through the military, social, and political historical lenses. So, I’m regularly around dark topics and materials. With that said - the two fiction books that ever truly got to me (and which I love for how engaging they are, albeit) are “The Rising” and “City of the Dead” by Brian Keene. Like, they’re both amazingly written and highly original - but they hit harder than most grim and dark nonfiction history books and articles I read on a daily basis. I’d highly recommend reading those to start with, as well as some of his other works like “Urban Gothic” - but be warned: they are not for the feint of heart.

[@mikey4056]

I'm a huge fan of disturbing books! It's pretty much one of the only genres I read until I feel as though I need a break. I find the psychology behind them so interesting and anything that can illicit a visible reaction in me is always a good sign! The grimmer the better 😈

[@wadejohnston4305]

If ghost story is a "disturbing" book my name Timbleberry. I live the book it's one of my favorite books but I've read many books that are actually disturbing imo.

[@lorenamunguia-cortez9368]

Yay I have Any Man from my library and can't wait to hear what you think! Also I love the length of this video! 🙌

[@goonymiami]

The tone of "the wasp factory" is of a kid who got confinded in a remote place all his life. It might not be the most pleasant but it is respectful of the character. Now for the story it is quite strange. I don't hate it nor love it. But i am glad i read it. Your criticism reminds me of "blindness" where i thought the author could not stick to his characters personalities and kept giving his own voice to them. So you could see all his characters having philosophical or fancy monologues no matter their level of intelligence. And as cute as the prose was, it annoyed me. So i think that very simple tone to represent a simple minded psychopatic kid is necessary.

[@brendakay9018]

Ghost story is not disturbing . It is, however, a great story and a fantastic movie so please watch it. I just finished gone to see the riverman. If anybody ask me what the book was about I would say narcissism. I also would only give it three out of five stars. Exquisite corpse is on my TBR. I have heard a lot about the WASP factory and a lot of mixed reviews

[@M.elissa.M]

Omgoodness Ashley this was a an awesome video! I DNF’d Ghost Story also. It was too long and boring. I feel like it could have been a lot shorter. I put Gone to See the River Man on my TBR because I am intrigued and one of my favorite books is The Fisherman (which I read because of you 🙂). I put Exquisite Corpse on too because man oh man you sold it even though I know you weren’t trying to 😂. I promise I won’t tell anyone you recommended it hahahah! 💀

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Hahah thanks, Melissa! Good luck 😅🤣

[@angelamassey4232]

So whenever I read a disturbing book I always follow it up with a either a trashy pulp horror (usually something from the 80's or 90's with mutant animals) or a cozy mystery ( I'm looking at you M. C. Beaton) . It's like that bottle of water with aspirin after a long night of drinking.

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

😂

[@mattthepageturner9128]

exquisite corpse was my favorite book i read last year just because of the visceral experience i had with it, i will never forget this one

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

It is truly unforgettable, that’s for sure

[@johnsaxongitno4life588]

I am really really excited about watching this video and seeing what they suggested for you to read as i love horror books 📚 please stay safe and enjoy your reading love your family friend John prayers and thoughts for you and your family love John xxxx

[@jennainman7657]

This was awesome!

[@mccaggers1032]

Any Man is incredible. I listened to it on audio and it was a really powerful experience. Highly recommended.

[@JonVlogs123]

Nice vlog. 😎👍

[@meinfulleffect]

Thank you for this video! Top notch as always! 💀

[@lapislazuli2719]

💀💀 I love me some disturbing horror books but I need long pauses after reading a good amount of them. It’s usually interesting concepts that make for a thrilling read but the constant themes of misery just gets to you lol

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Haha I’m still in the stretch of reading dark stuff right now but I totally get to that point too where I need the warm light fuzzies to counteract the darkness 😂

[@lindabyers4557]

These books all sound like a colossal waste of my time. Thanks for curating them for me. 💀🙅😊

[@ReadingWryly]

“I’m scared of myself now” 😂 Okay I’m definitely picking up Exquisite Corpse.

[@emmaribena5529]

Now I know why these 'disturbing book' recommendations don't disturb me. I read Exquisite Corpse when I was 17 (many, many moons ago) and it started a Poppy Z Brite obsession. I bought ALL her books as she released them, even got signed copies. Gutted I gave them all away to a complete stranger.

[@Vicky-tp8nz]

Love your recommendations 💀

[@GwendolynKensinger]

I love your reaction to that last book 😂 no I haven’t read it and I’m fearful to. When I read The Girl Next Door earlier this month during Summerween I was sorta stuck for days with my head spinning 😵‍💫💀

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

I am avoiding that one at all costs

[@theanthem0ftheangels]

@@ashleyslittlelibrary it made me feel every negative emotion. Terrible 😭 the fact that a lot of the things actually happened is so much worse

[@CookiesNMilf]

In my personal opinion, every single one of these books is SO unbelievably tame and like a book you’d read in high school or for a teenager compared to Transgressive Fiction that I prefer to read that borders on pornography and gore porn almost (I like really dark and fucked up shit that makes me question my own sanity and makes me say “what the fuck” lol) it would be extremely interesting for you to read some more “darker topics” There’s and amazing channel on KZbin called Plauged by Visions that covers some of the most fucked up books EVER WRITTEN and the material inside those covers is stuff that should honestly get people put on a watchlist. The book Any Man that you reviewed in this reminded me of a book called Tampa, it’s about a woman who targets males BUT they are 14 year old boys and she’s their 20-something teacher. To put it simply, it’s basically a guide on how to groom and molest young boys. I read it once. Never ever again. I don’t understand how something like that was even conceived or published.

[@NFK8]

It's weird because I blew through Exquisite Corpse. Loved it. But I couldn't finish River Man when I got to the disturbing part. It was too much to stomach.

[@garysscaryfaeries3046]

💀 i read to about the same place as you with the wasp factory, i agree 100% with what you said. Off season and offspring by Jack Ketchum i read this morning, they are kind of disturbing but no worse than Tender is the flesh. A girl next door is brutal but reading the actual events of the crime is way worse. Firefly by Piers Anthony, i dont really know what to say, as ive never heard or want to hear again the description of CSA he uses. In and of itself the book isnt disturbing but this one characters story is very disturbing. Cheers from co Galway Ireland 🇮🇪

[@jackieb325]

Ghost Story was a good movie for it's time. I haven't seen it since. I never read it, but I can't see it being considered a disturbing story.

[@jessicahurl5791]

I just read gone to see the river man. I enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll check out Exquisite Corpse lol.

[@meg659]

I'm intrigued by Any Man because I've followed Amber Tamblyn for years, she's a feminist, poet, actress. I saw she wrote this but I didn't know what it was about.

[@coreyledin-bristol7068]

I also DNF'd The Wasp Factory, which I felt stupid for doing since it is so short. But my gawd it was boring. The author is trying too hard to be "artistic " in the writing. It comes across as tedious and pretentious. This isn't Ulysses. It's supposed to be a horror novella. Just tell the story

[@books-on-a-wire]

I have so many of these on my shelves but have been too afraid to pick them up. I did really enjoy Gone to See the River Man if one can say "enjoy."

[@trishee7625]

This was a GREAT video.

[@ddakota333]

God now I’m so upset I didn’t pick up exquisite corpse the other day 😭

[@amandaelizondo3309]

I read the wasp factory and finished it in 1 hour I thought it was good reading style I thought was rather easy but was definitely a one time read lol

[@erinh2242]

First of all I love your channel I just found your videos today I am a new subscriber please please please read my favorite mystery thriller book ever my sweet girl by amanda jayatissa basically it’s about a girl who gets adopted from Sri Lanka and then years later her roommate gets murdered it’s so good that’s all I can say without spoiling any of it please read it😍📕💖

[@vampirekeeley]

I’ve been so interested in Exquisite Corpse 💀

[@notnatural5781]

I read the wasp factory some months ago, it has some interesting commentary but I didn't find it that disturbing, so it was average for me

[@ReadingWryly]

Ooh. That intro to The Wasp Factory is a huge turnoff for me too. Also, randomly, I DETEST the word “clambered” 🤢Don’t ask why. I don’t know. I just hate it.

[@Priscilla_Bettis]

I like to read disturbing horror books with a positive theme or a reason behind what happened, not just gratuitous stuff. Like Michaelbrent Collings' Stranger series or Jack Ketchum's Red.💀

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

I think that’s what I’m looking for too!

[@sahara0]

Reading The Wasp Factory was a miserable experience…complicated for no reason even with the book being so repetitive too. And plain boring.

[@dianalarosa706]

You know, I had the wasp factory on TBR list, it is now off my TBR list after you read the beginning of the book. LMFAO. I'm sad because it does sound like an interesting book but once you started reading the beginning...I was automatically like, oh no i'll skip this one LMFAO

[@ChelseyK919]

I’m 85 pages into any man and I’m loving it so much. I love the writing style. Love the mixed media. Can’t put it down

[@amandaredd3057]

Amber Tamblyn wrote a horror book? Interesting...

[@michelepastele5347]

Thanks - i hope to avoid splatter punk - ever!

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Probably a good choice 😅😂

[@KristinKravesBooks]

Is that the same Amber Tamblyn who was in the Sisterhood of Travelling Pants adaptation? Interesting! I'm newer to horror and haven't really tried disturbing horror yet. It's seems like Any Man might be a good one to start with!

[@cindymoran1611]

Yes the actress

[@KristinKravesBooks]

@@cindymoran1611 I didn't realize she was a writer but it makes sense!

[@ruthypoo2675]

Yes, Amber Tamblyn known to most of us as the lead actor in the opening sequence of The Ring! Also, she’s married to David Cross of Arrested Development, so quite an interesting and entertaining home life, I’m sure. 🎭

[@SnackThatSmilesBacktm]

i'm so confused lol arent all horror books disturbing?

[@sharaththallapally5208]

💀 Disturbing books aren't my thing but I watch disturbing movies/tv 😄

[@sandygray3959]

💀

[@exoxophanie4363]

I had the exact same experience with The Wasp Factory. It was boring and very strangely written. I couldn't connect with anything. I feel like I'm missing out on something, but I keep trying and giving up on it. Just started Gone to see the river man, and I'm absolutely loving it.

[@alison4dice]

☠️

[@robinthornton8282]

Thanks for the warning on The Exquisite Corpse, I just got a copy of it a few days ago. I'm going to enter this carefully as I am a victim of sexual abuse from some of my family. I hope I have the desire for church as she says. I feel guilty reading this kind of stuff and not reading the Bible instead. Maybe this is what I need to turn the corner. I have read a lot about the holocaust and that strengthened my desire to be closer to my Maker. That is true life horror. Unforgettable and unforgiving horror upon a religion or race, however you want to call it, that any one of us could have been born into. We don't get to choose where we're going to go when we are born, think about that if you want to see someone else as inferior to yourself. That could have been you!

[@Derbauer]

💀 "wtf did I just read", is exactly what I want on my tbr. There is a 'disturbing books iceberg' that I highly suggest you search on KZbin. It will just give you an idea of what's out there.thanks for the video. Btw, I collect a lot of books, but they just end up on my kindle and real shelves 😆🤣

[@abbym3305]

💀💀❤️

[@elianaroman9826]

💀💀💀

[@ashlei89]

💀💀💀💀

[@steveandcristajohnson9841]

Ghost Story was pretty boring.

[@Msangiewow]

💀💙💀💙

[@annedixon7609]

Ghost story sucks. I’ve never been able to get into it

[@GothicBookLover]

I don't understand the title of your video... because no one can make you read or do anything you don't want to do.

[@suzy8109]

I am shocked that the most disturbing horror book in this reading blog was written be a woman. I don't know why, but I always expect the most disturbing horror to be written my male authors ... the readership of this genre is mostly male in my personal experience.

[@tayQTpi]

Disturbing horror - The Black Farm by Elias Witherow 🫣

[@heatherduke4545]

💀

[@Jayden-gq8he]

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[@amandastafford9992]

💀💀💀

[@chickennuggies8655]

💀💀💀💀

[@SuzieQX2]

💀

[@jevensg]

💀

[@randomsmurf268]

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[@sanjanapreetham1638]

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[@marydarlenesardan3905]

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[@marlenerichardson4429]

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[@Devi15]

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[@liz248]

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[@nickw5933]

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