Book Blogger Confessions - Scary Books!!!

Twice a month, Karen at For What It's Worth and Midnyte Reader host a meme called Book Blogger Confessions.  It's a good opportunity to have some thought-provoking conversations, which I always appreciate.

This week's question is:  Happy Halloween!  Do you like to read scary books? Why or why not?  If so, what is the scariest book you ever read and why does it deserve that honor?

Bonus question:  Have you ever dressed as a literary character for Halloween?

I DO read scary books from time to time, although I don't read them on a regular basis any more.  I did go through a phase when I was about 10, and read a lot of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker and John Saul.   I think Stephen King is the only one that I still read, and re-read.

I like a good psychological thriller from time to time, as opposed to something more on the horror end of the scale.  Scary books can give an adrenaline rush, and really get my imagination going, which is fun.  What I think it interesting is how different readers define "scary" --- for some people, it can be something with monsters, and lots of gore.  For others, it can be something post-apocalyptic, where the world, itself, is frightening.

I think one of my favorite scary books is The Stand by Stephen King --- I find the idea of a flu killing off most of the world to be scary, and King also adds in some pretty scary characters, as well.   In fact, that's something I like in a lot of King's more recent books, like The Stand, Misery, and Bag of Bones -- there are unpredictable, scary people.   And don't think I'm going to leave out King's super-scary book, It.   After all, how do you top a creepy clown and something that lives in the sewers and tries to snatch you away?   Chills.

Death

Bonus question answer:  Yes.  One year, when I was in my early 20s, I dressed up as Death, from Neil Gaiman's Sandman graphic novels, and went out clubbing with friends.  Sorry, no pictures.  It was an easy costume, especially since I wear black clothes most of the time, and just required a wig and some makeup.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the other scary books people list for this Confession!