Shame on you!

deusExMachina · **Joined:** Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:34 pm **Posts:** 546

A few years ago I read an article on Writer's Digest where several writers talked about the books they were "ashamed" they had never read. If you had to answer that question, which book(s) would you admit not having read?

On a similar not which books or authors have you heard so much about that you just can't wait to try?

Me, I must admit I haven't read the horror classics (Dracula, Frankenstein). Most of the stuff I've read is modern although one author I try to seek out is H.G. Wells. Now that I found many of these titles on Librivox, it might be a chance to catch up.

Other stuff I've never read in my life are:

- The Dark Tower series
- Harry Potter

(none of these two really appeal to me, fantasy is just not my thing, especially 800 page fantasy)

- Lovecraft (shame on me)

Authors/books I'd like to try:

- Heart Shaped Box
- Dan Simmons (thanks to Matt)
- The Bleeding Season by Greg Gifune
- Robert McCammon

How about you?

Cesar

Mark Justice · **Joined:** Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:28 am **Posts:** 1683

I've been told the Potter books are good, but I've never had any interest in trying them.

I've at least sampled all the major horror, SF and mystery authors. My fantasy reading is woefully lacking. I generally lost interest in the genre when trilogies -- then multi-book series ala The Wheel of Time -- became all the rage.

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:18 pm

The list would be way too long for me, but for starters:

-I've never made it through any Stephen King novel (the ones I've tried to read took to long to get going, I would love to read IT, but its over a thousand pages and I could read like three other books in the time it would take me to read it. Loved the movie though!).
-I've never read Koontz either (mostly because he seems to write more science fiction rather than horror).
-I haven't read any old classic novel (before the 1980's that is) except for Dracula.
- I haven't read ant of The Harry Potter books either (just not interested, seems to be geared towards preteens).

And the list could go on. It dosen't really bother me that I haven't read them but my attention span can have difficulty reading storys that don't get off to a quick enough start.

Off the top of my head I can't think of one that I've heard alot about and still haven't read because I tend to look for books with certain themes more so than who wrote them. For instance, I'm a huge Ramsey Campbell fan, but I won't read any of his non-supernatural horror books because I want supernatural stuff going on in anything that I read.

deusExMachina · **Joined:** Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:34 pm **Posts:** 546

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:16 pm

Thanks for the advice, Cesar. I know that it is unheard of to be a big horror fan and not a big Stephen King fan. the hard part is I've seen and own most of his tv miniseries and movies, so I basically know how everything will turn out in his books. The only book I own is It, because of how much I loved the movie, but it's hard for me to commit the amount of time that it will take for me to finish it, when basically I already know the story. I do enjoy most of his movies though.

Kreep · **Joined:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:19 pm **Posts:** 237

Kreep · **Joined:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:19 pm **Posts:** 237

Interesting question, Cesar.

The author at the top of my "Shame List" has to be Ramsey Campbell (will someone who knows CPR please attend to Matt?). I think I've read a short or two by him, but no novels.

Others would include:
Dean Koontz - I've heard too many people who've hated his books for various reasons. I'm sure he's got a bunch I'd like, but since he's got like 8000, I figured it's too much of a crapshoot to risk it when my TBR pile is a mile high already.

Peter Straub - I've read a handful of short stories (Really liked "Pork Pie Hat"), but no novels...not even the ones with Stephen King.

Dan Simmons - I think I have one of his books kicking around here somewhere, but for some reason I've just never gotten around to him.

deusExMachina · **Joined:** Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:34 pm **Posts:** 546

Ramsey Campbell is also among the authors I want to try. I have read a couple stories of his on CD and I have one called Meeting the Author which I haven't read yet, but still haven't read any novels by him.

Cesar

ristow · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:27 pm

Lets see, I haven't read, at all, ...

Richard Laymon
Dan Simmons
or
Peter Straub

ristow · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:30 pm

or F. Paul Wilson

deusExMachina · **Joined:** Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:34 pm **Posts:** 546

I love F. Paul Wilson's short fiction. The Repairman Jack series is cool but for some reason I always find myself putting it aside momentarily for other stuff.

CPG

ristow · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:20 am

The scandal just continues, on my part.

I haven't read Ketchum.

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:10 pm

deusExMachina · **Joined:** Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:34 pm **Posts:** 546

Raven Bower · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:58 am

I haven't read:

- The Dark Tower series
- Harry Potter
- Most of King's newer books

I've been staying away from fantasy too (though I write it) because of the same thing - the series and page counts are getting way too high for my tastes. I like a good, straight forward 2 - 3 book set and that's it. But these tomes of 500 - 700 pages...and series reaching up to 10 - 15 books...not for me. So long as that remains the 'trend' I won't be reading much in that genre.

oldmanmike · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:04 pm

I've never read :

Frankenstein

Peter Straub (Well, Talisman does that count?)

Joe Hill

The Necroscope Series

Justice or Wilbanks

ristow · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:11 pm

I haven't read Necroscope either. I have the very first novel, but fat novels intimidate me, especially when they're by a writer I haven't read.

As for straub.... I think you can easily claim there are three best-selling horror entities out there, in that are books by

A) Stephen King

B) Peter Straub

and

C) Straub and King

The last one, as a collaboration, is one that can be safely assumed is neither straub nor king, but something in-between

Monty Grue · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:30 pm

Raven Bower · **Posted:** Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:58 am

Kreep · **Joined:** Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:19 pm **Posts:** 237

Shame on you!

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