Looking for a good, twisted book to read?

Question

I dunno why, but I'm in the mood for something surreal. I'm thinking of something along the lines of Stephen King's Dark Tower series, though it doesn't necessarily have to have that fantasy element. I'm looking for something that is a little bit twisted (but not gratuitously morbid) and has that element of the surreal or fantastical to it. Any suggestions? I want to be captivated. Please help!

I forgot to add, please provide the name and author (author's not as necessary) and please, PLEASE provide a brief synopsis of the storyline and maybe what makes it so good (without spoiling it). Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Almost Anything by H.P. Lovecraft. He's very bizzare.

Answer 2

I loved the Dark Tower series too.

Actually the last thing that I read that held my fascination like that was the Left Behind series (14 books by Tim La Haye and Jerry Jenkins). Now I must tell that I generally do not read Christian fiction, even though I am a Christian and have a masters of theology. Frankly I find most of it hokey and stupid.

This series was very well written, good drama, a little erie. And was a decent interpretation of the book of Revelation to boot.

The movies are pretty decent too. My daughter who is 15, is a person that I could never get to open a bible. She is hooked on the series. I think that says a lot. Her usual favorite genre is more like Stephen King, btw.

Hope that helps.
-Vic

Answer 3

Hmmm...anything by Christopher Moore fits the bill. I think his middle name is Twisted. His books are modern fantasies and outrageously funny, yet deep.

Try reading his latest book, "A Dirty Job," first. Brief synopsis: Charlie Asher, a hapless San Francisco thrift shop owner is recruited to become a soul collector for the Scythe Wielder himself, Death right after the birth of his first child. As his well-organized world begins to go wrong, Charlie discovers things about death and life that he never expected. And when he inherits new supernatural enemies with his new position, he finds he must do everything he can to protect the ones he loves.

This book was great because there were times when I couldn't help laughing out loud. It's certainly twisted, most definitely a good read.

Answer 4

Well, I've never read Stephen King's Dark Tower series, but I think the book "Sleeping Beauty" by Philip Margolin is a great, captivating book (although I'm not quite sure this is what you are looking for). It's a story about a girl whose father and best friend get murdered, and the killer goes after her - very suspenseful!

Answer 5

Just about anything by Piers Anthony. The Xanth series is awesome, and you don't really have to read them in order. There are twenty-something books in the series. Also, his Incarnations books (Bearing an Hourglass, With a Twisted Skein, On a Pale Horse, Being a Green Mother) are incredible. I got goosebumps SO many times reading them.

Answer 6

Try Dean Koontz.I love Door to december and the Odd Thomas books.But you may like 'Intensity.'Its a terrifying story.The heroine is visiting a friend when a psychopath breaks into the house and kills everyone.She could escape but then she learned about a girl the man keeps as a prisoner.She is determined to save her.Most of Koontz books have a supernatural element.You may also like 'Tick-tock.'

The door to december by Dean Koontz.A psychiatrist's daughter was kidnapped by her ex-husband years ago. When the daughter is finally found, the real fight begins. One by one the people who held her captive become mysteriously tortured and killed. Everyone is afraid the young girl will be next.

The mystery unravels as to what happened to the young girl while she was kidnapped. The young girl, Melanie, is unable to speak, but her mother soon learns that the young girl went through extreme torture as her father used her for a rat in his experiments.

Read both Odd thomas and Forever odd by Dean Thomas.These books are about Odd Thomas who see dead people and is compelled to solve crimes.

Answer 7

Have you read Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse, it's very screwed up - in a good way (the literary equivalent of a David Lynch's movie), but it's not really morbid or gorey,etc.if that's what you're looking for. Very surreal, very captivating, very twisted, and also a classical novel.

Answer 8

I am going to suggest something a little different that the others. It also doesnt exactly fit into your fantasy mold, at least not in a traditional way.

The novel is called Blood Maridian, and the author is Cormac McCarthy. It was an unusual book, and it has haunted me for years.

Answer 9

Well desperation by stephen king is good... (the movie sucked). Everything is eventual by stephen king, actually that a real good one it has alot of different short story by him and the first story is sooo scary. The1st story is where a man ends up on autopsy table. this book also has the story riding the bullet in it, which was on tv about a year or two ago.

Answer 10

It is more along the lines of a psychological thriller more than fantasy, but the weirdest book I have ever read was Stephen Gregory's "The Blood of Angels". It starts off kind of slow, but it keeps getting gets stranger & stranger as it goes along. I can guarantee you that you have not read anything even similar to this The synopsis does not do justice to it:

"Harry Clewe has had bad luck with a succession of women who shaped his life in bizarre ways, leaving him with evil impulses that his 'angel' tries to keep at bay."

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Answer 11

If you've read Stephen King then you're probably aware of Clive Barker. I don't like all of his stuff but 'Weaveworld' is very good, a twisted fantasy. Anything by Neil Gaiman is also recommended.