Welcome to Litsy!

While I enjoy a thriller, classic horror and “scary” books, I refuse to read a book that is filled with graphic and intense violence and physical abuse.
This story of a serial killer is the one and only book that I deliberately decided not to finish.

#leastfavegenre #bookbinge

I wanted something shocking, and this absolutely delivered. A short read, and writing style takes a little time to get used to. But I‘m astounded at how well Joyce Carol Oates wrote the mind of a sex-obsessed serial killer. It‘s jarring, how believable her writing is here.

Also, I can 1000% see Jeffrey Dahmer in this story, especially after seeing the Netflix show.

Thank you so much for the recommendation @tjwill - I was truly horrified by this!

Got until May 1st to figure out enough ways to say "it's boring" to fill a book club.

4-18-22: My 37th finished book of 2022! I really didn‘t enjoy this one. The subject matter is disturbing. We are in the mind of Quentin P. He is on probation for sexual misconduct with a minor. He is trying to find someone to be his “zombie”. Someone who will do his bidding without complaint. While being a caretaker for a boarding house, he comes up with deviant plans to achieve his goal. Not my favorite Oates novel. ⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣7️⃣

This was very disturbing. This won the 1995 Bram Stoker Award for best novel and I can see why. Oates based this off Jeffrey Dahmer. The whole book we‘re inside the mind of serial killer Quentin P. who just wants to make someone into his own personal zombie. This was on par with Jack Ketchum for me. I will be reading more Oates. Sidenote- this is my first library book in over a decade. Which is funny because when I opened this book, I thought👇🏼

In your hehhhheaddd in your heeheheheaaaaad
Zahombie…….. lol, Happy reading this Saturday morning Littens.

Another creepy, Dahmer inspired work. While it still had its gorey moments, this one seemed focused more on streams of consciousness, how they changed while the character was on different substances, and in relaying his past crimes and planning his next.

Very good but so intense!!

More replenishment for my #Horror Display 👻 🧟‍♂️!

Have you read any of these?!

#LitsyLovesLibraries #MrBooksDisplays

I‘ve got time for one more horror/scary/creepy book before #Halloween so I‘m diving in.

This novel goes inside the head of a fictional serial killer, but it‘s based on notorious real-life killer Jeffery Dahmer. And while JCO is super hit or miss for me, I really love what she did in her reimaginings of Marilyn Monroe and Jonbenet Ramsey, so I‘m pumped.

#octoberxfiles

The ONLY book that I ever chose not to finish! The descriptions of the murders by a serial killer based on real life murderer, Jeffrey Dahmer, were more than I could bear! #zombie #octoberxfiles

Oates succeeds brilliantly in getting inside the head of her Dahmeresque serial killer narrator, and if her intention was to de-glamourise the myth of the serial killer I think she is to be applauded. Q is a repulsive, deluded loser whose presence we quit with a shudder of relief. Some fairly graphic and stomach-churning scenes of male rape and torture. Not really my sort of thing but I can admire the skill with which she brings it off.

A highly disturbing book - it put me off my lunch today.
Oates‘ not-so-fictional take on Jeffrey Dahmer, this book puts you inside the mind of a psychopath. The drawings were particularly eerie, reminding me of things I‘d read/seen in Psych classes/in internships.
I‘m left wondering... if Quentin (Dahmer) had been allowed to explore his sexuality with no judgment, no guilt, would things have turned out differently for everyone?

A quick (and disturbing) morning read thanks to #ravenmail postal book club!

I had no idea what this short novel would be about, as I didn‘t read the synopsis and just started reading. It is fast-paced and a fascinating look into the writing mind of Joyce Carol Oates. She wrote one of my favorite novels of 2017, and I am beginning to see a trend with her and I like it. A lot.

If you want to be swept away by a sociopathic serial killer, dig in.

Bloody sweet score! Thanks @Cupofjo for #MyBloodyValentine package! 💕 I was very excited about the Zombie book by Joyce Carol Oates since it‘s been recommended to me my another Litten. My dad really liked Wool, so I‘m happy to get a copy of it! I love the mug Zombie Defense Vaccine/Contains AntiVirus/In the event of contamination/ingest contents! 😂 I‘ve wanted to try Death Wish 💀 coffee so I‘m pretty stoked about it too! (Continued in comments)

RIP Dolores O‘Riordan of The Cranberries. No woman ever had a voice like hers singing Zombie. Sob.

Creepy, disturbing, and unputdownable, JCO gets into the mind of a psychopath and lays his voice upon the page. This is masterful and horrifying in a freezer-worthy way. Extremely graphic in places (including some diagrams), this is not for the faint of heart.

I'm trying very hard to complete the #LitsyReadingChallenge and the #LitsyAtoZ , so I read this for #LRC4 and #LetterZ Not sure if I liked it necessarily, but it was disturbingly interesting. An interesting take on the mind of a serial killer.

I am a fan of Joyce Carol Oates, but this book was beyond anything that I could stomach. Based on the real serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, It is the only book I DNF. When I saw today's prompt for #septembowie, I decided to use it for both yesterday's and today's prompt. #icantread #scarymonstersandsupercreeps

Today in incongruous book snacks....

Best use of cargo pants? I think so.

I am one of those readers who feels an obligation to the author to finish what I start. This was the only book that broke my code. I have loved other books by the author and was privileged to hear her speak at a local book store. Based on a true story of a serial killer. Extremely dark. #dangeroustype #rockinmay #notmycupoftea #knowthyself

#maybookflowers Day 11 Zombie is on my TBR. I have been walking around with Zombie in my head today. #musicaltitles

🎶In your head
In your head
Zombie zombie zombie ei ei🎶

#rockinmay day 8: #zombie. I am not a big fan of zombies (though I love The Walking Dead), but I read this book many years ago and was thoroughly creeped out. Spoiler alert: no actual zombies in this one.

#zombie ... Sadly, we didn't have any cranberries to put in the picture.
#rockinMay

@Cinfhen

I don't have any books with orange cov...oh. #OrangeYouGlad

I am afraid of Joyce Carol Oates. How did she ever think to write such a disturbing story? It's as if we were watching the most frightening Criminal Minds episode exclusively from the point of view of the obviously deranged stalker/serial killer/rapist and could not turn off the television. I am still shivering. And yet, I really liked this book.

You never know what you'll find inside a book bought at The Salvation Army store. Can anyone make out the last four words?

Found my #LitsyAtoZ #Z #LetterZ
I've never read anything by Joyce Carol Oates but have been wanting to.

How did I miss this class????? 🙃😂⛑🏹🏃🏼‍♀️🔪⛏🗡⚔️💣🔦✂️☑️🕛

I can't believe I haven't talked about this #OneWordTitle.

Easily the scariest book I've ever read (I also read this one for a class in college...God, I miss college). Oates sat in on Jeffrey Dahmer's trial, and this book is largely based on him. If you're interested in serial killers, I highly recommend. Just don't read it at night.

#RiotGrams

I came across this older novel by Joyce Carol Oates. Terrifying. ("Bunny gloves!") Someday I must see the immensely talented Thomas Caruso's film adaptation.

So creepy, so disturbing, and so good!

I'm really enjoying this book, and it's such a horrible book that it almost feels wrong to do so. The style of writing is PERFECT for the narrator though, so I can pretend that's what I like about it. And this quote is just true in general.

Last day of our holiday on Crete, new book. This one seems promising, but then so did Ghost Story...