Dec '18 *
I've always been an avid reader. I don't recall many times in my life where I didn't have a book in my hand. Back in high school, I recall the public library in my town was having a book sale. I noticed The Exorcist novel right away. I had already seen the movie. My dad was and still is a Sunday school teacher, so I had to sneak and rent the movie. The movie really freaked me out and still does to this day, but I really wanted to read the novel. So, I bought it.
As I was reading the book, I began to feel very uncomfortable. At the time, I thought it was just due to a creepy story, and good writing. Once finished, however, I found that I couldn't stand being in the same room with the book. I always felt like I was being watched, especially at night. It became too much for me and I finally threw the book away.
Later on, in my twenties, I bought the book once again. I figured now that I was older, I wouldn't have those stupid feelings of being watched. I was wrong. It was the same thing all over again. Sleepless nights, feelings of being watched, and this time the feeling was even stronger. I was always looking over my shoulder. Yet again, I threw the book away.
I'm writing this because I'm seriously thinking about purchasing the book for the third time, but I'm also nervous to own it once more. I honestly, don't think it was all in my head. The atmosphere around me just felt heavier.
Should I buy it for the third time? Have any of you ever owned something that had a similar effect on you?
I've always been an avid reader. I don't recall many times in my life where I didn't have a book in my hand. Back in high school, I recall the public library in my town was having a book sale. I noticed The Exorcist novel right away. I had already seen the movie. My dad was and still is a Sunday school teacher, so I had to sneak and rent the movie. The movie really freaked me out and still does to this day, but I really wanted to read the novel. So, I bought it.
As I was reading the book, I began to feel very uncomfortable. At the time, I thought it was just due to a creepy story, and good writing. Once finished, however, I found that I couldn't stand being in the same room with the book. I always felt like I was being watched, especially at night. It became too much for me and I finally threw the book away.
Later on, in my twenties, I bought the book once again. I figured now that I was older, I wouldn't have those stupid feelings of being watched. I was wrong. It was the same thing all over again. Sleepless nights, feelings of being watched, and this time the feeling was even stronger. I was always looking over my shoulder. Yet again, I threw the book away.
I'm writing this because I'm seriously thinking about purchasing the book for the third time, but I'm also nervous to own it once more. I honestly, don't think it was all in my head. The atmosphere around me just felt heavier.
Should I buy it for the third time? Have any of you ever owned something that had a similar effect on you?
My parents made a lot of ultimately unsuccessful attempts to stop me from my love of horror as a pre-teen, prohibiting/hiding various books/authors and so forth. I internalised it and gave a lot of books away to charity, which I really regret because I had a complete run of James Herbert up to '48 or so and a lot of the Pan Books of Horror, but it wasn't a personal discomfort matter so much.
Never rebought my Herbert or Pan collections, but my work gives me access to so much other vintage paperback (and even occasionally hardback, would you believe it?) horror I can't complain.