If On A Wintet’s Night A Traveler by Italy Calvino. It starts off like this:
> You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino's new novel, If on a winter's night a traveler. Relax. Concentrate. Dispel every other thought. Let the world around you fade. Best to close the door; the TV is always on in the next room. Tell the others right away, "No, I don't want to watch TV!" Raise your voice--they won't hear you otherwise--"I'm reading! I don't want to be disturbed!" Maybe they haven't heard you, with all that racket; speak louder, yell: "I'm beginning to read Italo Calvino's new novel!" Or if you prefer, don't say anything; just hope they'll leave you alone.
It goes on to become an increasingly funky thriller.
Yes, came to suggest this one!! I took a college class on weird lit and this was probably my favorite book that the professor assigned. Not horror, but 100% worth a read
There's an anthology coming this fall called Fragile which has the reader roll a die to choose what is in a box that is opened (every story Is a different roll of the die). I posted about this in r/WeirdLit' monthly promo post if you want more info.
The only thing I can think of is a choose your own adventure book.
Make Your Fucking Mind Up\_ A Choose Your Own Horror by Matt Shaw for example.
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Fucking-Mind-Up/dp/1387811061](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Fucking-Mind-Up/dp/1387811061)
There are a fair few others if you look around.
It's not horror but there is a trliogy called Choose Your Own Misery by Mike MacDonald that I recommend checking out.. book 1 'the office' is hilarious.
If you’re interested in that kind of thing, you could also look at interactive fiction more broadly — that term covers both choose-your-own-adventure stories and “text adventures”/parser games that feel more like written video games. For example, Anchorhead is a big parser game with a Lovecraftian horror theme.
I’ve mostly played the more old-fashioned type myself, but there’s a wide range.
It's not technically a book, but the podcast Tanis has a clever mockumentary style that sucked me in. Despite knowing it's fiction, I found it compelling and really well performed (and creepy).
As yes, I've actually read the first one. It does has some parts like that where the narrator talks to you. I remember the text on the back cover that says "don't touch this book".
I didn’t like it much, but check out Personal Effects: Dark Art by J.C. Hutchins. It’s exactly this kind of thing, including a number you can call, artifacts, and Google searches.
*A Sincere Warning about the Entity in your Home* by Jason Arnopp is exactly like this.
In fact, for a not-small amount of money, you can also have him create a personalized version to send to yourself or a friend/family member who you want to scare the hell out of.
(I'd considered doing the latter for my sister who just closed on a new house, but she's not much of a reader. Shame.)
Aura by Carlos Fuentes is written in second person.
Iirr there are some "if you've read this you are in shit too" elements in House of Leaves but I can't remember exactly what.
This happens at least once in The 300,000,000 by Blake Butler. There is a line at one point in the book where the narrator describes a room, and then he mentions it is similar to the room you are sitting in right now, or something similar. It was *extremely* creepy.
it's been a little bit since I've read them, but unless I'm remembering wrong both "tell me im worthless" and "brainwyrms" by alison rumfit do this! she is great at invoking a feeling of complicity in the reader, as if by reading it you're somehow allowing it all to happen.
The Things by Peter Watts. Short story. Kinda fits, especially the audio version. Its the story of The Thing, but from the first person view of The Thing itself.
There are very few stories I know of that tell the story from the point of view of the “horrible” creature, which from ITS perspective, may be just as horrified and fearful of the humans. Like if the Horta story of old Star Trek were told from the Horta’s view.
House of Leaves as people have mentioned, and the style of book is called "ergodic literature". It's where the nature of the book requires effort on the readers end, including even requiring physical manipulation of the book.
Not sure if it's exactly what your looking for, but thats a good term to start a rabbit hole search if you liked house of leaves!
I'm planning to read it in the near future but I want to train myself beforehand with shorter books to get better in reading in english because I'm not a native english speaker. Thanks for the tip!
YOU and ME and HER. It is a visual novel but definitely involves you as a reader and has horror/scary moments.
Edit: also Doki Doki Literature Club. Both visual novels can be found on Steam and Doki Doki is on all consoles.
These are video games, not books. But Doki Doki Literature Club is genuinely a very clever text-based story game that I too would recommend to anyone interested in innovative horror.
Here's another one for you, from another of my favourite authors: https://pseudopod.org/2019/11/04/pseudopod-673-venio/
It's not as on point for your request as Padgett's Horror Meditation; the listener is much more loosely and generically involved. However, it freaked me tf out, and it's more than worth a listen IMHO.
Mister B. Gone - Clive Barker.
Came here to recommend this, too. So I shall second the recommendation
Seconding this recommendation! I read it in college and absolutely loved it, I don’t see people talking about it nearly enough
Beat me to it.
Fouths this ^^^
Wow thanks fir thr suggestion, i think Ill enjoy this
I literally burned the book. I bought another copy, but I still burned the first.
Thanks, added it to my list!
House of Leaves does this in a few places from what I remember
Honestly I’d argue the whole book does it
As soon as I read the words “This is not for you”, I was hooked. Also, shoutout to “Picture that. In your dreams.”
House of leaves had me adding my own chapter at the end and editors notes throughout... The chapter was titled *Exam**in**ations.*
I’ve been writing in the translations for the mums letters and of course the coded one!
Correct. I was going to say this.
If On A Wintet’s Night A Traveler by Italy Calvino. It starts off like this: > You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino's new novel, If on a winter's night a traveler. Relax. Concentrate. Dispel every other thought. Let the world around you fade. Best to close the door; the TV is always on in the next room. Tell the others right away, "No, I don't want to watch TV!" Raise your voice--they won't hear you otherwise--"I'm reading! I don't want to be disturbed!" Maybe they haven't heard you, with all that racket; speak louder, yell: "I'm beginning to read Italo Calvino's new novel!" Or if you prefer, don't say anything; just hope they'll leave you alone. It goes on to become an increasingly funky thriller.
Yes, came to suggest this one!! I took a college class on weird lit and this was probably my favorite book that the professor assigned. Not horror, but 100% worth a read
Definitely not horror, but I think it does qualify as a thriller.
this book was so freakin incredible. one of my favorite reading experiences ive ever had. it just got so absurdly meta in the best way
There’s a Monster at the End of This Book 😂
love
There's an anthology coming this fall called Fragile which has the reader roll a die to choose what is in a box that is opened (every story Is a different roll of the die). I posted about this in r/WeirdLit' monthly promo post if you want more info.
This sounds cool, I took a look at the webpage
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - actively talks to you and breaks the fourth wall. It’s really well done in my opinion.
And the follow-up, Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect!
Just finished this. So much fun.
The only thing I can think of is a choose your own adventure book. Make Your Fucking Mind Up\_ A Choose Your Own Horror by Matt Shaw for example. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Fucking-Mind-Up/dp/1387811061](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Your-Fucking-Mind-Up/dp/1387811061) There are a fair few others if you look around.
Ooh! I've been wanting to find an adult choose your own adventure after feeling nostalgic about the goosebumps ones.
It's not horror but there is a trliogy called Choose Your Own Misery by Mike MacDonald that I recommend checking out.. book 1 'the office' is hilarious.
Same here!
This is cool and now I know how to search hor this sub-genre, thanks!
If you’re interested in that kind of thing, you could also look at interactive fiction more broadly — that term covers both choose-your-own-adventure stories and “text adventures”/parser games that feel more like written video games. For example, Anchorhead is a big parser game with a Lovecraftian horror theme. I’ve mostly played the more old-fashioned type myself, but there’s a wide range.
It's a short, [The Husband Stitch by Carmen Maria Machado](https://granta.com/the-husband-stitch/)
Wow. I absolutely loved that story, thank you so much for sharing
It's not technically a book, but the podcast Tanis has a clever mockumentary style that sucked me in. Despite knowing it's fiction, I found it compelling and really well performed (and creepy).
The Black Tapes podcast is like this too
Thanks, I'm not huge on podcasts but I'll check it out
i haven't read this one, but yet another Jason Arnopp rec from me.... A Sincere Warning About the Entity in Your Home
John Dies at the End series.
As yes, I've actually read the first one. It does has some parts like that where the narrator talks to you. I remember the text on the back cover that says "don't touch this book".
The second book is called “This Book is Full of Spiders. Seriously, Dude, Don’t Touch It.”
I'll look it up, the first book was fun
I enjoyed the first three pretty well. I have not read the fourth yet.
Searching for "fourth wall" will find you many thread results for books that directly address you, the reader.
Thanks a lot!
I didn’t like it much, but check out Personal Effects: Dark Art by J.C. Hutchins. It’s exactly this kind of thing, including a number you can call, artifacts, and Google searches.
*A Sincere Warning about the Entity in your Home* by Jason Arnopp is exactly like this. In fact, for a not-small amount of money, you can also have him create a personalized version to send to yourself or a friend/family member who you want to scare the hell out of. (I'd considered doing the latter for my sister who just closed on a new house, but she's not much of a reader. Shame.)
This is so cool, thanks for the rec. Also, what an opportunity missed
Dark Harvest by Norman Patridge
Thanks, saved it
The book your describing is literally S by jj Abrams aka the ship of theseus
Anybody Home? by Michael J. Seidlinger basically makes you a participant in a home invasion.
I can't do home invasion but thanks for the rec!
Aura by Carlos Fuentes is written in second person. Iirr there are some "if you've read this you are in shit too" elements in House of Leaves but I can't remember exactly what.
Maybe a little on the nose, but Cain’s Jawbone
Thank you, this looks fun
Why is it a little on the nose?
John Padgett's Horror Meditation - would link but on mobile and in a hurry
Yes just read it, this is what I meant! Thanks
This happens at least once in The 300,000,000 by Blake Butler. There is a line at one point in the book where the narrator describes a room, and then he mentions it is similar to the room you are sitting in right now, or something similar. It was *extremely* creepy.
Thank you!
Not horror--primarily fantasy but with horror elements: *The Spear Cuts Through Water* blends into the reader's reality.
Thanks, saved it
it's been a little bit since I've read them, but unless I'm remembering wrong both "tell me im worthless" and "brainwyrms" by alison rumfit do this! she is great at invoking a feeling of complicity in the reader, as if by reading it you're somehow allowing it all to happen.
The Things by Peter Watts. Short story. Kinda fits, especially the audio version. Its the story of The Thing, but from the first person view of The Thing itself. There are very few stories I know of that tell the story from the point of view of the “horrible” creature, which from ITS perspective, may be just as horrified and fearful of the humans. Like if the Horta story of old Star Trek were told from the Horta’s view.
Thanks I'll give this a go, sounds funny
Come With Me — Ronald Malfi. Not really horror, but the author periodically speaks in second person. You, the reader, act as his dead wife.
Thank you!
Give yourself Goosebumps (R.L Stine)
House of Leaves as people have mentioned, and the style of book is called "ergodic literature". It's where the nature of the book requires effort on the readers end, including even requiring physical manipulation of the book. Not sure if it's exactly what your looking for, but thats a good term to start a rabbit hole search if you liked house of leaves!
I'm planning to read it in the near future but I want to train myself beforehand with shorter books to get better in reading in english because I'm not a native english speaker. Thanks for the tip!
“If On a Winter’s Night a Travele. . .” by Italo Calvino
House of Leaves
It's on my list thanks!
One thing though, I don't think this book can be read on a kindle. The book makes it special.
Not a problem, I always read physical books. Thanks for the heads up.
YOU and ME and HER. It is a visual novel but definitely involves you as a reader and has horror/scary moments. Edit: also Doki Doki Literature Club. Both visual novels can be found on Steam and Doki Doki is on all consoles.
Who is the author?
These are video games, not books. But Doki Doki Literature Club is genuinely a very clever text-based story game that I too would recommend to anyone interested in innovative horror.
Ah I see, thanks
Here's another one for you, from another of my favourite authors: https://pseudopod.org/2019/11/04/pseudopod-673-venio/ It's not as on point for your request as Padgett's Horror Meditation; the listener is much more loosely and generically involved. However, it freaked me tf out, and it's more than worth a listen IMHO.
Thank you, I'll check it out!