I just want to say, you speak so impressively eloquently about these books that are not easy to discuss in that manner. Excellent discussion and thought provoking content. Thank you!
Thank you so much for such kind and encouraging words! ❤️ And thank YOU for watching and commenting. Support like this is the reason I do this in the first place!
1st week watching your channel, love all of your content. Your book choices are very deeply thought out and I genuinely draw interest in the books I've never heard of - which is def cool. I actually laughed my ass off during your 'most disgusting reads' as you continued to pull books out of the trashcan that I have, lol. Awesome! One disagreement tho: your bookshelf has the creme dé la crem of transgressive/cult books. Odd that you'd put the skulls away after October. Actually, add more skulls. Ornamental mortality. Stay awesome.
Thank you so much! As you may have seen from my newest video, the skulls have stayed thanks to you! And I am so happy you’ve been enjoying the discussions on this channel! It is always so humbling hearing feedback like this. This kind of literature is a passion of mine, so I’m always happy to hear from others who have the same dedication or interests.
Added some of these to my TBR. The Water Cure sounds amazing. And I had heard about The Painted Bird, but wasn't sure what to expect. And you sold me on Left Hand, gonna hunt it down. Also, Rooftop Chris is so awesome!
The Painted Bird is an incredible work! Truly, I highly recommend it. Left Hand is a little harder to recommend, but it’s disturbing, it’s gay-can’t go wrong! 🤣 I agree, Rooftop is an amazing person!
It's been years since I read The Piano Teacher but I still remember the scene where she visits a peep show. I highly recommend the film adaptation if you haven't seen it yet! I love Michael Haneke's films and this one is probably one of my favourites of his.
The film is fantastic! It’s what made me want to read the book. I will say, I prefer the film, but the interiority and dizzying voice of the prose was its own kind of batshit crazy. I’ve only seen this, Funny Games, and Caché from Haneke, so if you recommend anything else by him, I’m down!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I also read the book after watching the film! In fact that might have been my first Haneke. Honestly, they're all well worth watching but if I could only recommend one it would be Time of the Wolf.
Juan talking about books: It is a story about this very fragile last thread of humanity that is traversing a world that is no longer welcoming, that is no longer sheltering. It is a tale of desperation, it is a tale of hanging onto hope. Hope is a prominent theme here Me talking about books: Yea it was good :| My mind is a potato.
Honestly, those reviews are just as good. 😂 I enjoy people’s raw enthusiasm about the things they need. I do wish I was more brief. It would make editing less of a nightmare 😳
I love this channel. I just watched this whole playlist. Since you are currently working on a video specifically about animals in fiction perhaps you can add the Richard Adams novels, Watership Down and The Plague Dogs. Watership Down is primarily marketed to children shockingly but it appeals to all ages with it's stark meditations on death and perseverance. The Plague Dogs is about two dogs that escape from an animal testing laboratory only to be hunted and demonized by the human society that tortured them.
Thank you so, so much for watching! I really appreciate the support, and glad to hear you enjoyed the series! I will absolutely be discussing Watership Down, and the Plague Dogs I hadn’t heard of, so I definitely need to look into that. Thanks again! Your words are much appreciated.
I’ve been giving a lot of extreme horror a try! I’ve read The Bighead by Edward Lee, Talia by Daniel Volpe, The Slob by Aron Beauregard, The Resurrectionist by Wrath James White. It has been… very hit and miss (mostly miss sadly). I do plan to read Along the Path of Torment by Morrison eventually!
I am new to your channel and I love how humble and open you are! I was brought up that much of what you are talking about is taboo and I really appreciate how safe and almost casual you talk about things that were brought to my understanding as scary and harmful. Out of your list I am looking forward the most to reading The Hand. As a Technical Writer I write processes all day long and so a disturbing book written in short processes sounds delightful!
Thank you so much, and what an insightful comment! You really made me realize perhaps why so many people enjoy this kind of content. I’m happy to provide a space where these things can be safely discussed. Haha, yes, I think Left Hand will prove interesting if you are conditioned to this style of writing!
I truly don’t think there’s a better comparison! My creativity is truly being put to the test trying to find a way to discuss him without being demonetized. 😂
I just want to thank you, Juan, for recommending Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica from your Most Disturbing Books video part 3. Tender is the Flesh is the most disturbing book I have ever read. There were several times I had to put the book down and take a breather, and I am like WTF, why is this effecting me so much? I think because it is so easy to visualize the transition between animal meat and human meat that is so realistically described in the book. Especially, for those of us familiar with the meat industry, it is not a happy thought, lol. Again, thank you so much for recommending Agustina Bazterrica, I look forward to seeing whatever else she writes.
Hey, John! So glad you enjoyed the Bazterrica novel! It is truly disconcerting how realistic it is. That’s always the most disturbing element in any form of art, I feel. I, too, await her next work!
I find myself zoning out listening to your videos while trying to see every title on your bookshelf background. This does not mean I am not paying attention (love this series, a college class on disturbing fiction) but as a avid reader and collector of horror books I love getting a peek into your collection. By far my favorite book tube channel. Highly recommend you to anyone I meet that loves horror literature, even those still stuck on king, Koontz and Barker. Can't thank you enough for putting in the time and effort that you put into these videos. But my bank account despises you sir.
Wow, such kind words! Seriously, thank you so much. This means so much to me, and I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed this series! I appreciate the support so much. ❤️❤️❤️
If you liked that "Denisovich" book you'd also like "Kolyma Tales" by Shalamov and "Black Boy" by Richard Wright. "Notes From a Dead House" is also a great prison memoir by Dostoyevsky. It's bleak but not too terribly disturbing.
I have been compiling titles from your videos. Loving every installment of this series. You're doing the good work we need. I got Uzumaki on your recommendation and blew through it in a day. I've now picked up five more Junji Ito books, and I have never read manga before. Keep these coming! 🤘🖤
Thank you so much! 🥺 I’m happy to hear you’ve been enjoying the videos! This list has truly been my life’s work, hasn’t it? 😅 I’m quite proud of what it has become, and of course, it is only so because of all the support viewers like you bring, so thank you, thank you! Junji Ito is truly one of the greatest! His collection of shorts, Fragments of Horror, is magnificent!
@@PlaguedbyVisions Fragments is one of the five I bought, so that solidifies my decision! I also got Dissolving Classroom, Remina, Sensor, and Shiver. We shall see how they hold up to Uzumaki. I am building my list and awaiting the day I can share one of my own disturbing finds with you. Thanks for your dedication to the channel and for sharing your passion!
Oooh, I’ve never heard of Peter Sotos! From the way you describe him, I’m really excited to read some of his works before you (if the TH-cam gods allow) get your video on him out. Honestly, I’m glad people are appreciating the nuanced and respectful discussion of filth on this channel lol. I think transgressive/disturbing/extreme books have been some of the most interesting and literary I’ve read and I hate to see the talk around them fall to “which one is the grossest” without thought to any greater praise or critique (though I’ve recently taken to simply falling into fits of ecstasy when I see the name Hubert Selby Jr). Being called “transgressive” in and of itself may not be an indicator of quality or anything, but I do find it to at least make it *important* in the sense that we can see what an author or a reader or a culture deems to be a violation, and what boundaries are being violated, and how that changes and evolves with the time and place it’s created. Anyways, I’m always going to be a bit behind the curve, so I don’t have any recommendations or anything like that, but thanks for all the new books to add my ever growing list and the great content! ~Happy Halloween 🎃 ~
Beautifully described, and yes, I’m often disappointed by the lack of substantial discussion for a lot of these titles. It’s part elitism, part misunderstanding, but I’m happy that those who genuinely see value in such works always find their way to my channel. :) Thank you so much, and hope you had a great Halloween!
Thank you for the kind words! I still say Morrison writes satire, but I see why people think its extreme horror. I still need to read Naked Lunch, I loved the cronenberg movie! Awesome installment!
Good ol’ Chandler has definitely been badmouthed to the moon and back. 😂 I can get down with satire, as long as it is humorous or meaningful. Sometimes “satire” is used vacuously, but we’ll see! As you know, I’m pretty much down to try anything. 😉 Naked Lunch is VERY different from the film. It’s almost entirely different, and it’s its own kind of crazy. I think you’d enjoy some aspects of it!
Hiii! I personally thought that Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut was disturbing. It sort of explores how complicity is sometimes an atrocity all on its own. 💜
I grabbed the first Monstrumologist at a book fair. I was under the impression that it was a more cheesy action horror, but I might be in for more than I expected.
I really want to read some of Sotos' stuff. Whitehouse is great and Buyer's Market is such a nightmare album (if it is an album) but I've never read any of his written stuff. I really want to read Left Hand, it seems super up my alley. I'm reading the first George Miles book right now (very slowly) and I really just want to directly inject Dennis Cooper into my brainstem. I've had a copy of On the Beach for years but I feel like reading it is going to be an ordeal emotionally so I continually put it off. This video is wonderful, as your videos always are.
Thank you so much for watching, Rowan! Sadly, Sotos’ stuff is really hard/expensive to come by, but I did find some PDFs of some of his stuff if you want me to send those to you! I’ve never listened to his music, but I can only imagine. Left Hand is definitely up your alley! It’s weird word vomit that just made me very exhausted and kept floating around my head… I think that was the purpose, so solid 3 stars from me. Dennis Cooper should absolutely be sold in liquid form. On the Beach is grueling and bleak. You definitely have to be in a specific mindset.
Wholesome Father of Disturbing Literature… 🤔. I’ll take it! Also, Olive concurs with your assessment of the relative star power on the channel 🐶. Left Hand sounds really strange, and really interesting. I’m always intrigued by experimental fiction that plays with the form of the medium. That was some of what interested me about Max Porter’s Lanny (although I ended up not loving that one). On the Beach sounds incredible… definitely have to add at least that one to the TBR. Thanks a lot, jerk (JK 🤗). Another a great list!
We stan Dave and Olive! Left Hand is not for everyone (have I said that enough? 😂), but it’s definitely a curious piece to page through. I do find experimental literature hit or miss, but this one in particular had some very arresting bits that stuck with me. On the Beach is a dystopian masterpiece! Highly recommended. Your TBR is literally strapped to my torture rack, and I will not stop!
Diary of an Oxygen Thief is probably the most transgressive work I have. The book opens with: “I liked hurting girls. Mentally, not physically, I never hit a girl in my life. Well, once. But that was a mistake. I’ll tell you about it later. The thing is, I got off on it. I really enjoyed it.” And the protagonist doesn’t get any more likable from there. It’s a rambling autobiography of a misogynistic egotistical dumpster fire of a human being written in a conversational style that feels like you’re stuck in an elevator with this weirdo and can’t escape. The book was published anonymously too, so I can’t compare it to the author’s other works to see how much of this he actually believes. It’s basically the Blair Incel Project.
I HAVE heard of this book before. I’ve heard it called reprehensible, a genius work of transgressive literature, and child scribblings being passed off as a book. I can’t help but read such a contentious title! I’ll have to wait a few months before I buy it, though. I’ve been hitting the “checkout” button too liberally these days.
I’ve waited too long to comment on this video, for which I apologize. Thank you once again for the kind words for me and my channel! I confess I never noticed that Painted Bird was sitting there on your shelf… that’s what I get for almost exclusively watching BookTube on my phone. A lot of fascinating books you discuss here. I’ve been curious about Cooper since you’ve brought him to my attention and this book looks like a good place to start. I’m also intrigued by the Curran book. Would I be missing the point if I treated it as a lengthy multiple choice quiz and selected my favorite “answers” to create my own unique “narrative”? 😜 You also have me intrigued by the Reveluetas text. What on this video do I not want to read?? Nothing!
No need to apologize! I also took 20 years to comment on one of your videos, so we’re even. :P The Painted Bird is going to be discussed more thoroughly on this channel soon. Can’t say more than that! ;) And I think diving into Cooper and Curran simultaneously might make you go insane. Left Hand really does feel like a weird survey or choose your own adventure or some tossed-off written ephemera. It doesn’t feel like a book at all. Revueltas is magnificent! Dreadfully underrated.
One of the most transgressive and disturbing books I have read was a non-fiction book called Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain. It is about the 1st and 2nd waves of the punk rock movement. From cover to cover it is non-stop sex, drugs, violence, filth, and self-destruction along with the music and art that went along with it. It is even more disturbing because it is all true; these people really did live this kind of lifestyle until they ended up dead, in jail, or growing up. Its a perfect retelling of the wildest, most dangerous, and most off the rails movement in musical history and in some ways, something we haven't recovered from yet.
This sounds amazing! I’ll have to look into this. I’m definitely fascinated by these kinds of accounts of fringe lifestyles. It may have been sensationalistic, but I’d also include Lords of Chaos in a list of this kind.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I know Lord of Chaos. I'm not a big fan of that music genre, especially because of the politics, so I never read it. The Industrial Culture Handbook published by RE/Search Publications might be worth looking into also, although I think it is really dated now and not as shocking as it once was. I love your channel and your creative approach. Keep up the good work.
I really loved Please Kill Me! It's one of my favorite nonfictions, and I loved how it talked about the "true" origins of punk rock music and how it came, not from London like often thought, but from New York City.
I enjoyed your video and any mention of Sotos is interesting. Some notes to say. Pure Filth is really not a work of Sotos but more so of inward analysis of Gillis and his fetishism. Jamie didn't want this book published either in his dying days, but whats done is done. Gillis's biography Naked In Public should see light hopefully next year. I am sure you are aware but a recent book has been done with Sotos and Lionel Maunz
Yes, I guess I understood the suggestion more as Sotos’s Pure zines. That’s usually what people point to as exemplary Sotos. And no, I had not even heard of Lord Horror, but I’m highly interested now!
@@PlaguedbyVisions Lord Horror by David Britton, quite famous as is his Meng & Ecker characters whom appear in the novels as well, do check it out. Ahh yes....always with the Pure zines, I usually suggest Selfish,Little and then his latest Ingratitude. His writing is a lot more serious now and not as much for shock.
This might seem like a strange/dumb question but I was wondering if listening to an audiobook is a different experience than actually reading it? This question is directed at anyone reading this by the way. I dont want any of the experience ruined by the tone of the narrator voice, the way they make me imagine the setting or characters, etc. Please let me know if it changes anything that shouldn't be changed.
I think it really depends on the quality of the narration. I’ve only ever used audiobooks for reading along, so even if there’s a voice reading it, I’m still following along on the page. I’ve never tried an audiobook on its own, but I can vouch for the Girl Next Door audiobook narrated by Ketchum himself is fantastic!
Honestly my thoughts abt the book that compared the meat industry to the holocaust is like. The meat industry has its issues and many elements of it need to be reformed and stuff but comparing it to the holocaust feels. Way too far. EDIT: I love hearing about books like this and of all the books mentioned thus far blood Meridian is my absolute favourite. While I don’t mean for this to come across as invalidation because I ABSOLUTELY understand being upset with the violence or the racism or what have you within the book, it feels like almost all you hear about BM is how people felt sick over it and put it down (then again I am someone who can stomach such things so my view might be different than others who are understandably uncomfortable with such things) I don’t really ever hear anyone praise McCarthy’s language and use of old-school language and how his lack of grammar might put some off I personally think how it could help the story, like reading a hastily scrawled journal. Or the beauty in McCarthy’s scenery and how he goes about describing everything. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being uncomfortable with it but I’ve had to put the book down to marvel at McCarthy’s wording and remember things like words and descriptions I like even for my own writings. I have seen people call it pretentious and overrated too, I feel like BM is best experienced kinda in a vacuum before you really delve into watching videos about it (such as Wendigoon’s, which convinced me to really sit down with the book). My friend suggested it to me ages ago and it’s still one of my absolute favs. I want to write my own sort of book like the books covered here that was going to basically be a recounting of my experiences with my ex but more allegorically, putting a character through The Horrors that represents the emotional tortures I was subject to. It’s such a perfect medium to just scream out your own traumas and shit in literally any form you want and people would enjoy it and hopefully feel the same sense of shock and pain you do at what you’ve been through whether literally or allegorically. I don’t feel empathy (as I am mentally ill) but it certainly certainly makes me feel like my perspective has broadened and it makes me feel more compassionate towards people who have experienced various atrocities (such as my own mother) and I just want to give them all big hugs. One book I wish I could get for my mom (I can’t even find a PDF) is Weed Species (Jack Ketchum, copies go for like thousands lmao I have no idea why), primarily because it’s inspired by the Ken and Barbie killers who, not-so-fun fun fact, my mom back in the day regularly served them at the coffee shop doughnut place they frequented and even though she was in her 20s she had a baby face and was short and could’ve easily been one of their victims. Absolutely insane shit. Anyways apologies for the long comment, I’ve been loving this stuff and thank you for accompanying me while I’m playing video games or working on a Lego set, haha.
These used to be my favorite videos on your channel. Then you made the unreadable books video which is one of my favorite videos on TH-cam. But *then* you read your short story, "Hunger". That story is just ridiculously good. I'm just saying, I adore your channel, and appreciate every video you bless us with. You're always outdoing yourself. Thank you, Juan, and Happy Halloween! 🖤🖤🖤
Oh I have a disturbing book for you! I've never met another person who's read it... and it is definitely the most disturbing book I've ever read. I read it maybe 15 years ago, and still think of it. It's called "The Amok Journal". Specifically, the Sensurround Edition.
I am truly unworthy of such kind words. 😭 Thank you so much for all your long-time support. And I’m sorry to say, I haven’t read The Amok Journal either, but I’ll definitely look into it and will mention it in the next installment!
I honestly find that any abuse, when treated seriously, can be incredibly disturbing on the page, but I find that authors seem to generally be much more explicit with animal cruelty than human cruelty in some books.
I'd like to suggest Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite. Definitely one of the more disturbing ones I've read. I had to put it down a few times, just to get a break from it. It's a little bit goth-y, but it's well written and Brite is excellent at evoking the New Orleans mood and setting.
I just want to say, you speak so impressively eloquently about these books that are not easy to discuss in that manner. Excellent discussion and thought provoking content. Thank you!
Thank you so much for such kind and encouraging words! ❤️ And thank YOU for watching and commenting. Support like this is the reason I do this in the first place!
1st week watching your channel, love all of your content. Your book choices are very deeply thought out and I genuinely draw interest in the books I've never heard of - which is def cool. I actually laughed my ass off during your 'most disgusting reads' as you continued to pull books out of the trashcan that I have, lol. Awesome!
One disagreement tho: your bookshelf has the creme dé la crem of transgressive/cult books. Odd that you'd put the skulls away after October. Actually, add more skulls. Ornamental mortality.
Stay awesome.
Thank you so much! As you may have seen from my newest video, the skulls have stayed thanks to you! And I am so happy you’ve been enjoying the discussions on this channel! It is always so humbling hearing feedback like this. This kind of literature is a passion of mine, so I’m always happy to hear from others who have the same dedication or interests.
Another brilliant entry into this series. On the Beach is one I’ve been meaning to get to for years.
Always an honor that you watch even my hour-long word vomit. I am unworthy! On the Beach is fantastic. Highly recommended if you want your day ruined.
Added some of these to my TBR. The Water Cure sounds amazing. And I had heard about The Painted Bird, but wasn't sure what to expect. And you sold me on Left Hand, gonna hunt it down.
Also, Rooftop Chris is so awesome!
The Painted Bird is an incredible work! Truly, I highly recommend it. Left Hand is a little harder to recommend, but it’s disturbing, it’s gay-can’t go wrong! 🤣 I agree, Rooftop is an amazing person!
It's been years since I read The Piano Teacher but I still remember the scene where she visits a peep show. I highly recommend the film adaptation if you haven't seen it yet! I love Michael Haneke's films and this one is probably one of my favourites of his.
The film is fantastic! It’s what made me want to read the book. I will say, I prefer the film, but the interiority and dizzying voice of the prose was its own kind of batshit crazy. I’ve only seen this, Funny Games, and Caché from Haneke, so if you recommend anything else by him, I’m down!
@@PlaguedbyVisions I also read the book after watching the film! In fact that might have been my first Haneke. Honestly, they're all well worth watching but if I could only recommend one it would be Time of the Wolf.
Juan talking about books: It is a story about this very fragile last thread of humanity that is traversing a world that is no longer welcoming, that is no longer sheltering. It is a tale of desperation, it is a tale of hanging onto hope. Hope is a prominent theme here
Me talking about books: Yea it was good :|
My mind is a potato.
Honestly, those reviews are just as good. 😂 I enjoy people’s raw enthusiasm about the things they need. I do wish I was more brief. It would make editing less of a nightmare 😳
I love this channel. I just watched this whole playlist. Since you are currently working on a video specifically about animals in fiction perhaps you can add the Richard Adams novels, Watership Down and The Plague Dogs. Watership Down is primarily marketed to children shockingly but it appeals to all ages with it's stark meditations on death and perseverance. The Plague Dogs is about two dogs that escape from an animal testing laboratory only to be hunted and demonized by the human society that tortured them.
Thank you so, so much for watching! I really appreciate the support, and glad to hear you enjoyed the series! I will absolutely be discussing Watership Down, and the Plague Dogs I hadn’t heard of, so I definitely need to look into that. Thanks again! Your words are much appreciated.
The hour and a half was awesome! I was able to listen to it on my commute today! It helped my journey go faster.
Awesome! I listen to Booktube nonstop while commuting, too. 😂
I love your Channel. Please give a go to extreme horror and Splatterpunk. Try Chandler Morrison ❤️
I’ve been giving a lot of extreme horror a try! I’ve read The Bighead by Edward Lee, Talia by Daniel Volpe, The Slob by Aron Beauregard, The Resurrectionist by Wrath James White. It has been… very hit and miss (mostly miss sadly). I do plan to read Along the Path of Torment by Morrison eventually!
I am new to your channel and I love how humble and open you are! I was brought up that much of what you are talking about is taboo and I really appreciate how safe and almost casual you talk about things that were brought to my understanding as scary and harmful.
Out of your list I am looking forward the most to reading The Hand. As a Technical Writer I write processes all day long and so a disturbing book written in short processes sounds delightful!
Thank you so much, and what an insightful comment! You really made me realize perhaps why so many people enjoy this kind of content. I’m happy to provide a space where these things can be safely discussed. Haha, yes, I think Left Hand will prove interesting if you are conditioned to this style of writing!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who see’s Sotos as the modern day De Sade! Truly vile content. Expensive too
I’d love to see a full video on him
I truly don’t think there’s a better comparison! My creativity is truly being put to the test trying to find a way to discuss him without being demonetized. 😂
I just want to thank you, Juan, for recommending Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica from your Most Disturbing Books video part 3. Tender is the Flesh is the most disturbing book I have ever read. There were several times I had to put the book down and take a breather, and I am like WTF, why is this effecting me so much? I think because it is so easy to visualize the transition between animal meat and human meat that is so realistically described in the book. Especially, for those of us familiar with the meat industry, it is not a happy thought, lol. Again, thank you so much for recommending Agustina Bazterrica, I look forward to seeing whatever else she writes.
Hey, John! So glad you enjoyed the Bazterrica novel! It is truly disconcerting how realistic it is. That’s always the most disturbing element in any form of art, I feel. I, too, await her next work!
I find myself zoning out listening to your videos while trying to see every title on your bookshelf background. This does not mean I am not paying attention (love this series, a college class on disturbing fiction) but as a avid reader and collector of horror books I love getting a peek into your collection. By far my favorite book tube channel. Highly recommend you to anyone I meet that loves horror literature, even those still stuck on king, Koontz and Barker. Can't thank you enough for putting in the time and effort that you put into these videos. But my bank account despises you sir.
Wow, such kind words! Seriously, thank you so much. This means so much to me, and I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed this series! I appreciate the support so much. ❤️❤️❤️
If you liked that "Denisovich" book you'd also like "Kolyma Tales" by Shalamov and "Black Boy" by Richard Wright. "Notes From a Dead House" is also a great prison memoir by Dostoyevsky. It's bleak but not too terribly disturbing.
I have been compiling titles from your videos. Loving every installment of this series. You're doing the good work we need. I got Uzumaki on your recommendation and blew through it in a day. I've now picked up five more Junji Ito books, and I have never read manga before. Keep these coming! 🤘🖤
Thank you so much! 🥺 I’m happy to hear you’ve been enjoying the videos! This list has truly been my life’s work, hasn’t it? 😅 I’m quite proud of what it has become, and of course, it is only so because of all the support viewers like you bring, so thank you, thank you!
Junji Ito is truly one of the greatest! His collection of shorts, Fragments of Horror, is magnificent!
@@PlaguedbyVisions Fragments is one of the five I bought, so that solidifies my decision! I also got Dissolving Classroom, Remina, Sensor, and Shiver. We shall see how they hold up to Uzumaki. I am building my list and awaiting the day I can share one of my own disturbing finds with you. Thanks for your dedication to the channel and for sharing your passion!
Oooh, I’ve never heard of Peter Sotos! From the way you describe him, I’m really excited to read some of his works before you (if the TH-cam gods allow) get your video on him out.
Honestly, I’m glad people are appreciating the nuanced and respectful discussion of filth on this channel lol. I think transgressive/disturbing/extreme books have been some of the most interesting and literary I’ve read and I hate to see the talk around them fall to “which one is the grossest” without thought to any greater praise or critique (though I’ve recently taken to simply falling into fits of ecstasy when I see the name Hubert Selby Jr). Being called “transgressive” in and of itself may not be an indicator of quality or anything, but I do find it to at least make it *important* in the sense that we can see what an author or a reader or a culture deems to be a violation, and what boundaries are being violated, and how that changes and evolves with the time and place it’s created.
Anyways, I’m always going to be a bit behind the curve, so I don’t have any recommendations or anything like that, but thanks for all the new books to add my ever growing list and the great content! ~Happy Halloween 🎃 ~
Beautifully described, and yes, I’m often disappointed by the lack of substantial discussion for a lot of these titles. It’s part elitism, part misunderstanding, but I’m happy that those who genuinely see value in such works always find their way to my channel. :) Thank you so much, and hope you had a great Halloween!
More books to add to my tbr list! Thanks for another great video 😊
Thank you for watching! Hope you have a wonderfully transgressive time.
Thank you for the kind words! I still say Morrison writes satire, but I see why people think its extreme horror. I still need to read Naked Lunch, I loved the cronenberg movie! Awesome installment!
Good ol’ Chandler has definitely been badmouthed to the moon and back. 😂 I can get down with satire, as long as it is humorous or meaningful. Sometimes “satire” is used vacuously, but we’ll see! As you know, I’m pretty much down to try anything. 😉
Naked Lunch is VERY different from the film. It’s almost entirely different, and it’s its own kind of crazy. I think you’d enjoy some aspects of it!
Hiii! I personally thought that Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut was disturbing. It sort of explores how complicity is sometimes an atrocity all on its own. 💜
That sounds amazing! That’s a Vonnegut I’ve missed. I’ll commit to memory. Thank you so much for the suggestion!
I grabbed the first Monstrumologist at a book fair. I was under the impression that it was a more cheesy action horror, but I might be in for more than I expected.
I read up on it a bit and… either that commenter was trolling, or there is something in the prose that makes things unsettling? Be careful, goose!
You've succeeded in me discovering and reading Hogg and Cows... Now, Necrophiliac is next lol... But no upcoming holy week in the coming months oh noo
Time to binge read The Necro right now maybe? Jk 😂
I am happy to be doing my services.
I really want to read some of Sotos' stuff. Whitehouse is great and Buyer's Market is such a nightmare album (if it is an album) but I've never read any of his written stuff. I really want to read Left Hand, it seems super up my alley. I'm reading the first George Miles book right now (very slowly) and I really just want to directly inject Dennis Cooper into my brainstem. I've had a copy of On the Beach for years but I feel like reading it is going to be an ordeal emotionally so I continually put it off. This video is wonderful, as your videos always are.
Thank you so much for watching, Rowan! Sadly, Sotos’ stuff is really hard/expensive to come by, but I did find some PDFs of some of his stuff if you want me to send those to you! I’ve never listened to his music, but I can only imagine.
Left Hand is definitely up your alley! It’s weird word vomit that just made me very exhausted and kept floating around my head… I think that was the purpose, so solid 3 stars from me. Dennis Cooper should absolutely be sold in liquid form.
On the Beach is grueling and bleak. You definitely have to be in a specific mindset.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Oooh yeah I'd love some PDFs. Thanks man!
@@tinysalmon4 I’ll DM them to you on Discord!
Wholesome Father of Disturbing Literature… 🤔. I’ll take it! Also, Olive concurs with your assessment of the relative star power on the channel 🐶. Left Hand sounds really strange, and really interesting. I’m always intrigued by experimental fiction that plays with the form of the medium. That was some of what interested me about Max Porter’s Lanny (although I ended up not loving that one). On the Beach sounds incredible… definitely have to add at least that one to the TBR. Thanks a lot, jerk (JK 🤗). Another a great list!
We stan Dave and Olive!
Left Hand is not for everyone (have I said that enough? 😂), but it’s definitely a curious piece to page through. I do find experimental literature hit or miss, but this one in particular had some very arresting bits that stuck with me.
On the Beach is a dystopian masterpiece! Highly recommended. Your TBR is literally strapped to my torture rack, and I will not stop!
@@PlaguedbyVisions 😂
The first time of my life i'm here for a "premiere" on TH-cam :3
And it was on Halloween! Hope you enjoyed!
Ohh, I forgot about The Water Cure. Gotta put it back on my TBR pile.
It’s definitely there for me as well! It sounds insane.
Diary of an Oxygen Thief is probably the most transgressive work I have. The book opens with:
“I liked hurting girls.
Mentally, not physically, I never hit a girl in my life. Well, once. But that was a mistake. I’ll tell you about it later. The thing is, I got off on it. I really enjoyed it.”
And the protagonist doesn’t get any more likable from there. It’s a rambling autobiography of a misogynistic egotistical dumpster fire of a human being written in a conversational style that feels like you’re stuck in an elevator with this weirdo and can’t escape.
The book was published anonymously too, so I can’t compare it to the author’s other works to see how much of this he actually believes. It’s basically the Blair Incel Project.
I HAVE heard of this book before. I’ve heard it called reprehensible, a genius work of transgressive literature, and child scribblings being passed off as a book. I can’t help but read such a contentious title! I’ll have to wait a few months before I buy it, though. I’ve been hitting the “checkout” button too liberally these days.
book sounds fire tbh
I’ve waited too long to comment on this video, for which I apologize. Thank you once again for the kind words for me and my channel! I confess I never noticed that Painted Bird was sitting there on your shelf… that’s what I get for almost exclusively watching BookTube on my phone.
A lot of fascinating books you discuss here. I’ve been curious about Cooper since you’ve brought him to my attention and this book looks like a good place to start. I’m also intrigued by the Curran book. Would I be missing the point if I treated it as a lengthy multiple choice quiz and selected my favorite “answers” to create my own unique “narrative”? 😜
You also have me intrigued by the Reveluetas text. What on this video do I not want to read?? Nothing!
No need to apologize! I also took 20 years to comment on one of your videos, so we’re even. :P The Painted Bird is going to be discussed more thoroughly on this channel soon. Can’t say more than that! ;) And I think diving into Cooper and Curran simultaneously might make you go insane. Left Hand really does feel like a weird survey or choose your own adventure or some tossed-off written ephemera. It doesn’t feel like a book at all.
Revueltas is magnificent! Dreadfully underrated.
One of the most transgressive and disturbing books I have read was a non-fiction book called Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain. It is about the 1st and 2nd waves of the punk rock movement. From cover to cover it is non-stop sex, drugs, violence, filth, and self-destruction along with the music and art that went along with it. It is even more disturbing because it is all true; these people really did live this kind of lifestyle until they ended up dead, in jail, or growing up. Its a perfect retelling of the wildest, most dangerous, and most off the rails movement in musical history and in some ways, something we haven't recovered from yet.
This sounds amazing! I’ll have to look into this. I’m definitely fascinated by these kinds of accounts of fringe lifestyles. It may have been sensationalistic, but I’d also include Lords of Chaos in a list of this kind.
@@PlaguedbyVisions I know Lord of Chaos. I'm not a big fan of that music genre, especially because of the politics, so I never read it. The Industrial Culture Handbook published by RE/Search Publications might be worth looking into also, although I think it is really dated now and not as shocking as it once was. I love your channel and your creative approach. Keep up the good work.
I really loved Please Kill Me! It's one of my favorite nonfictions, and I loved how it talked about the "true" origins of punk rock music and how it came, not from London like often thought, but from New York City.
@@wormdoodles Detroit too w/The Stooges & MC5
I enjoyed your video and any mention of Sotos is interesting. Some notes to say. Pure Filth is really not a work of Sotos but more so of inward analysis of Gillis and his fetishism. Jamie didn't want this book published either in his dying days, but whats done is done. Gillis's biography Naked In Public should see light hopefully next year. I am sure you are aware but a recent book has been done with Sotos and Lionel Maunz
I haven't seen your other videos quite yet, but have you covered Lord Horror?
Yes, I guess I understood the suggestion more as Sotos’s Pure zines. That’s usually what people point to as exemplary Sotos. And no, I had not even heard of Lord Horror, but I’m highly interested now!
@@PlaguedbyVisions Lord Horror by David Britton, quite famous as is his Meng & Ecker characters whom appear in the novels as well, do check it out. Ahh yes....always with the Pure zines, I usually suggest Selfish,Little and then his latest Ingratitude. His writing is a lot more serious now and not as much for shock.
We have been blessed yet again. Thank you King
😂 I am constantly blessed by all of your presence here. ❤️
@@PlaguedbyVisions well you deserve it ❤
I suggest Innocent World! Its a novella and I luved it!
This was already an entry on part 5! If you’re interested in my thoughts on that.
@@PlaguedbyVisions o ya nvm I probably found it because of that vid lol
Love these videos…keep ‘em coming!
Thank you so much! ❤️ Will do!
Have you read The decapitated chicken and other stories by Horacio Quiroga? If so, what did you think.
I have! I actually included it in my “Top 10 Short Story Collections” video, if you’re interested in my thoughts on it! Obviously, I love it! Lol.
@@PlaguedbyVisions Nice, I'll watch it for sure.
Another great disturbing nonfiction novel about slaughterhouses is Eating animals by Johnathan Safran Foer
Nice! Never heard of that one! Definitely getting namedropped in the next installment. Thank you!
This has made my day thank you!
'GRM' by Sibylle Berg
This might seem like a strange/dumb question but I was wondering if listening to an audiobook is a different experience than actually reading it? This question is directed at anyone reading this by the way. I dont want any of the experience ruined by the tone of the narrator voice, the way they make me imagine the setting or characters, etc. Please let me know if it changes anything that shouldn't be changed.
I think it really depends on the quality of the narration. I’ve only ever used audiobooks for reading along, so even if there’s a voice reading it, I’m still following along on the page. I’ve never tried an audiobook on its own, but I can vouch for the Girl Next Door audiobook narrated by Ketchum himself is fantastic!
Omg this one was unexpected. Nice!
I like to keep y’all on your toes. Gracias, Martín!
🎵some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this🎵
Some people wait forever for these books that taste like piss
I had to read On The Beach for my apocalyptic lit class in college and I loved it! It is bleak af
Bleak as all hell! I read it under the same circumstances, curiously enough! It was a class on “Imaginary Futures.”
Very good video stay connect
Thanks!
Honestly my thoughts abt the book that compared the meat industry to the holocaust is like. The meat industry has its issues and many elements of it need to be reformed and stuff but comparing it to the holocaust feels. Way too far.
EDIT: I love hearing about books like this and of all the books mentioned thus far blood Meridian is my absolute favourite. While I don’t mean for this to come across as invalidation because I ABSOLUTELY understand being upset with the violence or the racism or what have you within the book, it feels like almost all you hear about BM is how people felt sick over it and put it down (then again I am someone who can stomach such things so my view might be different than others who are understandably uncomfortable with such things) I don’t really ever hear anyone praise McCarthy’s language and use of old-school language and how his lack of grammar might put some off I personally think how it could help the story, like reading a hastily scrawled journal. Or the beauty in McCarthy’s scenery and how he goes about describing everything. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being uncomfortable with it but I’ve had to put the book down to marvel at McCarthy’s wording and remember things like words and descriptions I like even for my own writings. I have seen people call it pretentious and overrated too, I feel like BM is best experienced kinda in a vacuum before you really delve into watching videos about it (such as Wendigoon’s, which convinced me to really sit down with the book). My friend suggested it to me ages ago and it’s still one of my absolute favs.
I want to write my own sort of book like the books covered here that was going to basically be a recounting of my experiences with my ex but more allegorically, putting a character through The Horrors that represents the emotional tortures I was subject to. It’s such a perfect medium to just scream out your own traumas and shit in literally any form you want and people would enjoy it and hopefully feel the same sense of shock and pain you do at what you’ve been through whether literally or allegorically. I don’t feel empathy (as I am mentally ill) but it certainly certainly makes me feel like my perspective has broadened and it makes me feel more compassionate towards people who have experienced various atrocities (such as my own mother) and I just want to give them all big hugs.
One book I wish I could get for my mom (I can’t even find a PDF) is Weed Species (Jack Ketchum, copies go for like thousands lmao I have no idea why), primarily because it’s inspired by the Ken and Barbie killers who, not-so-fun fun fact, my mom back in the day regularly served them at the coffee shop doughnut place they frequented and even though she was in her 20s she had a baby face and was short and could’ve easily been one of their victims. Absolutely insane shit.
Anyways apologies for the long comment, I’ve been loving this stuff and thank you for accompanying me while I’m playing video games or working on a Lego set, haha.
Sotos Buyers market is on TH-cam I guess omg
These used to be my favorite videos on your channel. Then you made the unreadable books video which is one of my favorite videos on TH-cam. But *then* you read your short story, "Hunger". That story is just ridiculously good. I'm just saying, I adore your channel, and appreciate every video you bless us with. You're always outdoing yourself. Thank you, Juan, and Happy Halloween! 🖤🖤🖤
Oh I have a disturbing book for you! I've never met another person who's read it... and it is definitely the most disturbing book I've ever read. I read it maybe 15 years ago, and still think of it. It's called "The Amok Journal". Specifically, the Sensurround Edition.
I am truly unworthy of such kind words. 😭 Thank you so much for all your long-time support. And I’m sorry to say, I haven’t read The Amok Journal either, but I’ll definitely look into it and will mention it in the next installment!
Give me a link on This Just In! Cheers.
youtube.com/@ThisJustInBookTube
cool.
🙏🏽❤️
I do understand the disgust with animal abuse, but to me, abuse of humans, particularly children, is far more disturbing.
I honestly find that any abuse, when treated seriously, can be incredibly disturbing on the page, but I find that authors seem to generally be much more explicit with animal cruelty than human cruelty in some books.
I'd like to suggest Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite. Definitely one of the more disturbing ones I've read. I had to put it down a few times, just to get a break from it. It's a little bit goth-y, but it's well written and Brite is excellent at evoking the New Orleans mood and setting.
I’ve talked about Exquisite Corpse on a video I made on LGBTQ horror, if you’re interested in my thoughts!