Be Scared of Everything: Horror Essays

Sincere and simultaneously off-the-wall.

Many essays start with an interesting discussion, raise a new perspective I follow eagerly and then say something I couldn't agree with - and then I'm arguing with the author in my head. Stimulates discussion! Felt like the controversial air waned the further into the collection I got.

Occasionally you just get the chance to revel in the spookiness, i.e. this thing is destined to be scary and it is, but a lot of the time the emphasis is placed on things that aren't meant to be scary but are, or the fact that there are scary things in life you are unable to avoid.

The author covers real life events and reflections on media and the horror genre, a good mix. I should emphasize that there is a fair amount of sad and difficult mixed in with the good writing about fictional horrors.

Manifest Doom is definitely my favourite of the collection.

On a separate note, I finally know what creepypasta is.

There is a content warning in the beginning of the book, but I'd argue it's incomplete, see below:

⚠️Mental health concerns, PTSD, attempted suicide, self-harm, gun violence, gore, animal death, discussion of cannibalism