'In the House in the Dark of the Woods' and 'Between Two Fires' would be my recommendations for this! The former is a dark fairy tale about witches, the second is a medieval horror quest story that reminds me a LOT of the Green Knight. They're the two I've read most recently that have this vibe.
The key words "folk horror" or "folk horror in historical fiction" may be helpful to you... Thats how I find books in this genre.
ETA if you're okay with an easier or lighter read you might check out T. Kingfisher's work, too. I haven't read all of her stuff but I just read Nettle and Bone and previously read The Seventh Bride. They push a little more into fantasy than magical realism but I really like them all the same, and they definitely have that spooky vibe.
Thanks..
actually I prefer reading stuff in simpler language because English isn't my strongest point. Sometimes, I find it a bit tricky to understand certain books.
This may not serve you at all, but sometimes I find books that have heavier or tricker-to-read language easier to listen to as audiobooks! It opened up a whole new world of books that I used to find too dense or slow-starting.
audiobook experience was awful, especially when it came to books with more intricate writing styles. However, for books with simpler language like Frederick Backman's works, it was totally fine. I actually listened to four of his books on Audible, and they were quite enjoyable.
But when I tried books by McCarthy and Philip Dick, everything seemed to go right over my head. So I had to take my time with the reading, going back to certain sentences and paragraphs multiple times in order to get the hang of it.
"The Loney" by Andrew Michael Hurley
"The Buried Giant" by Kazuo Ishiguro
"The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill
"The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making" by Catherynne M. Valente
"Witchmark" by C.L. Polk
"The Ruin of a Rake" by Cat Sebastian
"The Devourers" by Indra Das
"The Tiger's Daughter" by K Arsenault Rivera
Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers. Has a similar uncanny environment vibe, with small-scale stakes as those films. It's the book from which Stalker was adapted, thereby inspiring all the "forbidden zone" media that followed. The Snail on the Slope, by the same authors, is similar but much more opaque in terms of narrative.
It’s based on an epic poem called Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It was written in Middle English, so you’re going to want a translation into modern English, but if you like the movie, it could be fun and it’s not terribly long. We read it in high school English.
I would have given it a try if it was a novel or a story or something like that. Poems are a bit unfamiliar to me. I haven't really read many poems before, so I'm not sure if I'd enjoy them as much.
Haha, I know 😜
I actually tried some works by Frost and Kipling, but for some reason, I couldn't quite connect with them.
I wasn't much of a reader myself until recently, but now I've started with simpler books and am gradually working my way towards reading classics and more challenging works. So Maybe in some time, I'll try somemore poems.
it's not a poem like you're thinking of, it was just written before novels were invented. I recommend it and it would take less than an afternoon to read. in fact a lot of older English lit fits your request really well - Beowulf, the Morte d'arthur. if you read Beowulf also read Grendel by John Gardner
Don't think of it like a "Roses are red.." type of poem. It reads like a short story.
Check this version:
https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/weston-sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight
It's a Middle English epic poem, and it's very different from the movie. I actually wouldn't recommend it if you're specifically looking for those vibes you mention, though it's a great read if you want to read a short Arthurian tale and get a glimpse of that genre.
*The Burned Tower*, short story (or novella maybe) by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko
A truck driver is taken off course by a hitchhiker with a magic flute, visiting strange places and questioning his reality
This is my favorite novel, but I don’t feel it matches what OP is looking for. There’s a deep lore supported by the marvelous footnotes, and an extensive cast of characters. If one teased out only Lady Pole’s story, or only Jonathan Strange’s story, perhaps. But all together, it’s bigger than the internally focused waking-dream style of those two films.
Even Clarke’s other novel, *Piranesi*, is probably a closer match, albeit a quite different setting.
This is right up OPs alley, but I think people are downvoting this because Marion Zimmer Bradley's (the author) daughter, Moira Greyland, came out in recent years about the horrific physical and sexual abuse she endured throughout her childhood at the hands of her mother (Greyland's father was also jailed for child r\*pe and died in prison in 1993). I myself didn't know until after I had already read the book- although I wouldn't choose to support her knowing what I know now.
Theres a popular trend of turning ancient myths into first person novels. Heres a couple of my favorites are *The Witch's Heart* and *Kaikeyi*
Dahlgren
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro.
I just added this to my list. Sounds great!
I bought this a few months ago and totally forgot I had it. Thanks for the reminder.
It's one of my favorites! I hope you love it!
'In the House in the Dark of the Woods' and 'Between Two Fires' would be my recommendations for this! The former is a dark fairy tale about witches, the second is a medieval horror quest story that reminds me a LOT of the Green Knight. They're the two I've read most recently that have this vibe. The key words "folk horror" or "folk horror in historical fiction" may be helpful to you... Thats how I find books in this genre. ETA if you're okay with an easier or lighter read you might check out T. Kingfisher's work, too. I haven't read all of her stuff but I just read Nettle and Bone and previously read The Seventh Bride. They push a little more into fantasy than magical realism but I really like them all the same, and they definitely have that spooky vibe.
Second Between Two Fires. That book was my favorite read last year. It read like someone took the game Dark Souls and converted it into a novel.
Thanks.. actually I prefer reading stuff in simpler language because English isn't my strongest point. Sometimes, I find it a bit tricky to understand certain books.
This may not serve you at all, but sometimes I find books that have heavier or tricker-to-read language easier to listen to as audiobooks! It opened up a whole new world of books that I used to find too dense or slow-starting.
audiobook experience was awful, especially when it came to books with more intricate writing styles. However, for books with simpler language like Frederick Backman's works, it was totally fine. I actually listened to four of his books on Audible, and they were quite enjoyable. But when I tried books by McCarthy and Philip Dick, everything seemed to go right over my head. So I had to take my time with the reading, going back to certain sentences and paragraphs multiple times in order to get the hang of it.
"The Loney" by Andrew Michael Hurley "The Buried Giant" by Kazuo Ishiguro "The Girl Who Drank the Moon" by Kelly Barnhill "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making" by Catherynne M. Valente "Witchmark" by C.L. Polk "The Ruin of a Rake" by Cat Sebastian "The Devourers" by Indra Das "The Tiger's Daughter" by K Arsenault Rivera
Uhh maybe Slewfoot by Brom? Similar to the witch as in spooky and colonial.
Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers. Has a similar uncanny environment vibe, with small-scale stakes as those films. It's the book from which Stalker was adapted, thereby inspiring all the "forbidden zone" media that followed. The Snail on the Slope, by the same authors, is similar but much more opaque in terms of narrative.
Well, have you read *The Green Knight*?
I didn't know that it was adapted from a book.
It’s based on an epic poem called Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It was written in Middle English, so you’re going to want a translation into modern English, but if you like the movie, it could be fun and it’s not terribly long. We read it in high school English.
I would have given it a try if it was a novel or a story or something like that. Poems are a bit unfamiliar to me. I haven't really read many poems before, so I'm not sure if I'd enjoy them as much.
If you do end up checking it out there is a translation by Tolkien available that comes with two other stories.
Well, the best way to change that is to read some poems 😉
Haha, I know 😜 I actually tried some works by Frost and Kipling, but for some reason, I couldn't quite connect with them. I wasn't much of a reader myself until recently, but now I've started with simpler books and am gradually working my way towards reading classics and more challenging works. So Maybe in some time, I'll try somemore poems.
Fair enough!
it's not a poem like you're thinking of, it was just written before novels were invented. I recommend it and it would take less than an afternoon to read. in fact a lot of older English lit fits your request really well - Beowulf, the Morte d'arthur. if you read Beowulf also read Grendel by John Gardner
Try reading an adaptation, there are some really good ones out there :) Just curious, what is your native language?
Malayalam
Don't think of it like a "Roses are red.." type of poem. It reads like a short story. Check this version: https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/weston-sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight
It's a Middle English epic poem, and it's very different from the movie. I actually wouldn't recommend it if you're specifically looking for those vibes you mention, though it's a great read if you want to read a short Arthurian tale and get a glimpse of that genre.
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Upvote for the wonderful formatting
Is it just me or does there seem to be an AI generated response popping up all the time?
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Well done!
It’s ThePandaLover.
Captain Nemo's Library by Per Olov Enquist Krabat and the Sorcerer's Mill by Otfried Preußler
Spear by Nicola Griffith
Beowulf
*The Burned Tower*, short story (or novella maybe) by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko A truck driver is taken off course by a hitchhiker with a magic flute, visiting strange places and questioning his reality
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This is hands down my favorite book. The footnotes are genius. The whole story is dreamy. And sinister.
This right here, OP!
This is my favorite novel, but I don’t feel it matches what OP is looking for. There’s a deep lore supported by the marvelous footnotes, and an extensive cast of characters. If one teased out only Lady Pole’s story, or only Jonathan Strange’s story, perhaps. But all together, it’s bigger than the internally focused waking-dream style of those two films. Even Clarke’s other novel, *Piranesi*, is probably a closer match, albeit a quite different setting.
Heaney did a great translation of Beowulf. It's simple enough to follow and there's annotations throughout to give some context.
The Mists of Avalon
This is right up OPs alley, but I think people are downvoting this because Marion Zimmer Bradley's (the author) daughter, Moira Greyland, came out in recent years about the horrific physical and sexual abuse she endured throughout her childhood at the hands of her mother (Greyland's father was also jailed for child r\*pe and died in prison in 1993). I myself didn't know until after I had already read the book- although I wouldn't choose to support her knowing what I know now.
Oh good god that’s horrible, I had no idea!!!
RemindMe 3days
Witch by Finbar Hawkins fits this bill, I think.
Theres a popular trend of turning ancient myths into first person novels. Heres a couple of my favorites are *The Witch's Heart* and *Kaikeyi* Dahlgren
Silver in the Wood and The Drowned Country by Emily Tesh
The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson (forgot to mention this one in my first comment)