What book(s) do you regret reading in your youth?

[*anj*]

I used to read a lot of scary books when I was younger.

My parents let me read pretty much anything I wanted to read, and consequently I read some things that I wish I hadn't. Like what?

Rosemary's Baby, The Amityville Horror, The Exorcist, there were some others too. Those books really messed with my head, I was terrified of death and dead people and was really easily spooked for a long time afterwards. Wasted time and brain cells.

How about you?

[Scarlett]

I used to read a lot of scary books when I was younger.

My parents let me read pretty much anything I wanted to read, and consequently I read some things that I wish I hadn't. Like what?

Rosemary's Baby, The Amityville Horror, The Exorcist, there were some others too. Those books really messed with my head, I was terrified of death and dead people and was really easily spooked for a long time afterwards. Wasted time and brain cells.

How about you?

 

Not books....my mom drew the line at horror and demonic stuff and I've never had a desire since to read any of that junk. When I was first married I watched 'The Day After' and I was definitely spooked. For a long time. I can't really recall the movie and the premise no longer frightens me, but the feelings it gave me have stayed with me.

[OnTheBrink]

I used to read a lot of scary books when I was younger.

My parents let me read pretty much anything I wanted to read, and consequently I read some things that I wish I hadn't. Like what?

Rosemary's Baby, The Amityville Horror, The Exorcist, there were some others too. Those books really messed with my head, I was terrified of death and dead people and was really easily spooked for a long time afterwards. Wasted time and brain cells.

How about you?

 

I read the same books and regret doing so, as well. The images I created in my head while reading them are pretty horrific.

 

My parents let me be exposed to way too much as a child.

[TraceyS/FL]

My Grandma let me read The Shining when it came out.....

 

oh ye gads, i was what - like 10?

 

My parents apparently were ticked, it did serve to ensure that i can't watch those movies OR read those types of books! LOL!!

[Liza Q]

When I was 11 or 12 I read Gone With the Wind - definitely too young for that one!!!

 

I read those Flowers in the Attic books when I was a young teenager - I had to stop after three or so because they got creepier and creepier - and it was very hard to stop. I was tempted to read more for several years. I guess it took that long to get them out of the front of my mind, if that makes sense.

 

And I read Carrie when I was about 16 - still shudder over that one sometimes!

 

My parents had no idea what I was reading then. Maybe that is why I am so involved with what my daughters read today.

[Jennifer in NH]

I regret reading Salem's Lot...I read it when I was about 14..in a cottage with open windows all by myself...my Mum in another cottage 200 feet away!:eek: I couldn't sleep for weeks and weeks! I still have to close all the curtains at night...

[Carol in Cal.]

This is weird, because I read pretty widely. I seemed to be pretty inured to problems like this, though. Somehow I read as an observer rather than living the stuff like I would if I saw it. I think that this was because I heard so many scarey fairy tales early on, so I didn't think much of horrors. And, I was not drawn to horror books per se--don't remember being all that aware of them.

 

When I was 20 I read a book by Dean Koontz, and didn't go freely into the basement again for years. OMGosh. And within the last few years I read "The Kite Runners" and so wish that I had not. There is one scene in there that I wish I could exorcise. Where is that brain bleach when you need it.

[Danestress]

It's haunted my my whole life and I had a lot of intrusive thoughts about it when my children were younger. Okay, right now I am thinking about it and wish I weren't. I'm going for a walk now.

[Chris in VA]

Lady Chatterley's Lover contained some scenes that stick in the mind for a while--yuck. I also wish I'd never browsed the lesbian section at Half Price Books when I was younger--not because it was Lesbian, but because I picked up something porno by mistake and read a few paragraphs.

Also read Flowers in the Attic and the sequel, and yes, they are hard to get out of the mind. Bleck.

[MySerenity]

I never really regretted reading any of the Stephen King books I read when I was in middle school... except for IT. I've never gotten through it... I've tried at least three times... but for some reason I can never finish it. Probably the books I regret reading the most are those V.C. Andrews books (Flowers In the Attic and all those other series she had). They didn't creep me out or anything... just looking back I think they were a complete waste of time! (In high school my English teacher even put a ban on them for book reports)

[Joanne]

I've always been widely read. Accelerated in terms of content, even. (Wifey, Forever, Stephen King books, true crime, Lawence Sanders....all pretty young).

 

But, by far,

 

I read those Flowers in the Attic books when I was a young teenager - I had to stop after three or so because they got creepier and creepier - and it was very hard to stop. I was tempted to read more for several years. I guess it took that long to get them out of the front of my mind, if that makes sense.

 

I STILL get creeped out by them.

[muffinmom]

Forever by Judy Blume. It was being passed around the 5th grade (I think it was 5th). Of course my parents didn't know about it. So I read it, being a fan of other Blume books. All I can say is...TMI too soon!

[Lolly]

I read all the books listed by everyone above. I don't have any regrets about reading them. None of them damaged me in any way.

[Karenciavo]

I read Helter Skelter when I was 12. Freaked me out. :tongue_smilie:

[Rhonda in TX]

"Forever" by Judy Blume. I read it at a friend's house. My parents never would have let me. I've read books a lot worse than that (another regret), but that one has really stuck in my mind. I was way, way too young (probably 13 or so).

 

I've seen several people mention Stephen King books. I started reading him when I was in high school. Those books never bothered me, strangely enough.

[nancypants]

The only ones I can think of were "River Heights" (in the same vein as "Sweet Valley High".) They were just dumb (and it seems they were written for the express purpose of getting tweenage girls all hot and bothered!) :lol:

[Amy in Orlando]

Forever by Judy Blume. It was being passed around the 5th grade (I think it was 5th). Of course my parents didn't know about it. So I read it, being a fan of other Blume books. All I can say is...TMI too soon!

 

I was going to say the same thing, except 6th grade here. I was sooo not ready for that.

[Jennifer in MI]

The VC Andrews books, hands down. WAY too much information WAY too fast. I learned so much by those books that I really shouldn't have. I was in 7th grade!!! My oldest will be in 7th grade next year and I sure wouldn't want him reading them!

[momofkhm]

Those images are best not in my head.

 

The Stephen Kings books I read weren't bad. But I think I only read Firestarter as a teen.

[lovemyboys]

Yes, those are the ones I remember. ick.

[Adrianne]

Flowers in the Attic. The content was waaaaayyyy to adult for a young naive girl. I was pretty much left uncheck as a teenager. I parents figured if I was reading it must be good for me. (who cares about content)

 

I also read a book in a college by Dr. Ruth - again inappropriate material for an impressionable young girl. I guess I should have known better by then.

[Janet in MA]

A Separate Peace, Sybil, Tell-tale Heart

[Amy loves Bud]

All of the books I got out of my older brother's room. My parents didn't provide reading material and didn't monitor it either. There was a lot of sexual content in those books that belonged to a male ten year's older than myself. It makes me sad to think about what I read at such a young age. :sad:

[readwithem]

The Godfather and Valley of the Dolls. way too explicit. Also Sybil. Ick.

[Stacia]

I read Helter Skelter when I was 12. Freaked me out. :tongue_smilie:

 

I tried reading this many years ago (but I was an adult). Reading just part of it freaked me out. I quit reading it. And, there was a time when I read various 'true crime' type stories -- many too graphic & hyped up creepiness, ya know? Blech. Don't know why I wasted my time.

 

OTOH, I wanted to read Koko by Peter Straub for the longest time, but the cover art freaked me out. Finally, after years of thinking about it, I took the plunge & read it. I remember liking it just fine & not being freaked out by it. (Though it's been so long ago, I hardly remember the story.) LOL.

[Sahamamama]

This was assigned reading for a History elective in my senior year of HS. By the time I was about 2/3rds of the way through the book, I was just disgusted with it, with the language, the life-style of the main character.

 

So... I went to my teacher and told her that, according to the Student Manual, I could request an alternative assignment, if the assigned reading was against my convictions. I was allowed to choose another book and write a paper about it, don't remember it now. :confused:

 

Other books that I thought were not worth reading:

 

• A Separate Peace
  
• Lord of the Flies
  
• The Once and Future King -- I know, I know, it's a classic, and I've read it several times, once last year, but I still can't see what the big deal is about this book, with all that violence and incest
  
• A Day No Pigs Would Die -- you just gotta love that pig rape scene, right? It's perfect reading material for junior high schoolers, duh.
  
• Moby Dick -- actually, I have never finished this one, becuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

 

[Angela in TN]

Flowers in the Attic. The content was waaaaayyyy to adult for a young naive girl. I was pretty much left uncheck as a teenager. I parents figured if I was reading it must be good for me. (who cares about content)

 

I also read a book in a college by Dr. Ruth - again inappropriate material for an impressionable young girl. I guess I should have known better by then.

 

I'm with you on Flowers in the Attic and I read the whole series and some others by VC Andrews. My parents had NO idea what I was reading. It's pretty twisted when you root for the couple who will actually be committing incest. ugh (where is the vomit smilie?)

[Jennay]

The second book in The Clan of the Cave Bear series. Some of that book was definitely not appropriate for a young teenager.

 

Like many on this board, my parents never checked up on what I was reading. I won't make that same mistake.

[Valerie in Chicago]

I read The Amityville Horror when I was waaaayy too young.

 

And I couldn't stand Catcher In The Rye.

[Mrs Mungo]

The only book I really regret reading is Running With Scissors. I didn't read it when I was young, it was a couple of years ago but the brain bleach comment pretty much explains it.

[RoughCollie]

The book was The Fountain Overflows, by Rebecca West. I read it when I was 10 years old because my mother told when to when I had nothing to read. It was boring.

[Elaine]

Let's Go Play at the Adams, I read it in the 7th grade.

 

 

Freakiest book ever. I really feel like I need a shower just thinking about it.

[*anj*]

Forever by Judy Blume. It was being passed around the 5th grade (I think it was 5th). Of course my parents didn't know about it. So I read it, being a fan of other Blume books. All I can say is...TMI too soon!

 

Yeah, me too. Same grade.

There was a picture of a big brass bed on the cover. My mother never noticed or commented. My dad found it laying on the coffee table and yelled to her "What are you letting her read? What is this?" but she said it was fine and he put it back down. I breathed a sigh of relief because it meant I could continue to read about things way beyond my early years. That book and a movie called "Sooner or Later" starring Rex Smith made a major impact on my way of looking at the world for the next ten years.

[Rose in BC]

I marvel at how little "checking up" my mom did when we were young, given that we were raised in a conservative, Christian home. I think as long as we weren't in trouble, got reasonable grades, acted respectable, etc. etc. my parents thought all was well.

 

This is probably why I'm the opposite -- always checking, always worrying about appropriateness, etc.

[elegantlion]

Agree with Flowers in the Attic, I learned too much from reading those at a young age. Also stupid stuff about ghosts and UFO's. My parents had no clue what I was reading.

 

Plus, me and two friends received a great deal of s*x ed at the local bookstore. We went to the mall and read from the same book every week. it was very explicit. We would never have had the nerve to buy it, but I think we read the whole thing.

[Plaid Dad]

Top of my list would be The Exorcist and a number of Erica Jong novels I found in the back of my parents' closet. Oh, and Audrey Rose. :eek:

[*anj*]

Oh, and Audrey Rose. :eek:

 

Oh my gosh!!!! I read that tooooo!!!!!

[Liberty]

I never really regretted reading any of the Stephen King books I read when I was in middle school... except for IT. I've never gotten through it... I've tried at least three times... but for some reason I can never finish it. Probably the books I regret reading the most are those V.C. Andrews books (Flowers In the Attic and all those other series she had). They didn't creep me out or anything... just looking back I think they were a complete waste of time! (In high school my English teacher even put a ban on them for book reports)

 

I was so scared while reading IT. It got so bad that I ended up throwing the unfinished book into our woodstove and burning it, because even having it in the room was terrifying.

 

And, perhaps we were separated at birth, because I also read all the Flowers in the Attic books (though I never would have thought to do a book report on one--I think I would've been too embarrased).

[Debbi in Texas]

Sybil for me as well. I was bothered by the book for quite some time afterward. My parents didn't check what I was reading either.

[Liberty]

Prayer for Owen Meany

[chiguirre]

I had to stop reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee last year because I couldn't stop crying. That's a first for me, I even made it through Sophie's Choice without breaking down like that. I read plenty of trash as a teenager although I somehow missed Flowers in the Attic.

[Lucy in Australia]

Flowers in the Attic & co., definitely. I can't believe I was stupid enough to put that rubbish in my mind.

 

But more recently, and more surprisingly, I guess, was "The Kite Runner". I read the beginning, and got to "that part" and totally freaked out. I couldn't throw the book away fast enough. I never read the rest, and that scene continues to haunt me.

[Moxie]

I read "Then Again, Maybe I Won't" when I was too young. I didn't have any brothers so I got a lot of bad information there.

 

"Flowers in the Attic" was very creepy.

 

My mother used to read 'bodice rippers' and I would pick them up on occasion and read them. It is shocking how well I can remember those scenes. I pray my kids aren't exposed to that stuff.

[Amy in NY]

I can't believe I read the V.C. Andrews books. And I can't believe my mother let me.

 

Yuck.

[Part-Time Homeschooler]

My parents didn't censor my reading material and, as a result, I read a lot of inappropriate books:

 

The Amityville Horror

Cujo, The Shining, Carrie, and other Stephen King books

Flowers in the Attic (and other V.C. Andrews books)

Forever, Wifey, and other Judy Blume books

Audrey Rose

Helter Skelter (that one scared the living daylights out of me)

Sweet Valley High series

Sweet Dreams series

[Mrs Mungo]

Helter Skeltor (that one scared the living daylights out of me)

 

 

I read Helter Skelter as a teen but I didn't find it scary in the way that you mean. In fact...I dunno, I think it speaks against peer pressure and against the drug culture and against falling prey to people like Manson and against falling into the rebelling for the sake of rebelling trap. I'm probably not putting this very well but I think Helter Skelter has far more redeeming qualities than the Flowers in the Attick books, for example.

[*anj*]

I never read Helter Skelter, but I saw (parts of) the movie and it bothered me, especially because they kept playing that crazy song. That is the one Beetle song that I cannot listen to.

 

I guess this belongs in the movie thread, huh?

 

To this day I cannot even look at Charles Manson's insane face. He gives me the heebie jeebies.

[Jenny in Atl]

I read all the books listed by everyone above. I don't have any regrets about reading them. None of them damaged me in any way.

 

Same here. I can't think of one that freaked my out or upset me. :confused:

[Maria from IN]

I definitely regretted reading Alive, about the soccer team (and others) that crashed their plane in the Andes and eventually had to start eating their dead comrades. The part about cooking on scavenged metal parts of the plane is something I can't forget and just gives me the shivers.

 

As far as movies go, definitely the Exorcist--and there was one in the early eighties that I saw when I was thirteen called Threads about British families just before and 13 years after nuclear war. The possibility was still very much in our minds at that time and it just spooked the bejeebers out of me.

[Peela]

I just wasn't attracted to scary books. I had a more philosophical bent, reading things like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, J. Krishnamurti, and Simone de Bauvoir.

But, even though we had lots of books I loved in highschool- P&P, Jane Eyre, Tess of the Durbavilles- we had to read The Odyssey and I remember completely floundering with that book- tiny print, thick book- we had so little support- just expected to read it- no overview, no movie, no discussion till after we had read it. Talk about thrown in the deep end. I read about 2 pages and gave up- it just made no sense at all to me.