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Original poster

What line of fiction has sent a chill down your spine?

58 replies

MrsDanversAteMyIpod · 22/06/2009 23:23

Have just read 1984 for the first time (-aged 32 - late I know) We did Animal Farm at school but I didn't get around to reading this until now.

I was fairly gripped and enjoying it to the point where Julia and Winston are echoed with 'You are the dead' & omg, it was so chilling..couldn't put the blardy thing down till the end

Any MNers experienced any similar literary chills?

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Ceasnake · 28/06/2009 20:58

I've only read The Collector once... and I'm determined never to read it again, as it couldn't possibly have the same chilling impact as it did the first time.

janeite · 28/06/2009 16:30

The Collector makes me feel sick every time I recall it.

othersideofthefence · 27/06/2009 22:28

A line from one of Antonia Forest's books

'...but of course, once in every lifetime tomorrow never comes'

Ceasnake · 27/06/2009 21:23

So many good ones here; I second 'Kevin' and 'Survivor Type' and 'After the Hole'.

Mine are:

The last paragraph of the prologue of The Secret History, where Richard is talking about Bunny's death..."At one time in my life I might have had any number of stories, but now there is no other. This is the only story I will ever be able to tell."

And the last paragraph of The Collector, which I can't quote word for word, but you realise the protagonist has selected his next victim and is preparing the cellar in readiness...

babyignoramus · 26/06/2009 16:17

I read some seriously disturbing horror when I worked at a library. The TV series Fallen Angel gave me the creeps when I saw the trailer - I mentioned to DH that the only other thing that had given me that feeling that was a book called 'The Four Last Things'. Strangely the TV series was an adaptation of it!

passionberry · 25/06/2009 17:09

I've read Voyage of the Dawntreader recently too and noticed that Janite. That date comes up in other books too I've noticed - spooky

Re. Rebecca - the very beginning when the narrator is describing going back to Mandeley in a dream and hearing the pitter patter of the leaves on the drive which sound like a woman's footsteps running down to the cove . . . shivery!

janeite · 25/06/2009 16:45

I am re-reading the Narnia books at the moment. There is a line in "Dawntreader@ which says something like "after September 11th, he forgot all about writing in his diary" which I must admit, in a post 9/11 world, really jumped out at me last night.

Sunshinemummy · 25/06/2009 10:00

Oh Jude the Obscure. It's years since I read it but so so awful.

MavisGrind · 24/06/2009 22:58

MrsD and ImOverThere - it does stick with you doesn't it?! Mind you I'm trying to think in terms of 'life's too short, better get on with it' rather than consulting the calender and wondering 'will it, at some point in the furture, be today?'

Just wish I could remember which one it was in now!

FattipuffsandThinnifers · 24/06/2009 22:40

MrsDanvers, it might well be that line!

It's been a while since I read it.... [blush again]

giraffescantdancethetango · 24/06/2009 22:21

Poem by Edwin Morgan "black block condemned to stand, not crash"

LovingtheSilverFox · 24/06/2009 22:18

OK, am now using this thread as my Amazon wish list. I read A LOT, and cannot for the life of me remember lines like you guys are quoting! I bow before masters!

ImOverThere · 24/06/2009 22:16

MavisGrind - that line from Iris Murdoch has made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I am going to have to try and forget that.

UnquietDad · 24/06/2009 22:13

Also the line in Iain Banks' "Use of Weapons" - "It was a good battle, and they nearly won" - on which the whole plot twist pivots!

cyteen · 24/06/2009 22:11

I know, it chilled me to the core. Not one to read with a young baby - I spent the entire time practically in tears wondering how I would protect DS [hormonal] - but it is so well written I had to finish it. And actually it does finish somewhat upbeat.

I could have lived without DP inadvertently giving me a horror scare with his snoring one night though 1am, settling DS in a darkened room, half asleep, I hear GROANING echoing down the corridor. I nearly had an undignified moment, I can tell you.

Original poster
MrsDanversAteMyIpod · 24/06/2009 22:10

F&T do you mean when the iron voice echoes Julia & winston with 'You are the dead.'?

See op

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UnquietDad · 24/06/2009 22:09

In "After the Hole" where it says in the "report" section right at the end "It is generally accepted that [what's-his-name] died on the second day." Sorry, not read it for about 15 years!

Marthasmama · 24/06/2009 22:07

cyteen - I couldn't even finish that bloody book. World War Z will remain unfinished for me. I doubt I'll be able to go back to it. Zombies scare the shit out of me anyway and that book is soooooo well written. Poopy poop pants!

FattipuffsandThinnifers · 24/06/2009 22:04

What a great thread! Absolutely agree with the Jude "we was too many" bit and 1984.

Also the bit when Winston's "safe" house was suddenly revealed to be not safe. Can't remember the exact line - will try and search it.

The end of Brave New World is pretty horrible too

Original poster
MrsDanversAteMyIpod · 24/06/2009 22:01

SLF, found The Yellow Wallpaper on Amazon by Virago Classics,

will try to avoid that holiday scenario, doesn't sound like much fun somehow

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cyteen · 24/06/2009 22:00

janeite, that is a great story. mmmm ladyfingers

Wittering · 24/06/2009 21:52

I think we should set up a post-Jude recovery group.

Original poster
MrsDanversAteMyIpod · 24/06/2009 21:52

Blardy norah, both Jude the Obscure & Heart of Darkness are on my To Read List, don't tell me anything else

Mavis, that is quite chilling, don't think I'll forget that now.

There should be a spooked out emoticon really, maybe one with a wobbly line for a mouth...

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norkmaiden · 24/06/2009 21:50

Yes, Jude the Obscure here too, by an absolute mile. Never mind chilling, I was devastated !!

used2bthin · 24/06/2009 21:45

The same bit from the Lovely Bones! Also The trun of the screw I'd forgotten that as I read it years ago but it was really chilling. Interested to her more about "We need to talk about Kevin" as I saw it on my aunts shelf yesterday and wondered about borrowing it. Is it really scary?