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Original poster

Fellow bookworms, help me find a gothic ghost story for 14yo DS

51 replies

Whatdoyawannado · 26/02/2023 15:04

Well, it doesn't have to be gothic exactly but definitely a bit atmospheric and spooky. He's suddenly become interested in this genre - he picked up 'The whispering Muse' from the library but I decided it probably wasn't suitable after looking into it. I don't want anything too evil spirit-y and nothing to do with the devil. No gore either. I haven't read this genre at all so could do with some recommendations for him. He as an avid reader with a reading level well beyond his age. Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Whatdoyawannado · 26/02/2023 18:41

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/02/2023 16:18

I've never heard of 'The Whispering Muse' but would have thought that by 14 he's capable of deciding for himself whether it's suitable or not, including gore or the devil.

Maybe try Michelle Paver - she's done two ghost stories, but they're not gothic.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
The whole story is that he picked it up from the library as a 'blind date with a book', so it was all wrapped up with a label on the front saying it was supernatural gothic book, which is what piqued his interest. I had a chat with him about it and said I wasn't sure it was suitable and didn't want it to play on his mind after reading it but he still decided he wanted to read it after our discussion, which I was fine with. I then pointed out he had already had the book a week and hadn't started it and wouldn't be able to renew as it's on a reservation list due to it being a new book. He decided he might not be able to read it in two weeks (he does a lot of reading in school and doesn't like to take library books) and didn't want to return it half read so it went back unread, not because of me.

Sorry for the essay, just wanted to clarify that I'm not making reading material decisions for him!

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Original poster
Whatdoyawannado · 26/02/2023 18:51

Chikapu · 26/02/2023 17:32

The Whispering Muse is pretty tame, I don't think it's unsuitable for a 14 year old.
Do you vet everything he reads?

@Chikapu I don't, no, but he hasn't read anything else of this genre before and I know he's quite a sensitive soul and supernatural/gory stuff does play on his mind (like me which is why I avoid it!) He is still a child and finding his way so I don't think a bit of parental guidance is wrong, if he insists he wants to read a book that I might consider unsuitable then I'm not going to stop him. It's ultimately his choice and decision. I won't actively get him a book with gore in it though because I don't think it's necessary to read that sort of stuff.

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Original poster
Whatdoyawannado · 26/02/2023 18:52

Thank you for all the recommendations - I had forgotten about Poe (unforgivable!). His birthday is in April so I'll be getting him a few of these suggestions.

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RagzRebooted · 26/02/2023 18:59

Cinnamonandcoal · 26/02/2023 16:30

Gormenghast. Not a ghost story but as gothic as it gets.

I was coming on to recommend that! I read it at about 14 I think. So gothic.

DD is 13 and choses her own books, I can't imagine telling her take one she chose back and not let her read it! She's currently reading Crime and Punishment and Naked Lunch. They are exposed to the whole of the internet these days, so I don't see what could possibly be in a book that could be worse.

Considering how many boys that age are into Andrew Tate at the moment, I'd be quite happy for them to be reading 'innapropriate' or 'gory' books instead.

PaperDreamsHoney · 26/02/2023 19:12

Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot. It's quite new, aimed at teens so spooky without being terrifying.

Original poster
Whatdoyawannado · 26/02/2023 19:21

@RagzRebooted I don't know who Andrew Tate is and pretty sure DS doesn't either. He doesn't even have WhatsApp yet - his choice as he said he doesn't want to be glued to his phone. I've told him he might find it easier to contact friends if he had it but he's happy just sending text messages for now. Anyway, getting sidetracked.

Gormenghast sounds like a winner, I haven't read that either so I'll be borrowing it off him when he's done!

OP posts:
LushAlice · 26/02/2023 19:26

My Swordhand is Singing - Marcus Sedgwick

Tulipvase · 26/02/2023 19:40

RagzRebooted · 26/02/2023 18:59

I was coming on to recommend that! I read it at about 14 I think. So gothic.

DD is 13 and choses her own books, I can't imagine telling her take one she chose back and not let her read it! She's currently reading Crime and Punishment and Naked Lunch. They are exposed to the whole of the internet these days, so I don't see what could possibly be in a book that could be worse.

Considering how many boys that age are into Andrew Tate at the moment, I'd be quite happy for them to be reading 'innapropriate' or 'gory' books instead.

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I have a very avid reader and it was hard when she was younger, American Psycho was something I did stop her reading at 13/14. Well, I think I did…..

byronicheroine · 26/02/2023 19:41

Give Catriona Ward a go, start with Rawblood.

At that age I got very into Stephen King too

10in10 · 26/02/2023 20:04

Frankenstein

10in10 · 26/02/2023 20:04

The Wasp Factory

AnnaBegins · 26/02/2023 20:06

Room 13 by Robert Swindells, I'm sure I read that at 13 or 14.

UnaOfStormhold · 26/02/2023 20:10

The first book of the Gormenghast series is Titus Groan if I remember correctly. Extraordinary books.

Very different but he might also enjoy Diana Wynne Jones' The Time of the Ghost - one of those stories that stays with you.

HowardKirksConscience · 26/02/2023 20:52

Tulipvase · 26/02/2023 19:40

I have a very avid reader and it was hard when she was younger, American Psycho was something I did stop her reading at 13/14. Well, I think I did…..

Show quote history

You’re did her a favour by putting her off American Psycho at least for some time. I wish I’d never picked it up. Same for Last Exit to Brooklyn. Women would never have written those books.

Tulipvase · 26/02/2023 20:57

HowardKirksConscience · 26/02/2023 20:52

You’re did her a favour by putting her off American Psycho at least for some time. I wish I’d never picked it up. Same for Last Exit to Brooklyn. Women would never have written those books.

Show quote history

Exactly. She is 17 now so no control anymore but I did try!

Tulipvase · 26/02/2023 20:57

10in10 · 26/02/2023 20:04

The Wasp Factory

for a 14 year old?

ashtyler · 26/02/2023 21:02

Prince of Mist by Carlos Zafon

10in10 · 26/02/2023 21:18

@Tulipvase yes I think the Wasp Factory for a 14 year old would be ok!! I wasn't much older when I read it.

Geppili · 27/02/2023 04:13

M R James stories terrified me as an adult. 🤣

garlictwist · 27/02/2023 05:24

I remember reading the Yellow Wallpaper in English at about that age. The whole class was transfixed and that had never happened with anything we read in school. It's a short story/novella but really eerie.

Valhalla17 · 27/02/2023 05:35

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 27/02/2023 05:44

Short stories by Guy de Maupassant. Start with The Hand

SolitudeNotLoneliness · 27/02/2023 05:50

Dark matter Michelle Paver
Thin Air Michelle Paver

Both creepy and terrifying! My teen read my copy of Dark Matter and had to cover up their mirror it spooked them so much!

Otterspotterspocket · 27/02/2023 05:54

The Wasp Factory is not a ghost story.🤷‍♀️
However, I loved The Canterville Ghost - so atmospheric and touching.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 27/02/2023 06:44

The Yellow Wallpaper is brilliant but not a ghost story. Again, I don’t think it’s likely to appeal much to a 14 year old boy.