Some of us read horror because we like to be afraid. Some of us (not mentioning who) read horror because something is slightly "off." I like it because, frankly, my real life is kind of boring.
A book I liked got a lot of press for being literary, but seemed to be ignored by the dark fiction reviewers. Maybe I just missed it, but I thought this would appeal to horror readers. It's The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. What could be more scary than being hauled off by "memory police" just for being normal?
On an island, things disappear. Not like they're lost. People wake up one morning, realize there are no more ribbons, and in mass they bring all ribbons to public places to be burned. When they wake up to realize all roses have disappeared, the entire town brings their roses and throws them in the river. One day it's birds. Another day they wake up to find books have disappeared so they bring all books to be burned and finally burn down the library.
To make things creepier, if a person hides something, for sentimental reasons or because they like it, if the memory police find out (and they do because they search houses) the owner is arrested and "disappeared."
Are things really disappearing? Or has the entire population gone mad? Or is this a hint of what a police state is like?
Don't take the chance of having books disappear! Read it now!
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