Five of the best
Five of the best body horror novels
Tackling social issues with often grisly violence, you’ll need a strong stomach for these stories by authors from Han Kang to Stephen King, but they make an indelible impact
Thu 18 Jul 2024 12.00 BST
Body horror is a genre that features the mutilation or transformation of the human body. Always graphic and usually grotesque, its trademark terrors range from dismemberment to cannibalism, which some authors use as a vehicle for political commentary or social critique.
In my novel, The Eyes Are the Best Part, Ji-won is a seemingly normal college student whose life unravels after her father’s departure and the arrival of her mother’s creepy new Caucasian boyfriend, George. After eating a fish eye for luck during a traditional Korean meal, Ji-won develops a morbid obsession with George’s blue eyes, culminating in acts of violence that confront the white male gaze in a very literal fashion.
If you have the intestinal fortitude for body horror tales, here are five of my favourites.
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Yeong-hye is stuck in a nightmare. Against her family’s wishes, she has become a vegetarian. When her family physically forces her to eat meat, they set in motion a series of events that will change her life for ever. Han Kang’s writing is beautiful and evocative, and her ambitious novel tackles mental illness, consent, misogyny and autonomy.
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
Murata’s novel is compulsively readable in spite of the many disturbing themes it covers. Natsuki, who is neglected by her family, seeks meaning in her existence after a series of traumatic events cause her to question gender norms and societal expectations. Bizarre and unpredictable, Earthlings features plenty of unsettling moments and will stay fixed in your mind long after you turn the last page.
Misery by Stephen King
Novelist Paul Sheldon finds himself in a dire situation after waking up from a car accident that left his legs completely shattered. He’s been found by superfan Annie Wilkes, who decides to hold him captive while he rewrites the ending of his bestselling romance series to her liking. Annie goes to great lengths to make sure that Paul behaves – and can never leave. A classic, must-read horror novel with plenty of moments that will leave you squirming.
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
In this debut novel, we follow an unnamed protagonist working at Holistik, a beauty and wellness store. Her work begins to take over her life, even as she starts to uncover terrible secrets about the cult-like company. Natural Beauty is a sinister and entertaining exploration of the cost of assimilation, toxic beauty culture and capitalism.
Boy Parts by Eliza Clark
Irina is a photographer who focuses on taking explicit images of average-looking men. After being offered an exhibit at a respectable London gallery, she revisits old photographs and begins to descend into madness, leading her down a path of destruction. This dark and unsettling novel looks at power, gender roles, class and sexuality, and is sure to be a hit with fans of Bret Easton Ellis.
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim is published by Octopus.