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There's something evocative about horror fiction

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Faisal Hashmi is a UAE-based filmmaker  and writer

Faisal Hashmi is a UAE-based filmmakerand writer

I'm a huge horror enthusiast, so the first books to have a huge impact on me were the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine.

Published: Thu 6 Oct 2016, 11:00 PM

Updated: Fri 7 Oct 2016, 1:02 AM

  • By
  • As told to staff reporter

Name some of the books you are currently reading?
I'm currently reading a science fiction epic called Seveneves by Neal Stephenson as well as a non-fiction book called Modern Romance by the acclaimed comedian Aziz Ansari.
What are the books that shaped your outlook and changed your life?
I'm a huge horror enthusiast, so the first books  to have a huge impact on me were the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. I've read dozens of books in the series and it was what introduced me to horror at a young age, and what set me on a path to discovering Stephen King and delving more into adult horror. There's something very evocative about horror fiction that horror films can never match.
 What books would you pass onto your kids to read and treasure?
I'd start them off with the kind of fantasy novels I grew up on including the Harry Potter series and Lord of the Rings. I don't know if they'll be as relevant in the future, but they were the first few books to trigger my imagination and I'd follow that up by showing them the film adaptions so they can see how it was visualised on screen. As a filmmaker, I love seeing how others interpret material.
Books that you never tire of reading and re-reading?
I'm a big fan of Stephen King, but one book by him that I find myself revisiting often is Different Seasons. It's one of his most dramatic books and consists of four short stories that have led to acclaimed films like The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me.
 A book you believe every person must pick up at least once?
That would be The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's a book I read as coursework during school but have re-read a few times since. It always impresses me because the story there is just beautiful. I believe everyone can learn something from it.
 
 



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