This October I put together a little list of books I’d like to read to get me into the spirit of Hallows Eve. Here is my list, plus a few from past years. Any or all of these books make wonderful reading, but fair warning, some are not for the faint of heart.
Here is my mini list of spooky hair raising classics:
Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley
This is such a fantastic story, I encourage anyone who has not already read it to do so. The story’s background is also really interesting. It’s impressive enough the Shelley could right a book from the perspective of 2 separate males, but she also started this book on a complete whim. She was given the challenge by a peer to right a ghost story while vacationing, and out of that came this iconic masterpiece.
The Turn of the Screw
by Henry James
I have to admit I barely made it through this book, though it is very well written and a wonderful classic. My reason was purely that I am a big chicken and it scared the daylights out of me. I read it aloud, which really added to it’s eeriness.
The Shining
by Stephen King
I of course had to have Stephen on this list. I could decide which book so I chose purely based on the fact that The Shining was one of my first Stephen King experiences. Now for those really looking for a good scare go with “It” though I personally will never be brave enough.
Dracula
by Bram Stoker
This is a beautiful story and a classic that I feel is so under appreciated. Dracula represents everything the Victorians feared: the irrational, the pagan, the erotic and the foreign. If you love classic literature and/or gothic novels, I highly recommend you read this book!
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The Legend of Sleepy Hallow
by Washington Irving
Washington Irving’s haunting, macabre stories will give wide-eyed readers delightful chills. This is a great story and such an awesome read for this time of year. It is especially great to read on particularly gloomy flog laden evenings.
Halloween is just a few days away…
What spooky book/s will you be curling up with?
Frankenstein and Dracula are great reads for Halloween! I think the Woman in Black is a good story for this time of year as well, not too long a book either, so perfect if you just want a quick read 🙂
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That looks good! Thank you for suggesting 🙂
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Such a great list! I’m reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and have been very into Shirley Jackson this month.
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We are totally book-patible! I would add The Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova and Ghost Story by Peter Straub. The first two are different perspectives of Frankenstein and Dracula and the third scared the bejaysus out of me! I literally slept with the light on
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Oooooh Awesome suggestions!!! Thank you! 🙂
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I have always wanted to read Stephen King, but I’m such a scaredy cat that I just have never tried…
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Me too! I won’t do “It.” though. I just can’t. LOL
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I preferred the movie The Innocents to the Turn of the Screw. James is just excruciatingly slow for me.
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Pingback: Spooktastic Classics – worldtraveller70
I found Dracula to be the scariest story I’ve ever read!
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Great list!
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I am reading ‘IT’ at the moment but only 100 pages in.
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You are Brave!
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Such a great creepy list! Every year when we carve pumpkins my mom would put the audio version of Sleepy Hallow narrated by Glenn Close. It was chill inducing! ❤
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Ooooh Glenn Close! That sounds awesome 🙂
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A great list of classics. I’ve read all of them and love all of them. Thanks for the reminder – maybe time for a re-read.
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I love many of these books. Right now I’m reading Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. Weird and creepy, but Bradbury’s writing is poetic and amazing.
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Sounds like something right up my alley! Thank you for sharing 🙂
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I always love to take it back to the classic books!
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IT is my favorite Stephen King novel. Great story. Try it. Salems Lot gave me nightmares!
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I will ponder It 😉
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I don’t read scary stories often anymore, but I recently read The Outsider by Stephen King. It was creepy.
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I love all the books you listed. I just finished The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. I’m now reading her book The Small Hand. She incorporated children into these stories, and I’m curious how many others include this aspect.
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