A not-scary-but-still-spooky list of Halloween reads
It’s that time of year again when you’re ready to give yourself a little scare and indulge in a bit of Halloween fun. I fully intend to curl up with a good book on this spooky evening and the list-maker in me thinks it’s a good idea to round up some of my favourites.
Now, for those who love a good horror story-Move along folks! This one isn’t for you. There are absolutely no good horror story suggestions to be found in this corner of the internet.
That being said, if you enjoy a bit of a spooky read or a little slice of mystery to get you into the Halloween spirit, without scaring yourself silly-here it is. A little list of not-scary-but-still-spooky books to pick up this Halloween.
1)Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
An absolute classic. With its perfectly dark and despicable characters and creepy moors, you can’t beat an old standby. Whether you’re picking it up for the first time or returning to it, for its creepy brilliance, it’s a great read this time of year.
2) The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding
Intense and Puzzling, full of secrets that threaten first the bonds that bind a family together and then the very existence of the family itself, something to enjoy from the safe haven of your home, a luxury quickly being taken away from the Adler family.
3)Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
Take a spoon of this gothic tale, add a pinch of horror and a dash of creepiness and you’ve got another classic to enjoy this Halloween.
4) Trolls Eye View: A Book of Villainous Tales edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Technically listed as a YA book, but there’s something about it that will appeal to both adults as well as kids. Balancing both dark themes and funny anecdotes, this anthology has a great lineup of authors from Neil Gaiman to Garth Nix and Jane Yolen and many others who have contributed making this a pretty enjoyable read. A good balance of poems and short stories, some funny and some creepy, there’s something in here for everyone.
5)The Best of Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, The Cask of Amontillado, and 30 Others by Edgar Allen Poe
Celebrate Halloween with mesmerizing short stories and poems from the master himself. All my personal favorites are the ones right here in the title. Hauntingly beautiful and …you know what, just enjoy the brilliance. Nuff said.
6)The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Whether you choose the novels(I mean, the Sign of the Four, not to mention The Hound of the Baskervilles, it doesn’t need to get any creepier than that for me!) or the short stories, pick these for your Halloween read and there is no way you will be disappointed.
7)Chocolat by Joanne Harris
Not technically set around Halloween, but this is one cozy book to pick if you enjoy hints of magic and mystique. Light and frothy on the top with hints of darker themes lurking just below the surface. With a whimsically charged atmosphere and hints of vanilla bean and chocolate in the air, this is one delicious book. Just make sure you have some chocolate lying around before you dive into this one, you’ll thank me later!
8)By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie
For a healthy dose of a mystery, Agatha Christie’s books are a no-brainer. There are some though, a bit more suited to this time of year if you want your mystery infused with just a little bit of a spine-tingling chill. By the Pricking of My Thumbs is the one to beat in my opinion, it’s got just the right balance of creepy and intrigue, and I love a good solve by Tommy and Tuppence.
If you are more of a Poirot fan, you’ll appreciate Hallowe’en Party (no, it doesn’t get more on the nose than this)
And if you want just a good old mystery, it doesn’t get any better than And Then there were None. Pure Agatha Christie brilliance, and one of my all-time favourites
9)Lord of the Flies by William Golding
A popular one that we’ve probably all read in before, but a fantastic example of a book that is horrifying, dark, and thought-provoking, without actually being a horror story.A must-read.
10)The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
Here’s another one that will leave you questioning human nature. This horrifying short story is intense, suspenseful, unsettling, and yes, brilliant.
And now, I’ll leave you to enjoy your literary thrills! Happy Halloween!