Spooky Books You Still Have Time to Read Before Halloween
Until I married a man in love with Halloween, I would more often than not forget about the holiday. Being forbidden as a child from all activities even tangentially related - the devil’s holiday is nothing to be excited about - I had no idea what I was missing. No candy, no costumes, no horror movies, no creepy books, no haunted houses.
Prepping for a Halloween party in 2010. I am wearing a curtain from Goodwill.
College was my chance to get into it, but every year I found myself surprised that it was Halloween and throwing together a day-of costume for some party. Conversely, my husband plots his costume a year ahead of time. At the slightest Autumnal breeze, he queues up The Witch, Halloween, Friday the 13th, and other horror movies I have not the fortitude to enjoy.
So to get myself in the spooky way, this October I piled on the scary books. Though I am sure these selections may be considered only mildly creepy by some, to me, they are chilling. They are all under 300 pages, written by women, and perfect for a light, literary fright.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
A mad scientist? Check. Dark and stormy nights? Many. Grave digging? Of Course. A Monster? Yes, more than one.
Intended to haunt readers, Shelley crafted this inventive novel in response to a prompt form Lord Byron. His assignment for each of their group to write a ghost story brought Shelley’s wretch to life. A teenager at the time, her imagination was vivid and her skill as a writer, even more impressive. (I argue that she is the father of Science Fiction.)
If you are deliberating between editions, I would recommend the one written in 1818. Alternatively, Dan Stevens narrates a fantastic telling of the 1831 edition for audiobook. Either way, this classic tale of life, death, ambition, revenge, and an animated corpse is the perfect October read.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Speaking of corpses, Beloved takes haunting to the next level. With the terrors of slavery - and the fracturing of family that came with it - as the back drop, this story illuminates the horrors of dehumanization. The family at the center of the novel is haunted by a ghost, a manifestation of trauma, suffering, and a dead baby.
The ghost is angry, jealous, demanding, and rotting. Morrison expertly explores the blurred lines between love and guilt. And despite the terror that plagues the house, I never wondered why they didn’t leave it.
Another masterpiece, Beloved takes the ghost story to new heights. It’s an engaging read and the audiobook is narrated by the author, which is particularly special. However you take it in, a baby ghost haunting her mother from the grave is downright creepy.
We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson
No zombies, ghouls, or goblins in this one. But the house is certainly haunted. Two young sisters navigate rejection from the town, caring for a crippled uncle, and estranged relatives trying to wedge between them. Those struggles may seem run of the mill, but a mysterious mass murder lurks beneath it all.
Hostility mounts from the neighborhood, believing one of them to be the murderer. But try as she might, the young sister’s spells, talismans, and visions will not be able to protect her from the evil within.
This book is a quick but compelling read. It is considered by many to be Jackson’s best work. With the slow unraveling of the plot - and of the narrators’ self-control - Jackson gives readers a psychological masterpiece.
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
A new book for me, this is one I will be reading for the first time this week. A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, this book - according to itself - is considered the “literary godmother of… contemporary masters of supernatural fiction.” The inspiration for the 1984 movie The Company of Wolves, the book promises to be twisted, gothic, and sensual.
The Werewolf, Wayward Girls and Wicked Women, and The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman are a few of Carter’s other titles that give a fun idea of her literary leaning. I am certain this tale will be sufficiently spooky!
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Though this is not quite in the same vein of the others, this short novel is my kind of scare. Ever the joker, Austen pokes fun at Gothic horror, specifically Ann Radcliffe, in this satire. To fully appreciate the subtext, Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolfo is on my list for next October. But for now, I can enjoy Austen’s depiction of the horrors of unwanted proposals, two-faced friends, and a potentially murderous host.
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