'Tis the Season for Spooky Books - Adult edition

Ack! The month is almost over and I have like 3 more posts to do. This might spill over a bit into November but I still have All Soul's Day and Dia de los Muertos, right?

So, adult horror. Well, I like quite a few of these but I will do my best to narrow it down to 4 or 5.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
A group of occult scholars attempt to spend the night in a haunted house and observe or debunk the ghosts. Pretty much your standard set up, right? But the House is most definitely haunted and It has decided to take at least one of them by the end of the story.

What's makes this book very effective is the use of language and atmosphere. Jackson creates a believable and psychologically chilling world where at times you are not totally sure if things are really happening or if the people in the story are crazy. Oh, and the commentary of sexual perversion and repression alone make this one worth a read. Subtle, dark, and tense this story has been copied multiple times to poor effect. Jackson did it best, one of the earliest and best haunted house stories out there.

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
On a crisp evening in October a strange carnival rides into town and two boys' lives will never be the same. Both the boys and one father realize that something is not quite right about this particular circus show. But as they investigate will they be able to resist both the seductive pull of their own desires and the terrible needs of the Shadow Show?

The carousel scenes have stuck with me all these years and the variety of bone-chilling evil in this carnival is almost more than I can stand on a late October night. It is not a slasher or even outright evil that grabs me most; it is the insidious call to normal human needs and desires and how hard we will fight to fulfill them even to our own detriment that really makes this a memorable story.

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker
Strangely this book takes place in mid-February, not a time typically associated with horror, but it likely should be. For when is life at its most boring and routine than the month of February? Also, this might not strictly be an adult book since it has been published as teen and children's as well. However, for me, some of the themes place it in a more adult sphere.

Harvey is a typical 10-year-old boy in a typical Midwestern town, until he meets a peculiar man with a huge grin who tells him of a house where every day is a holiday and children play all year round. Great, right? But what happens when you go to often or stay too long in a place of non-stop fun? And what is the price you will have to pay?

The Hunger by Whitley Strieber
Miriam Blaylock is an ageless vampire who takes new companions when her old ones are no longer able to function. And now that John, her current lover, is beginning to deteriorate she has set her sights on a young doctor studying the link between sleep and aging. Maybe she will never have to lose a companion again.

A weird and sad atmosphere full of 80s references and cold beauty as well as questionable science make this one a fun read. Plus, I used to study primates, so the parts about the testing on apes and how closely they resemble us also pulled me in. And since it is a vampire story, there has to be some elements of sexuality and death. The most chilling part for me was what happens to her companions. That makes Miriam a true vampire villain to me.

Oh, and of course, there is a movie. With David Bowie....So get on that!

The Shining by Stephen King
It is really hard to pick just one King book since I pretty much love them all. But if I must, The Shining was probably one that scared me the most the first time that I read it. Of course, I was working second shift at a hotel by myself at the time, so that could be one reason I found it so scary. Or maybe it was the real conflicts of alcoholism, parenthood, and adult responsibility (which I was just beginning to face at 20) that made this one stick.

In case you haven't read it, the Torrence family moves into The Overlook Hotel over winter to take care of the hotel while it is closed and so the father, Jack, can finish writing his Great American Novel. But they are not really alone, since the hotel hosts a wide variety of evil spooks that never really left and that hope to keep the Torrences with them--forever.

Well, those are some of my favorite adult creepy reads. What are yours?

'Tis the Season for Spooky Books - Teen Edition

Since this is my specialty, the teen list is going to be a bit long and broken into multiple parts. Teen lit covers a lot of ground when it comes to horror and the supernatural but I will try to limit myself to only a few in each section.

Non-Fiction

Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide by Hiroko Yota and Matt Alt; illustrated by Tatsuyo Marino

What is a Yokai, you ask? Well, yokai is a word that encompasses a variety of Japanese monsters from folklore and urban legend and this book will guide you through the characteristics, habitats, and ways to avoid and/or defeat them. It is laid out like a field guide and features fantastic illustrations of each creature, from fairly harmless Akaname (Bathtub-licker) to the truly terrifying Tsuchi-gumo (Giant earth spider). So, if you think you might encounter any strange Japanese monsters in the near future, this is the book for you.

How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith

Basically, it is what it says it is. The author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies details the pitfalls and possibilities if you find yourself in a horror movie, beginning with "How to tell you are in a horror movie." Perfect for anyone who loves horror. Check out this pocket guide and be prepared to laugh, cry... and scream if needed.

Funny/Scary

Zombies vs. Unicorns compiled by Holly Black and Justine Larbalastier

This book was born from an argument between Black and Larbalastier over which is more terrifying: Zombies or Unicorns. And since they know so many YA authors, they decided to have their friends write stories that argue for their individual sides. Some are actually kind of scary; some are definitely more funny. Either way, by the end, you should be able to decide which side you are on.

The battle of the ages: Zombies vs Unicorns! What an amazing anthology. Not one bad story in the bunch. And such creative reimaginings of both creatures. From rapist unicorns to zombie princes, the characters in this book are sure to surprise. 

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Sam is a college dropout working at a fast food joint to pay the bills. When an irate customer assaults him and asks him why he didn't "petition to live here" Sam begins to wonder what the hell is going on. Then one of his friends loses her head--and keeps talking.

Funny, dark, sarcastic, and intriguing, it's kind of a Laurell K. Hamilton thing for teens. And done well...No sappy lovey dovey junk. This is a boy's paranormal story that girls can enjoy too.

Oh, and the chapter titles. Lish McBride has some great musical taste. I might have to make a Necromancer playlist. And if you like this one, check out the sequel: Necromancing the Stone.

Horror-Adjacent (Paranormal)

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

Mary Shelley Black never believed in ghosts, until her beloved's specter returns to warn her of a new and disturbing threat. This book was just as fascinating as the cover implies. If you are at all interested in WWI's effect on soldiers and civilians alike, Spiritualism, or the flu epidemic of 1918, you will truly love this book. It has romance, horror, action, and mystery, definitely one of the best YA novels of 2013.

The Diviners series by Libba Bray
Set only eight years later in New York City, The Diviners follows a cast of teens with paranormal powers as they battle apocalyptic ghosts, nightmare monsters, and in the newest volume, possibly the Devil himself.

Kind of a combination of the anime Ghost Hunt and the TV show Heroes in some ways, the real life of this series is the characters. While there are a lot of them, they each exist as full people, with backstories, fears, and issues all their own. Oh, and they talk and act like real teens, too. I'm currently re-reading these and it's a bit scary how much the issues of the 1920s parallel the issues of the 2010s. But that is a different kind of terror altogether.

Actually Scary

Engines of the Broken World by Jason Vanhee
Now this one grabs you from the very beginning and does not let up. Merciful and Gospel Truth pull their dead mother into the house and put her under the kitchen table; things only get worse when she begins singing them a lullaby.

This was creepy, familiar, confusing, intriguing, and just plain disturbing. Of course, that means I loved it. I can see how it might really offend and confuse some, but those same elements kept me reading. The images were so real and gripping that I was literally cold through the whole book. And I'm sure there will be a lot of complaining about the ending, but to me, it seemed exactly right.

Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics

In a similar vein, this book takes a pioneer family and tosses in some horror. When the oldest daughter becomes pregnant, a family decides to move from the mountain down into the prairie for a new start. However, the home they choose has a dark and bloody past that is now coming for them. Basically if Laura Ingalls Wilder decided to write a story like Stephen King, this is the book you would get.




The Enemy series by Charlie Higson

Confession: I love zombie movies. And this series is written like the best zombie movies, gore and all.

London has been struck by a dreadful disease that turns all the adults into zombie-like creatures who will eat their own children. Groups of kids are holed up in safe houses around the city, from grocery stores to Buckingham Palace. And the zombie adults aren't the only things they have to fear. Plus, once you hit puberty you will become a zombie, too. Oh, and the zombies are getting smarter.



The Monstrumologist series by Rick Yancey

In a world where monsters really exist, one boy learns of the true horrors of our world from a doctor of mostrumology. When Will Henry's parents die in a mysterious fire, he takes over as the Doctor's assistant and discovers that the world is very dark indeed. In a series of gory, dark stories Will faces burrowing grave-robbers, man-eating forest dwellers, possible vampires, and even demons. How can he survive not only the monsters but also the Doctor and the unscrupulous hunters of supernatural creatures that he associates with.


So, those are my teen picks. What are your favorite teen horror books?

Next up, adult creepy reads...

The Friday the 13th Horror Movie Marathon

Since today is Friday the 13th in October and I am off of work, my husband and I decided to have a horror movie marathon. He is the Grand Master of Horror, so he picked all the films. And since he normally cooks, I planned the menu and and did the cooking. And since I like you all so much, I'm going to live blog the whole experience. So, here we go!

Nosferatu (1922)
This is a true masterpiece of silent movie magic. Listed as one of the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die," on Ebert's greatest films list, and even on the Vatican's best movie list, this film will amaze and disturb on every viewing.

It succeeds on several fronts. First of all, atmosphere: the setting, lighting and pacing of the film are brilliant. Freeze frames at just the right moments. Music that perfectly sets the scenes. And even though this was obviously filmed in daylight instead of dark the creep factor and integrity of the film holds up. Shadows are used to up the tension and creep factor.

In addition to atmosphere Nosferatu features amazing acting by a great cast of characters. Even the smallest parts stand out, from the townspeople at the beginning of the film to the sailors at the end. Greta Schroder and Gustav von Wangenheim are totally believable as a young, naive married couple. von Wangenheim provides occasional comic relief and Schroder excels as a woman both easily tempted and strong enough to defeat the vampire in the end. Max Schreck, of course, was so believable as a vampire that people actually thought that he was one. He doesn't even blink for most of the film. 

Finally, the greatest achievement of the film, in my opinion, is the special effects. Granted, you have to view them while factoring in the extreme difficulty of creating special effects at the time. How did they make items move on their own? How did they make you believe the paranormal events depicted? Best of all, the most memorable scene, when Graf Orlok stands up from his coffin without bending his body. It looks so real that it is likely the scene you remember most. It certainly is for me. 

We had mummy dogs, ghostly donuts, and mimosas for breakfast to accompany the feature. Great way to start off.

1408 (2007)
In a completely different vein, we have 1408, based on a short story by Stephen King. A paranormal debunker finds himself trapped in a haunted hotel room that is really haunted. I have to believe that King wrote this one after too many nights on book tour and wwwaaaaayyyy too many banal hotel rooms. Mike Enslin wrote one great novel from the heart after his daughter died and followed it up with several kitschy books like 10 Haunted Graveyards. 

This time he's stuck in a room that always, always, kills its guests. I love how King writes horror that deals with our own innate, mundane human fears in the most terrifying ways imaginable. As Samuel L. Jackson's character says, "Why do you think people want to believe in ghosts?....they provide a hope for life after death." Mike wants to deny that hope because he is still bitter over the loss of his daughter. Room 1408 uses that against him in every way possible. 

There is also the terror of repetition, the same one you feel when watching Groundhog Day when  the alarm clock keeps playing Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe." In this film, its The Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun," but the effect is the same. That dragging fear that your life means nothing and the triviality of it all will never end. The platitudes of the hotel staff prove that no one really cares. 

We even get the nightmare trope of waking from a dream repeatedly to find that you never really escaped, you just think you did. In the end Mike accepts that there is no escape and that death isn't the worst thing that can happen to you. Even when he does escape at the end, he can never fully believe that he is not still in the room.

It is interesting to note that Cusack and Jackson co-star in another King film in 2016, Cell. Neither 1408 nor Cell did all that well at the box office, but they encompass the stories they are based on quite well.

Snack was Children of the Popcorn and Rice Crispy Monsters.

Gerald's Game (2017)
From one Stephen King story to another....So far this one is pretty much exactly like the book. Gerald is an asshole, Jessie is legitimately tired of his shit, and the terror has just begun. 

Lesson one: always have a safe word. 

Lesson two: don't leave your door wide open.

Lesson three: feral dogs are always Cujo and people are food.

Lesson four: you are a lot stronger than you think you are.

Lesson five: Their shackles can be broken but only you can break them.

Lesson six: "Huh, you're a lot smaller than I remembered."

Lunch: Stuffed Pepper o'Lanterns, toxic macaroni, devilish eggs, and reverse caramel apples.

Event Horizon (1997)
My husband has probably made me watch this one a hundred times, but it is still a horrific version of the future of space exploration. The crew of the Lewis & Clark travel beyond Neptune on a top secret mission....with Sam Neil. Honestly, if Sam Neil is in a movie in the 90s, you probably don't want to be there; they usually end badly for his companions. The crew is no exception. 

They find a ship that Neil designed to create wormholes and cut travel time in space. Unfortunately, it disappeared with all hands on board. But now it is back...and it's hungry. Apparently the ship went a bit too far and pierced the universe into what appears to closely resemble Lovecraft's parallel dimensions where the Elder Gods live. Wherever it went, whether Hell or S'glhuo, it is not a good place. In parts this movie also resembles Barker's Hellraiser.

Either way, only 3 people survive and we once again have a scene at the end where the survivors are not sure that they actually got away. Like Alien's tag line, "in space no one can hear you scream."

Snack: Toasted pumpkin seeds and Nancy Drew blondies.

Now a break to watch Jeopardy....

Wish Upon (2017)
Premise is pretty simple. Unpopular girl's father finds a magic box that will grant 7 wishes and gives it to her. Girl makes some wishes and discovers that there is always a price in the form of someone she cares about dying. After the seventh wish, girl's soul will be the final price. Should she continue to make wishes?

Kind of reminds me of Final Destination with the tension to see who will die next. Also has that "Monkey's Paw" thing going on. It was okay. Pretty good for what it was but the main characters got a bit irritating after a little while. There is even a mean girl. Sort of a mix between a teen movie, slasher film, and Dr. Faustus. If your looking for some teen angst and gruesome murder, here ya go!

Dinner: Decapitated meat head, boo-tatoes, and witch's fingers with witch's brew cocktail.

Hocus Pocus (1993)
Finally, we're ending with a comedy about "evil" witches. Strangely, it's at this moment that I realize pretty much all of these movies had to do with family. In this one, sisters are the primary topic: sisters to save and sisters who kill. We have Winnie, the sister with the powerful book; Sarah, the sister with the powerful voice; and Mary, the sister with the powerful nose. Then we have two brothers, one who failed to save his sister and became immortal to defeat the witches and one who could become their newest victim. Oh, and resurrecting kitties and zombie boyfriends, can't forget those.

Much of the comedy springs from the Sanderson Sisters not really understanding the "modern" world. And virgin jokes, of course. What teen movie of the 80s and 90s didn't have virgin jokes?

I do wonder what the Town of Salem thought of this one. Did you know that Sarah Jessica Parker is in fact descended from one of the women accused of witchcraft in Salem? How cool is that!

Midnight (well 10 pm) Snack: Bloody cups (chocolate with cherry filling)

Okay, so we are now done with our movie marathon. What movies would you choose for a horror movie marathon?

'Tis the Season for Spooky Books - Middle Grade Chapter Book edition

Creepy chapter books are so much fun! Some of my first memories of being read aloud to by librarians were creepy books - which I will share below. For me, horror for children is important because it is an outlet for exploring things that we don't completely understand when we are young, ways to deal with emotions we might not have felt before, and situations we might not be able to process yet. They are not only appropriate, but are absolutely necessary. Why else would fairy tales exist? Are they not mainly stories we told to explore the world and help keep our children safe?

So here are some children's chapter books that influenced me both as a child and as an adult.

The Ghost Belonged to Me by Richard Peck
This is the book I referred to above. When I was in 3rd or 4th grade, my school librarian read the first chapter of this book aloud to us. Afterwards there was a mad rush to check out every creepy book she had available. I had to wait a bit to check it out, but when I did, I absolutely loved it!

In 1911, Alexander is a typical boy who just happens to see a ghost! Now he's on an adventure with Blossom Culp, who claims that she can see spirits, too. Strangely, I just found out there was a movie made by Disney called Child of Glass. I think I have to watch this now...

Bunnicula by James Howe
Then came the fabulously and cornily awesome Bunnicula series. I mean, come on, who doesn't love a vampire bunny rabbit? And his cat and dog sidekicks are pretty awesome, too. Also, the puniest titles ever for the sequels: Howliday Inn, The Celery Stalks at Midnight, and Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allen Poe just to name a few. So, so funny!



The Witches by Roald Dahl
Witches are real and they will come get you! At least in this story, where the most memorable part for me was when they turn a boy into a mouse. While I like mice (I know, I'm weird) I would not want to spend the rest of my life as one. Strangely, this book has been banned several times as promoting witchcraft. In reality, it very clearly portrays witches as bad people whom you not only don't want to meet, but most definitely do not want to be. either.Of all the books in this post, this one (and Coraline) most clearly hearken back to classic fairy tales and that similarity is used purposely and to perfection.



Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark compiled by Alvin Schwartz; illustrated byStephen Gammell
Schwartz's collection of American folktales of the scary persuasion caused untold outrage when I was a young one, mostly due to the illustrations. Of course, as kids we adored it, terrifying pictures and all. Sadly, if you buy the new editions, the illustrations have been changed and are not nearly as creepy, which is just a shame. Try your hardest to get an original; it is so worth it.


Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Probably one of my favorite creepy stories for children of all time. This one deals with mother and father issues, identity issues, and problems faced after moving to a new place. Even having an unusual name is an issue for young Coraline. In the new old house her family has moved into she finds herself surrounded by strange neighbors and wanders into a seemingly perfect parallel world where her Other Mother gives her everything she could ever want. Perfect, right? Or maybe not. 




Okay so those are mostly from my own childhood. Here are a few published after I became an adult that are totally amazing for middle grade kids.

First a couple of funny/scary...


Zombie Baseball Beatdown by Paolo Bacigalupi
Three boys are practicing baseball near the town meatpacking plant when the zombie apocalypse begins with a zombie cow. So, of course, they have to defend themselves with a baseball bat. Soon the outbreak spreads to the humans in town and the boys begin sneaking around trying to discover what is really going on. ZBB tackles some pretty intense topics (food safety to racism and immigration) but manages to keep the humor in a grisly story.



Half-Minute Horrors compiled by Neil Gaiman
Each author in this collection had to write a short story that lasts 30 seconds when read aloud. There is a wide variety of scary in this one, but all are a good creepy time. I especially like the one that is just an enumerated picture with a key at the bottom. Someone has been killed and it is not very difficult to figure out who did it or why. Great for read-alouds to groups of children--be prepared for both screams and giggles.

Now how about a couple of scary ones...


The Boneshaker by Kate Milford
My first thought on beginning to read this book was "Wow, this is Something Wicked This Way Comes for the elementary set!" I was not disappointed. Set in Missouri in 1914, the story follows Natalie, who loves all things mechanical, as she takes on a strange traveling medicine show and someone who might possibly be the Devil himself. Can Natalie save not only herself, but the whole town? Very, very creepy in only the best ways.

Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
In an alternate version of London, ghost have began to return to attack the living, and the only people who can see or fight them are children. Most agencies are run by adults; however, Lockwood & Co. is a three-person, ghost-fighting team. Part Ghost Hunt, with a dash of Sherlock and Doctor Who, this series has much of the best of all three and is at times extremely scary. 

Don't forget to check out the other 4 volumes of this super creepy fun!

Okay, so that is all for Chapter Books. 

Next up: Young Adult/Teen scariness.

'Tis the season for spooky books - Picture Book edition

Yep, I'm another person who adores October, Halloween, and all things horror. Seriously, my unofficial motto is "Any excuse to wear a costume!" So I plan to read nothing but horror and supernatural books all month long. And I'll tell you all about them.

But first, over the next few days I plan to share some of my favorite creepy books for different ages. Today is picture books!

The Spooky Box by Mark Gonyea
Gonyea is a graphic designer whose children's books often employee slick, computer-generated designs and a minimalist sensitivity. Sometimes this doesn't work so well for me, but in this case, I love it!

What do you do when a plain black box shows up on your doorstep? What could it possibly contain? Bats? Rats? Spiders? The creepy contents abound. This book is great for using your imagination and detailing all the slithery possibilities. And the ending will either delight or disappoint you.


Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted to Dance by Keith Graves 
This is one of my grosser picks but a funny one. And how appropriate is the author's name!

When Frank gets the urge to dance, he and his monstrous kitty must go to the theater downtown and put on a gruesome dance show. Everything is going great until Frank begins to dance himself into pieces! Rhyming text and exaggerated illustrations make this a fun one for groups or one-on-one.


Socksquatch by Frank W. Dormer
Socksquatch just wants to have two warm feet but he can only find one sock. As he goes from monster to monster he asks the same plaintive question, "Got sock?" Eventually a solution appears but life is still not perfect for our cryptid friend.

This time Graves skews into the cute. I love reading this one aloud and doing the voices. I just wish it was bigger. Maybe scan and use a projector? I'll have to try that some time.

Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds; illustrated by Peter Brown
Jasper loves carrots and he eats them every day. But what happens when the carrots decide to follow him around? What do they have planned? Will they try eating him, too?!

So fun! Also check out A Creepy Pair of Underwear in which Jasper encounters underwear that creeps him out--and keeps returning to his drawer!

In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz; illustrated by Dirk Zimmer

Now this one makes me nostalgic. I remember this as one of my first chapter books, well loved and read over and over. Guess I've always loved scary stories.

Schwartz collects seven classic tales of terror and they are all pretty scary. The ones I remember best are "In a Dark, Dark Room" for the jump factor and "The Green Ribbon" for the ewww factor. Even if it is marketed to young kids, these are some real spooky tales.

 The Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman; illustrated by Dave McKean

Creepy as only Gaiman can be, this book starts with a pig puppet (you know I have one!) and a girl who hears something in the walls. Sadly, only her pig puppet believes her...until it is too late.

McKean's sketchy illustrates serve to heighten the fear and tension of the story. I've read this one to school-age kids successfully more than once.


Can't forget two classics...

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles Schulz

Probably the best of the picture book adaptations  of the Peanuts holiday specials. The story is awesome and Schulz's illustrations are always great. Linus shines in this story as only he can. I really wanted to wait in the pumpkin patch with him when I was a kid. Charlie Brown keeps trying to kick the football and Lucy keeps pulling it away. And so many wardrobe malfunctions! If nothing else, this is a great story of faith and persistance in the face of everyone else's disbelief.


Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton

Originally written as a poem by Burton in 1982, the story was made into a groundbreaking animated film in 1993. The book version is very similar to the movie, but I actually like the sketchy illustrations in the book even better. They are scary in my opinion and really speak to the heart of a story about searching for identity, trying out new things even when they don't work and accepting yourself as you are. It also makes a great all around seasonal book since it bridges the gap between Halloween and Christmas.

So, what are your favorite creepy picture books?

Next up: Spooky Children's Chapter Books...