Spooky Book Challenge - October 2015

[[deleted user]]

I finished my first book for the challenge Thornyhold, while not all that scary, the main character is believe to be a witch and witchcraft plays a big part in the storyline.

[Leslie]

Well, I pushed myself to finish the graphic novel Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft - the artwork was well done but this was definitely not my cup of tea! Too scary & way too gory... In that sense, it was perfect for this challenge but I won't be continuing with the series or the audiobook!

Now onto Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West -- don't know how scary it will be but as with Janessa's book, it is about a witch!

[Colleen]

Loved Doctor Sleep! Perfect way to get into the season.

[GeneralTHC]

The challenge for me is even finding any good creepy books. All the lists are always the same old stuff. I've either read them pretty recently or I'm just not interested. I don't really care for monster stories, but I do enjoy a good haunting. But I looked, again, for hours yesterday for one and came with up with nothing. Sigh.

[Jenny]

Chuck, I am currently reading our seasonal author William Gay and though he doesn't really fully fit into the traditional 'spooky' box, he's dark as hell and well, my book has lots of dead people and an undertaker, so I guess it qualifies ;) His style reminds me of Cormac McCarthy a lot. Maybe he's worth a shot?

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Chuck wrote: "The challenge for me is even finding any good creepy books. All the lists are always the same old stuff. I've either read them pretty recently or I'm just not interested. I don't really for monster..."

I know! I love a good creepy story, but most seem to follow a formula, kind of like a scary movie where the best parts are in the trailer and the rest is filler.

I'm starting a new book that sounds promising - I hope I am not disappointed: The Dead House
just released last month.

[GeneralTHC]

Jenny wrote: "Chuck, I am currently reading our seasonal author William Gay and though he doesn't really fully fit into the traditional 'spooky' box, he's dark as hell and well, my book has lots o..."

Yeah, that would definitely qualify AFAIAC; I'll take a look. Thanks so much!

[Pink]

Chuck, what about something like Let the Right One In?

[GeneralTHC]

Pink wrote: "Chuck, what about something like Let the Right One In?"

Yeah, I should definitely read that one. I actually have the eBook and audiobook, and I keep hearing it's one of the very best must-reads of the genre, but I'm really wanting a good haunting story. I'm not that big on vampires.

You know what creeped me out really good? The Willows. It's that creepy, atmospheric, haunting thing, where you're just not sure what's going on, that really gets me. I remember I had downloaded an audiobook version of THE WILLOWS one night, and I laid in bed listening to it on a dark country night, and it really got me good. I was afraid just by rolling over in bed I'd bring attention to myself and the demons wandering the world would realize I was ripe for the plucking, lol, if you know what I mean.

I don't know, I'm beginning to think the story is only half of it. That it's just as much to do with the setting and the mood your in and whatnot, and that you really can't force it. It just has to happen naturally when you're least expecting it. And who knows why scaring the crap out of ourselves is so much fun, but it is.

[Pink]

Well your description has proved atmospheric enough for me NOT to want to listen to that! I'm not really a fan of creepy/spooky books but don't mind them once in a while.

I haven't actually read Let the right one in, but I have heard good things and do own the DVD, so perhaps I'll creep myself out with it over halloween!

[Beth]

I signed up on the homepage to read at least two books for this challenge. Currently reading Bellefleur and plan to read Rebecca.

Maybe I will read The Willows too.

[Leslie]

Pink wrote: "Well your description has proved atmospheric enough for me NOT to want to listen to that! I'm not really a fan of creepy/spooky books but don't mind them once in a while. ..."

I'm right there with you Pink!!

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

The creepier and weirder the better!! I love the atmospheric settings that make you see things in the dark when you close the book....

[Deborah]

Well, I re-read The Canterville Ghost and Other Stories as promised :)

[Beth]

I've now read Bellefleur, The Willows and The Island of Dr. Moreau for this challenge. My favorite was definitely The Willows but the other two were pretty interesting. Bellefleur is a horror novel but also a family saga, set in upstate New York over several generations.

[Brooklyn]

So far I've read Dracula

Currently reading Frankenstein

And to be read (hopefully within the month of October but maybe not)
Hallowe'en Party

The Silence of the Lambs
Celeste
Flowers in the Attic
Pride and Prejudice and ZombiesSharp Objects and Night World, No. 1

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Hi Beth, I just put Bellefleur on my list to read next October, thanks! Have you read The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates? I think she is awesome, but is an acquired taste. How did you like The Willows?

[Beth]

Terry wrote: "Hi Beth, I just put Bellefleur on my list to read next October, thanks! Have you read The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates? I think she is awesome, but is an acquired taste. How did you like The Willows?"

I loved The Willows! I read Bellefleur because of my GR friends had it as one of her favorites. I liked it, but there were some bits that were kind of disgusting (I like horror, but I like it when it's scary ; I don't like being grossed out). It's a fascinating book though. I haven't read The Accursed yet, but I might read it.

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Hi Beth, re: The Accursed - just be warned that is extremely well written, but very dry.

[Theresa]

Well, I finished Something Wicked This Way Comes and The Haunting of Hill House. Neither book really held my attention. I understand the downward spiral mentally of the characters, but it just didn't really grip me or make me shiver even a little. I have one more for my challenge. I'd like to read a book within the same vein as above or even like Rebecca. Any ideas?

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Hi Theresa, I couldn't get into the Haunting of Hill House either. For some reason, I just didn't care about the characters. I absolutely loved Rebecca, though!

[[deleted user]]

Theresa- Have you read The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier or The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins? Those are both gothic/horror stories. Sorry, I cannot see your bookshelves so I apologize if you have already read them.

[Dominique]

This month I read so far

A Pleasure and a Calling
True Evil
American Gods
They were creepy psycho thrillers

[[deleted user]]

I only was able to fit in Frankenstein, as I wanted to read it prior to the release of the new movie version. There are some really great creepy or horror book recommendations in this thread though. Good to remember for next October.

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Yes! Could the Mods please archive this thread for future reference?

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Dom wrote: "This month I read so far

A Pleasure and a Calling
True Evil
American Gods
They were creepy psycho thrillers"

Thanks Dom, You picked some really good ones! I am all "booked up" for this month, but I put all 3 of yours on my To Read list for the future.

[Theresa]

Lisa Ann wrote: "Theresa- Have you read The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier or The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins? Those are both gothic/hor..."

I have not read either of those Lisa Ann. I've been thinking about a short story book for my bingo card, and was leaning towards Poe, since it is October. I'll try The Birds and Other Stories.

[Theresa]

Lisa Ann, Turns out my library does not have either of the books on hand, The Birds and Other Stories or The Woman in White. I could request one from a participating sharing library for Woman in White. I will need to put the other one on my Christmas list. Both books sound like a good read! I did have The Woman in White in my TBR section.

[[deleted user]]

Theresa wrote: "Lisa Ann, Turns out my library does not have either of the books on hand, The Birds and Other Stories or The Woman in White. I could request one from a participating sha..."

Theresa- Sorry to hear that your library does not have either book readily available. :( If you have an ereader or a Kindle, The Woman in White is available for free.
http://www.amazon.com/Woman-White-Wil....
If you prefer traditional books, it looks like there are some reasonably priced used copies of both books available should you add them to your Christmas list. :)

[H]

I think I'll pick up a King for Halloween! Got some great ideas for scary reads from this thread though!

[Leslie]

While I liked Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West even more than I expected, it wasn't spooky at all... On the other hand, my current Kindle thriller about a girl from a family of killers (Ugly Young Thing) is creeping me out a lot!! I need to change my tags on these two.

[GeneralTHC]

Leslie wrote: " (Ugly Young Thing) is creeping me out a lot!!"

I'm so jealous! I wish I could find something good and creepy. I'm just too hard to satisfy, I guess. I don't like short stories; I will not read anything even remotely YA. I may have to compromise and bust out some old horror classics--Ambrose Bierce or something--on Halloween though, if I still haven't found anything. Love a good scary story...

[Shirley]

I've finished Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and am currently reading Horowitz Horror, which is a collection of short stories, all YA, but good to read nonetheless.

[H]

That's on my tbr for this month Shriley, can't wait.

[[deleted user]]

There are 50 spooky kindle books on sale today (10/24/15). Information and link posted in the Book Bargains thread, message 255.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[H]

Thanks for that Lisa Ann! Must have a browse..

[Gill]

Here's a bit of news relating to Dracula

Dracula dog Whitby walking tour app launched
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-...

[Leslie]

Gill wrote: "Here's a bit of news relating to Dracula

Dracula dog Whitby walking tour app launched
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-..."

Interesting Gill. Now if I could just afford the airfare!

[H]

I've started the Ransom Riggs' trilogy, so far seems perfectly the right choice for a spooky choice. Creepiness in abundance!

[Shirley]

Have now finished Horowitz Horror: Stories You'll Wish You Never Read, which were fun to read (only very slightly creepy!)

[Piret]

I read The Gunslinger. It wasn't as scary as I hoped. It was rather strange. I read it pretty fast, but I didn't like it very much.
Unfortunately I didn't have time to read any other creepy book (although I wanted to read 2 spooky books).
But in the future I actually want to read Pet Sematary. Has anyone read it? Do you recommend it?

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Pet Sematary is excellent and truly creepy!! It is one of Stephen King's better books.

[Leslie]

I am going to listen to the Librivox recording of The Monk as my final spooky book (if I can finish it by tomorrow midnight!) and as my last BINGO square too (bottom of my TBR)...

[GeneralTHC]

Looks like I'm getting in on this after all. I'm reading Slade House which has been pretty good, and I'm also reading one called The Bleeding Season, which I'm really enjoying thus far. I take it this author is a hard core horror guy, but he shouldn't have pigeonholed himself into that genre. His writing is much better than that IMO.

[Gill]

Leslie wrote: "I am going to listen to the Librivox recording of The Monk as my final spooky book (if I can finish it by tomorrow midnight!) and as my last BINGO square too (bottom of my TBR)..."

Well done with the bingo, Leslie.

[Leslie]

Chuck wrote: "Looks like I'm getting in on this after all. I'm reading Slade House which has been pretty good, and I'm also reading one called The Bleeding Season, which I'm really..."

Chuck, I am glad you finally found some books for this :-)

And thanks Gill :)

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

These are the books I read this month:
The Canterville Ghost
Good old fashioned ghost story, but not scary.
Neverwhere
Listened to this on Audible - Excellent narration!
The Accursed
Horrifying and fascinating, yet written in a dry, factual way, which made it more eerie, actually.
Dracula
The original and the best vampire story of all.
The Dead House
It had all the elements of a good horror story: evil lurking all around, but too much teen angst spoiled it for me. Very unusual presentation of the book, though.
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Loved re-reading my favorite story by one of my favorite authors.
The Witching Hour
This is a big family saga of the Mayfair Witches and I am thoroughly enjoying it, but I am putting it aside because of my book commitments for the next two months.
I may pick it up again in the dead of winter after the holidays are over...

[[deleted user]]

Ah, I missed out on The Canterville Ghost and Dracula; perhaps next year. Onto November now .....

[Greg]

Terry wrote: "These are the books I read this month:
The Canterville Ghost
Good old fashioned ghost story, but not scary.
Neverwhere
Listened to this on Audible - Excellent narration!
[..."

Some good ones Terry!

[Terry ~ Huntress of Erudition]

Lisa Ann wrote: "Ah, I missed out on The Canterville Ghost and Dracula; perhaps next year. Onto November now ....."

Hi Lisa Ann, I feel the same way about the books I missed out on reading in October, but oddly enough, I like to read macabre scary ones at the beach on a hot summer day, too. (?)