Your Halloween “spooky- reads”…sorted.

Dear Friends, Halloween is around the corner.

And though in my religion, it’s celebrated under another name and another way- the spirit (literally and figuratively) is same.

So not wasting another minute, I’d delve into my “curated” horror reading-list for you, to consume, when ghost and ghouls are having merry time outside.

[The Chill-O-Meter is there in the place of actual rating]

 

1. Periodical horror

 

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

Goodread link: This way

There was a fascinating French series called “The Returned” (Season 1: highly recommended) which I binge-watched a few moons ago.

The whole theme revolved around – how a small, sleepy French town got devastated when the deads started coming back to their respective families.

 

“The Winter People” revolves around the same theme- traversing back-and-forth, spanning more than 100 years.

Apart from historical horror and missing persons, there are-

• savage winter,
• poverty ravaging a family,
• a mother’s maniacal love and
• an eerie farmhouse.

 

Chill-O-Meter: 3.5 / 5

 

 2. Gothic horror

 

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Goodreads link: This way

For starters, I’m not a fan of this seminal work by Shirley Jackson.

“It could’ve been so much better” was my first thought once I finished it off.

But still, I’d encourage you to give this Gothic, atmospheric horror a shot.

 

Why?

• The “unreliable” narrator part (my favorite thing in a horror/thriller book). It would make you think –

 

was it horror or one woman’s descending into insanity?

 

• The atmosphere. Who could resist the lure of a gothic manor with secrets, sighs, and creaks in every nook and corner and a bunch of Ghostbusters? Not me!

 

• The simmering sexual tension between the two female leads.

     Given it’s published in 1959, that was “lesbian” love unfolding before you, you ignorant readers of 50s.

 

 

• The climax (* taking out hanky and wiping away fat rolls of tears* level sad).
• The just-released “Netflix” series based on this book.

 

Chill-O-Meter: 3 / 5

 

3. Scandinavian Horror (‘cause why should British and American ghosts have all the fun?)

Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Goodreads link: This way

To me, “Let The Right One In” is a romance novel in the garb of a vampire novel.

Set in a Swedish suburbia, this book is-

• magical,
• repulsive,
• heart-breaking,
• gut-wrenching.

 

It tackles with-

• School bullying ( “13 Reasons Why” level of brutal)
• Coming-of-age loneliness
• Single parenthood
• Pedophilia ( even if the vampire is a tiny 12-year old who lived through hundreds of years and an older man falls for her, I’d count it as pedophilia), and most importantly
• Love

 

I hate to repeat *that* cliche but

this is a way better love story than “Twilight”.

 

And that ending!

Chill-O-Meter: 4.5 / 5

 

4.Vampire horror

“‘Salem’s Lot” by Stephen King

Goodreads Link: This way

The world may go gaga over “IT” but to me, ‘Salem’s Lot is Stephen King at his finest.

I was compelled to read this book 3-4 times, much to my embarrassment.

I mean, when you’re over 25, then you should read Yuval Noah Harari and not mooning over a quaint town infested with vampires.

Anyway, this is a bloody ( Mary-the drink) level good.

Fit for Halloween readathon.

P.S. –

Just imagine, your sister turning into a vampire, scratching the window in the middle of the night and begging you to let her welcome in!

This was the dream I had after wrapping up the book, told my sister, and got whacked.

Chill-O-Meter: 4 / 5

 

5. Fucked-up Family horror

A Head full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay  

Goodreads link: This way

 

A discordant family is in itself a source of horror, according to me.

What’s scarier when you throw in paranormal stuff in it?

But above all the paranormal shit,  this book is special ‘cause it has shown:

 

what happens when your family doesn’t understand that you’re suffering from acute an mental disorder.

 

This lingering sadness stood out for me through the pages.

This is slow-burning horror at it’s best.

Chill-O-Meter: 3.98 / 5

 

 

6. Dystopian horror

Bird-Box by Josh Malerman

Goodreads link: This way
I will keep it very, very short. But reading “Bird-Box” had been an “experience”.

 

The horror was almost-

• palpable,
• physical and
• visceral.

 

Two words: Read it.

 

Chill-O-Meter: 5 / 5

(see that’s why I don’t hand out 5-stars like lollipops. You need to save them up for really good ones.)

 

Do you like the horror genre? What are your favorite books in it?

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