Happy Halloween, bookworms! Last year, I presented you with a “spook-tacular” Halloween literary quiz. This year, I’m taking a different approach and going with a list. (You must have realized by now just how much I love lists. I do. I love ‘em.)
So for your reading delight, a list of books guaranteed to make your hair stand on end.
If you’re afraid of ghosts, then you probably shouldn’t read…
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, in which Nobody Owens is orphaned after his parents’ death and is left to be raised by the citizens of an old graveyard.
- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, a story narrated by the deceased Susie Salmon (like the fish) as she watches her family – and her killer – from limbo.
- Something Upstairs by Avi, because maybe you too will find a long-tortured ghost in your attic and then get roped into helping solve his murder.
- The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde, or else the hapless ghost Sir Simon may haunt your house until you can accept him and help him move on.
- Hamlet by William Shakespeare, because the ghost of Hamlet Senior sets into motion a chain of events that will eventually lead to almost everyone’s death.
If you’re afraid of vampires, then you probably shouldn’t read…
- The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, because although the Cullen family members are friendly vampires, the Volturi are most certainly not.
- The Vampire Chronicles by Ann Rice, unless you want to get caught up in the dark and mysterious whirlwind that is Lestat de Lioncourt.
- The Victoria Nelson series by Tanya Huff, for it concerns the night-time habits of one Henry Fitzroy, illegitimate son of Henry VIII and, as it turns out, a vampire.
- The Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels, especially if you’re a vampire slayer with a weakness for vampires with souls.
- Dracula by Bram Stoker, the classic story upon which all other vampire stories are based.
If you’re afraid of witches, then you might not want to read…
- Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, a story of two magical sisters who find themselves in over their heads when it comes to keeping the forces of evil at bay.
- The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike, because these witches are powerful forces of nature who consort with a man who may or may not be the devil.
- Wicked by Gregory Maguire, as it may completely challenge your ideas on just what went down in Oz along that yellow brick road; the villain may not be the villain.
- Stardust by Neil Gaiman, or else you’ll have nightmares about gruesome aging witches, determined to go to any lengths to secure immortality.
- The Circle of Three series by Isobel Bird, in which the supernatural aspects of witches are downplayed in favor of a more modern, Pagan approach.
But if you are a fan of ghosts, vampires and witches, along with wizards, dragons, owls, werewolves, unicorns and the occasional half-giant, just read the ultimate Halloween books, the Harry Potter series.
Happy Halloween, bookworms!
