thanks jess

Since it’s the month of October I have been putting out fall/halloween themed content for you guys. So I compiled a list of books I like to read during October. These are some classics and some more modern books that are perfect for the seasonal vibes! 🙂

Dracula by Bram Stoker

What is the fall season without a good vampire story? Dracula is the story that cemented the idea of this mythical creature (The Vampyre was the first of course). This epistolary novel follows the journey of Jonathan Harker as he travels to Transylvania for a business trip. There he meets the strange Count Dracula, who he discovers is not human.

This is one of my favorites to read during October because it’s the perfect blend of spookiness and thriller. Chances are you’ve already heard of the story, and just like I have, it’s great to revisit it again and again.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

This is also one of the greats when it comes to gothic/spooky fiction. Frankenstein follows the accounts of Dr. Frankenstein and his creation who upon gaining sentience begins to cause terror and destruction.

This novel is surprisingly poignant, as it reflects on what it means to play with the laws of nature, and what it could mean for us as humans. You find yourself sympathizing with some characters, and it’s not all black and white. Plus, if you read it this month, you’ll be ready to watch the Guillermo Del Toro adaptation coming October 17th!

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brönte

This is often hailed as a romance but I would say it is more of a horror/ghost story. The love is unconventional and often times abusive but the story is enthralling. You find yourself shaking your head as the characters continue to make themselves miserable wondering how they’ll ever get the things they want.

Brönte’s prose is delicious as she is able to perfectly capture the complexities of emotions that come from yearning. The novel describes beautiful gothic imagery set in the fictional Wuthering Heights where characters Catherine and Heathcliff can be seen following each other forever in the moors.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

This is my first Shirley Jackson novel. I had originally wanted to read The Haunting of Hill House due in part to the amazing Netflix series. However, this one was also on my list and after picking it up in the bookstore I sped through it in less than 2 days.

The story follows a family outcasted beyond the town. The family faces ridicule and accusation of a violent crime. I mostly wanted to recommend this because of the character Merricat, whose mannerisms and dialogue is creepy enough to warrant a spot on this list.

If It Bleeds by Stephen King

I know if any hard core Stephen King fans see this, they will probably be disappointed. How could I choose this one book out of the many books he’s written? Well, this is actually my second Stephen King book. So I am going down the list!

This book is actually a collection of his short stories but the main one I wanted to point out was the story If It Bleeds, which features one of my favorite fictional characters, Holly Gibney. She’s quiet, observant, and excellent at strategy. Not to mention she’s trying to outsmart a monster. What a cool cat!

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

This one was recommended to me by someone and I was excited to read it because it was also on my tbr. I’ll have to be honest, this was one of the hardest books I’ve ever had to read. The language was hard for me to get through but the story is famous for a reason.

It’s actually a narrative poem and follows a character named Dante (wink, wink) as he travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. This one has many references to religion so it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But the descriptions of torture and mayhem were horrifying enough to earn a spot on this list!

Breverton’s Phantasmagoria by Terry Breverton

And the last one on the list is this cool little book. I found this in a Barnes & Noble. One of my more spur of the moment purchases. It’s a compendium of short blurbs on monsters & myths. It’s great if you want to just skim through and be creeped out.

There’s different categories and there’s a couple I didn’t know about before. Great to learn about legends and pass them on for a good campfire story.

And that is my list! There’s a lot of other books I couldn’t quite get to as I wanted to give you guys the essentials. These are the books I come back to, and I hope you enjoy them! 🧛🏼‍♀️