Top 10 Scary Reads for Halloween!

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For most of us fall means that there is a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to fall with the changing season. It can also rouse the imagination of all things scary in anticipation of Halloween. Even if you do not celebrate Halloween you or your teenager may enjoy reading a good scary book. They do not have to always have a theme out of a horror movie to bring a chill down your spine. Here are a list of 10 scary reads, many of which are classic books!

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The author started writing this tale when she was only 18. A mix between a romance and a warning about the dangers of science, this book tells of a science student named Victor Frankenstein who takes things just a little too far in bringing life out of death. In turn, his creation ultimately turns on him.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

One of the first vampires in literature, the character of Dracula has inspired countless tales since. The novel is the story of Dracula trying to move from Transylvania to England to find new blood and spread his undead curse.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

A piece of Gothic horror literature that tells of Christine Daae who is raised in a the Paris Opera House. Her father who was a famous musician passes away but promises to be a protective angel of music to guide her after he is gone. After awhile she starts hearing a voice that teaches her how to perfect her singing. The story is a dark tale of love, jealousy, and violence.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 

Written under the pseudonym Ellis Bell this book was written while Emily Bronte was in her late 20’s. It was published by her sister Charlotte after her death. Wuthering Heights was the farmhouse where the story takes place. It tells of jealousy and vengefulness and the impact it has on the individuals and on their community.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Susie Salmon was just 14 when she disappears from her small close-knit community. While she is in heaven she is able to observe her family and friends as they try to figure out what happened to her. Even through tragedy and loss, hope, joy, and humor are able to shine down.  

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James 

A young woman becomes governess to two very mysterious children, Miles and Flora, who live in a haunted estate. Figures are seen peering out of dark towers and dusty windows seemingly becoming closer with time. The helpless governess soon realizes what the phantoms want, or rather who they want.

 The Trial by Franz Kafka

This novel is considered by some to be one of the most important novels of the twentieth century. Josef K is a respected bank officer who is arrested without knowing why.  He has to defend himself against a charge that he knows nothing about. What adds to the mystery is that like many of his other novels, Kafka did not completely end his story.

The Stand by Stephen King 

An apocalyptic story of a world overcome with a plague caused by a patient who escapes a biological testing facility. It shows the struggle between good and evil from the remaining people and the need for someone to lead them. Two such leaders emerge one that is for peace and the other one takes pleasure in chaos and destruction. The fate of humanity lies in which side the remaining people take.

1984 by George Orwell 

A unique work of political satire that grows eerier as time goes by and the author’s vision of the future becomes more realistic. It includes a predicted future of a totalitarian society and bureaucratic world that denies people of individuality. It is often considered one of the most terrifying novels ever written.

Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales and Poems

 You can not beat a poem by this imaginative author! He is most known for his poems and short stories. He was the master of the psychological thriller and had a way of using words to draw the reader into his supernatural realm.

 

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October 24, 2018