I read books in the thriller genre about once every two years, and books in the horror genre I got out of my system when I was younger. I honestly loved those spooky books for kids – anyone else read the authors Darren Shan or R. L. Stine? – but I don’t make a habit of reading these books these days.

I have actually always enjoyed comics that err on the side of spooky, but novels? I think I just don’t believe I would find them intersting!

I also think horror is a genre that lends itself so well to a visual medium that to read it sounds odd to me.

However, I would like to rediscover an interest in the gente and below are three books I’ve put onto my TBR in the hopes of doing so! They are all pretty much classics, but I always like to start from the basics.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson

Synopsis: Living in the Blackwood family home with only her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian for company, Merricat just wants to preserve their delicate way of life. But ever since Constance was acquitted of murdering the rest of the family, the world isn’t leaving the Blackwoods alone. And when Cousin Charles arrives, armed with overtures of friendship and a desperate need to get into the safe, Merricat must do everything in her power to protect the remaining family.

This book is written by the same author as The Haunting of Hill House, which I could read if I hadn’t watched it on Netflix already (；⌣̀_⌣́). Instead, I’m going to read this. It sounds wonderfully eerie and is less than two-hundred pages, so I’ve got v. high expectations.

Interview with the Vampire – Anne Rice

Synopsis: In a darkened room a young man sits telling the macabre and eerie story of his life – the story of a vampire, gifted with eternal life, cursed with an exquisite craving for human blood.

I’m not a huge vampire novels fan; mostly I got that out of the way with all those teen vampire books you’ll know if you, too, succumbed. But I keep seeing this book on ‘essential horror reading’ lists and this author is apparently one of the key vamp-writers of the age so, why not? It’s a little longer than the previous book, and I have no intentions to read the rest of the series, but we’ll see how it goes!

Carrie – Stephen King

Synopsis: Carrie White is no ordinary girl. Carrie White has the gift of telekinesis. To be invited to prom night by Tommy Ross is a dream come true for Carrie – the first step towards social acceptance by her high school colleagues. But events will take a decidedly macabre turn on that horrifying and endless night as she is forced to exercise her terrible gift on the town that mocks and loathes her.

I feel like I can’t make a horror/spooky TBR without Stephen King? Alas, here we go. This book I have chosen mostly because I haven’t seen the film, somehow (apart from that scene), and also I have the book and also, apparently this was the author’s debut? Did not know that; I believe it will tell me a lot about whether I enjoy his writing. 

Do you have any recs for me? What do you think is essential Halloween reading?