Scary Reads for Halloween
As a child I used to frighten extremely easily, which meant Halloween was a dreaded holiday. On Halloween night, the mere sound of the doorbell was enough to have me scrambling behind the couch and screaming “Go Away!” I wouldn’t even let my parents open the door to give candy to the bewildered trick or treaters. As I grew older, my fear of all things scary stayed with me. I once went to a birthday party late just to avoid the screening of The Ring. Then one day, I just changed. I suddenly wanted to scare myself silly. I wanted the thrill that can only come from a truly scary story. When someone suggested watching a scary movie, I heard myself seconding them. Scrolling through the channels, I found myself lingering over a famously scary scene. I took a couple English courses in college, one on ghost stories and another called Vampires and Other Mystical Creatures (No, I did not go to Hogwarts- I wish). To feed my sadistic need of terrifying myself, I started a tradition every Halloween of reading something scary (because I’m a book lover, reading the stories was obviously my first step, followed by the movie). I’m still not a horror junkie, but here are some of my favorite creepy reads. My choices below reflect only what I would consider scary and are in order of least scary to sleeping with the lights on, if you can sleep at all.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz – I would have to say that this book was my first introduction to the scary books genre and it was a completely unwilling one. Wanting to seem cool in front of my older cousin, I agreed to have him read this book to me. The stories are based on American folklore and are extremely creepy within themselves; however it is the accompanying illustrations by Stephen Gammell that have haunted me long into adulthood.
The Alienist by Caleb Carr – I would consider this book as more of a thriller than downright scary and is perfect for anyone who wants to dip their toes into scary books. The premise is a serial killer who targets young male prostitutes in New York City during the late nineteenth century. While that sounds very scary, the group designated to find the killer offer poignancy and humor that balances the darker undertones.
Jaws by Peter Benchley – Whether you have seen the movie or not, everyone is familiar with the premise of Jaws, the giant shark that develops an unquenchable taste for human flesh. What many people don’t realize is that it was first a novel. While the movie was great, but the book delves deeper into the character’s lives, creating a richer narrative.
Turn of the Screw by Henry James – This short story was written in 1898 and is a masterpiece of subtlety combined with psychological thrills. A naive young woman takes on the role of governess to two orphaned children in an isolated manor house. The story is a very quick read, filled with creepiness and a conclusion guaranteed to spark debate.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – Again, with this work, we see the premise revolve around the house. The title pretty much sums up the story: a group of people come to Hill House for tangible proof that it is haunted, yet they have no idea what they are unearthing.
Dracula by Bram Stoker – I’m all about the classics and Dracula is by far one of my most favorite scary stories. Despite it being the oldest on this list (written in 1897), I had to read this book during the day and found myself making sure that my windows were closed at night. This book spawned the entire vampire genre, with its fascination and the idea of vampires being viewed as seductive. If you have any interest in vampires at all, I highly recommend that you read this book, because it is a foundation for everything vampire-related.
The Shining by Stephen King – Ok, if you have made it this far in the list, this is your last chance to leave because it is with this title that I start to get into the really scary stuff. You have been warned. The story opens with Jack Torrance, struggling writer and recovering alcoholic, signing on as the innkeeper at the Overlook Hotel during the winter season. His wife and young son are the only ones to accompany him, or so it seems.
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris – Again, this is a novel made famous by the movie adaptation. Unlike the works above, this story does not contain any supernatural influences and is purely based on the deranged psychology of the human mind. I think that is what scared me the most, the fact that this could possibly happen. FBI rookie Clarice Starling becomes involved in solving the case of Buffalo Bill, a serial killer targeting young women. However, the task takes on an unusual turn when Clarice must rely on information provided by the incarcerated Dr. Hannibel Lecter, aka Hannibal the Cannibal (guess how he got that name?)
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris – Harris is the author of some very deranged characters. This book is related to Silence of the Lambs and chronologically takes place before it. FBI agent Will Graham gained fame as the man who captured Dr. Hannibal Lector. Despite Graham’s efforts to remain retired, he is pulled into a case with a serial killer named the “Tooth Fairy.” As Graham gets deeper into the case, he finds himself relying on Dr Lector for help.
Pet Semetary by Stephen King – I know that there is a lot of debate over which is King’s best novel. However, Pet Semetary was the one story that I read and afterwards could not sleep by myself with the lights off (I was 22). A young family moves to a house in Maine, with an ancient Native American burial ground in the woods nearby.
Ok, so that’s my list! What are your scary books?
– Lauren Onorato
Highly energetic article, I enjoyed that a lot. Will there
be a part 2?
Edgar Allan Poe’s “”The Tell-Tale Heart”” really scared me when I was little, and his “”The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar”” still creeps me out. It’s told in a pseudo-factual style, and it’s about a man who’s put under hypnosis as he’s dying of tuberculosis. He dies, still under hypnosis, and continues to communicate with for seven months after his death. It’s horrifying.
Ditto on The Haunting of Hill House. Although this short story isn’t a “”scary story”” per se, Flannery O’Connor’s “”A Good Man Is Hard to Find”” scared the bejabbers out of me. By the time I finished the story, I was holding the book by thumbs and forefingers, trying not to even touch the pages. Yikes.
Red Dragon. Oh. My. God. That takes me back. A boyfriend gave it to me to read when I was about 19. I think I slept with the lights on for about three weeks. For this reason I have never seen Silence of the Lambs. Yes, I’m pathetic.
I also have to admit that while I read Jaws as a teenager and had no problems reading it, I had to leave the movie theatre. LOL! Now of course I see snippets on TV and just shriek with laughter at the rather primitive special effects.
FWIW I have to say Tom Harris, in my very limited experience, is a terrific writer. He did far too good a job for my comfort of putting me right there in the story.
Hi Elizabeth! Silence of the Lambs is one of my favorite movies. It’s too bad you didn’t read that book first. Red Dragon was very disturbing especially with the kids getting murdered. Heck, the tone of that book was just too dark. With Silence there’s a lot of focus on the FBI agent, Clarice Starling, who isn’t as damaged as Will Graham. Anyway, you’ll have to post something if you ever break down and see it.
I read both Red Dragon and a story about real life Boston strangler in the same week and it really freaked me out. I haven’t read any true crime since excpt John Douglas’ books about profiling which I find fascinating.
A few people have told me that over the years. And yes, it was that awful scene at the start where Graham goes through the house and visualises exactly what was done to the family that horrified me. He made me see it, too. To be honest, that scene is what I remember most clearly from the book.
I should probably dig out a copy of Silence of the Lambs and give a go. I sometimes do post in the Recently Read thread if I’ve read something I particularly enjoyed or that was significant for me in some way. Breaking a thirty year moratorium on Tom Harris would definitely warrant a post.
Hands down scariest book is “”Summer of night”” by Dan Simmons. You will never be able to hang your feet over the edge of the bed again.
“”The Shining”” is scary…. because it’s TRUE! I’ve been to the Stanley Hotel and it does have a weird vibe to it.
Also, “”Myrtles Plantation by Frances Kermeen is chilling – again, because it’s true. Set on a plantation in Louisana.
I love scary books but not gore. If a writer can set a scene good it can scare the pants off you without a drop of blood (in the story… LOL)
I also vote for Summer of Night! As a Midwesterner, I could relate so well to Simmons’ small towns, endless cornfields and abandoned grain elevators/factories, etc. The school building reminded me of my kids’ school so much so that I hated to use the downstairs restroom on my volunteer days!
He wrote another book “”Children of Night”” about vampires set in modern-day Romania, just after the fall of their government. Not as scary as SoN but an excellent read.
Oh where to start!!! “”It”” by Stephen King scared me half to death. When I was reading it we lived in a house that was set very far back from the road and at the end of our long driveway there was a drainage ditch that ran parallel to the road. A large pipe (about 4 ft. in diameter) was under the driveway. The newspaper lady had a tendency to toss my paper in the ditch and I would have to climb down in it to get the paper. On t he day in question, I had just gotten to a particularly spooky part when I remembered to get the paper. It was fall and night came early. As I walked down the long driveway it was that time just between dusk and nightfall. My paper was not on the drive, nor was it in the ditch. It was in the drainage pipe under the driveway! I stood there for about 5 minutes trying to gather my courage to get in that drainage pipe. I could not do it. I finally went back to the house and made my husband get my paper for me.
“”Helter Skelter”” by Vincent Bugliosi was the cause of reoccurring nightmares about Charles Manson and Squeaky Fromme for years. I could not even listen to the Beatle’s White Album without getting the shivers.
“”‘Salem’s Lot”” to this day is the scariest vampire book I have ever read. Anne Rice’s books were great, but they never scared me the way this one did. I had to cover all my windows while reading this book.
“”The Stranger Beside Me”” by Ann Rule. Of all the serial killers, Ted Bundy looms the largest in my mind. I stopped reading books about real killers after this book.
My husband is currently reading “”Dr. Sleep”” the sequel to “”The Shining.”” I guess it will be my turn to be frightened once he finishes.
I saw the one beginning scene from IT and totally lost it. Have not attempted to go near the movie or the book…
Tim Curry made a great Pennywise. I didn’t find the book or the movie scary but I guess I was too old when I watched it. Anyway, I get why people would be scared. Clowns can be really creepy.
Not scary, but I love Annette Blair’s The Kitchen Witch and My Favorite Witch. Fun and sexy Halloween romances.
The Vampire Lestat shook me up when I read it while on holiday in Hawaii during a wicked storm…….oh so many years ago. Haven’t read it since nor any other books in Rice’s vampire books. Way too creepy!
The Legend of Sleepy Hallow is sooo good. My husband read it to my boys when they were younger and it scared the pants off them.
When the boys were 6,8 and 11 we watched Young Frankenstein for the first time. A favorite memory……..scared and laughing their heads off at the same time. Priceless.
Happy Halloween!
I definitely shy away from scary books but I remember reading Amityville Horror as a teen and being terrified.
I recently read Joe Hill’s (Stephen King’s son, btw) Twittering from the Circus of the Dead and 20th Century Ghosts. They were creepy delights!
Yes, scary runs in the family! Have you read Hill’s Heart Shaped Box? It is supposed to be very good
Heart Shaped Box is excellent and scared the heck out of me!
The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorites. I love to read short stories by various classic authors time of year. For example, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is another perennial favorite. I think Irving was very good at painting pictures with words and evoking your senses (the New England fall colors, the taste of the food).
A few other scary or genuinely creepy novels I’ve enjoyed:
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
The Red Tree by Caitlin Kiernan
Pet Semetary (and any Stephen King novel) are pretty darn spooky. It always seems so harmless while you are reading and then suddenly . .
My favorite scary book is Lightning by Dean Koontz. It has a great romance in it too.