Hi there. My name is Navessa. And I am a wuss.
Which is why I typically avoid the yearly October horror-themed readathons like I would a serial killer or women prone to asking me, “So when are you having children?”
Now that I’m 34 (and never having children), I think I need to stop being such a scaredy-cat. I have many, many darker titles on my bookshelves that have done nothing but collect dust for years.
I bought these books based on recommendations from bookish friends who love the spookier genres and swore to me that they were some of the best they’ve ever read.
I’ve compiled a list based on all of these recs, and, friends, this October, IMMA READ SOME OF EM.
This post will ensure that, because once I go public with this batshit readathon idea, I’ll have to answer to people. And since I’ve roped in both Brigid and Angela, I’m now doubly accountable.
Oh, and I don’t *plan* on reading anything but nightmare-fodder for the entire month, so anyone else masochistic enough to join us in this endeavor, please leave your name and blog/twitter/fb link in the comments so we can all follow along and commiserate/suffer together.
I’ve whittled my list down to nine books. Not all of them are straight up horror. Some are dark thrillers. Others I’ve been told will make me supremely uncomfortable (You by Knepes).
Brigid has chosen 15 books for her shortlist. Much like myself, she needs plenty of options, and these lists for us are more like guidelines.
Angela has decided to pick a few books from each of our lists.
As you can probably tell, readathons with strict guidelines aren’t really our thing here at The Alliterates. We prefer a much more free form sort of challenge that gives readers the ability to join however they like. Did you read just one creepy or paranormal-themed book in the month of October? CONGRATULATIONS! You successfully completed the #spooktober2019 reading challenge!
If you want to take part, you can always follow along with a mixture of our selections, formulate your own #spooktober2019 list based on our additional recs at the bottom of this post, or check out some of the books recommended here, here, or here.
And make sure to add your books to the #spooktober2019 list over on Goodreads!
Navessa’s Reading List
Brigid’s Reading List
Additional Recommendations
Okay, so I’ve only read 2 on the whole list, but as I have never found anything to be particularly scary, I can at least say that those two are more mysterious than frightening. And both are damn enjoyable.
That being said, I think I will definitely join Brigid with a reread of both “Sunshine” by Robin McKinley and “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern. (This one would have inspired a Halloween costume if I could get my hands on period clothing, lol.)
“…I have never found anything to be particularly scary…”
What is this super power and how do I gain it?
I’ve read 3 of thoses books (Hex, White Cat and Pet Semetary) and dnf two other (House of Leaves & The Silent Companions). Let’s say that House of Leaves is a hard one. So so complicated and just plain weird. And I’m sorry to say that The Silent Companions, wich have a great blurb, bored me to death. The idea is great but the pace is so slow… oh god. But Hex is a great book, seriously ! Really creepy with a witch who haunt a little city. (I even cried with that one !) And if I liked White Cat, it is so not a horror story. Not at all. Pet Semetary is a oldies, a classic, but Stephen King was in a slow pacing style at that time – so it’s not for everyone. (Full Dark, So Star is easier to read and pretty good, even though it’s 4 stories in one book.)
Even though I didn’t see any of his work here, Adam Nevill is also a great author of the genre. Ritual (wich you can watch as a movie on Netflix, just saying ha ha) and Last day are pretty great !
And now I want to follow both of you and read horror for the entire month. I’m gonna look more closely at that list you’ve made… I see some title I didn’t know, he he he. Also, good luck to all of you and may your choice be spooky ! Thanks for the awesome list. =D
I’m going more for looser spookathon. So not everything is horror here. Some is just “hey there’s a monster in there somewhere”. When it comes to horror I’m very much a movie binge sort of person. Oddly…horror is not something I keep on my shelf. I have no idea why. I had to go out and get a copy of Haunting of Hill House. I hope you find some things you like.