Halloween

October is known as Spooky Season. Although Halloween falls at the very end of October, preparations for the event occur throughout the whole of the month. Whether that is a tour around an old (creaky) building that is supposed to be haunted, pumpkin picking at the local muddy patch littered with squashes of all shapes and sizes, or trick-or-treating with the children, there are many opportunities to get involved with what many deem to be the scariest time of the year.

Yet, have you thought about a spooky read in order to get you into the mood for a good ole scare fest? This blog shall explore some of the creepiest reads around to prepare for the big event at the end of the month.

Starting with Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, the novel is bound to send shivers down your spine. Written in 1959, Jackson’s gothic horror novel is set in a mansion named Hill House. Widely considered one of the best ghost stories of the twentieth century, the supernatural phenomena in the house are often not described in great detail, or are partly hidden from the characters themselves. Arguably, this is the most horrifying part of the book, as you are left to guess if indeed there is any truth in the matter. If, after reading the book, you are in need of even more of a fright, you could also try Netflix’s adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House (spoiler – be prepared to be hiding-under-the-blankets frightened!)

Another book that has been made into a Netflix adaptation is Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw. (It is worth knowing, however, that the Netflix adaptation is instead called The Haunting of Bly Manor). Don’t turn on your television just yet, however. James’ novella is well worth a read first. The short book follows a governess, who looks after two children, named Miles and Flora. Once the ghostly events begin to unfold, the question remains as to whether the estate is haunted, or whether it is all in the governess’ head.

The final book on the list is Roger F. Dunkley’s The Man Who Sold Ghosts and Other Light Tales from the Dark Side. The tales in the book are described as ‘light of touch but dark of purpose’, and are bound to get you ready for Halloween. The book is available from Greenwich Exchange here. Happy Halloween – and read if you dare.