There are a lot of things you can do on Halloween. You can go trick or treating with the neighborhood kids, or if you are too old for that, you can go to a Halloween themed party. You can also watch a scary movie with your friends or go camping and tell ghost stories. But if you are a book lover, you would usually prefer to curl up in bed and celebrate Hallows eve, with a nice and scary book. But there are so many horror books out there. Which one should you read?
Here are 6 Creepy Books to read on Halloween:
- It
By: Stephen King
If you are going to make a list of the scariest books to read on Halloween then Stephen King’s It, should be at the top of the list. Stephen King is known as one of the greatest novelists of his age, and is also recognized as the master of suspense and the macabre. And IT is one of his finest works.
The novel is set in the remote town of Derry, where incidences of child disappearances keep happening. Local boy Bill Denbrough just recently lost his younger brother Georgie to these disappearances. And although his family and friends urges him to move on with his life, he still believes that Georgie is still alive. And with a small group of friends, Bill sets out to find out the truth. Little does he know that the truth will lead him to something ancient and demonic. This novel is a masterwork of chills and thrills, and a perfect representation of Stephen King’s abilities as a writer.
- Dracula
By: Bram Stoker
If you are a fan of gothic horror, then Dracula is the book for you. Although the novel is more than a hundred years old, it is still potent enough to scare the living daylights out of you.
The novel begins with the young Jonathan Harker going to the remote lands of Transylvania. There he meets the reclusive count Dracula, who he befriends. The count invites him to stay at his castle for a few days. At first the count is a perfect and a gracious host. But Jonathan soon finds out the truth. His host is one of the undead, a vampire.
Dracula is the precursor of vampire literature and has influenced a myriad of other gothic horror novels through the years.
- A Woman in Black
By: Susan Hill
Yet another Gothic horror novel, Susan Hill’s A Woman in Black is a truly spine chilling read. Set in Victorian England, it follows the recollections of a retired solicitor named Arthur Kipps. In his memoirs he writes of the legend of the Woman in Black. A dark apparition that only appears before the death of a child. Kipps’ memoirs tell how he travelled to the secluded town of Crythin Gifford, to attend the funeral of the reclusive Mrs. Alice Drablow. What starts out as an ordinary posting, soon becomes a series of disturbing and tragic events that threatens to destroy Arthur’s future and sanity. A Woman in Black is a truly perfect read for any horror fiction aficionado.
- American Psycho
By: Brett Easton Ellis
If you want to step away from the supernatural realm and more into the psychological, then Brett Easton Ellis is the book for you. The story follows the day to day life of Patrick Bateman. A privileged New York Banker. From the outside, everyone would agree he has the perfect life. Handsome, affluent and charismatic, he has it all. But like they say, silent waters run deep. In truth, Patrick lives a double life of depravity and violence. And it is only a matter of time before the monster within bubbles to the surface. American Psycho is a masterfully written book that explores the mind of a modern day psychopath.
- The Silence of the Lambs
By: Thomas Harris
In horror fiction, there is always a macabre fascination with cannibalism. Many people have always wondered what can compel a person to eat another person. This concept is thoroughly explored in the Thomas Harris novel The Silence of the Lambs. The novel follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who is tasked with investigating a string of murders. But the killer proves elusive. This compels her to consult the only man who can provide any insights into the mind of a killer. Hannibal Lecter, a former psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. The Silence of the Lambs is one of Thomas Harris most prolific work, and is full of enough chills, spills and gore to satisfy any horror fiction aficionado.
- The Haunting Of Hill House
By: Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House is technically the novel that perfected the haunted house concept. Written by Shirley Jackson, the story shows the experiences of young Eleanor Vance. A young woman who has the ability to sense paranormal activity. She is joined by Dr. John Montague, a paranormal expert, Theodora an artist, and Luke Sanderson the heir to the titular Hill house. Their stay in Hill House is a chilling experience, but it is the hardest on Eleanor, who feels a malevolent presence in the house. The Haunting of Hill House is one of the most complete and well written novels in the horror story genre, and is a perfect book to read during Halloween.
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