Halloween Reads (It’s not too late!)

by Records of the Ohanzee

There’s four days left until Halloween–and an entire weekend of reading time! For the last three weeks, I’ve been posting a series of Halloween reads via my Instagram account, so I thought this would be an appropriate time to share a compilation post of some of my favorites here. If you’re looking for some spooky stories to enjoy over the weekend, perhaps you would find some of these interesting!

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Today's Halloween read is The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe. Please forgive me, I lost the dust cover for this one a long time ago. 😳A mystery set in Salem and split between contemporary times and the 1690's witch trials, this book seamlessly weaves history and fantasy together into a bewitchingly intriguing (see what I did there 😋) tale perfect for this time of the year! #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #mystery #katherinehowe #physickbookofdeliverancedane #instareads #instabook #igreads #booksofinstagram #booksofig #bibliophile #booklover #bookworm #reader #readersofinstagram #booklove #bookobsessed #lovebooks #halloween #halloweenreads #bookphotography #bookishfeatures #bookstagramfeature

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Halloween reads #10 is The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell. Though past it's prime, the Glendoveer estate is beautiful–except for the creepy squawking birds in the cage in the garden. After Mrs. Glendoveer's passing, Clara, the daughter of Mrs. Glendoveer's caretaker, learns of the family's tragic past and stumbles across a decades-old murder mystery. When I first started reading this book, I didn't realize it was actually intended for middle grade readers. The writing style and vocabulary were definitely simple enough for young readers, but the characters and plot were just as substantial as you would find in any other books! #bookstagram #instareads #instabook #igreads #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #booklover #bookworm #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookobsessed #lovebooks #booksbooksbooks #bookphotography #halloween #halloweenreads #theaviary #kathleenodell #middlegrade #youngadult #ya #yalit #mystery #bookishfeatures #bookstagramfeature

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🍁🎃Halloween reads 7a and 7b are 14 and The Fold by Peter Clines. I put these two books together because, while The Fold isn't a direct sequel to 14, these two books are *definitely* a pair. These are easily the best sci-fi/horror books I've ever read! The characters are colorful and believable, the plot intriguing, and the story kept me guessing the whole time. My only regret is that I can't read them for the first time again. If you like books with plenty of mystery and suspense–and a healthy dose of 18th century fringe science–then these books are a must read for you! (And what better accessories for a book titled The Fold than origami bats?! I mean really, who could resist? 😜) #bookstagram #instareads #instabook #igreads #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #booklover #bookworm #reader #readersofinstagram #booklove #bookobsessed #lovebooks #booksbooksbooks #bookphotography #halloween #halloweenreads #bookstagramfeature #bookishfeatures #thefold #14 #peterclines #scifi #horror

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Halloween reads #12 is The Mist by Stephen King, which is the first story in the Skeleton Crew collection. No list of Halloween stories would be complete without at least one of Stephen King's works. For me, the scariest one of all is The Mist. Not because it is particularly terrifying, intense, or gory. It's because it focuses on the fear of the unknown and weaves it into a common, natural occurrence (fog). The idea that something you've experienced dozens and dozens of times without a second thought could one day hold mortal danger tugs at the most primal of fears. And truly, ever since I read this story nearly 20 years ago, I feel nervous every time I have to go out on a foggy morning. 😪 #bookstagram #instareads #instabook #igreads #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #booklover #bookworm #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookobsessed #lovebooks #booksbooksbooks #bookphotography #halloween #halloweenreads #stephenking #themist #skeletoncrew #horror #bookishfeatures #bookstagramfeature

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Halloween reads #18 is another classic, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I hate to admit this, but I probably would never have read this one if it hadn't been required reading in college English. And that would have been a real shame because this is so much more than a story about a scientist that creates a living "monster." Some of the quotes from the book are among the truest observations I've read about life–not only back in the 1800s when this was written, but today too. Actually, it might even be *more* relevant today. Two examples: "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change." And "Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful." I think the most eloquent summary of the story is one I've seen circulating around online many times before, playing on the common misconception that the monster is named Frankenstein. It goes as follows: Those who haven't read Frankenstein think he's the monster. Those who have read Frankenstein *know* he's the monster. Even if you don't read this one for Halloween, it's definitely worth checking out anyway! #bookstagram #instareads #instabook #igreads #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #booklover #bookworm #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookobsessed #lovebooks #booksbooksbooks #bookphotography #bookreview #bookrecommendation #halloween #halloweenreads #frankenstein #gothic #romantic #maryshelley #bookstagramfeature #bookishfeatures

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The sixth Halloween read I'd like to share is Gyo by Junji Ito. In this sci-fi/horror manga, fish with legs appear and begin walking out of the ocean to invade Japan. While the premise itself sounds more campy than scary, Ito has a knack for casting even seemingly mundane things into a truly disturbing light. While this is not my favorite of Ito's works (that title goes to his manga, Uzumaki, which I'll discuss in another post), it is still a chilling story not to be missed! (And, boy, was this black on black cover difficult to photograph!!) #bookstagram #instareads #instabook #igreads #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #booklover #bookworm #reader #readersofinstagram #booklove #bookobsessed #lovebooks #booksbooksbooks #bookphotography #halloween #halloweenreads #bookstagramfeature #bookishfeatures #junjiito #gyo #manga #horror #scifi #vizmanga

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I’m not going to repost all of them here, so if you want to see the full set of recommendations, be sure to pop over to Instagram. I’ve also got a few more spooky books up my sleeve, so here’s a sneak peak of the remaining Halloween reads books!

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The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard
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xxxHolic by CLAMP
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Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
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Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie

What spooky reads have you enjoyed so far this season? Any recommendations for me to add to my TBR?

 

11 Comments

  1. Oooh I love xxxHolic! I’m a sucker for anything by CLAMP.

    My favorite Agatha Christie is Murder on the Orient Express, which is not particularly spooky though. Two of my go-tos at Halloween are Dead Beat of the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher and Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.

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    1. I can’t resist any of CLAMP’s works either! I even have the complete set of CLAMP figurine chess pieces from the CLAMP no Kiseki anniversary series. XD
      Murder on the Orient Express was fantastic, I can certainly understand why it’s your favorite. I’ll be adding the Dresden Files to my TBR, and Something Wicked This Way Comes as well…even though I can’t think of that title without having the song with the same lyric from the Harry Potter movies come to mind!

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      2. They were hard to get ahold of, even at the time they were released! I’m so glad they are rereleasing the anime and manga versions of the older titles like Cardcaptor Sakura so that they are available to those who missed the original releases.

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    1. Thanks! I really like how the covers look on this too! And, yes, it’s a Kindle Fire 7. I haven’t used any of the other app features, but the reader and Amazon browser are really nice! I don’t notice any difference between the display on this one and my iPad mini. I got mine during the Prime Day sale in July for $30. If you keep an eye out, I bet it’ll be on sale again before Christmas! ^_^

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