Seasonal Favorites: King, Kingfisher, Bradbury, Schwartz

 

Cell by Stephen King: I found this book to be a great take on the classic "zombie" trope, portraying a post-epidemic world brought about by cell phone use. King finds the perfect mix of introspection, sentiment, and fright, allowing you to root for the characters throughout, whilst staying cautiously aware of your own relationship with technology. A tale of love, loss, belonging, and survival, this novel is perfect for any season, but is sure to give you a thrill this Halloween.

Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher: This may very well have been the most bizarre horror novel I have ever read...and I loved it! Kingfisher delves into the world of entomology in this gothic thriller, centering around Sonia Wilson: a female illustrator of little consequence, seeking employment in 1890s rural North Carolina. During her stay at Dr. Halder's home, where she works illustrating various species of parasitic and carrion-reliant insects, Wilson begins to uncover the grounds' secrets lurking beneath the cloak of night. This story evokes all the best supernatural and suspense elements, making a worthy Halloween read, sure to send a chill up your spine.

The October Country by Ray Bradbury: Bradbury provides a fun collection of eerie shorts, playing on the horror and thriller genres, set in an ever-long autumnal realm. On top of being a spooky read for the Halloween season, this book makes you wonder if the biggest frights are truly storybook monsters, or those lurking within everyday life, after all. Like always, Bradbury has done it again; this work is sure to make you second guess every ending and enjoy every page along the way!

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz: A childhood classic, this book is perfect for reading in the company of others. Whether you are looking to spook yourself, or perhaps those around you, this work provides a collection of tame, but chilling shorts. Something about this book feels so nostalgic that I can't help but enjoy picking it up on a cold October night, and suggest that everyone else does the same at least once.

~Madison