Books for Halloween 2017

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I was going to post this tomorrow, but I figured that posting it on Friday the 13th would be so much more fitting. Don’t worry: next week will go back to my Saturday schedule.

Every October, I usually get in the mood to curl up with some haunting books. It’s getting colder outside, I have an excuse to prance around in a quilt, and I can down gallons of apple cider. It’s perfect, which is why I like October oh so much. That and, of course, the scares.

So today I’m going to share some of the books I recommend to read this October in preparation for the spookiest night of the year: Halloween.

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Final Girls by Riley Sager

This book came out on July 11, 2017. It is a perfect Halloween book for those obsessed with old slasher film tropes and thrillers. It tells the story of Quincy Carpenter, a “final girl” who survived a massacre up at a cabin in the woods. The media has deemed her a final girl, along with two other girls. Quincy herself is still dealing with the trauma of her horrific experience. However, when one of the three “Final Girls” turn up dead and another one turns up on Quincy’s doorstep, she must solve the mystery before she turns into the next victim.

While this book wasn’t perfect—it was a bit slow in the middle and some of the character’s actions were plain annoying—it was a book I’ve always wanted to read. I grew up loving cheesy slasher films, so to have a book answer, “What happens after the credits roll?” was amazing. The beginning was tightly written and, though the middle did slow down, the ending was spine-tingling. If you’re looking for a thrilling Halloween book, this one is for you.

If you’re interested in this book, you can find it on Amazon here.

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One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn

This book came out on July 18, 2017. Usually I don’t read kid’s books that often, but I saw this one and it looked very interesting, as well as giving historical context to a haunting story. It tells the story of Annie, a new girl at school who meets the slightly crazy Elsie, who demands she become her friend. Elsie ends up dying during the influenza epidemic in 1918. But she doesn’t leave. Instead, her ghost starts to haunt Annie, demanding her be her friend and help her to revenge those girls who bullied her.

Honestly, what I really liked about this book is it blurs the lines between historical reality and a ghost story. It deals with real issues, like disease, bullying, and friendship. And, of course, it deals with a vengeful ghost. The only main criticism I had was that the ending was a bit predictable (that’s all I’ll say, because spoilers!). But then again, it didn’t have a horror type ending—like, will the villain return? So if you want a Halloween book but don’t like things that are super scary, this book is for you.

If you’re interested in this book, you can find it on Amazon here.

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The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken

This book came out Sep. 5, 2017. The only reason I read it was that booktube (Youtube for books) is going crazy over it. Even though it is a children’s book, honestly it doesn’t really feel like it (it feels more like a teen book). It tells the story of Prosper Redding, whose ancestor made a pact with a demon for wealth and then broke the contract. The demon Alastor is clearly not happy, and possesses Prosper in order to seek revenge on the Redding family. Now Prosper and Alastor embark on a journey to find what they both seek.

Honestly, I was surprised by how much I liked it. It definitely doesn’t feel like you’re reading a kid’s book. Like when I read the first Harry Potter book, this story feels like it could appeal to a ten-year-old just as much as it appeals to an eighty-year-old. While it’s more of a fantasy then a pure Halloween story, it takes place partially in Salam and is set during Halloween-type festivities. There are haunted houses visited, demons, strange black cats, witches—everything you think of when you think of a frightful Halloween story.

If you’re interested in this book, you can find it on Amazon here.

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Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty

This book came out Oct. 3, 2017. This list would not be complete without a creepy nonfiction book. This autobiography follows Caitlin Doughty, a mortician from California and the host of Ask a Mortician (a Youtube channel that I absolutely love), as she travels the world looking at how different cultures see death. She makes the point in the beginning that we in America fear death, while many other societies revere it and, more importantly, do not fear it.

I’m currently only about half-way through in this book, and it is just perfect to read as Halloween approaches. The illustrations are beautiful and, for someone obsessed with the macabre like me, it’s a perfect read. It not only gives a unique, in-depth understanding into the world of mortuaries in America and around the globe, but it isn’t a scary book by any means. Also, if you like this book she has a previous book—more of an autobiography about her life—called Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: and Other Lessons from the Crematory. I haven’t read it yet, but I bought it and hope to read it soon (one of the many books on my bookshelf I have not yet read).

If you’re interested in this book, you can find it on Amazon here.

What are your favorite books to read for Halloween (from this year or any other)? Do you like spooky books or informative Halloween nonfiction? Let me know down in the comments, make sure to subscribe for more blog posts, and, as always,

Best wishes on your life filled with adventure,

Madame Writer

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