Choosing My Halloween Read / Horror TBR

I’ve never been very big on Halloween. Horror movies always really scared me growing up and up until recently I hated the idea of being scared. Now, though, I think I’ve gotten over my fear and actually take a lot to be scared. I’m not sure if this is related to age or personal growth or what, but I’m kind of fascinated with all things horror now. I’ve watched less than ten scary movies in my life – the last one being It, which I watched a few days ago. The villain in It is a clown, and clowns have never scared me so I didn’t find it very terrifying. I did enjoy the movie, though!

For Halloween this month, I have decided to read a horror book. I honestly know nothing about this genre of books because the only horror books I’ve read are Misery by Stephen King and a few Goosebumps books. I want some really terrifying books to read, so I compiled a list of five books that I would really like to read. I also have chosen one that I am definitely going to read by the 31st of October.

Carrie by Stephen King

Synopsis: Carrie knew she should not use the terrifying power she possessed… But one night at her senior prom, Carrie was scorned and humiliated just one time too many, and in a fit of uncontrollable fury she turned her clandestine game into a weapon of horror and destruction…

Thoughts: The next Stephen King book, after Misery, I’d like to read is Carrie. The main reason I’ve chosen this one out of all of King’s other books is because I hear a lot of people say it is their favourite King book.

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Synopsis: This is the story of Louis, as told in his own words, of his journey through mortal and immortal life. Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life.

Thoughts: I’ve always been interested in this book and wanted to watch the movie but never got around to doing either. I’m not sure if it’s all that terrifying, especially considering that vampires have become the opposite of scary since Twilight came out. I’m more interested in the story.

Slade House by David Mitchell

Synopsis: Down the road from a working-class British pub, along the brick wall of a narrow alley, if the conditions are exactly right, you’ll find the entrance to Slade House. A stranger will greet you by name and invite you inside. At first, you won’t want to leave. Later, you’ll find that you can’t. Every nine years, the house’s residents — an odd brother and sister — extend a unique invitation to someone who’s different or lonely: a precocious teenager, a recently divorced policeman, a shy college student. But what really goes on inside Slade House?

Thoughts: Apparently this book has a sort of paranormal element to it, which is probably what terries me the most. It sounds really interesting!

Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Synopsis: For four ageing men in the terror-stricken town of Milburn, New York, an act inadvertently carried out in their youth has come back to haunt them. Now they are about to learn what happens to those who believe they can bury the past — and get away with murder.

Thoughts: Ghost Story is another supernatural book and the reviews are really good, so I thought it would be good to add to my TBR.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Synopsis: Patrick Bateman is twenty-six and he works on Wall Street, he is handsome, sophisticated, charming and intelligent. He is also a psychopath. Taking us to head-on collision with America’s greatest dream—and its worst nightmare—American Psycho is bleak, bitter, black comedy about a world we all recognise but do not wish to confront.

Thoughts: I tried buying American Psycho while on Holiday in Queensland, Australia, and was told by two different bookstore employees that Queensland has banned the book. That just made me want to read it more! I own it now and have chosen it for my Halloween read. I’m interested to see what could be so bad about this book that it’s banned somewhere!

I’m really excited to start reading American Psycho for Halloween! Are you reading a horror/spooky book this Halloween?