I like a good supernatural tale at any time (as you could probably tell by now). So, Halloween reading is always particularly fun, even if I’m not really a horror/scary story person. Last year I spectacularly failed at Halloween themed reading. So I’ve been doing my best to make up for it this year.
Currently Reading
The Penguin Book of Witches Edited by Katherine Howe
I have been waiting for this book and it finally came in the mail today. At 236 pages of content, I should have this knocked out today, and I am pumped. Note: this is a collection of primary sources related to documented witchcraft going up to about 1813.
Currently Listening
St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell
I’ve had this one for about a week and been listening off and on. I’m only on about the 3rd story (and it’s a short collection), but that’s mostly because I haven’t been doing a lot of things that allow me to listen lately. I have had Russell’s short story collections (as well as her popular Swamplandia!, which sees it’s early roots in this collection) for about a year. Also a couple of days after I downloaded the book news came out that one of the collections, or more accurately one of the short stories, has been optioned for television.
These are compelling short stories that have some interesting supernatural elements at work.
Previously Read This Week
Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan
The conclusion to Brenna’s Lynburn Legacy trilogy, Unmade offers up plenty of sorcerers, angst, strong, compelling characters, and most importantly grade-A banter. If you haven’t started the series yet, start with Unspoken and eagerly proceed from there.
The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero
A somewhat irreverent gothic novel written in documents by an author from Barcelona and titled after an Edith Wharton quote. Yes. Not sure how I felt about the ending, but the ride was well worth it.
The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Okay, I read this last week. But it’s worth it. Read it. I won’t tell you anything else because I had something spoiled for me before my hold came in, and I don’t want to do that to you.
*Full reviews of all these titles are in the works.
To-Read
The Boy Who Drew Monsters by Keith Donohue
What I know from the blurb: Boy draws monsters. Reality and fantasy blur. Psychological chills to be had. I’m in. This is the book from my Halloween selections I’m most concerned about receiving nightmares from.
Bonus
I saw a production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible last weekend. I hadn’t revisited the text since I read it Freshman year and realized that it was not necessarily about the Salem Witch trials. However, there is enough right here to make it compelling. I will think about the gender politics of Miller’s work at another time. And, what Miller has to say about human nature is obviously the scariest of all.
Tea and Tomes 