List: 5 Scary Books
/I am a huge horror fan. There's just something about bone-deep fear that brings a giant smile to my face. I tried to keep this list well-rounded - some classics, some contemporary - but it's certainly not comprehensive.
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay | When 14-year-old Marjorie Barrett begins exhibiting abnormal behavior, her family turns to the Catholic Church for help. Grappling with the "diagnosis" - demonic possession - and faced with mounting medical expenses, the Barretts agree to be filmed by a production team for a reality TV show. Years later, Marjorie's sister Merry recalls and traces the events leading up to a horrifying and traumatic climax. This book left me out of breath and desperate for some sunlight. It took me hours to unclench my jaw and return to reality. It's The Exorcist for millennials. Amazon | Goodreads
Alice by Christina Henry | Trippy and dark, this story follows a young woman who escapes from an asylum and embarks on a journey full of monsters and blood. It's edgy and disturbing (I had to take a break every now and then to breathe) but, not just for the sake of being edgy and disturbing. Ultimately, it's deeply creative and delightful. You've never Alice like this before. Amazon | Goodreads
The Shining by Stephen King | Everybody knows this story, right? In an isolated hotel during the off-season, a man battles madness while his young son battles darkness. It's truly an epic - Stephen King goes deep AND wide - and while I wasn't terrified by this, there were plenty of cringe-worthy moments to enjoy. Amazon | Goodreads
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson | Merricat and Constance Blackwood live with their ailing uncle in isolation following the poisoning of their other family members. When a distant cousin shows up, their fragile form of existence shatters. Ugh, it's so good, and so unexpected and so full of incredible quotes. Dear Hollywood: please make a movie of this starring the Fanning sisters. Amazon | Goodreads
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill | Arthur Kipps is sent to Crythin Gifford to settle a client's affairs at the isolated and perfectly-named Eel Marsh House. As he uncovers the house's secrets, he starts hearing - and seeing - impossible and terrifying things. I love all forms of horror but I cannot pass up a traditional haunted house. "The Classic English Ghost Story" is quite right - this story is very classic and very English and very, very scary. Amazon | Goodreads