Spooky Season Suggestions: Classic Books

It’s fall! The air is crisp, and Halloween is coming up. Last week, I listed some nostalgic movies that you may want to watch. Today, I’m listing some classic horror novels that you may want to read, and we love reading here.

Northanger Abby

This is Jane Austen’s parody of gothic novels. This is a great way to dip into gothic literature. It’s not too scary and it’s hilarious at times. The main character, Catherine Morland, a seventeen year old girl who loves reading gothic novels. When visiting the home of her crush, Henry Tilney, she starts to suspect something sinister had happened there and she’s just the heroine to find out. This is one of my favorite books by Jane Austen which lands it in my must read list for the spooky season.

Dracula

This is the O.G. vampire novel, the original vampire diaries to be precise. Gothic scenery and creatures of the night. Unfortunately, these aren’t undead teenage boys who try to keep their vampire instincts at bay for the one he loves. This was before we romanticized the bloodsuckers. This was when they were supposed to be feared, not loved. The story is told through letters and diary entries as Dracula hunts strong men and beautiful women to stay alive. This is definitely a good read for the spooky season.

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s version of Prometheus will make you think about they way we treat people who are different and what dangers we may face when a person decides to play God. To most first-time readers, it’s shocking to find out that Frankenstein is the name of the doctor, not the monster. It is both terrifying and thought provoking. Another good read for the spooky season.

Phantom of The Opera

Until one or two years ago, I never knew that Phantom of the Opera was originally a book, not just a fantastic Musical which introduced me to Broadway shows and showtunes in general. This haunting story follows Christine Daae, a novice singer with an amazing voice as she, Viscount Raol and his brother Philippe are swept into the deadly illusions of the phantom. If you’ve seen the play -which is better than the movie, trust me- you should read the book that inspired it.

Tell Tale Heart

Tell Tale Heart is the story of a man who kills another man and hides the body in the floorboards. He then hears the heartbeat as the police come to investigate. Edger Allan Poe delves into the mind of a murderer in this short story. Definitely give this and his other works a read for the spooky season.

Penny Dreadfuls

Penny Dreadfuls are works of fiction made with cheap paper and ink in the 1800’s. This made it easier to print and sell to the middle and working class at the low, low price of a penny. These were often very frightening and gory tales of highway men, vampires and other creatures of the night. These stories were so scary that the upper class and elite feared them making the middle and working class violent. Or maybe they were scared of educating the “lower class” and the elite will lose their control over them. Read them and find out. Barnes and Nobles sells them.

And this concludes my list for classic horror books. If I’ve missed any books, please let me know down in the comments. Happy reading!