The Virago Book of Ghost Stories, edited by Richard Dalby
Even the cover is scary.
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
The best ghost story... ever.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
And don't forget about The Lottery and Other Stories.
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Just plain creepy.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again."
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Austen's gothic novel, and Jane at her funniest.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Nothing says Halloween like a good murder mystery.
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Not quite up to The Time Traveler's Wife, but wonderfully weird.
Because it's Edith Wharton...
The Witch Next Door by Norman Bridwell
A throwback from second grade...
What are your favorite Halloween books?
More Top Ten Tuesday lists are here.
How could I forget Turn of the Screw. That's an amazing story!
ReplyDeleteI own Northanger Abbey and Her Fearful Symmetry, why haven't I read them yet?
Loni - It's definitely time for me to reread The Turn of the Screw. I've read it twice and had a different idea of what actually happened each time!
DeleteI think i should revisit Northanger Abbey. I didn't really like it the first time (a few weeks ago) I read it.
ReplyDeleteNana - I've read Northanger Abbey three times and always appreciate Jane's humor.
DeleteIs The Woman in Black the book the movie was based off of? If so, the movie trailer was too creepy for me. That falls in to my "too scary to read/watch" category!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my Top 10
Holly @ Words Fueled by Love
Holly Harris - Yes, it is the book behind The Woman in Black movie. I was glued to the book, but am too much of a wimp to see the movie.
DeleteOh, The Lottery. Very creepy. Great list.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. "The Lottery" was my introduction to Shirley Jackson... very creepy, indeed.
DeleteFor someone who doesn't read ghost stories, I've read a lot of these. (I don't overindulge in chocolate, either...) I also say that I don't get scared in scary movies, but I couldn't keep watching The Woman in Black.
ReplyDeleteAudrey - The Woman in Black movie looks too scary for me. We really do have a lot in common ;-)
DeleteGreat list, I have heard of the turn of the screw and am not sure I want to read it, :). Northanger Abbey is a really good Halloween read, too. I debated with myself whether to include Udolpho in my list, but as it was a DNF for me I could not tell.
ReplyDeleteRikki - One of these years I'll get around to reading The Mysteries of Udolpho...
DeleteI really liked Her Fearful Symmetry (nightmares of dead kittens for weeks) and LOVE Rebecca. The others have been on my list forever. Especially that Virago book. Someday, I have to do this. Because I love creepy. You know what was creepy was "The House Next Door", I just read a week or so ago.
ReplyDeleteSandy - It's been ages since I read Anne Rivers Siddons, but I loved her books. Wonder if I can fit in The HOuse Next Door this month...
DeleteFor other wimps like me who hate scary stories, can I recommend both Rebecca and Then There were None? I do get annoyed at Rebecca's 'horror' cover - although it has a brooding atmosphere throughout, there is nothing horrific or supernatural about it. And you can always rely on Agatha!
ReplyDeleteMichelle Ann - I am definitely one of those wimps! The horror cover doesn't really suit Rebecca at all, I agree. It's high time for me to read more Agatha.
DeleteOh, golly, And Then There Were None. THAT is the creepiest book I've ever read. Worse than Dracula.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't believe I forgot to list Northanger Abbey. That one's just plain wonderful.
Jenna St. Hillaire - ...and I STILL haven't read Dracula!
DeleteI loved The Witch Next Door!! So many great books that I've read and loved too. I'm adding Woman in Black to my list of must-reads!
ReplyDeleteSaci - I still remember the day The Witch Next Door came in my Scholastic Book order- loved it!
DeleteThat's a great list--I've only read two (the Shirley Jackson and Rebecca), but those are high on my list of fave scary reads. Another good one is Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber, which is a collection of retold fairy tales. Some of them would make even the Brothers Grimm quake in their boots. :-)
ReplyDeleteAmy - Now that sounds like fun! I've had The Bloody Chamber recommended to me before, so really need to look into it.
DeleteI think of myself as a big chicken when it comes to reading scary books but when I'm looking at these lists, I find I've read quite a few. Makes me think I might just be up to reading more...maybe The Woman in Black?
ReplyDeleteLisa - I'm a big chicken, too, when it comes to scary books but I really liked The Woman Black. Can't bring myself to see the movie though!
DeleteI've only read (3) of those and can't believe I haven't read Turn of the Screw....gezzz
ReplyDeleteDiane - The Turn of the Screw is definitely not my favorite on the list. I've read it two or three times and am still not sure exactly what happened...
DeleteI love 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle'. Very macabre!
ReplyDeleteI don't like anything else of his, but Pet Sematary by Stephen King is downright scary.
Anbolyn - I went through a Stephen King phase in college (pretty scary stuff!) but haven't read him since then. 11/22/63 sounds like it would be more my speed.
DeleteExcellent choices all! I got the Wharton book as an All Hallow's Read present last year and can't believe I still haven't read it.
ReplyDeleteAna - I haven't read all the stories in the book yet either, but Wharton is always a treat!
DeleteExcellent list, esp since I've read 5 of the 10 and would include them in my own list of similarly themed stories. I actually would've put duMaurier's Don't Look Now over Rebecca because it's about the spookiest story I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet the Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton is terrific--I love her writing and I imagine she does the pyscho thriller to perfection.
JaneGS- Thanks for reminding me about Don't Look Now! I wanted to borrow it from the library last October, but there were quite a few holds. It's time to try again.
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