Terror Takes The Sound Before You Make It: Top 10 Spooky Reads

Yo bizzles, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And The Bookish and was created by Jamie. Gotta give credit where credit is due.

This week’s theme is top ten Halloween reads. And you guys know me, I am not a lazy Top Ten Tuesday participant and this theme is NO different.

1. The Stand by Stephen King — perfect if you plan to be a sexy nurse for Halloween

The Stand, Stephen King, Book Cover

The Stand

Do you like your Halloween served with a side of Influenza? Want to be the remaining 1% of the population? BRO, you need the Stand as one of your Halloween reads.

2. Bunnicula by James Howe – for the vampire playboy bunny

Bunnicula Deborah James Howe Book Cover

Bunnicula

You GUYS. I was a silver playboy bunny for Halloween a few years ago. It was AWESOME and I looked HOT. Ahem. This book is for every girl who was all like ‘I’m a mouse, duh!’ Mainly because it is cute and there’s a bunny who is also a vampire and clever animals.

3. The Passage by Justin Cronin – for the adult handing out candy

The Passage Justin Cronin Book Cover

The Passage

This book is legit. AND it’s scary And full of big words. And you can throw it at someone’s head and knock them out because it’s heavy — perfect if you have just one vampire in your wake. It’s definitely a grown up book, perfect for spooking the shit out of you.

4. The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey – if your costume does not contain the prefix Sexy

The Monstrumologist Rick Yancey Book Cover

The Monstrumologist

OMG. You guys. I was fricken terrified while reading The Monstrumologist. Those monsters are terrifying. Also, you would never ever ever want to be seduced by an anthropophagi.

5. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead – if every costume post-childhood has the prefix sexy

Vampire Academy Richelle Mead Roza Dimka Belikov Hathaway

Vampire Academy

Do you plan on hooking up at a Halloween party? THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. Sure there are vampires, but they are actually sexy and don’t glitter and kick ass and DMITRI. Yes, that’s an adjective, Dmitri as in Vampire Academy is very Dmitri. If you read it, you will know exactly what I mean.

6. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving – for those who going on hayrides and carving pumpkins

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Audiobook Cover Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

If you have a strong sense of tradition, I think The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow is a MUST READ. You guys there is a horseman AND GET THIS HE DOESN’T HAVE A HEAD!!!  Seriously, the audiobook of this has sound effects and music and is fricken awesome. And it’s a classic. Also you can totally cop out and watch the disney version or lust out and watch the Johnny Depp version.

7. Dreams Of Terror And Death by HP Lovecraft – if you are going to be Cthulhu for Halloween and people are all – are you an Octopus and you just LAUGH and bide your time.

Dreams Of Terror And Death, HP Lovecraft, Book Cover

Dreams Of Terror And Death

When I read this, most of it went over my head. I won’t lie. BUT, I remember thinking, HOLY HECK this is scary. Mainly because of Cthulhu. Read this also if you have no effing idea who Cthulhu is.

8. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh – if you are going to be a sexy zombie cheerleader

Nevermore, Kelly Creagh, book cover

Nevermore

Okay, so there aren’t any zombies in Nevermore but there IS a cheerleader. And it is super sexy. And also Edger Allen Poe makes kind of a cameo. Also Varen. Nevermore is spooky at the end when you have no idea what is going on. AND much more seductive than a vampire. Thrilling no?

9. Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn — if you are going to get good and drunk on wine instead of cheap beer

Silent In The Grave Deanna Raybourn Book Cover

Silent In The Grave

You guys, this book is class and so is the author. AND it’s so well written. Plus there’s a mystery. And a family that breaks with propriety and a dead body on the first page. And sexy sex sex. Actually, not really. BUT it crackles with tension.

10. Rebecca by Daphne DuMarier – if you plan on dressing in a straitjacket

Rebecca, Daphne DuMaurier, Book Cover

Rebecca

Okay, so there are CRAY CRAY characters in this book. And it’s spooky. And gothic. And Mrs. Danvers is the boss, because she is so evil. And the words will just wrap around you and you’ll never want to set it down because it’s SO GOOD.

What are your favorite spooky reads? ALSO what are you going to be for Halloween?

 

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April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Comments

  1. love that you included Silent in the Grave!!

  2. I recently finished reading The Monstrumologist, and then a few minutes later, the lights went out. ARGH. I could have sworn that I heard the hiss of an Antropophagus outside my room. o_O

  3. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz says

    Such a cleverly written post! What if, however, you are dressing up as Fancy Nancy (a children’s book character) like me, or, as I have done in the past, the Tin Man or Princess Leia (from Star Wars)? Do you see that I am not a person who dares to read Scary Books? What do you prescribe for me this Halloween?

  4. Love this post….very creative! I also included Nevermore and Legend of Sleepy Hollow on my list. Good idea adding Monstrumologist…my students are still talking about how freaky that book is. Great list!

  5. I loved your list and your “are you an octopus?” comment. lol! I can see people doing that. I’m the adult handing out candy and I loved The Passage. Good choice.

  6. I lurve lurve lurrrrrrrrve deanna raybourn like crazy, so yes to her being on here! I totally agree that the whole murder mystery thing is written so well and dang is it sexy too. The Stand!!! OMG i think you know my feelings on Mr King and how amaze he is. Love this book!

  7. wefancybooks says

    Bunnicula seems interesting… find it funny? lol
    Awesome picks!
    Here’s my Top Ten Books to Read on Halloween

  8. Fantastic choices! I have Nevermore on my list too! VAREN!

  9. Seriously, this is the best TTT post I’ve seen all morning! And I couldn’t agree more about your choices!

  10. Love your picks – I’m kicking myself for returning Rebecca to the library unread – it seems like a popular pick.

  11. Rebecca is such a good choice. I need to do a re read. My husband LOVED The Passage but I have yet to read it.

  12. OH MY BUNNICULA! I loved those books when I was younger and I’d completely forgotten about them! Haha I remember the drained vegetables in the garden… I might have to track this one down sometime for a little walk down memory lane.

  13. I have no idea what I’m doing for Halloween this year, but I’m sure it will involve reading at some point during the day. And I’m not sure about the straight jacket, but I definitely need to read Rebecca! Great Post!

  14. Bunnicula made my list too. That was one of my favorite series when I was little. I love Rebecca too!

  15. I love Rebecca! It’s such a great book and really creepy is its own way. I almost put The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on my list as a book I want to read for Halloween, but I didn’t.

  16. OH my gosh. I totally forgot about BUNNICULA. It was definitely one of my favorite books in like 5th or 6th grade! Wow. Thanks for the trip down memory lane =)

  17. Confession: I have only read ONE book on your list! But I guess it’s not TOTALLY shocking given that I realized I haven’t read all that many Halloweeny books.

  18. Sleepy Hollow is a must read every Halloween and short enough that it’s do-able year after year. The Passage, on the other hand, is a whopper…I’ve had this one on my TBR shelf for over a year. I’m nervous about starting it bc I’m afraid I’ll race through it and be running around waiting for the next one…I think there’s going to be 3?
    I have never read Rebecca…need to for sure 🙂

  19. The Stand is my favorite King book – but I don’t count it as spooky… LOL! (I guess I don’t know what I’d qualify it as; but I wouldn’t say spooky. so I didn’t put it on my list. But? I’m obviously an oddball!)

    That said? I now have a few new TBR books thanks to your list!

  20. I LOVED The Passage. Read it on my honeymoon and because it’s so long it made the journey all around Italy with me. Super scary and exciting (the book, not the honeymoon). Can’t wait for the sequel and the movie.