For me, any withholding of details of what happened in the past is not what makes We Have Always Lived in the Castle spooky. For me, the spookiness comes from the total dysfunction. The forgetful, sometimes bedridden man who can't dress or feed himself living with the young adult who acts like a child (and is called one by her sister) and believes magic exists and the shut in who wraps her face in a shawl and cowers in the bushes *near the burning house* so no one will see her. And that's not mentioning the rest of the town, childish, creepy, threatening bullies. It's the standstill. There was a murder, and afterward, the people didn't grow up or move on - neither the Blackwoods nor the townspeople. Refusing to move forward with time, to grow, change and mature, to do new things (rather than always (not usually - always) the same schedule, the neatening, the weekly tea date, etc.) goes against nature and is therefore uncanny. Just my experience with it - and I have not read The Haunting of Hill House.

That sounds lovely! I hope you make it there!

I thought the epistolary format meant the plot was sometimes unnaturally forced into the letters and that the fictional editor in the last section of the book seemed to narrate some things he couldn't have gotten from interviewing townspeople, but I guess I like books about people who die (or go crazy or disappear or whatever) of being too romantic, so this is a book that's easy for me to like, and there were things I wanted to highlight (but couldn't because I checked it out from the library). I imagine I'll read it again sometime--after purchasing a copy so I can write in it. I was sure I dog eared more than one page so I could transfer some lines to a notebook before returning it, but somehow this is the only line that has made it: And what does this (whole book, not the quote) mean when compared to Frankenstein? Was Frankenstein too scientific, not romantic enough, when he created a life without considering the heart and soul of the being he created and then abandoned? What did the monster think when he read this?

I'm not sure. Wikipedia's summary of book two says that the grandmother is mending her quilt while telling Tolly stories. In book one she also tells Tolly stories, so maybe she's mending a quilt, or doing something else with a quilt, in book one also, but I don't remember.

I finished reading The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe, the story of the downfall of a romantic man living in a practical world. I also read The Children of Green Knowe, a children's book. I started reading this to my ds, but he didn't like it. It did start out pretty slow. In the end, I'm glad I read it and think my ds might have eventually liked it - except that I doubt he could have kept himself from daydreaming through a large chunk of the beginning and so by the time it got more engaging he wouldn't know the basics of what is going on. I finished listening to Born Standing Up by Steve Martin. I was trying to figure out what makes this celebrity memoir better than the others I've read or listened to, and I think the content itself has more depth. Martin's book focuses on his struggle as an artist/performer working and learning, eventually creating an original stand-up routine that brought in thousands (tens of thousands? I forget) of audience members, and finally writing a screenplay (The Jerk) that he considers the ultimate culmination of everything he was doing with comedy. Other books I've read or listened to might touch on that a tiny bit, but it isn't thoroughly explored. Nothing is thoroughly explored in them; they're usually a hodge-podge of their story as an artist, yes, but also touching or funny personal stories or work stories or random throw-ins, like what they fantasize about while working out (Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?). Last night I finished reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle, which has already been discussed so much; just throw me in with everyone who really likes it. I'll be buying the Audible version so dh can listen to it, and so I can listen to it next year maybe.

Idea 1: Read something from either the Mythic Fiction Reading List or the Fairy Tale Fiction Reading list - both here (inspired by a Goodreads group: Into the Forest) Idea 2: A Ray Bradbury month, in which we try to read one book of poetry, one book of essays and one book of short stories - probably the closest many of us will ever come to following his recommendation to read one short story, one poem and one essay every day. Cats on the moon?! Sounds like the best book ever!

Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid is one I've read that was recommended on these threads. I found it clear, easy to read, entertaining and unceasingly interesting. Sounds like you had a great trip, Jane! Thanks for posting the photos!

I don't remember specific reasons, but I know the book was not worth it for me, especially since it is the first book in a trilogy, so really it's a commitment of almost 2,000 pages (unless you quit after book 1, like me).

RE: Frankenstein, I am currently reading one of the three books the monster read while he was hiding out in a chicken coop, or whatever: The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe. I finished listening to The Turn of the Screw, which was perfect for running through the park at twilight, and convinced dh to listen to it too. He's loving it. Now I'm listening to Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin, which has much better writing, imo, than the other celebrity memoirs I listened to this year (As You Wish, and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?), both of which were fun to listen to for their content and simple (therefore easy to read or listen to) writing, though the writing itself was just serviceable. And thinking about it, I'm not sure what it is about Steve Martin's writing that is better than that of the other two, so maybe it's not the writing at all, but his insights. I'm not sure. Maybe I'll try to determine that next time I listen. I also finished The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories, which included, imo, a couple of two-star stories (which were very short anyway) but mostly threes and a couple of fours. It was a fun read. And a local true crime book - Murder at the Roosevelt Hotel in Cedar Rapids, which was funny and interesting in parts, and a quick read with lots of photographs. Though I doubt this will be a hit nationwide, I was number 32 in line at the library when I put it on hold, which is rare for me. (I usually don't have to wait at all, or might only have to wait for whoever currently has a book to return it.)

Added many of these to my to-read list. I <3 novellas!

I hope everyone is still coping with the hurricane! I finished Dune, so that's done, though I wouldn't really call that ending an ending so perhaps there is more Dune in my future. Why do I feel like I need to keep reading for a more satisfactory conclusion if I didn't particularly like the book? I am now reading The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories. Some of the stories qualify for our spooky theme, others don't. I am enjoying it so far. I am also listening to The Turn of the Screw, and it's perfect. Actually, when I was looking for October books to read, one thing I was thinking was, I wan't to read something like The Turn of the Screw. So here I am just re-"reading" it, and I'm only unhappy that it's such a short book.

How about graphic novels/graphic nonfiction? Those tend to be very fast reads. I'd recommend: Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (spooky short stories, fabulous art) Howl by Allen Ginsberg and Eric Drooker (Honestly, nothing special about the art, imo, In fact, I think one of the reviewers mentions that they are stills from an animation, but maybe a nice way to read/re-read the poem.) An Iranian Metamorphosis by Mana Neyestani Everything by Marjane Satrapi, but especially Persepolis 1 and 2, if you haven't read them. The Buddha series by Osamu Tezuka I also have Daytripper by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba sitting here. I haven't read it yet, but it was recommended to me, and I'll just pass that recommendation on. You could also check out the novellas in Melville House's Art of the Novella series.

I did just convince my 14-yo to maybe tuck in a few more classics before trying out Catch-22. I'm not sure why exactly. Maybe the structure or maybe the particular humor or the difficulty of keeping track of so many wacky characters (or the combination of these things). I was feeling like it may be just a little beyond him. Then my 12-yo asked me what my favorite book is, and I responded, "So far, The Once and Future King," and while the first book in that book of books would be great for him, I kind of hoped he wouldn't try reading more than that (and thankfully spooky reading month took his mind right off it) because, first of all, I don't think he'll understand the Arthur-Guenever-Lancelot thing. When I read The Princess Bride to my children they were shocked and a little confused about the author talking about ogling some young woman at the hotel where he was staying despite being married. Nor do I know how well he'll understand the ending with the change in war with the use of gunpowder. Then there's the thing with Morgause and Arthur, which just seems a little mature. OTOH, I don't remember how Calvino's Invisible Cities came up, but it did, and he said he wanted to read that. I doubted that he would enjoy it yet, but handed him the Kindle and wow, he is so into it! He has stopped once or twice to ask me to explain a section to him that was particularly dense, but he loves the ideas. (And in hindsight, that is what he loved about Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland series, too, so it makes sense.) It is so nice seeing him love something that I love, something that nobody else I know (irl) would like.

Nice! Spooky to-read list updated. Now I'm kinda wishing we could have an extra October this year.

Same here. Love the tactile experience of reading a physical book, and any artwork, including the cover, is nice to be able to see on paper instead of on a screen, but I can't spend $10-$15 on every book my library doesn't have that I want to read. Then there is the issue of space.

My middle ds and I started our spooky reading with a re-read of Emily Carroll's graphic novel (or graphic short story collection) Through the Woods. The stories are atmospheric and the artwork is gorgeous. Some of the endings go a bit beyond ambiguous to huh?, but we love it anyway. Oh, and I also "read" (wordless book) Mosquito by Dan James, which I found by browsing Stacia's spooky reads shelf on Goodreads. I like the concept of this one, but found the story difficult to follow. Nice idea to go wordless. Leaving out narration and dialogue makes me think of a silent film (even though silent films do have words that you can read), but it just didn't work, and looking at the reviews on Goodreads, it seems others had the same difficulty. I am still trying to finish Dune, but look forward to more spooky reading after that. I have several books here waiting to be read: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (I have not read anything by her yet.) The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter (Not really sure how spooky this one is, but there ought to be at least a little blood in a chamber, I'm guessing, and it will count for my fairy tale adaptation for BaW Bingo.) Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand (Another author whose work I haven't read yet, and after looking at many books, this is the first one I came to that looked like it might be just what I was in the mood for. It was also under $4 on Kindle.) The Turn of the Screw by Henry James - I got this on Audible yesterday when it was $2. I have already read the book and look forward to *maybe* revisiting it after I finish what I'm currently listening to (Building Great Sentences: Exploring the Writer's Craft), but I'm also considering getting the audiobook of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane from the library. Other books I've finished since posting: A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You by Ralph Fletcher - This is a children's book, and I read it with my ten-year-old son. Each chapter shows one way a writer might choose to use his notebook (writing down bits of overheard dialogue, writing down memories, lists, etc.) and it gives examples from the author's own notebook plus the notebooks of students he's had. Two books by Faith Erin Hicks -- The Adventures of Superhero Girl and Friends with Boys -- The first one was originally a web comic and can be read online, but without the color. The second is a graphic novel about a girl who was homeschooled, but is now starting high school at a public school. Her mother has left, and we don't know why. She has - for reasons never explained - not had any friends other than her brothers until now. In an interview I listened to with the author, I think she said this is her most autobiographical work. The author was homeschooled until high school. (Her mother did not leave.) Perhaps she is similar to the protagonist in other ways, too. Anyway, these works felt soft and gentle to me, sometimes subtle. I enjoyed them. Raven Girl by Audrey Niffenegger - Another illustrated short story by Niffenegger. (I know many here read The Night Bookmobile, and maybe The Three Incestuous Sisters.) I saw this in the YA section of the library while I was grabbing some things for my sons. It is a fairy tale with a little twist. It's a little dark, though not quite spooky.

Thanks for posting that.

That was great. Thank you. My favorite line:

Thank you, and gee, I seem to have left out the word "cats." :blushing: That would have been a helpful noun, huh?

This might be good for my youngest, thanks!

Congratulations to all three of you! As for new pets, our dog recently died. We picked her up from the vet where she was kenneled when we went to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and she fainted trying to jump into the car. Lots of tests came back negative and x-rays just showed lots of fluid in her lungs. Anyway, we thought we'd need some animal-free time after she died, but we couldn't stand more than about a week without little furballs in the house and went to the Humane Society to see who needed a home. We now have one four-year-old white (red point), blue-eyed male named Arthur and one five-year-old black female with jewel-like green-blue eyes name Morgana. Perhaps pictures will follow.

Well, I've been trying to read along as much as I can, but haven't made it to the point of actually posting for a couple of weeks. Books I've finished since then: Salt Water Amnesia by Jeffrey Skinner - a book of prose poems. I posted one the poems from this book last year. An Iranian Metamorphosis by Mana Neyestani - This is a graphic memoir about how the author was imprisoned and eventually fled the country after one of his children's cartoons was used to incite riots. Cave Canem by Lorna Robinson - This uses Latin words and phrases as sort of a framework for delightful (sometimes horrifying) tidbits of Roman history. I think someone here may have posted about this before, but I can't remember who. Doll Studies: Forensics by Carol Guess - This is a book of prose poems inspired by crime scene dioramas. The idea was intriguing, but I thought the author failed to connect these to life in any way, to make them personal and meaningful. Driving Without a License by Janine Jones - This is the book I chose based on the cover, for BaW BINGO. I can't remember what got me to the Alice James Books site, but the cover art for this book was in the header at the time, and it grabbed me, so I ordered a copy of the book. There are many great book covers on this site. The poetry was great, too, and I'll try to come back and post a poem. 3arabi Song by Zeina Hashem Beck - This is a chapbook that arrived along with my fall issue of Rattle magazine. A couple of the poems are posted on the magazine's site. "Ghazal: Back Home" and "Ya'aburnee" Through the notes at the back of this book and Wikipedia I learned about the Arabic chat alphabet: (such as 3arabi) Summer Knight by Jim Butcher - The fourth book in the Harry Dresden series. Fun.

At Half-Price Books I came upon The Seagull Reader, 2nd Edition. Looking through the table of contents I recognized several really great short stories that I've read for MOOCs or in writing books that include literature, and the others I've heard of or were at least by authors I recognized. Anyway, it looks like a really great anthology, and a used copy is pretty inexpensive at Amazon. I imagine other readers contain a lot of the same stuff, but I just thought I'd mention this one. I think I'm going to go back and buy it. It had nice pages, not too dry, but deceptively thin. Somebody posted the Table of Contents in their review.

The first person that came to mind is Virginia Woolf - both Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse. Also, I loved the prose style in Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, and I remember being impressed by Chandler's Farewell My Lovely. I finished listening to Palahniuk's Survivor. If you've read any books by him, you can probably guess at the style/structure of this one - kind of a mosaic of lists and regular narrative. There were some plot or character choices that I thought were odd or unlikely, but the story moves so fast (especially since I was listening to the audiobook) that I just accepted it and didn't bother to dwell on it. Great ending. I also finished Flaming Iguanas: An Illustrated All-Girl Road Novel Thing, which was fun and irreverent, light and humorous. My only complaint is that towards the end it started to feel like there was too much unnecessary s*x - just there for the sake of saying something a little crude or shocking or whatever she was going for - honest yet pointless? It didn't feel like all of it was really part of the story. Also, it seemed to me that the author mixed memoir in with novel, but I can't prove that (and haven't looked on the Internet in any attempt to do so). It just sounded like straight memoir at parts, but that didn't hurt the book, imo. I started listening to the fourth Harry Dresden book, Summer Knight. It's been maybe a couple of years since I read books 1-3, but it doesn't seem to be a problem. Old story points are reviewed as needed. I also started reading a book of prose poems, Salt Water Amnesia by Jeffrey Skinner (I posted one of his prose poems last year, about the guy zipping his dad up in a bear suit and dropping him off somewhere.) and I got a teeny tiny start on Dune because my irl reading buddy has been wanting to read that with me for some time, and I've been putting it off for some time, and I was like, "Let's just do this and get it over with."

I'm not much help on essays - lots of poetry recs there though. :001_smile: