Halloween is upon us and it is sadly apt that we happen to be in real physical danger this Halloween. Social distancing dictates that we either stay home or go outside and stay 6 ft. apart and masked (creepy surgeon should be a hit costume this year). However, we don't need the uncanny outside to celebrate Halloween and can still get into the Halloween spirit in our own special/nerdy ways. So our Coterie members bring you their creepiest, scariest, and spookiest book recommendations hoping to do their part in helping you enjoy your Halloween safely by being curled up with a book:
Recommended by our Outreach Officer, Jothie Muraleetharan:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Nobody Owens, who is also known as Bod, seems to be a completely normal boy. However, he lives in a graveyard… He has spent his childhood being raised and educated by ghosts and he has one guardian who is neither dead nor alive. The graveyard is both a scary and exciting place: It is haunted by the strange, menacing, and terrible Sleer; a gravestone entrance to a desert which opens into the city of ghouls; friendly witches, and many more hair raising experiences. However, the world of the living seems to be more frightening than the world of the dead. Bod is constantly afraid of Jack, who murdered his entire family and haunts Bod’s existence.
Recommended by our Events Coordinator, Abby Robitaille:
The Diviners by Libba Bray
The Diviners by Libba Bray features all of the best young-adult tropes! This paranormal fantasy is set in 1920’s New York and does an excellent job of showing both the glamour and the uglier aspects of the time period. The story follows Evie O’Neill as she moves to the big city to live with her uncle and from there romance, murder-mystery, and mayhem all blossom on the page.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
This book has the perfect atmosphere for Fall! If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio follows a close-knit group of Shakespeare students in their last year at an elite arts college. As the tragedy the students are acting out begins to bleed into their own lives, one of the students ends up dead. The rest must prepare for their biggest performance yet: convincing the police and themselves of their innocence.
Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
For all murder mystery fans, Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson is a must-read! The book follows a bookstore owner, Mal, who wrote a blog post about mystery and crime fiction’s eight most perfect murders. Of course, the blog post of a book lover is completely innocent, or at least it is until someone completes the murders from the list. Mal is forced to try to find the murderer himself before he becomes the prime suspect.
Recommended by our Events Coordinator, Faith Caswell:
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde’s only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is the perfect story to get you into the Spooky season. Dorian Gray, a young and attractive man, meets Basil Hallward, a visual artist. Hallward paints a portrait of Dorian to capture his brilliance and youthfulness, but things soon spiral out of control as Dorian becomes infatuated with his portrait. A stunning tale of darkness and secrets, this novel will undoubtedly leave you with chills and the ultimate question… what would you give to stay young forever?
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a classic tale of the darkness of human nature. Mr. Utterson, the narrator, hears of a man named Mr. Hyde who has violently assaulted a young girl in the streets. This same man has also been left all the property of Utterson’s close friend, Dr. Jekyll. This mysterious transaction brings Utterson into a fascinating adventure of deception and dual-identity. Grab a cozy blanket, a hot chocolate, and cuddle up with this accessible read of only about 100 pages for this fall season!
Recommended by our Publications Manager, Isabella Elias:
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
I recommend Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn! This book is about a reporter who must return to her hometown to write a story on the murders of two young girls. This is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read— from Victorian mansions to toothless corpses to uncovering small-town secrets— every chapter leaves you feeling uneasy, but intrigued. My favourite thing about this book though, is that all of the female characters are extremely developed and complex, which is so refreshing! It’s not Halloween themed, but there’s never a bad time for a good murder mystery.
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