Diversity in All Forms! discussion

Hi! So this isn't exactly a "book challenge" but more of… let's see how many Halloween books we can read during the month of October. I thought this would be a great area where we can discuss our reads. The books can be about Halloween (like our bonus read), horror books, scary books, creepy books, picture books, etc. ANYTHING that you feel fits into the Halloween theme! Also, this will give us the great opportunity to learn about some books we have never heard of!

I can start us off. The books that I currently have planned to read for October are our bonus read and these others.

The Day I Went Missing: A True Story
(I am reading this book my hometown Young Women's Book Club.)
Jennifer Miller, an Emmy-nominated TV writer, was a highly functioning member of the Hollywood scene who had everything going for her: great contacts, great work, and the promise of an even greater future. But what Jennifer did not have was a happy life, or even the ability to understand what happy meant. A single woman who did not know what it was like to have a love relationship, she was haunted by a deepening despair. She toyed with therapy, but Jennifer, the daughter of a shrink, was convinced that she was beyond help. Then she met Dr. David Cohen, and discovered something worse than depression. Believing she had finally found someone to trust completely, Jennifer allowed herself to get sucked into Dr. Cohen’s world. What followed is a chilling tale of fraudulent therapy that is enthralling and horrifying from its skillful beginning to its shocking conclusion.

I will read these picture books to my students:

You think you've got problems? Dracula, Wolfman, Bigfoot--now they have problems. Monster-sized. You try to address Dracula's hygiene issues. And don't even get me started on the Phantom of the Opera.

Goodnight Goon: a Petrifying Parody
Goodnight monsters everywhere, in this parody romp with its own special twist! "Goodnight tomb. Goodnight goon. Goodnight Martians taking over the moon." It's bedtime in the cold gray tomb with a black lagoon, and two slimy claws, and a couple of jaws, and a skull and a shoe and a pot full of goo. But as a little werewolf settles down, in comes the Goon determined at all costs to run amok and not let any monster have his rest. A beloved classic gets a kind-hearted send up in this utterly monsterized parody; energetic art and a hilarious text will have kids begging to read this again and again.

I am currently reading:
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.
(I picked this book because I wanted a short, creepy, popular read to get me ready for the month of October. Sadly, this book has been very boring and uneventful. It is taking me wayyyy longer than planned to read it… Has anyone read this book?)

I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle a few years ago and thought it very good. I don't remember a lot about the plot, I think that it was not high action! I remember mostly that it was very atmospheric and quite disturbing in tone. (view spoiler)[ if I rememder correctly the young girl suffered from OCD, and one of them was agoraphobic. Not really surprising given the family history and the way they lived. Not to mention the way they were treated by the locals. (hide spoiler)]

I'm planning to read The Fireman in october. Maybe The Girl with All the Gifts as I want to read it befure the film come out. Also on my list are NOS4R2, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Memory of Trees, Carmilla and plague. I think I would the month to be extended to get them all in though. Oh, and a bought It on audio for nostalgic purposes - it 44 hours long though!

Margo wrote: "I'm planning to read The Fireman in october. Maybe The Girl with All the Gifts as I want to read it befure the film come out. Also on my list are [book:NOS4R2|210871..."

Holllyyyy cow! You are extremely impressive :) :)

Margo wrote: "I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle a few years ago and thought it very good. I don't remember a lot about the plot, I think that it was not high action! I remember mostly that i..."

Oh wow! I never realized how popular this book was till after I rented it haha

I know, it's one of those books that, when you start reading it, seems to appear everywhere!

The only book I'm definitely reading for Halloween is the fireman. The rest are aspirational ;-)

Margo wrote: "I know, it's one of those books that, when you start reading it, seems to appear everywhere!

The only book I'm definitely reading for Halloween is the fireman. The rest are aspirational ;-)"

haha I know how you feel :p

I'm currently reading The Gentleman From Angell Street

It's a small collection of essays about horror writer H. P. Lovecraft written by two of his close companions, Muriel . E and C. M. Eddy. I picked it up from the grandson of the authors who was selling them at a booth at the Big E, which is a huge fair/expo out here in New England.

In the spirit of Halloween, I'm planning on reviewing an anthology of juvenile/YA horror stories each week. Most of them are anthologies I had as a kid. I'm eventually hoping to pass them on to my own children when they get a little older My list includes:

Scary Stories for Sleepovers always creeped me out as a kid. Especially the story "Shadow Play", which is about a family being haunted by shadow people.


Scary Poems For Rotten Kids is a book of creepy poems. Some of them can get pretty nightmarish. "The Body", in particular, is especially unnerving.


Bruce Coville's Book of Monsters. Bruce Coville has had a huge influence on me as a writer. Even though he wrote for kids, his stories were sophisticated and had some pretty deep ideas, while also being goofy when appropriate.


The Midnight Library is a newer anthology that I haven't read before. I'm intrigued to check it out


The Cat-Dogs is another pretty dark anthology meant for slightly older kids. My favorite story is "The House That Jack Built", which is about a boy being held prisoner inside a living house that forces him to constantly repair it.


Any run-down on children's scary story anthologies HAS to include Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark! Anyone who read this as a kid has had the incredibly creepy illustrations permanently etched into their memory


In a Dark, Dark Room is another anthology by the author of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. I don't think Alvin Schwartz gets much recognition outside of that series, so I wanted to take a look at one of his other books of creepy folklore.

John wrote: "I'm currently reading The Gentleman From Angell Street

It's a small collection of essays about horror writer H. P. L..."

OMG! That is so cool! I look so forward to seeing your reviews every week! :D Are these books like short stories or what are they?

I am reading picture books with my students. Here are two of them.

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
The witch has grown the biggest pumpkin ever, and now she wants to make herself a pumpkin pie for Halloween. But the pumpkin is so big she can't get it off the vine.
It's so big the ghost can't move it, either. Neither can the vampire, nor the mummy. It looks as if there'll be no pumpkin pie for Halloween, until along comes the bat with an idea to save the day.

Ghost Sounds by Anita Yasuda
The Dino Detectives are always looking for a mystery to solve. When Dot thinks she hears a ghost in her house, she calls her friends right away. Will they find a ghost or something else when they start investigating?"

Mariah wrote: "John wrote: "I'm currently reading The Gentleman From Angell Street

It's a small collection of essays about horror w..."

They're all anthologies of short stories. With each review I'll be selecting one story that's my favorite.

Mariah wrote: "I am reading picture books with my students. Here are two of them.

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
The witch has grown the biggest pumpkin ever, and now she wants to..."

These look like fun. I'll have to try to pick them up for my kids. My son especially is obsessed with Halloween, witches and pumpkins.

John wrote: "Mariah wrote: "I am reading picture books with my students. Here are two of them.

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
The witch has grown the biggest pumpkin ever, and n..."

That is a great idea! I'm reading all the books that goodreads suggest :p

I've already read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Oct. 1) and I've started on Dracula and Night Film. Then I have The Shadow of the Wind and Dark Matter in my TBR. My nephew looked at my nightstand, and said "Wow, are you going to read all those?" I certainly hope so.

Susanne wrote: "I've already read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Oct. 1) and I've started on Dracula and Night Film. Then I have The Shadow of the Wind and [bo..."

Haha! If I have time I would love to read Dracula this winter! I will be starting [book:The Graveyard Book|2213661] with my students tomorrow!

I'm listening to Dracula during my commute, and then I have a lightly illustrated version that I'll read when I'm at home. Without audiobooks, I'm not sure I could get to everything.

I loved The Graveyard Book. I also listened to this book. It was done by a full cast and was amazing.

Susanne wrote: "I'm listening to Dracula during my commute, and then I have a lightly illustrated version that I'll read when I'm at home. Without audiobooks, I'm not sure I could get to everything.

I loved [book..."
Ohhhh wow! That is amazing! I would love to hear that!
I just starting The Graveyard Book with my students today. We are also reading the graphic novel at the same time too.
[bookcover:The Graveyard Book|2213661]

Reading this book with my students and I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. Its a picture book, but it feels wayyyy over their heads. There are a lot of references they aren't getting.

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich

How old are the kids you teach Mariah?

Margo wrote: "How old are the kids you teach Mariah?"

I teach high schoolers with disabilities. Socially they are at a 6th- 8th grade level, academically at a 2nd-3rd grade level.

Wow, that must be a difficult job. I hope you find it rewarding :-)

Margo wrote: "Wow, that must be a difficult job. I hope you find it rewarding :-)"

I absolutely love it :) And I don't have curriculum, so I get to do whatever I want! So we writing scary stories, reading picture books, reading The Graveyard Book and in "science" we are learning about elephants haha

Read this with my students! Super good :) They loved it!

Sounds like you're a great teacher :-)

Margo wrote: "Sounds like you're a great teacher :-)"

Thank you :)

Ghost in the House

Currently reading this! It is short and filled with short stories that explain some of the most famous Haunted Houses in the USA. Very interesting :)

I'm not much of a fantasy person, but when October comes around I become one!
Just started this book today and I've only read the first chapter, but I am really enjoying this!

Poison

Continuing with the idea of reading spooky stories, I'm planning on reading some stories by M.R. James in December


James was a popular writer of ghost stories around the turn of the 20th century. His stories were actually meant to be read around Christmas time. From what I've read, in Britain and other parts of Europe-- and Japan, too-- people traditionally tell scary stories as part of the holiday festivities. It makes sense if you think about it. Winter can be a pretty spooky time as the nights grow longer, the days colder, and nature goes to sleep.

John wrote: "I'm currently reading The Gentleman From Angell Street

It's a small collection of essays about horror writer H. P. L..."

A little late, but here's my first review!
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

I was hoping to get them out weekly, but life got busy as it always does. Well, hopefully I can get out a few more before the Halloween season is over.

Even though I make jokes about the stories in the book I review, I really do love it and consider it an important part of my childhood.

John wrote: "John wrote: "I'm currently reading The Gentleman From Angell Street

It's a small collection of essays about horror w..."

Wow! That is awesome! I really enjoyed your review :)

The Lunch Witch
Just started this cute graphic novel! Really enjoying it :) I think i'll even read the 2nd one!

Here is my review on the book Poison! Poison

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Ghost in the House

Here is my review for this book:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you to everyone that shared their books in the Halloween "Book Challenge." :)

I'm reading Xperiment right now.so far is strange and creepy.

This is wonderful! I'm normally not a fan of horror and creepy books, but since I like to challenge myself I made myself a promise to read only those books during the month of October. Last year I started and I had a great time, and this year I'm doing the same.

Last year I read the following ones:
1. White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi.
2. A Fever of the Blood by Oscar de Muriel.
3. The Metamorphosis by Kafka. I read this book in Dutch.
4. Horns by Joe Hill.
5. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

I had a blast last year: I especially liked Helen Oyeyemi's and Oscar de Muriel's novels, and Frankenstein became one of my new favorite classics :)

And this year is going very well too!
1. Bird Box by Josh Malerman.
2. See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt.
3. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill.
4. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin.
5. The Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse.
6. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.
7. Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.

So far "Hex" has scared me the most, but all these books are great to read this Halloween. Some are more creepy or paranormal, others are more thriller-mystery, but I enjoyed them all.

If you want to know more: I wrote reviews for all these books, expect for "Hex" and "The Taxidermist's Daughter"; I'm still working on those.