I have never been one to read, or even watch, much horror. I enjoy a good psychological thriller or ghost story every now and then, but I am not impressed by gore or gratuitous violence. October is the month of spookiness and terror, so I thought I would challenge myself to try to read books that fall into the category of horror, at least in some way. A couple books I already had on my list to read this year fit this category, so I did a quick search and found a few others. In addition to looking for horror novels, I was also looking for them to be written by authors of color to fit my ongoing challenge to explore voices from different backgrounds and histories. The horror stories I am most interested in are steeped in folklore, so I am excited to read tales inspired by the traditions of other cultures and countries. I don't know if I'll make it through all five books this month, but I'm going to do my best. So, without further ado, I give you my sBOOKtober reading list:
I read Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Gods of Jade and Shadow this summer and fell in love with her prose. Soon after, her new book Mexican Gothic was a Book of the Month choice, and I have now had it sitting on my bookshelf for a few months. With Hispanic Heritage Month ending on October 15, I wanted to read a book by a Latinx author and this one checked both boxes.
After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find — her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough, smart, and has an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom...
After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find — her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough, smart, and has an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom...
This book is really what piqued my interest in reading horror. The Only Good Indians kept popping up on lists and ads and other friends' posts since it was published in July. I was hesitant to read it, but when I found out that Stephen Graham Jones would be featured at my local book festival this October, it jumped to my definitely read pile. I am also trying to read more indigenous authors, so this book was perfect for my sBOOKtober list.
Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.
Seamlessly blending classic horror and a dramatic narrative with sharp social commentary, The Only Good Indians follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them in a desperate struggle for their lives. Tracked by an entity bent on revenge, these childhood friends are helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.
I thought that short stories might be easier to find (and easier to read) when it comes to horror, and when I saw this book on a list to read, it stood out to me immediately. I think this will be a good collection for me because it is considered science fiction and several stories include elements of horror.
Throughout the Caribbean are stories of people who aren't what they seem. Skin gives them their human shape, but when the skin comes off, their true selves emerge.
A new collection of short stories from Hopkinson, including "Greedy Choke Puppy," which Africana.com called "a cleverly crafted West Indian story featuring the appearance of both the soucouyant (vampire) & lagahoo (werewolf)," "Ganger (Ball Lightning)," praised by the Washington Post Book World as written in "prose [that] is vivid & immediate," this collection reveals Hopkinson's breadth & accomplishments as a storyteller.
Throughout the Caribbean are stories of people who aren't what they seem. Skin gives them their human shape, but when the skin comes off, their true selves emerge.
A new collection of short stories from Hopkinson, including "Greedy Choke Puppy," which Africana.com called "a cleverly crafted West Indian story featuring the appearance of both the soucouyant (vampire) & lagahoo (werewolf)," "Ganger (Ball Lightning)," praised by the Washington Post Book World as written in "prose [that] is vivid & immediate," this collection reveals Hopkinson's breadth & accomplishments as a storyteller.
A good ghost story is perfect for an October reading list. I don't know if this story will be more mystical than terrifying, but the brief description sounds eerie enough. This was on a Book Riot list of horror stories by authors of color, and I felt that it would add a little variety and a different sort of pacing to the other stories on my list.
Locke, California, 1928. Three bedraggled Chinese women appear out of the mist in a small Chinese farming town on the Sacramento River. Two are unknown to its residents, while the third is the long-lost wife of Richard Fong, the handsome manager of the local gambling parlor. As the lives of the townspeople become inextricably intertwined with the newly arrived women, their frightening power is finally revealed.
Locke, California, 1928. Three bedraggled Chinese women appear out of the mist in a small Chinese farming town on the Sacramento River. Two are unknown to its residents, while the third is the long-lost wife of Richard Fong, the handsome manager of the local gambling parlor. As the lives of the townspeople become inextricably intertwined with the newly arrived women, their frightening power is finally revealed.
When I read Dracula in middle school, I absolutely loved it. It was also one of the few books that made me feel nervous and a little scared while reading. Dracula was a wonderful villain, and when looking for vampire stories, I look for ones similar to what Stoker created. To be honest though, I haven't tried very hard to find more vampire tales because it seems like the popular ones being written today do not have the traditional type of vampire that I am looking for, or are not as dark as Dracula. When I came across Certain Dark Things, I immediately added it to my list. Not just scary vampires, but ones from a different tradition? And the novel is written by an author I know I already love? Sign me up! I also think it will be good for me to - finally - read a contemporary vampire novel.
Welcome to Mexico City, an oasis in a sea of vampires. Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, is just trying to survive its heavily policed streets when a jaded vampire on the run swoops into his life. Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, is smart, beautiful, and dangerous. Domingo is mesmerized. Atl needs to quickly escape the city, far from the rival narco-vampire clan relentlessly pursuing her. Her plan doesn’t include Domingo, but little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his undeniable charm. As the trail of corpses stretches behind her, local cops and crime bosses both start closing in. Vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Or will the city devour them all?
Welcome to Mexico City, an oasis in a sea of vampires. Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, is just trying to survive its heavily policed streets when a jaded vampire on the run swoops into his life. Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, is smart, beautiful, and dangerous. Domingo is mesmerized. Atl needs to quickly escape the city, far from the rival narco-vampire clan relentlessly pursuing her. Her plan doesn’t include Domingo, but little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his undeniable charm. As the trail of corpses stretches behind her, local cops and crime bosses both start closing in. Vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Or will the city devour them all?
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