Ten Reads for Scaredy Cat Readers
Halloween is probably my least favorite holiday of the year.
Why you may ask?
I hate being scared. My imagination takes whatever scary plot of a scary book and then amplifies until I'm literally up all night afraid of my own shadow and the settling of the house or the wind blowing around the roof... it's not a pretty picture.
Granted, as a mom, I have to do my best to be a good sport... but I draw the line at scary reads.
I mean I probably pick up one psychological thriller a year... and still...
But this year, I was chatting with some friends and realized I have actually read quite a few books that many consider high on the scare factor. But my friends, they are not that bad, as time has lessened the stories. You see, classically scary stories are not so threatening anymore.
10 Not-Too-Scary Reads
- Dracula by Bram Stroker - this classic is so creepy and scary, yet, with so many retellings and movies and such, our modern imaginations tend to down play this one - so read up!
- The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis - a story of a demon training another demon on how to do the work of the devil pretty much tops the scary for just about everyone - yet there is a humor to this that will keep your brain from realizing just how scary this is... at least for a bit.
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - this classic should keep us up at night, yet somehow it doesn't - probably like Dracula, we have just been desensitized to it's amazing creep factor.
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - Alright so this probably was never really scary... but there are some elements, and scenes where the imagination can certainly take this to scary, if not just a bit too unsettling.
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare - I mean the iconic witches scene is quote in countless other scary stories and movies, so of course this one should be on your list, besides, it's not that scary... umm... maybe...
- Coraline by Neil Gaiman - this creepy tale might give you a moment's hesitation if you don't want to be scared, but in the end you'll know the story... right??
- The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux - The fact that most people know this as an actual broadway opera helps the scary not seem so scary... don't let the details linger in your mind too long and you'll be fine!
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving - Again, modern retellings and movies make this original story less jarring - there is no way this one will keep you up, well more than one night...
- The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe - How often have you heard reference to this? The sound of a guilty conscious beating under the floor boards... it won't even make you jump... You might as well read The Raven while you're at it.
- The Raven... because seriously it's not so easy to come up with 10 not too scary adult (mostly) books/stories for this wretched holiday!!
Call out to hosts
Thank you, The Broke & the Bookish for this fun weekly prompt and chance to interact with the Bookish Blogger community.
Alright, did you notice a theme?
I believe our modern storytelling through imagery makes most of these classics not so scary now. Maybe it's because too many no longer know how to create the scary scenes described in these classics, or maybe we have out grown them.
Overall, I do believe these should at least be attempted to be read by all. I mean these books influenced countless other writers to create the books I avoid at all costs.
Let me know your thoughts on scary read? Do you like to be scared? How scary is too scary???
6 coment�rios
This list is perfect! I much prefer spooky, atmospheric reads over straight up horror. For my TTT I talked about my favorite haunted house novels: https://dwellinpossibilityblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/31/top-ten-tuesday-haunted-house-novels/
ReplyDeleteYes, the straight up horror story is not really my thing either... I'll be checking it out!!! Can't wait
DeleteLove this list! There are so many great books on here--I love Wuthering Heights and definitely see why you included it on the list. I've never read The Screwtape Letters but I am definitely curious about it!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you see why Wuthering Heights is on this list... I wasn't sure it would fit... but it's spooky in it's own right. And I think The Screwtape Letters are a must read - if you ever saw The Devils Advocate movie, you will see where they got many inspirations
DeleteGreat list! I’ve read most of these, and I agree that they’re not too scary.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Right? They aren't really scary, won't make you jump, but they could help stew up quite the nightmare too
DeleteI love comments!!
Let me know what you thought of this one... don't forget to share your blog link so I can stop by!