Hey everyone- this is Wesley from Library Educated! We’re going to chat about Books That Go Bump In The Night!

Books That Go Bump In The Night

 

If you’re home alone on Halloween night and want to read something soothing to distract you from the mysterious noises in your house, I would suggest none of these.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

One of my nearest and dearest friends recommended this book to me. It sounded a little strange and not really “in my wheelhouse” but it was famous and I’d heard people talk about it so I figured why not?

So this book is filled with torture, sexual torture, drugs, murder and all kinds of inter-workings of a super deranged mind. The book is interesting in that this man is insane, and yet he still holds down an important job, people go on dates with him, and no one seems to be like “do you think that guy is ok?” There is also the distinct possibility that everything he did was just imagined because he’s INSANE and also high on cocaine. I feel like I need to take a shower just thinking about this one too long.
The Shining by Stephen King

You know there’s going to be a King book on here somewhere, and here it is! The movie is fantastic and scary but it doesn’t tell the whole story. In the book little 5 year old Danny has a special kind of special psychic power that connects him to the hotel. You also get more of a background on Jack, which might explain is fragile state of mind. Also magically alive topiaries, which sounds awesome and horrifying all at the same time depending on the context…

 

The Silence Of The Lambs by Thomas Harris

I’m not going to lie to you guys. I won’t ever read this book; I probably won’t ever see this movie. It’s all too creepy! I remember when I was younger I was watching one of those “AFI’s Hundred Best…” programs and there was a clip of it. It was Anthony Hopkins being wheeled on cart, in a strait jacket, but what really disturbed me was the mask. For like 2 weeks whenever I would try to fall asleep that is the image that would pop into my head.

 

Your House Is On Fire, Your Children All Gone by Stefan Kiesby

I actually thought this book was brilliant, but also horrifying. It takes place in a small rural village in Germany in about the 1960s. The book focuses mainly on the village children and the incredibly creepy, wicked, evil things they do. As in, a little boy (maybe 11 or 12?) dispassionately kills his older sister within the first 20 pages (and the book is only 200-ish pages). The whole book has this thick, creepy, suspenseful feel to it that you can practically feel radiating off the pages.

 

I have the heebee jeebees just thinking about all of these creepy books. Time to find some funny YouTube clips for a palate cleanser and maybe a nice glass of wine!

 

Have a Spook-Tacular October,

Wesley @ Library Educated