Written by: Alisa Neeza
Have you ever considered going back in time to read the original haunting classic tales? The spooky season is upon us, and it is time for us to get comfortable with our ✨ pumpkin spiced lattes ✨ and a spooky book to get us into the mood! These are the top 5 Halloween book recommendations that would charm your way into a witchy, mystic night. Let’s see if whether you can handle the horror, or lose to the dark side.
Classic Halloween Book #1: Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Known as one of the pioneers of the genre of science fiction, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley wrote Frankenstein when she was just a teenager. Shelley had a nightmare once and turned that into creating one of history’s most prominent monsters. The book was published in January 1818, when she was 20 years old. It is more interesting thinking about how her inspiration came from a science experiment. and a retelling of evening chitchat.
After the publication of the book, many people mistook Frankenstein as the monster when it is actually the creator’s name, Victor Frankenstein. The book tells us about the scientist that created a creature from an unconventional scientific experiment, and how the creation itself escapes the confines of the lab he was created in, into the real world with no distinction of reality, nor any survival skills. Slowly, the creature learned that he is not accepted by his creator, nor mankind in general, and decided to seek revenge towards those who wronged him.
Frankenstein is not created from Shelley’s imagination but instead is from Galvani’s experiment on the dead frogs. It is interesting to learn that a young girl of her time managed to be well-educated in the sciences. The magnificent novel by Mary Shelley is all about science’s constraints and boundaries, as well as humanity’s quest for control and supremacy over nature, with all the dangers that entails. Who’d knew that a story that came from a dream managed to leave its marks over the next two centuries, becoming one of Halloween’s classic stories?
Classic Halloween Book #2: Dracula by Bram Stoker
Everybody remembers Meyer’s The Twilight Saga that created a new look on vampirism with their sparkly skin and beauty, but do you know what started the vampire trope in popular culture?
Dracula by Bram Stoker put the trope on the map when it was first published in 1897. There are many theories on the creation of one of the world’s most famous blood-sucking monsters, but similar to Frankenstein, Stoker took his inspiration from the evening chitchat participated by the likes of Mary Shelley and Lord Byron.
The book has no single protagonist, but we can see it opened up with Jonathan Harker’s trip to stay at a castle in Transylvania, owned by Count Dracula. The story progresses with Dracula’s move to England, and the havoc he wrecks as he was there. We also get to know a group of vampire-hunter led by Van Helsing, whose goal is to restore balance for mankind.
Besides the obvious bloodbath that took place in the book, it also managed to give us the archetype of their characters; a dangerous blood-sucking monster as well as a skilled vampire hunter. Both of these characters have recurred many times in modern culture, and the themes of gender, race, and sexuality have proved that this book earns its place of being one of the most iconic pieces in Gothic literature. Give this book a go if you enjoy a gothic novel in all its gruesome and melancholy grandeur.
Classic Halloween Book #3: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Everybody is familiar with the idea of being good in public and evil behind closed doors, but have you ever wondered what popularized the idea?
Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published in 1886 and has been known to be one of the earliest publications which discuss the idea of dual nature. Stevenson was interested in human personalities, and after having a dream one fateful night, he created this masterpiece. It even becomes a part of the English Language, in which ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ is used to describe a person’s nature.
The book tells us about a legal practitioner named Gabriel John Utterson, and his client Dr. Henry Jekyll. The case of the girl who got trampled led to Utterson meets Mr. Hyde, an evil man who somehow has a connection with Dr. Jekyll. Strange occurrences have been happening that tie the two characters together. Worried for his client and friend, Dr. Jekyll, Utterson works to solve his strange behavior after a murder was found committed by Mr. Hyde.
This book managed to create a whole new saying of good and evil, as well as the debate on dissociative personality disorder. We can also see the impact that it brings to modern pop culture on the book with the many adaptations created throughout the years. It is also worth noting that Stevenson incorporated psychological thriller, horror, mystery, drama, and science fiction all in one book. So, if any of these piqued your interest up, give this book a go!
Classic Halloween Book #4: The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was once one the most influential Gothic American writer. He perfected the theme of psychological horror and managed to create some of the best literary pieces known. Poe’s creative output includes detective stories, satires, fables, science fiction, verse dramas, fantasies, and some of the most evocative poetry ever written.
There have been various publications for the collected tales and poems, but the compilation of his written pieces throughout his lifetime. The complete collection of his work can easily astound and attract the readers into a different world. Some may have heard his famous poem, ‘The Raven’ where a talking-raven visited a distraught lover and accompanied him in his downfall journey to madness whilst repeating the word, ‘Nevermore’.
There is even a tale called ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’, where Roderick Usher’s childhood friend heard of Usher’s illness and visited him and care for him, with the Usher’s twin sister living with them. The house itself is described spookily and in a very Gothic manner, and when the sister died, that’s when things took a turn.
There are various other stories that you can see from the collection, such as ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’, ‘Annabel Lee’, ‘The Bells’, and ‘Ulalume’. All of the stories and poems in the story are unique but share the same distinct features of supernatural and horror. Poe even incorporated fables, myths, and lore in his works, so you can expect this collection to be haunting at times, may even be familiar.
Classic Halloween Book #5: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Our list is not complete without including the person who carried forward the literary movement ‘Golden Age of Detective Fiction’, Agatha Christie. Also known as the creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Agatha Christie managed to publish 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections in her lifetime, and her novels had sold more than 2 billion copies worldwide.
One of her books, ‘And Then There Were None’ revolves around ten guests, invited to a private island, though their generous millionaire hosts are nowhere to be found. The moment they stepped unit the island, their fates are sealed. Each one of them is accused of something from their past, and it is revealed that each of their life is marked. Nobody knows who the murderer is, but what they know is that the person is slowly waiting to strike, again. And again. The title itself was taken from a nursery rhyme that is seen hanged in the rooms at the mansion they are staying:
“Ten little boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little boys traveling in Devon; One said he’d stay there then there were seven. Seven little boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two little boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.”
Nobody knows who is next, but the guests found it unnerving that the murderer happened based on the nursery rhyme. Indeed, Agatha Christie managed to keep her readers on their toes with this book; feelings of anticipation on who is the next victim and the secret that they harbor. If you have a knack for murder mysteries, then you cannot miss out on this one!
The journey the authors took is different when we consider the period in which all these books are published. Yet, they all managed to bring forth a big influence in today’s world. The stories that they tell us have managed to stand the test of time. Happy reading!
Don’t forget to also visit our other book recommendation post, ‘5 Malaysian Published books to look out for in 2021’ to support our local writers! Link: https://penwings.com/5-malaysian-published-books-to-look-out-for-in-2021/
