I have been reading a lot based on my mood, and what I have felt like reading over the last few weeks has been unhinged, strange horror. I am absolutely obsessed with horror films; I truly have seen almost all of them at this point. My favourites are the kinds with ghosts, hauntings, possessions, demons, a bit of chanting in Latin… if you get my vibe… I love the conventions of the genre and the themes that it can explore, and I somehow find them quite relaxing? (I believe Lady Gaga has said the same thing, so don’t @ me)
It is supposed to be Spring in Australia right now, but it has not seemed to reach my neck of the woods and the moody winds and colder weather remind me more of Autumn than anything else. Cozying up with a book has been a wonderful little reprieve from the chaotic world around me, and it has been wonderful to dive into bizarre, heartbreaking, and beautifully weird fiction. There have been some 10 out of 10 books released this year, so I wanted to share with you my favourite horror reads – to get you in the mood for Halloween.
Woodworm – Layla Martínez
Martínez is a Spanish author, and this novella has been translated into English by Sophie Hughes and Annie McDermott. It is a classic haunted house story in which the house is alive. It explores themes of inter-generational trauma, poverty, and, ultimately, love and revenge. It follows four generations of women and the people who have harmed them. It has both literal and metaphorical skeletons in the closet, and much like The Haunting of Hill House, it will keep you guessing and second-guessing things as new plot points are revealed throughout the story. This is a shorter read and perfect for when you want to curl up with a good book for a long, lazy afternoon.
The Eyes Are the Best Part – Monika Kim
Monika Kim’s debut novel is stunning. The Australian cover is stunning. The storytelling is stunning. Have you guessed by now that I loved this book? This book follows Ji-won, a Korean-American university student whose life is falling apart. Her father left, her mother has a new terrible boyfriend, and Ji-won has developed a particular taste for eyeballs… of the human variety. This book is not for the faint of heart – there is eyeball eating in here. I repeat. Eyeballs are eaten. But the horror and twists and turns of this novel were truly inspiring and kept me (an avid reader of horror) guessing. This book is like if The Bluest Eye and My Sister, the Serial Killer had a love child in the best possible way. Kim’s novel explores racism, immigrant experiences in the U.S., navigating the male gaze, and ultimately, how to shift that gaze. This one is great for horror and thriller lovers.
Brat: A Ghost Story – Gabriel Smith
I am very grateful for all the advanced reader copies I get, and I was so happy to see a copy of Brat waiting for me to read. This story is so many things. I really connected with the story and the way that it dealt with the feelings of insanity that can overcome grievers. The story is quite meta as the author of the novel is also the protagonist of the story – yet it is never quite clear if it is autofiction or not. Brat has many stories in stories, and those stories keep changing throughout the novel. As Gabriel tries to make sense of what is happening around him after the loss of his father and the pressure to pack up his childhood home, he starts to fall apart – literally and emotionally.
If GoodReads is anything to go by, this one will polarise audiences. You’ll either love the book or hate it, and I’m not sure there is much middle ground. There are some slurs used in the book, but honestly, the characters are flawed, raw, and, well, total brats at times, so I feel like it works.
Those are my top three for now! Please let me know what I need to add to my spooky list ASAP. And let me know if you read any of these books! As always, share the reading love.
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