Ok I am diving in to fall content because I can’t wait. It is still hot and gross and sticky here, so this is a bit of daydreaming on my part. Can’t I just set the AC super low and cover up with a blanket and have some tea and read some scary stories?
Let’s start with these short little classics of horror and mystery, to just give us a little taste of the season to come. A little autumn amuse-bouche if you will, while we wait for the real thing.
The Willows by Algernon Blackwood: Written in 1907, The Willows is described as early modern horror, and precursor to the weird fiction movement, which is something I am reading a bit of these days. This cover is absolutely chilling to me!
The Ghost Stories of M.R. James: My cousin, who I have shared books with since we were children, has told me over and over for years to read M.R. James. Maybe this is the year! And hmm, I wonder if he has this copy for his study; if not I am thinking this would be a perfect gift for Christmas.
The Haunted Hotel by Wilkie Collins: This short story (novella?) is on my list to read this year. And this edition and cover looks gorgeous and spooky!
Autumn Chills by Agatha Christie: We need to have the Queen of Mystery on this list! I think short stories are a great way to get to know an author before diving into a whole novel, and this collection of autumnal stories is a good place to begin!
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson: I love Shirley Jackson, and this is my favorite by her. It is so good and perfect for this transition period.
Carmilla by J. Sheridan La Fanu: This book was so groundbreaking for its time. It pre-dates Dracula by twenty-six years, and the vampire is a woman. It is sometimes referred to as sapphic, but I hesitate to call it that based on a few things. However, it was a scandalous book in its day, and I feel like the focus on women and sexuality and power is one of the reasons why Dracula is more well known.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Hands down, one of my favorites on this list. I read this in college and fell in love with this whole story. And speaking of feminism, Mary Shelley’s mom, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a pioneering feminist in literature and writing. Just throwing that out there.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: So I haven’t actually read this one. I know the story, roughly, but I should probably read it one day. I knew I had to include it on this list though!
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: A spooky one alright. Is it a ghost story? Or something else? It is open to the reader’s interpretation. It’s been a very long time since I read this so I don’t remember too much about it. Maybe it is time for a reread.
And there we go. A little bit of fall near the end of summer, on this rainy (here at least) day.
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
Lot of great recommendations!
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Thank you!
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Despite being quite cold and in the 60’s I refuse to turn my thoughts to fall! LOL. I have to look for some fun fall book though because I am quickly running out of fun summer beach reads.
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I am such a fall nerd. I have like a million different fall book posts planned! I hope that you find one that meets what you need!
The book Fall I Want is on one of my lists, and I know that was released last year. Maybe that one would work if you haven’t read it yet? Some of the ones I have been eyeballing aren’t out until Sept. 2!
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I just Googled Fall I Want and that looks and sounds so cute!
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Ooh, the one about the female vampire sounds right up my alley! I loved The Picture of of Dorian Gray. But, I haven’t read it in a bit. Time to do it again. We’re going to have highs only in the 70s next week! Doing my happy dance!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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I’m thinking of picking up a copy of Carmilla this fall. And it sounds like I need to get to Dorian Gray too!
And yay for the weather! Lol. I just need the humidity to calm down a bit here!
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Dorian Gray is worth reading just for Wilde’s use of language!
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I really need to read it. It’s short, I should just get it and do it. Lol.
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That’s funny, I had just put some ghost stories on my list some days ago that were recommended in another book I read.
If you like a short fun read with ghost stories, try Jerome K. Jerome’s “Told After Supper”.
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Ooo thank you Cat! I love ghost stories!!
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You can never go wrong with Shirley Jackson or Algneron Blackwood, love them both. I love Wilkie Collins but have not read that one yet. I need to get my hands on that.
I hope you enjoy them all!
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Thanks Ryan! I am looking forward to that Wilkie Collins!
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Nice choices! It’s suddenly gone all autumnal here, the light has changed, the skies are grey and the temperature has dropped. I really quite fancy reading that Pumpkin Spice book everyone was reading last year!
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Yesterday was all rainy and gray, and today is too. I am going to thank Hurricane Erin for that, although I really hope she stay offshore and doesn’t do any damage! C’mon Erin. Be nice. Lol.
Lol I read that book last year!!
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I’m starting to get all the fall vibes and urges as well! While I do love a good murder (that sounds so wrong, lol), I don’t usually go for spooky (my imagination can do plenty without outside help) … I’ve got a stack of mysteries I want to read, including finally getting around to the Juneau Black Shady Hollow series, since it’s ending this fall.
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Can’t believe, it is (almost) autumn already. Great list, I’ve read quite a few of them, but We Have Always Lived in a Castle is still on my TBR, hopefully will get to it this autumn. Wilkie Collins has become a favourite, so I may look into The Haunted Hotel as well.
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I really enjoyed We Have Always Lived in a Castle. I hope you like it too!
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