Halloween is the perfect time of year to indulge in costume parties or frighten your friends with movie night. But what better way to recover from a hangover or get yourself in the Halloween spirit than immersing yourself in the fictional world of horror. From American Gothic pioneer Shirley Jackson to household favourite Stephen King, here are some of our writer’s favourite spooky novels.
Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson
For me, Halloween is synonymous with the queen of horror herself, Shirley Jackson. Although The Haunting of Hill House is my favourite, you can’t really go wrong with any of them. Hangsaman is my pick for her most underrated novel.
First published in 1951, Hangsaman focuses on Natalie and her descent into madness after joining a liberal arts university. It’s a deeply chilling tale with all the hallmarks of Shirley’s finest works: the reclusive and imaginative female protagonist, environments that seem to pulse uneasily with life, and most significantly, deeply troubling family dynamics. Natalie’s father is overbearing and far too involved with Natalie’s life, and her mother is miserable and downtrodden. Their combined obsession and lack of care for Natalie leads her down a horrible path which she can never turn back from.
Hangsaman is perhaps her most disturbing book, not in the sense of being filled with gruesome images but in the way the best horror does, by working its way into your brain and refusing to let go. Jackson’s books are filled with ominous moments that don’t come to fruition for a little while afterwards, moments filtered through the imagination and misremembering of Natalie herself. Jackson loves a protagonist with a wild imagination, using the narration to blur the lines between what’s real and what’s imagined, creating a novel filled with intrigue and suspense.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough, it’s a stellar spooky tale that is sure to chill you to the core.
Words by Jessica Betts
Brainwyrms by Allison Rumfitt
It’s rare that I put down a book and take a break because of how filthy it is but Alison Rumfitt’s Brainwyrms made me pause.
Rumfitt alternates between the perspectives of Frankie, recovering from a transphobic terrorist attack, and Vanya, hiding a parasite kink, in their tumultuous relationship. Misunderstandings, trauma, and shame between the two build a sense of tension throughout yet this is not the only horrific thing going on in the novel. As Frankie starts to dig into who exactly Vanya is, she discovers a depraved conspiracy that goes deeper than she could ever imagine.
The horrors of dating are on full display as shame and trauma plague this doomed pair. Brainwryms is playful, hilarious, and about 200 pages of the most grotesque body horror you’ve ever read. There’s no denying it — this book is gory. Sigmund Freud could be resurrected at the levels of psych-sexual horror happening in this book.
Similarly to Eliza Clark’s most recent novel Penance, Rumfitt concerns herself with what our online worlds say about us. Niche internet forums and toxic media discourse make the novel feel very current, grounding characters while exploring the limits of the body. Her writing style is conversational yet experimental, hitting a perfect balance of relatable characters while pushing the limits of the horror genre.
Rumfitt’s 2021 literary debut Tell Me I’m Worthless marked her out as an exciting voice in queer horror, exploring the corrupting influence of transphobia and fascism in the UK. However, where Tell Me I’m Worthless is scary, Brainwyrms is downright terrifying as it manifests these themes in the form of an actual parasite radicalising your loved ones and neighbours. It’s a bold and uncompromising look into the horrors of existing right now, and the perfect reading prep for a horror movie marathon this Halloween.
Words by Mae Murphy
The Shining by Stephen King
Stephen King is truly the king of horror novels. Published in 1977, it is shocking to think that The Shining was only his third novel, however, it is less surprising considering the cult classic Carrie (1974) was his first.
The Shining (as I’m sure you’re aware) follows protagonist Jack Torrence as he takes on the job of winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel, a building that becomes completely isolated from the world around it during these snowy months. The huge, old building, physically cut off from the world, along with an unfortunate tendency for murder, is a paragon of horror settings.
With almost 500 pages, the narrative encompasses a slow and intentional pace, building the hotel’s gradual influence over the protagonists and those that inhabit its walls, creating Jack’s, at first secretive and then violent, fall into insanity. However, do not let this page count intimidate you. King’s narrative style is the epitome of enticing; every character and description leeches onto you, creating a novel impossible to put down.
The Shining instantly became a horror classic, with Kubrick’s film adaption being released only 3 years after the book’s publication. Whilst the film received some less-than-flattering criticism upon release, the majority of this stems from it straying too far from the novel, or undoing some of King incredible work. Regardless the film remains to this day a cult classic and a personal favourite – but for me the book easily transcends it.
Unlike the film, the character development evolves around you as you read: Jack’s insanity spirals secretly until you realise it’s too late for him, Wendy’s misery and fear for their son encompasses you, and the targeting of Danny’s suspectable child’s mind is heart-breaking to say the least. It’s a novel of madness, a haunted house, spirits, hallucinations and extraordinary powers that encapsulates you as you read – The Shining truly has it all.
This novel made me run to the charity shops in hope of finding its sequel.
Words by Willow Fowler
