Happy Halloween

It's been a crazy weekend, so this is going to be kind of a cop-out post. First order of business: my friend Alyssa A. Auch has published a novel. It was released yesterday, October 8, and is titled Lunula. She is a good writer, and this is worth looking into.

Next: Halloween is coming up. I generally celebrate by reading books and watching movies that have to do with Halloween and Halloween themes. I know there are weeks to go, but books and movies take time to enjoy. If you want to start the celebrating now, here's my list to get you started in your spooky storytelling.

Books:
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury - seriously creepy book about a creepy carnival. Very symbolic, and beautifully written.

The Witches by Roald Dahl - A kid gets turned into a mouse, and there is a hoard of child-murdering women on the loose. Remind me, is this really a children's book? In fact, all Roald Dahl books should be on this list. Willy Wonka's a sociopath.

Dracula by Bram Stoker - A classic. Valuable to read if you like the vampire genre.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - Another classic, though the prose is a bit flowery for a horror novel, in my opinion. Get ready for the intelligent, sympathetic monster.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - Another classic, and my favorite of the three. It's a short, powerful read.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - Not as Halloweeny as the others, but still, it's weird and disturbing enough to make the list.

Any other books that feature monsters of any kind.

Movies:
Hocus Pocus - A Halloween classic, at least in recent years. It's one of those kid's movies that I think is better enjoyed by adults. Also, gotta love those witches.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - Enough said. What's not to love here?

Anything by Alfred Hitchcock. Anything. Namely Psycho and Vertigo, for me, anyway.

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit - maybe it's just my love for British humor, but I think this is a rather clever and fun Halloween movie. Not the typical monster film.

Corpse Bride - This one is so well-told as a sympathetic horror. It fits in rather nicely with reading Dracula and Frankenstein. You know what, all Tim Burton films should be on this list. You know what you should do? Watch Tim Burton's version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and have a creepy double whammy.

So there's my list. Enjoy, and have a happy Halloween!