Chilly Halloween Reading

It’s that time for ghoulish, haunting and frightening stories. Here are some that always give me the chills.

Ghost Story – Peter Straub
The first time I read this book was back around 1980 (it first came out in 1979) and I will never forget it. I’d had a couple of nerve-racking, ghostly experiences and was very open to the possibility of other-worldy beings. What am I saying? I still am. Anyway, reading in bed, alone, not only could I not put the book down, I grabbed all the garlic I could find in the kitchen to ward off the evil spirits I became convinced were trying to penetrate my psyche.

Heart-Shaped Box – Joe Hill
Whether you’re a fan of Stephen King or not, this story by his son Joe will convince you that bizarre and freaky run in the family. It’s the story of a man who collects macabre memorabilia but gets more than he bargains for when he buys a dead man’s suit on the internet.

The Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton
You’ll know Edith Wharton for such classic novels as Ethan Frome and The Age of Innocence. You may not know that she penned a number of ghost stories. Wharton, who died in 1937, wrote her supernatural tales for publication in magazines of the day, but you can read The Lady’s Maid’s Bell, The Eyes and other ghastly creations in this finely wrought collection.