lol I read *Jane Eyre* for the first time during my PhD and I was shocked that so many women love it 😂 I was like “Rochester literally dresses as a fortune teller to gaslight her?????” Hahahaha I mean, I love it but for very different reasons than those who read it as teenagers, methinks
The Skeleton Key! I can't remember the ending which means it is time for a re-watch. I've never seen The Woman In Black. Great recs! I am LOVING this spooky series. Thank you for giving us all the goodies. 😍
Great list! I haven't read a ton of gothic literature but I loved The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. I don't think it gets enough hype. Two cats is always best. We had a bonded pair of sisters but ever since Birch died a few years ago, I've been wanting a friend for Fern.
I havent read that one I will have to check it out!!
Birch and Fern 🥲thats so sweet. I honestly dont know how anyone manages just one kitten they are PSYCHOS and need each other to play. I think Fern needs a new friend too!
I've been looking for some spooky stories to get me going this autumn. I began a bit early, reading some stuff in August, but I haven't found anything to give me the chills. I'll check some of these out
I loved The Little Stranger so much - it is so atmospheric and just the right level of creepy. I listened on audio (the narration was excellent) and I kept finding chores to do so I could keep reading 😂
I've got a gothic one for you - Carmilla! It's a novella written by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu, and it predates Dracula by some 20 odd years. Gonna be crass and promote myself a bit here, but I wrote about it last October:
Even more impressive, is that Sheridan Le Fanu is a man. Why is this impressive to me? He wrote women very realistically for the 1870s, where the bar for men writing women as people was on the floor. Very Gothic, very sapphic, very vampire. 10/10.
dementor weather - lol love that. also came in here in the comments to see if anyone has posted anything about seeing a ghost in real life. let me come back in here again in a few hours 😂
I haven't read any of these🙈 I'm the last reader out there who hasn't read Rebecca and I don't know why because I love creepy and I love psychological thrillers. You've given so many great options, I'm definitely going to read a Sarah Waters this fall, either The Little Stranger or Fingersmith
'...personally I find ghosts, hauntings, and creepy old houses romantic and comforting in their own uncanny ways.'
One billion percent yes to that.
WAKENHYRST! I loved is to much. The heroine Maud is a DELIGHT, and the Gothic vibes are STRONG. If you're an audiobook person, the audio is fantastic. It really cast a spell on me anytime I listened to it. Also great on the page. And if you haven't read Michelle Paver's 'Dark Matter,' treat yourself! It's very 'is he or isn't he' losing his mind, like an Arctic, gender-flipped 'Turn of the Screw.'
'Slade House' is such a good rec, and I don't see too many people talking about that one!
I have 'The Keep' You've got me thinking I should read that one this Spooky Season.
I'm currently reading 'Marina' by Carlos Ruiz Zafón for our upcoming podcast episode about cemeteries. I'm only on chapter five, but so far, it's got excellent Gothic vibes, including crumbling mansions, a mysterious cat, a surprised appearance of a gaunt man with white hair, and a young girl all in white. I love the Cemetery of Forgotten Books cycle, so I'm predisposed to love Carlos RZ's writing. Old-timey Barcelona? Yes, please. Always.
We clearly have similar fall reading vibes! Love this roundup!
When you posted about Slade House I knew we were in sync with at least half the list 👻
lol I read *Jane Eyre* for the first time during my PhD and I was shocked that so many women love it 😂 I was like “Rochester literally dresses as a fortune teller to gaslight her?????” Hahahaha I mean, I love it but for very different reasons than those who read it as teenagers, methinks
Also: your cats are SO PRETTY!
re: Jane Eyre - RIGHT? I know we romanticized the hell out of it when I read it in my teens, had no idea what was really going on lol
and thank you - you should see my camera roll 😂
I'm a hardcore Jane Eyre devotee, but that fortune teller bit is rough.
The Skeleton Key! I can't remember the ending which means it is time for a re-watch. I've never seen The Woman In Black. Great recs! I am LOVING this spooky series. Thank you for giving us all the goodies. 😍
The kitties are SO FREAKING CUTE.
I wish i could make a living off the cat photos in my camera roll lol
The Skeleton Key is such an underrated classic!!! And the Woman in Black
Love what you write about Jane Eyre - I for sure read it before my amygdala developed!
right??? i mean we had to have in order to romanticize the heck out of that story lol
I love that you loved Beloved!!! The way Morrison weaves the narrative for that novel is remarkable! Truly extraordinary
she is a genius hands down!
Great list! I haven't read a ton of gothic literature but I loved The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. I don't think it gets enough hype. Two cats is always best. We had a bonded pair of sisters but ever since Birch died a few years ago, I've been wanting a friend for Fern.
I havent read that one I will have to check it out!!
Birch and Fern 🥲thats so sweet. I honestly dont know how anyone manages just one kitten they are PSYCHOS and need each other to play. I think Fern needs a new friend too!
I've been looking for some spooky stories to get me going this autumn. I began a bit early, reading some stuff in August, but I haven't found anything to give me the chills. I'll check some of these out
awesome I hope you find something new to love! if not, I think we have five more weeks of spooky recs coming lol
I loved The Little Stranger so much - it is so atmospheric and just the right level of creepy. I listened on audio (the narration was excellent) and I kept finding chores to do so I could keep reading 😂
ah the audio i might have to go back to listen at some point!!
I've only seen the screen adaptation of The Little Stranger... better on the page or audio?
Gah, thank you for shouting out my (psycho) organization!
im all about that type A organization 😀
I've got a gothic one for you - Carmilla! It's a novella written by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu, and it predates Dracula by some 20 odd years. Gonna be crass and promote myself a bit here, but I wrote about it last October:
https://marissagallerani.substack.com/p/a-tale-of-two-carmillas
Even more impressive, is that Sheridan Le Fanu is a man. Why is this impressive to me? He wrote women very realistically for the 1870s, where the bar for men writing women as people was on the floor. Very Gothic, very sapphic, very vampire. 10/10.
YES, Carmilla! Have you heard the audio dramatization? The voices are great! Nice and syrupy.
dementor weather - lol love that. also came in here in the comments to see if anyone has posted anything about seeing a ghost in real life. let me come back in here again in a few hours 😂
I haven't read any of these🙈 I'm the last reader out there who hasn't read Rebecca and I don't know why because I love creepy and I love psychological thrillers. You've given so many great options, I'm definitely going to read a Sarah Waters this fall, either The Little Stranger or Fingersmith
This post made my Friday.
You wrote:
'...personally I find ghosts, hauntings, and creepy old houses romantic and comforting in their own uncanny ways.'
One billion percent yes to that.
WAKENHYRST! I loved is to much. The heroine Maud is a DELIGHT, and the Gothic vibes are STRONG. If you're an audiobook person, the audio is fantastic. It really cast a spell on me anytime I listened to it. Also great on the page. And if you haven't read Michelle Paver's 'Dark Matter,' treat yourself! It's very 'is he or isn't he' losing his mind, like an Arctic, gender-flipped 'Turn of the Screw.'
'Slade House' is such a good rec, and I don't see too many people talking about that one!
I have 'The Keep' You've got me thinking I should read that one this Spooky Season.
I'm currently reading 'Marina' by Carlos Ruiz Zafón for our upcoming podcast episode about cemeteries. I'm only on chapter five, but so far, it's got excellent Gothic vibes, including crumbling mansions, a mysterious cat, a surprised appearance of a gaunt man with white hair, and a young girl all in white. I love the Cemetery of Forgotten Books cycle, so I'm predisposed to love Carlos RZ's writing. Old-timey Barcelona? Yes, please. Always.
Hope you don't mind me sharing... you might like our Episode of The Library of Lost Time podcast all about Gothic yumminess (https://strongsenseofplace.com/lolts/lolt-2023-10-27/) and my list of 43 Gothic novels I love (https://strongsenseofplace.com/2023/10/16/spooky-and-sublime-43-gothic-novels-with-a-strong-sense-of-place/). (Lots of crossover with your picks in this post.)
I can’t wait to hear what you think of Stoner. I’ll reserve my thoughts until you are done.
Delicious kitties!