As the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to turn, I always feel the urge to pick up a good book. Specifically, I find myself reading moodier, autumnal pieces that capture the allure of fall. Even as we pass Halloween, the overall vibes of fall warrant reading a mystery or horror piece. I prepared a list of my favorite dark, but not Halloween-oriented, fall reads. These books and stories will successfully immerse you in dark and mysterious storylines that are guaranteed to hold you tight. Grab a blanket, brew a cup of your favorite warm drink, and get ready to read these titles!
‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt
The Secret History by Donna Tartt captivates readers from the first line, “The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.” This book is by far one of my favorites! The story follows Richard Papen alongside his fellow Greek Classic studies classmates at an elite liberal arts college in New England. There’s humor, love triangles, a bacchanal, and murder. Tartt writes with beautiful diction and with great care for description, making this read very immersive. The book has an overarching intellectual tone, adding to the unsettling nature of the events within. The dark academia vibes are unmatched!
With that being said, I strongly suggest that those who are now interested in reading The Secret History look into the content warnings — this book deals with troubling subject matter.
‘Bunny’ by Mona Awad
Bunny by Mona Awad is another unsettling story set at a New England college. The story surrounds Samantha Heather Mackey, a college student and outsider who finds herself suddenly drawn to a group that she had always made fun of. The bunnies are a clique of girls on campus that appear to be overly sweet and warm. They invite Samantha to their “smut salon” workshop, and from there, Samantha gets drawn in deeper and deeper into their group. As the story progresses, readers begin to question the bunnies and if there’s more behind their bubbly demeanors. Bunny has strong Mean Girls vibes, with superficial cliques and the ever-present struggle to fit in. The book is funny, terrifying, and downright absurd at times. If you are a fan of satirical humor mixed with dark undertones, then this book is for you.
‘The Metamorphosis’ by Franz Kafka
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a timeless classic. One day, Gregor Samsa wakes up to the horrifying realization that he has been transformed into a giant insect. Locked in a room and surrounded by his family, who are growing anxious by the day, Samsa struggles to maintain humanity and live life in his new form. There are aspects of body horror, but most of the terror comes from the deeper themes of loneliness and alienation. This piece isn’t necessarily horror, at least not in my eyes. It is dark, but it’s also filled with immense meaning, just waiting to be analyzed. Some regard the piece as being comical within all of its absurdness; however, I find the story to be profoundly sad, but definitely worth reading. Kafka delivers an amazing book that takes the audience on an emotional rollercoaster just over the course of 70 pages. If you’re looking for a classic body horror piece with a thought-provoking storyline, look no further than The Metamorphosis.
‘The Tell Tale Heart’ by Edgar Allen Poe
Despite this story being published in 1843, Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart stands the test of time, delivering a quick, but poignant tale. The language within, despite being almost 200 years old, is easily comprehensible. The story revolves around the narrator, as he recalls the circumstances that compelled him to kill an old man, and what disturbing event led to his confession of guilt. The Tell-Tale Heart is psychological, with most of the horror residing in suspense and guilt rather than in gore. It’s a bite-sized read with a poetic cadence that is sure to stay with you. If you like gothic mixed with psychological horror and poetic writing, give The Tell-Tale Heart a quick read!
Fall is a great time to take a moment to slow down, relax, and read. Hopefully, you were able to find a spooky book that interests you!
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