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The Halloween season is a time to have fun dressing up while considering the impossible. In our everyday lives, one of the ways we consider unimaginable things is through literature. There are thousands of books out there that explore the real, fantastic and the creepy. These five books are a representation of all of these elements. They will have you enjoying the Halloween season and unable to put down.
1. “The Penguin Book of Witches” by Katherine Howe
This is a nonfiction book that explores the history and persecution of witches. This is an especially unique work on witches because it explores their history through direct accounts rather than an author simply detailing these same things. With witches being constantly portrayed as fantastic beings with amazing powers, it’s easy to forget that witches play a very real part in our society and have for many hundreds of years. This book is full of interesting history and facts.
2. “A Secret History of Witches” By Louisa Morgan
Witches have been a symbol of Halloween practically since the holiday’s inception. This story traces five generations of powerful mothers and daughters who possess both amazing and dangerous magic. Each character is well-developed and engaging, making it difficult to put the book down. It’s interesting how Morgan interweaves magic with real historical events, opening the reader’s mind to another version of history. If you love history and magic, this is the book for you.
3. “Practical Magic” by Alice Hoffman
This is a Halloween classic. We all remember growing up with the movie with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. This novel follows sisters Gillian and Sally Owens, who have grown up as outsiders. After their parents’ death when they were children, the Owens sister were raised by their aunts in an abnormal household. With their knowledge of practical magic, the sisters must use their powers to break the family curse and fight the supernatural forces that have lead to all the Owens’ family untimely demises.
4. “The Invention of Murder” by Judith Flanders
This is not your typical historical fiction. This novel focuses on Victorian times, specifically the Victorian fascination with death. Flanders retells the gruesome stories we are all familiar with such as Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper. She also explores how the Victorians laid a foundation for the modern criminal justice system. This is a great book if you are interested in the Victorian times and learning more about the morality and culture of that time period.
5. “The Diviners” by Libba Bray
This novel perfectly sets a dark, eerie atmosphere. You will enjoy cuddling up in a warm blanket with a candle burning and this book in hand. If you love 1920’s New York with magic intertwined, you should buy this book as soon as possible. “The Diviners” follows Evie O’Nell as she moves in with her Uncle Will in New York City. When a girl is murdered, Evie suddenly finds herself involved in catching a serial killer in the midst of the awakening of dark forces.
There is no shortage of great picks out there! Get to reading!