A hauntingly good reading list
By Sarah Kennelly (Arts & Literature Editor)
When I was 7, I watched my first horror movie, The Hills Have Eyes. Naturally, I called 999 as my cousins frantically tried to pry the phone from my tiny hands. Since then, my tolerance for the genre has thankfully grown. In fact, despite this minor childhood trauma, I love all things spooky.
The autumn lead up to Halloween is my favourite time of year. I try to strike the right balance between plush blankets, spiced tea, and terrifying books. This issue, I want to give our readers recommendations that are sure to send a chill up their spines. Set aside your Gothic classics (sorry Mary Shelley!), and make room for the newbies who are changing the definition of horror. From sexy vampires to flesh-eating serial killers, there's a title in here for every reader.
The first of my spooky picks is more heartwarming than hearstopping but it most definitely deserves a place on this list. Fangs by Sarah Andersen is a graphic novel that follows the love story between a vampire and a werewolf. You get a delightful peak into the lives of monsters who enjoy Netflix bingeing and wine nights. Their romance is so adorable that we can’t help but to forgive their murderous tendencies. The beautiful gothic illustrations also brilliantly compliment the storyline, with each page being a postcard in its own right. Andersen delivers the perfect light-hearted read for anyone looking to get in the Halloween spirit.
Next up is Cursed Bunny by Korean author Bora Chung. Anton Hur translates this collection of short stories which blends the genres of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The unsettling tales are filled with gore which highlights the horrific nature of patriarchy and capitalism. Although each story is distinctly different, trauma is a common thread between them. This branches out to plots concerning haunted toilets, doppelgangers, and unexpected pregnancies. In this novel, nothing is as it seems but it bears an uncanny resemblance to the cruel world we live in. Cursed Bunny is not for the faint of heart but it is an absolutely essential read. Chung’s vivid imagination creates a series of nightmares that will haunt you long after the last page.
If masochistic women are more up your alley, Eliza Clarke has just the right book for you. Boy Parts tells the story of a messy party girl who is not only cruel to herself but others. She is a re-imagined Patrick Bateman who is addicted to alcohol, drugs, and male models. It has all the glam of Gossip Girl with all the grit of a great horror. The novel’s priceless dry humour also helps to uplift the darkness of the plot, making the unnerving crimes more digestible. This novel is both refreshing and depraved, unlikely to be like anything you have ever read. If you love American Psycho and want a modern re-telling rooted in pop-culture, look no further.
Our last title rejects the grotesque tropes of the horror-genre, opting for a dark and suspenseful plot instead. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio is a slow burner for those who love solving mysteries. Seven young Shakespeare-obsessed students must work together to convince police they are innocent of murder. This is the bible of the dark academia aesthetic, filled with dramatic prose and enigmatic characters. Rio brilliantly mirrors the Shakespearean tragedies she interwove so carefully into the novel. If you are a theatre-kid who loves the macabre, this should be at the top of your list. It is a devastatingly beautiful thriller but warning, it will ruin you.
These books are sure to give you the escapism you crave in the midst of your mid-term exams. You can immerse yourself in worlds filled with heartthrob wolves or deranged killers, pick your poison.