4 Spooky Books to Read This Halloween

Looking to get into the Halloween spirit with a great book? Here are several spooky classics that will terrify, amaze, and put you on the edge of your seat.

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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Written in 1818, Mary Shelley uses her terror-ridden book, Frankenstein, to warn against the experimental practice of science, and also to express the element of responsibility one has when creating. Based on a dream she had, Shelley uses every page to her advantage; creating an energy-packed journey through the eyes of multiple narrators centered on the life of Victor Frankenstein. Victor lives for scientific knowledge, but soon gets more than he asks for when one of his wildest experiments actually works. Frankenstein will not only get you in the Halloween spirit, but the classic might also teach you something about yourself; as you follow Victor through his introspective adventure.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

A captivating page turner, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde explores the depths of having multiple personalities trapped in one body, and provides similar warnings against scientific experimentation, just as Frankenstein does. On the surface, it appears as if Jekyll and Hyde is a typical monster story, but look closely, and Robert Louis Stevenson's (Treasure Island) compellingly crafted characters will give insight into numerous problems of society, including controversial issues between the economic classes. The perfect read for Halloween, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will have any reader on the edge of their seat.

The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, or any other work by Edgar Allen Poe

One of my favorite, spooky writers, Edgar Allen Poe again and again mystifies and terrifies his readers. Capitalizing on his supreme ability to exploit vocabulary to set a certain mood, Poe created The Raven, a poem teeming with creepy imagery and suspense.

The Tell-Tale Heart, a short story, again dramatizes sounds and imagery to give the reader a truly uniquely spooky experience. Other works by Poe include The Masque of the Red Death, The Pit and the Pendulum, and many more. If you are looking for a creepy read this Halloween season, look no further.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Here you go, all you Shakespeare fanatics. Arguably one of Shakespeare's most famous works, Hamlet delivers several moments of spookiness. One multiple levels, Hamlet is truly a great Halloween read. Whether it’s ghosts, death, or hauntings, Hamlet has it all.

Even though the story alone is creepy enough, there are even more spooky characteristics to Hamlet. The story is haunted in several different ways. For example, the main character is named after Shakespeare's son Hamnet, who died as a young boy. The story is also revisited constantly by modern society, making it one of the most haunted works ever. No one can escape Shakespeare.