Recommendations from Rebecca Owen, Adult Department Librarian at Trussville Public Library
Rebecca Owen is an adult-department librarian that has worked at the Trussville Public Library for three and a half years. While her reading tastes lean mostly toward horror, she also enjoys reading mystery, fantasy, romance and the occasional nonfiction. It’s her love of all things Halloween though, and the aforementioned horror obsession, that make her perfect to suggest books for this spooky season.
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery
By Brom | Horror, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
After her husband dies under mysterious circumstances, Englishwoman Abitha finds herself widowed and alone in a pious and patriarchal, Puritan society. Struggling to fight for whatever small amount of freedom she can, she eventually finds an unlikely ally in Slewfoot, a powerful spirit recently awakened in the woods. As more mysterious deaths occur, rumors of witches begin to stir. Both Abitha and Slewfoot will have to decide who they are and how to survive in a world intent on hanging any who meddle in the dark arts.
Cackle
By Rachel Harrison | Horror, Fantasy
After being dumped by her longtime drip of a boyfriend, Annie accepts a teaching position in upstate New York hoping a change of scenery will bring her a new lease on life. Then, she meets beautiful, charming and magnetic Sophie, who shows her how to live for herself. Sure, the townspeople all seem afraid of Sophie for some reason, and her appearance seems somewhat ageless, and there might be weird noises in the night at her creepy mansion in the woods, but witches aren’t real. Or are they?
How to Sell a Haunted House
By Grady Hendrix | Horror, Mystery
When Louise finds out her parents have died, the last thing she wants to do is go back to her childhood home, filled to the rafters with her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She definitely doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who could never do anything wrong (despite doing everything wrong) and has always resented her success. However, she’ll need his help to sell their parents’ house—especially since the house has other ideas.
Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films
By Nina Nesseth | Nonfiction
Why do so many people like scary movies? In this book, Nina Nesseth examines the science of fear through the lenses of psychology and physiology. With the affection of a true horror fan and the critical analysis of a scientist, Nesseth explains how audiences engage horror with both their brains and bodies and teases apart the elements that make horror films tick. “Nightmare Fuel” covers everything from jump scares to creature features, serial killers to the undead and the fears that stick around to those that fade over time.
Creating Your Vintage Hallowe’en
By Marion Paull | Arts & Crafts
Full of spooky artworks, ephemera, vintage-inspired makes, rhymes and stories, “Creating Your Vintage Hallowe’en” celebrates the folklore and traditions surrounding this delightfully unique holiday. It includes how folks used to celebrate with dressing up, fortune-telling games, parties and plenty of pleasurable spookiness, to inspire recreation of a vintage Hallowe’en with old-fashioned projects.
