I’m not much of a scary book reader, but since it’s that time of year I figured I’d share my favorites all the same. I could only come up with four that would qualify, so as a bonus I turned to my husband David who loves this stuff. Here we go!
IT by Stephen King
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Full disclosure: I started getting really creeped out when searching for these book covers, so I don’t know if I’ll ever read David’s suggestions. ;) But he really does have great taste if you like that kind of thing!
Do you read scary books? What are your favorites?
by Michael Ondaatje – This had been on my to-read list since it first came out in 2011 and I heard an interview with the author, so I was very happy when our book club chose it. The author is best known for writing The English Patient which was turned into an Academy Award winning film, and after reading this I’m definitely adding that to my list as well. 
– I read this for my postal book club (which is still going strong, I’m so happy to report). It’s a children’s book translated from German by the author of The Neverending Story. I thought it was a sweet parable with a clear moral that is still so applicable today. I’d love to have my kids read this when they are old enough. (3 stars)
– First of all, I adored the characters and the story itself. But mostly, I feel like I learned SO much about perceptions of race in America and I feel like a better person for having read this. It wasn’t a quick read, but it was worth it. (4 stars)
– This was really eye-opening, especially as a medical professional. I think everyone in the medical community should read this, or at least be taught significantly more about the aging process and how to help people have a good life until the end. It’s also important for everyone, not just medical people, to learn about this because there will come a point where you will have to make decisions for your family or yourself. Having read this, I was able to formulate some plans and ideas for myself and my family, and I now know the questions to ask when it comes time to make difficult decisions on treatment options. (4 stars)
– The philosophy of “less but better” is something I am 100% on board with, and this book about it was affirming and motivating. I wish it contained more practical tips, but the ideas here are some that I want to guide my entire life. I do want to note that I didn’t read it closely, but skimmed a majority. It has a lot of (great) examples, but I was most interested in the meat – the core principles and application. (4 stars)
– I loved this book. It was funny, suspenseful, fast-paced, and creative. I enjoyed IMMENSELY the experience of reading it and I finished it faster than anything else I’ve read recently. But I do want to note that there is hardly any character development. We don’t learn much about the main character at all, except that he has parents and he is a botanist/engineer. You still root for him because by reading his journal entries you feel like you’re in his mind, and his humor makes him likable. But there is a definite lacking of depth. I think it’s going to make an AWESOME movie, though. And I wasn’t reading it for the back story anyway. (5 stars)
– I continue to love how Liane Moriarty writes such smart, funny, and insightful books about serious subjects – this one tackles domestic violence and bullying – while keeping them fun. This one has maybe a little too much character introspection for me, but I still thought it was so good. (audio, 4 stars)
– this was for my postal book club, and it’s an example of why I love book clubs so much. I had never heard of it and probably never would have and I definitely would have missed a gem! It’s the true story of a 19-year-old who goes to teach on the Alaskan frontier in the late 1800’s. It has adventure, conflict over race relations, romance, and a strong, brave, heroine. Loved it. (4 stars)
– I found this study on habits extremely practical and helpful. Her advice to first and foremost “know yourself” is so wise, and she offers a lot of discussion about how to do that. There is tons of practical advice included but at the same time, her writing is engaging and full of anecdotes that make it easy to read and easy to understand. I do want to note that I identify with Gretchen as an “upholder” (although not as extreme as her) in that it is relatively easy for me to form habits and I get more pleasure out of it than most people, so maybe that’s why the book resonated so much with me. But after reading this I feel motivated and capable to tackle some areas of my life that need to get back on track. (5 stars)
– this was for book club, and per my new policy I listened to it on audio. I gave it four stars because the writing was beautiful and the story was unforgettable and I felt it deeply. Too deeply! I am not sure if I could say I enjoyed it because it was hard and I felt physical anxiety over it at times. So, I’d recommend it, but not for everyone. (audio, 4 stars)
– I super love the ideas in this book and I’m tempted to give it five stars except I haven’t fully tested the method out yet. There are a bunch of different ideas to try in different situations and the authors recommend not trying them all at once but focusing on one things at a time. It was hard for me, after reading this, to make changes slowly but I agree that it’s necessary. We have a spirited child and I’m curious to see how it will work on her. I suspect it will work well, but we might meet with more resistance initially. Some cheesy stuff and claims that are perhaps overstated, but I’m on board. (4 stars)
– this was the Bible study workbook that I just finished. I’ve mentioned before that Beth Moore is my favorite, and I’m currently working through all of her published studies. This one was pretty good, all about getting you to the next level in your worship, definitely a solid study although not my absolute favorite of hers. (4 stars)