Greetings Humans. It’s time for Top Ten Tuesday and I have no idea why that little white ball of fluff thinks this is so much fun. She and Mother always rant and rave about this highly popular feature, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. If you’ve been following our blog over the last two weeks, you will know that blogging is not my idea of an afternoon stroll and I do not have Elza’s bubbly personality to set the tone. I don’t do tones at all. She however, refuses to do this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, because she is still scared of the books that might go bump in the night.
Seeing that I’ve tolerated hosted The Fraterfest Read-a-thon on this blog, Elza feels it’s my duty to pick my ten favorite scary reads for this annual readathon. Of course she still believes in the goodness of puppies and rainbows and that we’ve actually read 10 books. We only managed 3 books, 2 short stories, 1 audiobook and 1 graphic novel. The rest was nothing but a bit of hope in a dark and stormy night.
I just call them the Would have, Could have, Should have and Did reads for Halloween 2020.
The ones we did manage to complete:
1. The Secret of Skeleton Island (Alfred Hitchcock and the 3 Investigators) by Robert Arthur If you like The Hardy Boys, you will enjoy this one.
2. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson That house needs a cat. A black one.
3. Librivox Short Ghost and Horror Story Collection We’ve done the complete works of Master Edgar Allan Poe at a previous occasion, but we did a re-listen to The Tell Tale Heart and to W.W. Jacobs’ The Monkey’s Paw. Imagine a story with a cat’s paw. If Elza tells it, it will be like Cinderella. My version might be more sinister.
4. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen I believe ‘delightful’ is a proper adjective to this classic novel. It’s listed as gothic 777 times. Maybe if the charming lady added a cat, it would have been listed 778 times.
5. Nancy Drew and the Haunted Dollhouse by Stefan Petrucha What fun a graphic novel can be.
6. Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie Not so much about the scariest vegetable in existence, as about the ultimate forbidden fruit (pumpkins versus apples)
I miss doing the Top Ten posts. They are always so much fun! Your mention of Northanger Abbey reminds me I need to dive back into my Austen reading. I think Mansfield Park is next on my list. I enjoyed Northanger Abbey. Great list!
Stinkie, you need to get your mum and Elza to read Bird Box, you majestic felines should love it as it does have some birds in it and I heard a rumour that cats and birds are great pals!
Dearest Heather! We will take your advice to heart for sure.
I love Nancy Drew… used to read them a lot when I was younger. I love the Tell-Tale Heart. I think it is one of my favorite short stories by Poe.
Happy Halloween!
Hi Maya! It's my favorite short story by Poe for sure. I also like The Black cat. A guilty conscience, does make for a creepy read.
This reminds me that I really, really need to get around to The Haunting of Hill House. I just love Shirley Jackson's work—she has just such an interesting way of writing.
Hi Christopher, it's not a bad read at all. But I actually struggle to understand all the hype and that after decades! Shirley Jackson's writing style is superb yes, but the story really wasn't all that scary.
I will still recommend to read it though!
Northanger Abbey is the only Jane Austen book I haven’t read yet. I’ll get to it someday. I also planned on reading a Stephen King book for Fraterfest, but it didn’t happen. That book will probably have to wait a few more weeks before I get to it.
Aj @ Read All The Things!
Hi AJ! I strongly suspect this will be the year where I don't read a Stephen King. I still have quite a few books I want to get through and it's NOVEMBER. Work will also be busy this month, so it basically leaves December. Maybe one of the novellas. I'll have to see…
At least we have good intentions!
The only one I have read is Bird Box but I liked it (though full disclosure, I thought the movie was actually better?) and I do want to either read or watch Hill House at some point, too. Great list!
Hi SHannon! I've seen the movie of Bird Box. But not read the book. Thanks for the disclosure, will read it and see!
We haven't started with The Haunting of Hill House the series yet. Apparently it's only a tie-in, but I'm still glad I've read the book. Now I will know what's going on there.
I've The Haunting of Hill House, The Tell-tale Heart, and Northanger Abbey. I've seen some movies based off others and a few are on my list. Looks like a great Halloween season of reading!
Hi Heather! Guess it wasn't too bad. Now it's time for more feel-good books and maybe start looking at the Christmas reads…
I don't think I've read any of these (maybe a Nancy Drew years ago). I think my cat would like you though. Her name's Kitiara and she's black too. She'd probably like the same books as you.
Hi there Brooke, we would love to meet Kitiara. What a lovely name! I'm not the actual host for this blog, the real one is an annoying, fluffy white one…
Thanks for visiting us!
Happy Halloween is right! Hill House I think is done a disservice by being billed as a horror book but it really really isn't. Creepy and eerie and unsettling yes but not horror or even particularly scary. I need to read Northanger Abbey. I read it years ago but remember very little about it. Hallowe'en Party is not a favorite but it is fun!
All my thoughts exactly. We should really try to figure out if we aren't related in a very weird way…
Thanks Katherine!
I seriously need to read the Nancy Drew series. Great list!
Here’s my TTT!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Hi Ronyell! I think you need to be of a certain age to read and enjoy the Nancy Drew series. I enjoyed the graphic novel, but just can't get into the books! It is however still some of the most popular books in the library at school. The girls love it!
Full Dark, No Stars was a good one. Bird Box was scarier than I expected it to be! I still haven't watched the movie. Maybe I'll get to it by Halloween. Northanger Abbey isn't my favorite of Austen's work but it definitely fits the October-ish theme! I should grab some of Poe's short stories. It's been ages since I've read any.
Hi Jen! I've seen the movie of Bird Box and it was really good. But I still want to read the book. I've heard that it is quite scary though… So my hubby needs to be at home!
I look forward to Full Dark, No Stars. Didn't get to it for Fraterfest, but will hopefully get to it somewhere!
Stinkie, your post is precious. I've only read The Haunting of Hill House and the Stephen King novel as King is one of my favorite authors. So glad your able to help out with your posts.
Hi there Barb! Thank you so much for the lovely compliment. As you can see, we have a lot of fun on this blog!
I try to read at least one Stephen King a year, but haven't done this year yet. Need to get my ass in gear I guess.
Thanks for visiting us!
A Haunted Dollhouse sounds HORRIBLE! Dolls are so creepy!
Hi Deanna! It was a Nancy Drew Graphic Novel, so nope – not creepy at all… but yes!! Dolls can be very very creepy. Chucky….
Stinkie is such a contrast to our usual hostess here and seems quite suited for October. Poor Elza. I'm with her. I wouldn't go near any of these reads.
Hi Debs! I love switching the "voices" every now and then. It's so much fun to write in Elza's voice, to bring Stinkie in just ads to the fun and games.
Ha ha. I'm a big wimp, too!
Happy TTT!
I'm actually not at all! As long as there is someone with me… LOL!!
Putting these on the TBR.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
With most of them, you won't regret it!
I didn't like Haunting of Hill House. I found it kind of boring lol I read it after watching the show, which I didn't really like at first, but after reading the book, the show is way better >.< hahah oops.
Hi Molly! Haven't watched the show yet, meant to start this week, but didn't get to it yet!
I won't say I found it boring, just don't see why it's so "scary"….
It plays with your mind and that's about it. I'd say.
Haunting of Hill House is on so many lists this week – including my own! Not seen the Netflix show yet though.
After a bonkers and hectic few weeks back at work, I've managed to find time for this week's Halloween TTT… hope you can pop by!
Hi Michael! I think The Haunting of Hill House will probably pop up every Halloween. Glad I finally read it, don't think I will again.
Glad to hear you got a gap to do TTT, life and work are a bit bonkers here as well….
I'm quickly going to pay you a visit, thanks for stopping by!
Hallowe'en Party does look like a fun read.
My post.
All Agatha Christie's are worth the read. One of her later ones, but still excellent.
Angel Fire sounds interesting.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
It is! There's a lot of character building that does get on my nerves a bit, but the story is quite good.
Hey Stinkie's back! I still like the Skeleton Island one- it definitely reminds me of the Hardy Boys!
Fancy Feast??!? Yum haha
You always bring a smile to my face with your visits! Yes, that cover sure does remind one of the Hardy boys!