Books to Check Out: October 2020 Reads

October has just ended, and it was quite a spooky one indeed. I only read two books during this month, but they both will help you carry that mysterious Halloween spirit with you whenever you sit down to read them. We’ve got a biography and a psychological thriller, so strap in folks.

Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin

I’m sure if you live in America you’ve read The Lottery. It’s one of the most if not the most influential and well known short stories in American history. Shirley Jackson, the author of this story, is mainly known for those dark and frightening tales. She was the author or Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, just to name some familiar titles. I’ve read Castle and another novel of hers, The Bird’s Nest, and I love her work. She’s also been a source of influence for Stephen King, showing you just how her fiction has shaped the horror landscape today.

I like horror fiction, so I decided to read this biography of Jackson’s life. In totally honesty, this might be the best biography I’ve ever read. Jackson is obviously much more than her fiction, and this book lays it all out perfectly. It’s thorough and engaging, and you can tell that author Ruth Franklin put in an astronomical amount of work and dedication into this. There’s in depth info about Jackson’s family life, her professional life, and you get such a full picture of her struggles and triumphs. Jackson was a fascinating woman, and seeing how some of her stories came about was a delight to read.

This biography is also great for writers to read as well. There is in depth analysis of her works and their meanings, as well as a look at Jackson’s writing process. It was fascinating to see how the controlling people in her life influenced her, and how she took domesticity and loneliness and put them into her fiction. Simply reading this book has invigorated me to start picking up my fiction writing more, and that should encourage any writer to pick this one up.

There’s so much meat to this book I’m not even scratching the surface. It’s a long book, but every single sentence is worth it. Kudos to Ruth Franklin for writing such an incredible biography, and one that any person who’s heard of Shirley Jackson should read.

The Bones of You by Debbie Howells

I haven’t sat down for a good thriller novel in a while. The Bones of You was something I found on the shelves at a bookstore and was interested enough to add it to my TBR. I finally got around to it, and I’m happy I did. There are twists and turns all over the place, so you just keep reading to find out who the killer is. I like being kept on my toes, and I’d put this in the same vein as Gone Girl, for an easy comparison.

The question is simple: Who killed Rosie?

I also love how this book was written. It goes between Kate in the present day, the friend of Rosie’s mother. Kate also has a daughter the same age as Rosie, increasing her distress over the murder. Kate’s point of view is great to read. She’s a very full character and a very anxious one. She’s perfect to narrate just how scary the events in the novel are. In between Kate’s portions are flashbacks of Rosie’s life from her point of view. This is also fantastic, because these sections are where the secrets and cracks start to appear. The darkness creeps in during each of Rosie’s memories, and as the book goes on it gets more and more unsettling. I loved each and every twist and turn this one took, and I couldn’t predict the ending. I can’t recommend this one enough, it’ll keep you turning the pages nonstop.

I liked these spooky reads because they can transport you to that eerie October atmosphere no matter what time of year it is. Pick up these books whenever you can; they’re engaging and will send a little shiver down your spine.