Archives for October 2022

Teens, can we talk about the perfection of the horror story? First, there’s the length…nice and short. Why commit to 500 pages when you could be up to your eye sockets in dread, panic, and nail biting in just twenty-five? Then, of course, there’s the content. Horror stories typically don’t waste their breath on superfluous details; instead, they get right to the juicy stuff—and by juicy stuff I don’t mean gore. It’s the irresistible psychological thrills, the ones that convince you the twig outside your window is actually plotting your murder, that make horror stories such impeccable little terrors. 

If this sounds like the type of reading you’re into, sit back (but don’t relax), and let me tell you about some of the Young Adult (YA) horror story collections we have available here in Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library. We will have your doctor worrying about your blood pressure in no time. 

Malevolent dolls, grabby ghosts, and evil houses all make appearances in “The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror,” edited by Tori Bovalino. This YA collection contains stories that feel both modern and classic, delivering slow burn goosebumps that have you wanting to scream at the teen protagonists to stop doing whatever they’re doing and RUN the other way. Of course, they won’t listen, and end up in the bathtub being held underwater by invisible hands, but I digress. More gothic than gory, these tales deliver on the irresistibly creepy scale. 

Are there any “Goosebumps” fans in the house? If you often wish you were in 6th grade again so you could enjoy reading R.L. Stine with abandon, I have good news: “Fear: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror,” edited by R.L. Stine, can be found in our YA collection. These stories, written by a variety of YA thrill masters, range from a babysitting job gone horrifyingly wrong to a “Stranger-Things”-ish shadow world abduction, and take some twists and turns that may leave you casually begging your parents to re-install your nightlight. 

“Scary Stories,” illustrated by Barry Moser, lives up to its name. It’s a YA collection of tales by some greats, including Dean Koontz, Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, Bram Stoker, Margaret Mahy, Ray Bradbury, and more. Even though most of these are older stories, probably published before you were born, some are genuinely disturbing—like serious not-recommended-reading-while-you’re-home-alone material (I may or may not have made this amateur mistake). Several of these stories haunted me for days after I finished them. If you are down for a slightly more sophisticated brand of terror, this may be the book for you. 

Want something with a paranormal bent? Try “Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories” edited by, you guessed it, Roald Dahl. Or how about a modern twist on some macabre classics in the form of “His Hideous Heart: Thirteen of Edgar Allan Poe’s Most Unsettling Tales Reimagined,” in which contributing authors Tiffany D. Jackson, Lamar Giles, Rin Chupeco, and others bring fresh perspectives to Poe’s creepy original works?  

Have I made my case for the horror story yet? Ominous, moody, irresistible, atmospheric, AND brief, the above collections may be just what the doctor orders you to avoid. But if you think your teenaged heart can withstand a little extra pumping, then come check one out from Teen Underground at A.K. Smiley Public Library and experience the incomparable thrill and page-turning adrenaline that only a perfect little horror story can produce. …while you can. 

This article is usually about the new books at Smiley Library, however, since Halloween is creeping closer, let’s have a look at some goosebump-related items in the library that may have a little dust on them. Yes, there are plenty of scary movies and books to choose from, but we also have books about the people that were involved with writing, directing, and starring in these creative works. Come in and learn more about the people lurking behind the scenes….

“Psycho” fans may be interested in “The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense,” by Edward White, one of several selections about Alfred Hitchcock and his movies.

Stephen King has authored many hair-raising books, including “The Shining.” To learn more about the inner workings of King’s creativity, check out “Bare Bones: Conversations on Terror.” “The Shining” is also an unforgettable movie, and you can read up on the producer/director in “Stanley Kubrick: A Biography,” by Vincent LoBrutto. Can’t think of that movie without Jack Nicholson’s creepy performance? Look for “Five Easy Decades: How Jack Nicholson Became the Biggest Movie Star in Modern Times,” by Dennis McDougal, downstairs in the biography section.

An actor remembered for his spine-tingling role as Hannibal Lecter is featured in “Anthony Hopkins: The Unauthorized Biography,” by Michael Feeney Callan. A graphic novel of the famed Dracula actor is also on our shelves “Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula,” by Koren Shadmi. Another legendary performer with a lengthy resume of horror movies and a sinister voice is explored in “Vincent Price: The Art of Fear,” by Denis Meikle.  A biography of the host with the deadpan voice from television’s “Twilight Zone” is “Serling: The Rise and Twilight of Television’s Last Angry Man,” by Gordon F. Sander.

Finally, here’s a selection about a female film pioneer who was pushed into obscurity by others who took credit, but the movie creature she created still gives me the shivers. “The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick.”

There are many other selections to choose from in our beautiful 124-year-old building. Pay us a visit, but beware of those past lives rumored to still linger in the stacks!

“Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!” – Bram Stoker

In last week’s article of “What’s New at A. K. Smiley Public Library,” my creepy cohort Jill ‘Mummified’ Martinson, recommended books on how to decorate your house for a Halloween party. This week, I will be sharing my grave reviews to get one into the Halloween mood. As the song goes in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, “Life’s no fun without a good scare.”

If you are looking for a classic horror story, Smiley Library has quite the creepy collection of titles to choose from. We have Dracula by Bram Stoker, Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Shirley Jackson’s collection of Novels and Stories which features her popular short story, “The Haunting of Hill House,” and last, but certainly not least, we have Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination which feature several of Poe’s most popular works like, “The Black Cat” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” So, make your way out of your tomb to check out these bone chilling titles.

Ok, I know what you are thinking, these titles aren’t that original, and you have probably read them already, and you may want something new to read. So let me recommend some new titles from the horror genre that will make you reconsider sleeping with the light off.

Little Eve is Catriona Ward’s latest novel and winner of the Shirley Jackson Award. Ward’s novel takes place on a small isle in Scotland where the residents of the isle are hiding dark secrets and these secrets are about to be discovered.

Lute by Jennifer Thorne also takes places on a secluded island where the inhabitants of the island resort to extreme measures to keep their idyllic lifestyle.

Josh Malerman’s newest novel, Daphne, is a must-read novel for fans of urban legends and slasher films. The local basketball team tell a tale of a former classmate who disappeared under strange circumstances. Was she murdered, was it self-inflicted, or is she still alive committing acts of violence at the very high school she attended? Come and check out Daphne today to find out.

So, creep on down to A.K. Smiley Public Library to check out these titles that will surely curdle your blood.

-‘Sanguinary’ Shannon Harris is a Library Specialist by day and watcher and reader of all things horror by night.

Beckoning all Halloween and fright fans! If you’re hosting or attending a party this year, it’s the perfect time to start looking for recipes, crafts, and decorating ideas that will help set the ultimate eerie ambience. The following books will spark your creativity and give you plenty of ideas for a dreadfully good time.

Based on the popular movie, “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Cookbook & Entertaining Guide,” with recipes by Kim Laidlaw, crafts by Caroline Hall, and text by Jody Revenson, is ideal for Jack Skellington fans. For recipes, try Sally’s concoction of Worm’s Wort and Frog’s Breath Soup, the Roasted Squash Mummy Tartlets with their leering olive eyes, or the green and gooey Oogie Boogie Lemon Meringue Cupcakes. One of my favorites is the Man-Eating Marshmallow Crispy Wreaths. Beware of their spiked fangs! Decorate your abode with Vampire Protection Parasols and Black-Light Bugs, Spiders, and Scorpions. Be sure to check out The Nightmare Before Christmas movie on DVD, available at the library, too.

The Mitchell family’s “Best of How to Haunt Your House” is well suited for artistic people who enjoy creating their own spooky Halloween displays and decorations. Projects, which range from easy to quite elaborate, can involve painting, using a hot glue gun, soldering, and all sorts of different materials. For the adventurous, make a full-sized mummy or scarecrow. I really like some of the smaller projects like the Forbidden Books. Antiquing plastic vampire bats to use as hinged clasps for the Book of Vampire History is truly clever. The Potion Bottle Collection includes creative containers for Distilled Spider Venom and Goblin’s Teeth. Some of the bottles even glow under black light. This book will really unveil your inner mad scientist.

If you’re wondering which spine-tingling films to watch to set the Halloween mood, check out David J. Skal’s book “Fright Favorites: 31 Movies to Haunt Your Halloween and Beyond.” It covers some of the most iconic classic and modern films, along with color pictures and background stories for each. Dracula, The Shining, Hocus Pocus, there’s something for everyone here.

So, you’ve picked out your film from the “Fright Favorites” book. Now, how are you going to watch it? Head over to Smiley Library’s DVD section for a variety of frightening flicks. Another great option is to use our Kanopy database. Free to those with a Smiley library card, this video streaming service has some outstanding options for scary movies–some familiar and some quite obscure too! Here’s a link where you’ll find Kanopy as well as many other databases: www.akspl.org/elibrary

Festivities wouldn’t be complete without some musical ambience. For your listening pleasure, check out the following CDs: “Fright Night in the House of Horrors,” “Spooky Scary Sounds for Halloween,” or “New Wave Halloween Just Can’t Get Enough.”

Stay tuned, boys and ghouls, for next week’s spooktacular article featuring nightmarish novels by our very own ‘Sanguinary’ Shannon Harris.