All About Books discussion

October's most famous holiday is Halloween, and the 'Halloween' Theme challenge is just what you would expect - to read a ghost story, a horror novel, or a book about the paranormal.

I'm reading 11/22/63 which deals about time travelling. Can it be considered "paranormal"?

LauraT wrote: "I'm reading 11/22/63 which deals about time travelling. Can it be considered "paranormal"?"

GoodReads counts paranormal as a subgenre of fantasy, not science fiction. Here is their blurb:

"Paranormal books involve unusual experiences that lack a scientific explanation. Some popular subjects in paranormal books are supernatural creatures, ESP, clairvoyance, ghosts, UFOs, telepathy, and psychics."

My dictionary says "paranormal - adjective denoting events or phenomena such as telekinesis or clairvoyance that are beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding"

So based on that, I would say not unless the time travel was somehow unexplainable in the story (occurring by magic for example).

Ok; I'll look for something else!

I read Bled Dry by Erin McCarthy (1/6/14) - Paranormal Romance

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King.

1. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

LauraT wrote: "I'm reading 11/22/63 which deals about time travelling. Can it be considered "paranormal"?"

I would consider it science fiction rather than paranormal.

1)Nebbia by Ivano Mingotti (mystery/thriller about strange disappearances)

I've decided for these starting titles:
1 Lauren Beukes, The Shining Girls Read
2 Jasper Fforde The last Dragonslayer Read

2) The Postman Always Rings Twice (mystery/noir)

3) Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (thriller/suspense)

2. Aunt Dimity Digs In -- I am counting this even though it isn't scary due to the paranormal aspects (Aunt Dimity is a ghost)

I think The Night Circus would count as paranormal?

Evelyn wrote: "I think The Night Circus would count as paranormal?"

Evelyn, I haven't read that so I don't know. You can look over message #3 to see some definitions of paranormal but basically, you can count it if you think that it counts -- we trust you!

I want to read The Shining, so I can read Dr. Sleep.
Creepy stories belong to October!

1.The Eyes of the Dragon

Something Wicked This Way Comesis a pretty good read for All Hallows Read and Halloween and so is The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales

2 Jasper Fforde The last Dragonslayer Read
3 Jennifer Ee, Angelfall Read
4 Jonathan Lethem, Concerto per archi e canguro Read
5 Collene McCullogh,  La casa degli angeli Read
6 Wilkie Collins,  Two Destinies Reading now

Amber wrote: "Something Wicked This Way Comesis a pretty good read for All Hallows Read and Halloween and so is The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales"

I have just bought Something Wicked This Way Comes on my kindle Amber, I might see if I can get into it for Halloween.

The two books I'm reading for Halloween are The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (a reread).

Amber wrote: "Something Wicked This Way Comesis a pretty good read for All Hallows Read and Halloween and so is The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales"

I just bought Something Wicked This Way Comes for my kindle. The Halloween read seems like a good reason to make a start on it.

5 Collene McCullogh,  La casa degli angeli Read
6 Wilkie Collins,  Two Destinies Read
7 Shirley Jackson The Haunting of Hill House Reading now
8 Margaret Oliphant, The Open Door Reading now

3. The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft (read about a third ~400 pgs)
4. Famous Modern Ghost Stories
5. Persephone Cole and the Halloween Curse (although this was not very scary or Halloween-y)

6. a couple of audiobook shorts: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow ({reread}), Click-Clack the Rattlebag and The Playground
7. Rotters by Daniel Kraus (audiobook)

and I suppose you might be able to count Gilbert & Sullivan's The Sorcerer