Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Halloween is not a favorite for me, so I'm going to have to search hard to find a book that will work for me. I may go middle grade for this one.

man, i just read Something Wicked This Way Comes for "a book set around a holiday other than Christmas" for this year!

Dear Popsugar,

Stop it with the holiday prompts!!

Yours,
Nadine

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Sara wrote: "Halloween is not a favorite for me"

We don't really even celebrate Halloween... Well often university students do, but that's mainly an excuse to have a (theme) party and get drunk.

Nadine wrote: "Dear Popsugar,

Stop it with the holiday prompts!!

Yours,
Nadine"

I'm with you, Nadine!

I don't like Halloween, nor do I like the creepy and/or creepy supernatural literature or horror. So maybe a kid's book or a good mystery or thriller set around Halloween but not with creepy supernatural elements...
In Germany, Halloween only has become a thing recently. I think mainly as an excuse for companies to make money with Halloween merchandise, for kids to dress up and get candy and for young adults to have a party.
Anyway, I am looking forward to suggestions here very much!

Another one I'm excited for and seem to be in the minority lol I love it!!

Can we just do another group read for A Night in the Lonesome October?

(And I'd like to sign on to Nadine's letter!)

Tara wrote: "Another one I'm excited for and seem to be in the minority lol I love it!!"

I love this one, as well! I have a few that could be scary, but I'll probably go for a cozy mystery or a middle grade book that is set around Halloween.

Halloween Hijinks by Kathi Daley
Death by Halloween by David Warkentin - this is a choose-your-own-adventure book for adults. That could be interesting!
I just found this page with a list of cozy mysteries for Halloween. I know a lot of people don't like those, but I also know a lot of people don't like creepy, super-scary books, so I'm posting this for anyone who is interested:
https://www.cozy-mystery.com/hallowee...

Sara wrote: "Halloween is not a favorite for me, so I'm going to have to search hard to find a book that will work for me. I may go middle grade for this one."

I spent so much effort trying to avoid Halloween for the non Christmas holiday book prompt this year and now they are trying to force the issue. I may let myself skip it.

Hallowe'en Party with Hercule Poirot

Ann I would love to do that!! I couldn't find a copy in time and was disappointed but this would give me a year to get one!!!

Nicole wrote: "I'm posting this for anyone who is interested:
https://www.cozy-mystery.com/hallowee... ..."

Thanks, Nicole! I'm with those who don't like the holiday prompts, and I for sure don't like the Halloween stuff. A cozy mystery should be just about right. :)

A book "about" Halloween, as the prompt says, could be fun. Here's one that could be good:
The Book of Hallowe'en

Nadine wrote: "Dear Popsugar,

Stop it with the holiday prompts!!

Yours,
Nadine"

Absolutely!!! And it's so US-centric, too (even though Hollywood exported that throughout the world). So, I'm going to add my own rant:

Dear Popsugar,

Get yourself some non-American friends and check the list with them if you're serious about this being a global challenge.

Best wishes,

--Christophe.

Since I read a Day of the Dead book for the "non-Christmas holiday" prompt Ghosts, I seem to be one of the few not too fussed about this prompt this year. XD I'm actually going for a book written by a local indie author this year, When Halloween Was Green

Anna wrote: "Can we just do another group read for A Night in the Lonesome October?

(And I'd like to sign on to Nadine's letter!)"

I'm on board!

Halloween isn't my favorite either, but I do love autumn! Has anyone read Practical Magic? I don't believe it is set on or around Halloween, but the movie does give me Halloween vibes.

a lot of the goosebumps books are probably set at halloween

Not as many as you might think lol

And it's not even universally popular in US - mostly the northeast.

My suggestion, if cozy mystery set at Halloween is not appealing (there are all kinds just check here https://www.cozy-mystery.com)
Go classic and just read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Nadine wrote: "Dear Popsugar,

Stop it with the holiday prompts!!

Yours,
Nadine"

Where's the "like" button for this post?! :-)

Someone else mentioned Ghosts -- is it cheating if I pick a Day of the Dead book? In some parts of Mexico they do start celebrating on October 31st. I was thinking something like The Skeleton at the Feast: The Day of the Dead in Mexico

For a Romance set on Halloween i suggest:

Her Halloween Treat

This is not my favorite prompt. With that said I am looking at going with one of the following:

Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night
October Dreams: A Celebration of Halloween
The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol

The last one is a Halloween version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

This will be complicated.. I have no idea. Halloween is just invading Germany for a few years now and feels really awkward to me. Basically I like the setting with the creepy stuff but I can't think of any title I ever saw in a German bookstore other than costume and baking instuction books for this topic. :/ I'll be happy to find some recommendations here.

Eujean2 wrote: "Someone else mentioned Ghosts -- is it cheating if I pick a Day of the Dead book?"

Actually I might do the same, or just change it to All Saints' Day (or maybe "kekri" if I can find books about it), which is actually "celebrated" today because they change it to the closest Saturday. It is the same Christian holiday, just different ways of celebrating. Not much to choose from either way but I did find a mystery from a series I have been meaning to try again. I remember reading one book as a child and I have watched the tv series.

And Isabell, the already mentioned Agatha Christie's Schneewittchen Party would probably be the easiest. At least the original is set during the Halloween, not sure how Snow White figures in... But wouldn't that make it even more interesting?

My 11 year old has confirmed to me that Ghosts mentions Halloween, so that's what I'm reading. It's funny, last year I wasn't happy with "road trip" and this same daughter told me to read Sisters (also by Raina Telgemeier). Ms Telgemeier (and my daughter!) has come to my rescue twice now!!

Prior to this "Ghosts" revelation, I was planning to re-read a favorite picture book (which I will list here for anyone hoping to knock this category off w/ a quick read):
Halloween
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
Too Many Pumpkins

Monsterland by James Crowley is a middle grade book set on Halloween. I'm reading it this month tho.

I was going to read Dark Harvest for this years holiday prompt but maybe I should save it.

I'm with those who love the holiday prompts. Also, I disagree that Halloween is only popular in the northeast US, it's huge where I live in Colorado.

I saved this the other day, here are some suggestions: 9 Off-the-Beaten Path Horror Books to Read This Halloween.

I'm finding quite a few books with a Halloween theme, but not too many that are actually set on the day...

It says about OR set so you're fine :)

Isabell wrote: "This will be complicated.. I have no idea. Halloween is just invading Germany for a few years now and feels really awkward to me. Basically I like the setting with the creepy stuff but I can't thin..."

If you like mysteries, read Schneewittchen Party by Agatha Christie ... the German publishers chucked "Halloween" from the title because back in the 60s nobody would have known what it was^^

Alta wrote: "The Legend of Decimus Croome: A Halloween Carol

The last one is a Halloween version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol."

I stumbled across this book as well. That's what I plan to read.

Do Chick tracts count? (To be clear: Dear God, I'm joking.)

Are any by James Patterson set around hallowe'en?

Tara wrote: "It says about OR set so you're fine :)"

Wow, somehow I completely missed that. That makes it so much easier!

Has anyone read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson? Would that count for this prompt? I was going to read it this year for Halloween since I saw it on a couple different book lists but I wasn't sure if it actually took place on Halloween or mentioned it at all

Lindi wrote: "Halloween isn't my favorite either, but I do love autumn! Has anyone read Practical Magic? I don't believe it is set on or around Halloween, but the movie does give me Halloween vibes."

I read Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic this year specifically to get into the Halloween spirit, both books are set over the course of several years but I think Halloween is mentioned and it's very witchy, so I would say go for it!

Allie wrote: "I read Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic this year specifically to get into the Halloween spirit, both books are set over the course of several years but I think Halloween is mentioned and it's very witchy, so I would say go for it! "

Thank you! And I didn't know The Rules of Magic was a prequel, I might read them both :)

I like the holiday prompts. I read a great one set at Thanksgiving for this year. If you look around, there are probably others set around Halloween time, but not necessarily about Halloween. You could even read a non-fiction book about the history of it, or what is celebrated at that time in different parts of the world.

Allie wrote: "Has anyone read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson? Would that count for this prompt? I was going to read it this year for Halloween since I saw it on a couple different boo..."

I'm pretty sure it's not set on Halloween (but you should read it anyway :) ).

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury is nice and short and I really liked it.

The Litter of the Law takes place around Halloween. I know I didnt give it a glowing review.... But it's quick, it's got cats,and it's a mystery.

Lindi wrote: "Allie wrote: "I read Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic this year specifically to get into the Halloween spirit, both books are set over the course of several years but I think Halloween is men..."

Yes!! I actually liked The Rules of Magic better, it was beautifully written!!

Pioup wrote: "Allie wrote: "Has anyone read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson? Would that count for this prompt? I was going to read it this year for Halloween since I saw it on a couple..."

Haha that's fair, I definitely am going to still read it!! Shirley Jackson is basically queen of horror

I like the Halloween Tree recommendation, I am adding that to my list!

If you're really dreading the topic I would suggest a kids book. Not only are they super short and quick reads but they are also so cute! That's what I did for a prompt last year and I don't regret it at all!

Has anyone read The Replacement? It was suggested for the 2017 challenge "Holiday other than Christmas" as a Halloween/All Hallow's Eve book, but I'm curious if it's actually more than just a passing reference.

does anyone know if there's a book by Stephen King that would fit in this category? I've always wanted to read one of his books, and I figured/hoped that one of his books maybe fits in the promt :)

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

Lindi wrote: "Halloween isn't my favorite either, but I do love autumn! Has anyone read Practical Magic? I don't believe it is set on or around Halloween, but the movie does give me Halloween vibes."

I am going to do Practical Magic.. I think it is about as Halloweeny as you can get rather than actually saying it is ON Halloween! :)