Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

The book/short story/novella/graphic novel/picture book/whatever should have at least one ghost or a ghostly atmosphere.

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Suggestions:
Ghost stories (GR blog)
Ghost stories (listopia)
The 12 best ghost stories
10 Classic Victorian Ghost Stories
YA ghost stories (listopia)
YA horror: ghost (listopia)
Historical Ghost Fiction (listopia)
Middle Grade Ghost Stories (listopia)
Recommended Ghost Books for Kids
Children's Ghost Story Collections (listopia)
Middle Grade Historical Ghost Fiction (listopia)
Scary Ghost Stories from American Folklore
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Optional questions:
- What are you reading for this category?
- Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid?

CAN NOT WAIT TO READ Horrorstör!!!

I think scary books are fun. In my pre-teen/ early teen years i read horror exclusively. I don't really indulge myself anymore but maybe I should.

I think I'll go with Tracks by Louise Erdrich. I don't think it will be scary in the traditional horror story kind of way, but her books are always unsettling.

According to the GR blurb, The Luminaries is a "fiendishly good ghost story" so I'm going with it. If I want something more terrifying, I will try I Remember You: A Ghost Story.

I think I'll read The Hollow Boy, the third in the series Lockwood & Co. I really enjoyed the first two books :)

When this topic was chosen I was nervous about finding a book as I don’t really enjoy scary stories. A few people gave me some good suggestions about less scary ghost stories, so I wanted to link to the thread here in case anyone else is looking for something not too scary for this week.

My top three choices:
The Woman in Black - Susan Hill
The Hound of the Baskervilles - Arthur Conan Doyle
An Inquiry Into Love and Death - Simone St. James

At first, I had chosen The Shining for this week's topic, but after reading the blurb for The Luminaries, I think I may change my mind. Thanks, Pam!

For those still deciding, I read The Winter People last read and really enjoyed it.

Bryony wrote: "When this topic was chosen I was nervous about finding a book as I don’t really enjoy scary stories. A few people gave me some good suggestions about less scary ghost stories, so I wanted to link t..."

Thank you so much for linking this thread!! I am NOT a horror reader, so I'm glad to get some recommendations!

I am not a horror reader, so I tried to avoid scary books in this prompt. I ended up with a mix of literary, nonfiction, and fluff books:

The Luminaries
A Christmas Carol
The Graveyard Book
First Grave on the Right
The Winter People
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

A Christmas Carol has lots of ghosts and it is a delightful read which isn't always obvious if you've only seen an adaptation.

A Christmas Carol is fantastic! I read it for the first time last year (or the year before) and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it even though I was so familiar with the story.

The Graveyard Book is also fantastic. Such a great story.

I'm doing an all nonfiction challenge. Anyone have any recommendations for nonfiction ghost stories?

Katie wrote: "I'm doing an all nonfiction challenge. Anyone have any recommendations for nonfiction ghost stories?"

Hmmmm... heres a local one for me, only about 20 minutes away:The World's Most Haunted House: The True Story of the Bridgeport Poltergeist on Lindley Street.

I really should read it lol

Katie wrote: "I'm doing an all nonfiction challenge. Anyone have any recommendations for nonfiction ghost stories?"

How about Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife byMary Roach? I haven't read it, but I have heard lots of great things about Roach.

I chose Lincoln in the Bardo , and I'm really looking forward to reading this one

Definitely not my fave because I’m a big scaredy cat when it comes to scary movies and ghost stories now, but I’m game to find a book not too scary..

I did read Ink and Bone before and loved it! More suspenseful than scary which is my kind of ghost story.

Bryony wrote: "When this topic was chosen I was nervous about finding a book as I don’t really enjoy scary stories. A few people gave me some good suggestions about less scary ghost stories, so I wanted to link t..."

Thanks for this link!!

Katie wrote: "I'm doing an all nonfiction challenge. Anyone have any recommendations for nonfiction ghost stories?"

Here's one that's a GREAT book: The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic - and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World. It's not about ghosts per se, but about the cholera epidemic that people couldn't understand, thought it came from a miasma. It's a fascinating book!

Katie how about "Ghosts a cultural history" by Susan Bowen. It is one of my choices this year.

Cheri wrote: "Katie wrote: "I'm doing an all nonfiction challenge. Anyone have any recommendations for nonfiction ghost stories?"

Here's one that's a GREAT book: [book:The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most ..."

Oooooh this one sounds really interesting, thanks Cheri, I aded it to my endless TBR. I've had a thing for Non-Fiction lately :-)

All such good ideas. Thanks everyone!

Another nonfiction option (that I haven't read yet): Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places

Jackie, I read Ghostland in 2017. It would be a perfect option for this topic.

Horrorstör

Katie wrote: "Jackie, I read Ghostland in 2017. It would be a perfect option for this topic."

lol every time I come up with a suggestion you've read it already. every dang time.

I read The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe because I've been wanting to read more of his work. I didn't expect it to be quite that short and found it more eerie than scary.

I think I'm going to read The Afterlife of Holly Chase for this one, its a A Christmas Carol retelling, and might be a good option for others who don't enjoy horror.

What are you reading for this category?

I read The Abbot's Ghost, or Maurice Treherne's Temptation by Louisa May Alcott.

Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid?

It's been on my TBR for awhile and I needed a book to read on the computer during slow times at work. This is in the public domain so it's easy to access.

I wasn't scared at all.

Would It work?

I know, Jackie! It's too funny! But at least I know I can trust your taste, hahaha.

Jeaniene Frost -

I decided (as I was reading it!) that The Invention of Morel would be my ghost story. It's not a ghost story in the traditional sense but it makes you question what being alive is and who or what is a ghost. It's a very thought provoking and odd short read, creating an unsettling atmosphere. This would equally well do for a read with a villain's point of view, a book with a map or (at 103 pages in length) for a short book.

If you are still looking for a ghost story Hell House by Richard Matheson is about a haunted house. It has been recommended by Steven King and been made into a movie.
The author has chosen some really interesting names for the many characters. He also uses word play to release tension, it can be subtle but it is there.

What are you reading for this category?
I read The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud.
Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid?
I chose this book because I enjoyed Stroud's Bartimaeus series. This tale was about a teenage ghostbusting agency, so I did not expect nor experience any jitters.

Liv, Forever is a non-scary YA ghost story if anyone is looking for something along those lines.

If anyone is looking for a book for this category that isn't creepy and gory, I highly recommend The Last to See Me by M. Dressler. It is grimly dark without ever crossing over into horrifying and gross. And it is so well written and melancholic and immersive.

This book also fits Week 25 (a book told from the antagonist's POV), which is where I used it.

- What are you reading for this category?
Before You Sleep by Adam Nevill

- Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid?
This book actually has three scary stories, two of which are ghost stories. I liked the description of the book and I am hoping that the stories are scary because I love these kinds of books.

- What are you reading for this category?
I read Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett

- Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid?
I chose this book for my children's challenge (book 2 on my plan). It's #2 in a series. I have already read #3. I was looking for something light and funny since the book I've been reading all of January is so serious. No, I wasn't expecting to be afraid since it's a Terry Pratchett book! Ghosts don't have to be scary.

- What are you reading for this category?
The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud

- Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid? It's the third book in a series about and Agency of Ghostbuster that I really like and I was just looking for an excuse to continue the series :) It's not really scary because is not a book for adults, but there is always at least one scene in each book that really creeps me out :P

What are you reading for this category?
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid?
I originally had another book planned for this category, but when I picked The Broken Girls as my BOTM for February, I realized the ghostly elements would work well and suit this prompt. I was expecting a little eeriness, and the author really delivered on making a chilling atmosphere.

I am reading The Shining for this category. I chose it because I have been wanting to read it for a long time. I'm working my way through King's bibliography. I am finding the book to be pretty creepy so far.

I chose The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde for this prompt.

It is not scary in the slightest but is, rather, a lighthearted romp with a moral. I loved it!

As this was technically a short story I may try find another book. I may or may not have visited my local bookstore and bought NOS4R2 by Joe Hill...

Bridget wrote: "I chose The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde for this prompt.

It is not scary in the slightest but is, rather, a lighthearted romp with a moral. I loved it!

As this wa..."


LOVED NOS4R2!!!!

One of Joe Hill's other books, Heart-Shaped Box, would be a perfect fit for this.

Myths and Mysteries of Washington I bought this book years ago while on vacation and it creeped me out a little because we were camping. Ready to tackle it now that I am safe and warm at home. I expect it will creep me out still if I visit any of the places in the book.

- What are you reading for this category?
I read The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon and enjoyed it.

- Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid?
I picked this book because it sounded interesting. I was hoping it would be scary, because I love a good scary book. There was one scene that spooked me a bit, but all in all, it was not scary.

Would Graveyard Shift (and the other books in the Reapers Inc. series) work for this prompt? The series is set "in the afterlife", with devils, gods and souls. But I'm wondering if souls in after life are technically ghosts?

Otherwise, I'll probably go with Mary Roach's Spook (I really liked Bonk, but Spook's reviews are not as great).

Any other creative suggestions welcome ... I just don't get the horror genre, and reading non-fiction about some specific haunted place(s) doesn't sound appealing either ...

Aparajita, ghosts are a big part of the magical realism novels Pedro Páramo and One Hundred Years of Solitude. Those would work if you like literary fiction.

- What are you reading for this category? The Diviners by Libba Bray
- Why did you pick this story? Are you expecting to be afraid? It's been on my shelf forever. Nope.