Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

A blue lightning bolt cracks across the black sky. A loud boom shakes the glass candelabras hanging in the dark library. Rain trickles down the windows. You try for the light switch, but it doesn’t work. Red eyes look out at you from under the great desk in the center of the room. Another flash of lightning illuminates the room. Shelves line every space of wall. Darkness. A small cackle, then a voice like the sound of nails on a chalkboard declares, “Choose a book if you dare…”

Welcome to the haunted library. Please nominate a book from the Horror Classics list and post it below.


2020

January
The Lost Stradivarius by John Meade Falkner

February
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

March
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

April
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

May
The Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf

June
Nightmare At 20,000 Feet by Richard Matheson

July
The Lady’s Maid’s Bell by Edith Wharton

August
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

September
The Monkey's Paw and Other Tales of Mystery and Macabre by WW Jacobs

October
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

November
The Willows by Algernon Blackwood

December
Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories by M.R. James

I'd like to nominate The Lost Stradivarius by John Meade Falkner.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Vampire Stories may work better here than in the sci-fi / fantasy thread. I’m really curious about that book. I love a good vampire story, and it sounds interesting.

Here are some books I'd like to read:

The Bad Seed - William March

Complete Ghost Stories - Charles Dickens

Strangers on a Train - Patricia Highsmith

Some authors I'd like to read more of:

Charles Beaumont

Ray Bradbury

Richard Matheson

Jerry Sohl

Which stories by Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson were you interested in Jazzy?

I need a few titles instead of just authors unless you don't care what I pick haha.

Patrick wrote: "Which stories by Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson were you interested in Jazzy?

I need a few titles instead of just authors unless you don't care what I pick haha."

ahhahaa Patrick ;)

I recommend everyone read Perchance to Dream by Charles Beaumont I read it and enjoyed the whole book.

The stories in this collection were first published between 1952-1961. Charles Beaumont was an imaginative writer, and several of his stories were episodes of The Twilight Zone. Unfortunately, Mr. Beaumont suffered from a condition that caused him to die 'of old age' whilst only in his 30s.

Something rare and obscure would be great. A book of compiled short stories would be fabulous, but I really hope we read The Bad Seed cos I've had that for a bit and want to start it!

The Turn of the Screw
The Picture of Dorian Gray

I’ll happily second Turn of the Screw (as I have it in a book of some other Henry James stories) and Dorian Gray. I’d be happy to lead Turn of the Screw during a month I’m not already leading for another thread.

I don't see The Picture of Dorian Gray as horror, but I'm up to putting it in.

Jazzy suggested we read more Ray Bradbury, Matheson, Jerry Sohl, or Charles Beaumont.

Anyone up for:

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Perchance to Dream by Charles Beaumont

I’m up for Dorian Gray. I know we discussed it in another planning thread, but I forget which one.

Before today, I didn’t know about Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree. Now it’s on my list and I second it.

The Halloween Tree

Should we put the Halloween Tree for October? lol

Sam if another thread is planning to read Dorian Gray I don't want to step on their toes or have it read in two places in the same year. Let me know who is setting it up so I know if I should put it in.

Why not? 🧟‍♀️

Samantha wrote: "I’m up for Dorian Gray. I know we discussed it in another planning thread, but I forget which one.

Before today, I didn’t know about Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree. Now it’s on my list and I secon..."

Yeah and for some reason its not in my tbr? lol that needs to be fixed haha.

Patrick, I cannot find where Dorian Gray was discussed in the past week, but I don’t believe any other thread actually picked it up for planning for next year.

Ok, I'll just put it in for March then :D

Patrick wrote: "I don't see The Picture of Dorian Gray as horror, but I'm up to putting it in."

As I've never read it I was using the genres given it by Goodreads.

I haven't read that many classic horror so I'd be interested in reading any of these...

anything by Lovecraft Howard Phillips
The Rim of Morning: Two Tales of Cosmic Horror by William Sloane
The Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf

Also I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. I've seen the movie and wonder how different it is from the book.

Yes, we do read A LOT of Lovecraft here so don't worry about that lol.

If anyone is interested can I get a second for:

The Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf
The Rim of Morning by William Sloane

I'll put I Am Legend for April since a few others were interested as well :D

Patrick wrote: "Yes, we do read A LOT of Lovecraft here so don't worry about that lol.

If anyone is interested can I get a second for:

The Black Spider by Jeremias Gotthelf
The Rim of Morning by William Sloane
..."

I'll second The Black Spider.

I never realized how old I Am Legend is until today.

ah i was hoping for something on the lines of Nightmare At 20,000 Feet ;)

Jazzy wrote: "ah i was hoping for something on the lines of Nightmare At 20,000 Feet ;)"


I would definitely read this!

Alrighty! I’ll update the list when I get to a computer!

Oh I'm sorry, but we can't read Nightmare At 20,000 Feet by Richard Matheson as a group read. Horror books need to be published on/before 1970.

I will put The Black Spider for May.

I searched and couldn't tell if this has been read by the group, but i'd like to suggest H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction

I'll throw out a few. I did a search, but apologies for any repeats I missed:

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M.R. James

The Lady's Maid's Bell by Edith Wharton

Anything by Edgar Allan Poe

Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things by Lafcadio Hearn

Elliott O'Donnell wrote about everything from banshees to ghosts to werewolves, and a lot of it seems to be public domain. He writes a lot of his stuff as non-fiction folklore, but I figured I'd drop his name in here for folks to check out.

Jacquie wrote: "I searched and couldn't tell if this has been read by the group, but i'd like to suggest H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction"

We do read a lot of his stories. I can set up a buddy read for you and anyone else who wants to read all of HP Lovecraft's work!! I read the Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales but not all of them and I would def join that one!!!

Great choices Angie!! I just need someone to second your nominations before I put them up :D

Patrick wrote: "Jacquie wrote: "I searched and couldn't tell if this has been read by the group, but i'd like to suggest H.P. Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction"

We do read a lot of his stories. I can..."

If we do it I think it's better to create a new category with schedule and all the stuff, like we do with Jules Verne. Each story with its own thread. Just one thread to all of his stories would be very messed up.

Yup, thanks Rafael. I was already planning on it :D

I'll second The Lady's Maid's Bell.

Patrick wrote: "Oh I'm sorry, but we can't read Nightmare At 20,000 Feet by Richard Matheson as a group read. Horror books need to be published on/before 1970.

I will put The Black Spider for May."

The stories were written before 1970 though.

"Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" (1961)

That book was a posthumous collection of his classic works.

Oh ok! My apologies for not researching further!

I updated the list :D

Who would be interested in a buddy read for all of HP Lovecraft's stories next year?

I'm in if anyone else is up for it! I've read a lot but not all of his works!

i think that would be great, but you probably knew i'd say yes!

Jazzy wrote: "Patrick wrote: "Oh I'm sorry, but we can't read Nightmare At 20,000 Feet by Richard Matheson as a group read. Horror books need to be published on/before 1970.

I will put The Black Spider for May..."


haha, was going to mention that the stories in the collection were written before 1970, at least I believe most were, but Jazzy beat me to it.
Thanks for adding it :-)

Patrick wrote: "Who would be interested in a buddy read for all of HP Lovecraft's stories next year?

I'm in if anyone else is up for it! I've read a lot but not all of his works!"

Maybe so maybe so!

Patrick we have read The Black Spider, The Turn of the Screw, The Picture of Dorian Grey Just thought I'd let you know. Your decision still.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Ok, so when we come to those stories do you want me to use the threads in the archives then?

I sent you a PM, but yes please.

At least it’s been 2 and 3 years respectively since the group reads of Turn of the Screw and Dorian Gray. That’s a fairly long time ago for a fresh read or new read (new for those of us who didn’t participate then).

Samantha wrote: "At least it’s been 2 and 3 years respectively since the group reads of Turn of the Screw and Dorian Gray. That’s a fairly long time ago for a fresh read or new read (new for those of us who didn’t ..."

I agree Samantha and both of those had good amount of comments on them. Well liked.

Did I read that a few people wanted to read all of HP Lovecraft's stories next year?

Ha - yes! i just suggested him for the author to replace Jules Verne on that string. i do.

I would like to second Angie's nomination of M.R. James but can we make it Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories

This includes the book Angie suggested and more stories of an antiquary. These were written as to be read as Christmas time stories, in the tradition of Dickens and other Victorians. Maybe December then?

I would like to nominate
At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft

We will be reading all HP Lovecraft’s work next year and the year after! I’ll update your second when I get home! 👍

Patrick wrote: "We will be reading all HP Lovecraft’s work next year and the year after! I’ll update your second when I get home! 👍"

Great. Thanks Patrick.