The SMC community recommends their choice of frighteningly captivating books to read this Fall, just in time for Halloween.

During this season many take up reading as a leisurely pastime. However, with so many books out there, it can be hard to know what's worth reading. Luckily, the SMC community has come to recommend some books that are great for reading during this spooky season.

Many of the monsters beloved today were originally drawn up by authors in classic novels. You can’t go wrong with “Dracula” by Bram Stoker and “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly. Stoker’s classic follows Jonathan Harker who travels to Transylvania for business with none other than Count Dracula. After the business deal goes south, the Count follows Harker back to his hometown in England, and a haunting ensues. Shelly’s classic follows a scientist named Victor Frankenstein who creates the Creature in an obsessive science experiment.

English professor Dr. Lawrence Driscoll believes the scare factor in these novels comes from more than just the obvious monsters who star in them.

“Dracula, like Frankenstein, both have a heightened sense of fear simply by being written with some clever frame narratives,” he says.

Dracula is an epistolary novel - told through letters and other documents, and even Frankenstein is partially told through letters written by Victor Frankenstein. These story-telling devices give the novels a heightened sense of reality. Driscoll says “Even though you’d think it could create a sense of distance and a feeling of being safely removed from the action, it actually enhances the sense that something real has/is taking place.” Driscoll likens the novels to “found footage” horror films, so “Blair Witch Project” fans should be sure to check these classics out.

SMC student Rayan Jahanshahi is drawn by the same Gothic nature; however, with a twist. Jahanshahi recommends “Absalom Absalom!” by William Faulkner, a novel he considers to be perfect. Faulkner’s Southern Gothic masterpiece wrestles with the consequences of a man's immense desire for wealth.

“Even with its unconventional style it comes off to the reader, once acquainted, as almost so natural that every other novel seems esoteric compared to it,” Jahanshahi said. “The fact that it is also a bone-chilling tale of the evil of the South is coincidental, yet is perfect.”

For readers interested in horror, but not quite up to diving into these Gothic classics, SMC student Arshia Arjomandi has a recommendation. Fittingly dubbed the “King of Horror,” Stephen King is a prolific novelist whose scary premises are perfect for the Fall season. Arjomandi says “Pet Sematary” is her favorite, as it is known as King’s scariest novel.

“Anyone that's ever struggled with mortality, whether it was their own or a loved one’s, is in for one hell of a ride with this,” Arjomandi said. She describes the book as one big existential crisis regarding death and grief, as “the fate of this once-beautiful family hammered home one painful message about life.”

For horror fans wanting something a little less fantastical, SMC student Mat Estrada would like to introduce the first crime novel he ever read: “Red Dragon” by Thomas Harris. Estrada traces the origins of his love of reading back to this psychological thriller which follows former FBI profiler Will Graham as he comes back for one final case. Estrada attributes his fascination with the book to its subject matter, particularly saying “Will Graham delves into the mind of serial killers. Each case takes a huge toll on him to the point where he can no longer find joy and meaning in life knowing monsters exist in everyone, even himself.” True crime aficionados, take note.

For those looking for a lighter and quicker read, SMC student Naseabai Jahangard recommends “Squad” by Maggie Tokuda Hall. Jahangard explains the young adult graphic novel “begins similar to Mean Girls, except the three mean girls have a spooky secret.” The story is filled with mystery and the supernatural, making it a great Halloween read.

“I love ‘Squad’ because it’s action-packed and full of suspense on every page. With likable— mostly—realistic characters and gorgeous, it’s the perfect short spooky read,” Jahangard said.

Halloween isn’t the only major date approaching, as Fall ushers in the UC transfer season as well. SMC student Jason Kang has some help for those going through this process in the form of recommending non-fiction work “Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process” by John McPhee. Kang says McPhee is a “... four-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.” Whether students are just focused on producing a killer transfer essay, or they dream of becoming the next Joan Didion or Zadie Smith, Kang says “It is worth the read for anyone who wants to become a better writer and gaze into the life of a fascinating individual who has inspired and continues to inspire many.”

Lastly, SMC student Mithra Venkatesh speaks of her favorite fantasy retelling that she feels is perfect for the Halloween season, “House of Salt and Sorrow” by Erin A. Craig. A darker retelling of the fairy tale “Twelve Dancing Princesses,” it follows the princesses being killed off one by one. Venkatesh says while the novel is not extremely scary, the novel is filled with “romance, passion, mystery, and scary elements making it the perfect Halloween book.”

Reading enables us to both escape to other worlds, and view our own with a different lens, and the SMC community has graciously unearthed the next great read to enjoy this Halloween.

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