Enjoying the Spooky Season

Are you sick of spooky season yet? Or are you, like me, super excited to crack open all the spooky books, watch all the spooky movies, and otherwise revel in autumn and the coming of darkness?

There's nothing for getting into the Halloween spirit like music. Especially Andrew Gold's hilarious and delightful "Spooky Scary Skeletons," off the 1996 album titled Halloween Howls.

There's even a dance remix!

Want more Halloween music? Hoopla has a good selection for both kids and adults! (*Restrictions to using the service apply based on your home address.)

For example, you can try Halloween's Gravest Hits, featuring classics like "Monster Mash" and "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." Or The Hits of Halloween by the Taliesin Orchestra, which does orchestral arrangements of those same familiar tunes.

There are even albums of spooky sounds, should you wish to create the right ambiance for a party.

Cozy Spooky Reads

I usually like to ease my way into the season's reading with more cozy, less scary options that are still thematically relevant. Children's and some teen books can be great for this - full of ghosts, witches, or zombies (maybe even murder!), without losing that essentially heartwarming, "all's well that ends well" vibe.

A Dash of Trouble

Wise Child

Undead Girl Gang

Mooncakes

The Witch King

Halloween romance is another great way to immerse yourself in the season while still keeping things lighthearted. Here's a great list of titles from Hoopla:

A Little Familiar by R. Cooper

Halloween at the Corral by Debra St. John

Help Wanted by J. Emery

Her Halloween Treat by Tiffany Reisz

Ms. Behave by Cathy Yardley

October Spice by K.L. Noone

Page of Swords by Ainsley Booth and Sadie Haller

The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish

You can also try our Fall Reading Mood book list: books for adults that will give you a little shiver of suspense, otherworldliness, and melancholy, without the nightmare-inducing scares!

Hardcore Horror

You don't have to read horror to enjoy the Halloween season! But at some point in your spooky reading you might find yourself wanting something a bit more intense, something that's truly a shock to the system.

Horror can be really enjoyable when life is going well, because of that delicious moment of contrast when you emerge from the depths of fictional depravity into the reassuring light of the day to day. Reading or watching horror can also help us get through terrible times. Horrific things exist - many of us have experienced them - and it can be helpful to read fiction which reflects and validates that.

When you are ready for the gruesome, terrifying, and horrific, try our Tales of Horror and Suspense reading list.

You can also check out our Spooky Movies list, which includes lots of variety!