Immerse yourself in worlds where superstitions come to life and the dark talks back to you
By: Melanie Nava Urribarri
A book of horrors is displayed by a large tree amidst autumn leaves on a dark, foggy October morning. (Melanie Nava Urribarri/CanCulture)
As the final days of October set in, with the air getting colder and the nights getting darker, the need to curl up and read a good goosebump-inducing novel under the eerie moonlight may just creep up on you.
The thrill can be intoxicating and the need to satiate it is just as strong.
Luckily, if you’re low on ideas to dive into before the gloomy autumn charm ends, you won’t need witchcraft. Here are some Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students’ favourite stories for you to explore this spooky season:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
This Gothic romance came up more than once among students. For second-year journalism student Kyana Alvarez, it was the mystery aspect that sold her.
“I’ve always been scared of someone or something living in the walls, so this book played into my own fears,” said Alvarez.
Author Charlotte Brontë uses many gothic elements to enhance the obscurity of the story and raise our anxiety.
“Seeing and hearing things you can’t explain or see but knowing it’s there is super freaky because you never know what could happen,” Alvarez adds.
Political science student Malaury Bien-Aime agrees and also mentions that the mystery from a feminist perspective is refreshing.
“It's a novel that changes perspective for women because Jane is not the societal norm in the 18th century,” said Bien-Amie. “It’s easy to feel her fears throughout the mystery because the character is relatable.”
The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
Poe’s electrifying prose is sure to make you shiver and send a chill up your spine. Published in 1843, this Gothic horror classic isn’t a novel, but a short story that follows the narrator’s descent into madness.
“It’s just the gore of it that is actually traumatizing. It’s just so detailed it makes me perfectly imagine it and it feels gross in exciting ways,” said third-year chemistry student Cristina Díaz.
The Black Cat wonderfully illustrates Poe’s take on the capacity of the human mind to be aware of its own deterioration.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Another classic — this time with a sprinkle of sci-fi to give it life — comes recommended by second-year business management student Teresa Baricevic. Frankenstein is not only filled with hair-raising perspectives on human nature but a great connection to modern issues of control and sexuality.
“It’s a story of finding peace within oneself and a search for identity,” said Baricevic. “The imagery from the beautiful scenery and nature in Switzerland reflects the peace both Victor Frankenstein and The Creature crave.”
Frankenstein holds so many entrancing layers. If you aren’t reading for the captivating thrill, it’s still well worth getting lost in Mary Shelley’s criticisms of the patriarchal society and examinations of the human condition.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This book is an award-winning 2020 gothic horror novel by a Mexican-Canadian author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The story centres around a young woman uncovering treacherous secrets and stories of violence within family.
“When a character starts to question their grip on reality and the reader knows something isn’t right, it’s so thrilling and sometimes fear-inducing,” said Alvarez, providing insight into another favourite of hers. She added that because she’s “a huge scaredy cat,” the suspense in this book really got to her.
This novel has influences and inspirations from Mexican folklore, which not only makes it a novel perfect for Halloween, but also for Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated in October in Ontario.
If these novels aren’t quite to your taste, you may find second-year journalism student Fatima Raza’s recommendation more helpful. The most horrifying book she’s read for this season is, and will always be, her textbook.