Happy Halloween! Folklore and Origins of Halloween

Happy Halloween! Trick or Treat! Hopefully this will provide some treats for you.

 Halloween has its roots in the Celtic celebration known as Samhain (pronounced sah-win). It was basically a celebration of the harvest and the Celtic New Year. Also on Halloween, they believed that the veil between this world and the afterlife was thin enough that some spirits could pass through into this world. Because not all of them might have had good intentions, people took to dressing up in costumes to confuse the spirits.

I've included 3 links below for people who are interested in learning more about Halloween and it's traditions. 

The first one is from the History Channel. https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-halloween 

The second one is from the Library of Congress https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/

The third link is from the University of Kentucky https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/fun-facts-you-probably-didn-t-know-about-halloween-uk-folklorist

I hope you have a Happy Halloween!

Spooky Season Recommendations: Horror with Some Humor

 October is the perfect time to read books that give you a bit of a chill or a thrill. As far as I'm concerned, horror books are made better when they have some humor to them. One example released this past Tuesday would be, Slayers of Old by Jim C. Hines. 

From the publisher: 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Golden Girls in this humorous contemporary standalone fantasy about a group of former Chosen Ones coming out of retirement to save the world one last time

Three former Chosen Ones have joined together to spend their retirement in peace and quiet, running Second Life Books and Gifts in Salem, MA. A calm, peaceful, tourist-filled oasis, where they never have to worry about saving the world. Until some of the locals start summoning ancient creatures best left where they were . . . and they discover that their bookstore basement just may be the portal to the underworld. These ex-heroes may have thought they were done . . . but if they want to finish their retirement in peace, they’ll have to join together to save the world one last time.

Why leave saving the world to the young? Cozy mystery readers looking for an extra dash of magic will eat this story up: fun, funny, and heartwarming, it's a novel about community, second chances, and the healing power of scones.

While that is the most recent example, and one I am looking forward to reading, there are plenty others in the genre.

Suburban Hell and Hex Education by Maureen Kilmer are two such books. One asks the question of what would happen if evil is accidentally summoned in a suburban neighborhood by a group of friends looking to build a she-shed. And the other sees a group of friends from college that have been practicing witchcraft for decades losing control of their magic and needing to work hard to get it back under control. 

Bless Your Heart and  Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan also present a pair of horror stories that have humor as an element. While humor is definitely not the whole thing, it is present. The Evans women who run a funeral parlor in a small town have been keeping it safe for a long time from the undead. In these two books, they and the sheriff continue to do so.

For something heavier on the humor and lighter in tone while still asking some tough questions there are books by Christopher Moore. A Dirty Job and Secondhand Souls investigate what it might be like to be saddled with the job of Death unwittingly and unwillingly. Sophie, the daughter, is precious in the first book along with her hellhound companions. Her father is struggling with what it is like to be raising a precocious daughter while quite possibly being Death with a capital D. If this particular pair of novels is not quite for you, Moore has several others that are humorous while investigating other paranormal topics such as vampires, demons, and zombies.

These are just seven novels in the genre. There are many more where they come from: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix and Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero are just two more. Hopefully, you will find something you will enjoy this spooky season. Do you have a favorite Halloween time of year book? Or perhaps a favorite genre? Share it in the comments. Wishing you Happy Reading and a Happy Spooky Season!

Review: Haunted Nights edited by Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton

Haunted Nights is a perfect October read. It's a collection of Halloween themed horror short stories edited by Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton. From a haunted house to wandering Jack to the far-flung future of Halloween, there is enough variety to suit anyone. Lisa Morton, a well-known expert on Halloween, writes the enjoyable and informative introduction to the book.

Of the 16 short stories included in the collection, I really liked all but about 2 of them. I think as far as anthologies go, that's a pretty good success rate. My favorites were about the wandering Jack with the fiery turnip. Yes, there was more than one about Jack, but they were nothing alike. I also enjoyed the uniqueness of "The Seventeen Year Itch" by Garth Nix.

I liked that in addition to Halloween, some of the stories also dwelt on what was termed the time when the veil between the worlds thins, The Day of the Dead, All Souls' Day, and Devil's Night. The variety really made the collection a joy to read.

If you enjoy your horror with a taste of Halloween and other related themes, then this is a good book for you. The quality of the writing is there. The chills are present. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Waiting on Wednesday #196/Can't Wait Wednesday: Haunted Nights ed. Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

This week the book I am waiting on is Haunted Nights edited by Ellen Datlow and Lisa Morton. It's due out October 3, 2017 from Anchor Books.

Sixteen never-before-published chilling tales that explore every aspect of our darkest holiday, Halloween, co-edited by Ellen Datlow, one of the most successful and respected genre editors, and Lisa Morton, a leading authority on Halloween.

In addition to stories about scheming jack-o'-lanterns, vengeful ghosts, otherworldly changelings, disturbingly realistic haunted attractions, masks that cover terrifying faces, murderous urban legends, parties gone bad, cult Halloween movies, and trick or treating in the future, Haunted Nights also offers terrifying and mind-bending explorations of related holidays like All Souls' Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Devil's Night.

"With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds" by Seanan McGuire 
"Dirtmouth" by Stephen Graham Jones"
"A Small Taste of the Old Country" by Jonathan Maberry
"Wick’s End" by Joanna Parypinski 
"The Seventeen Year Itch" by Garth Nix
"A Flicker of Light on Devil’s Night" by Kate Jonez
"Witch-Hazel" by Jeffrey Ford
"Nos Galen Gaeaf" by Kelley Armstrong 
"We’re Never Inviting Amber Again" by S. P. Miskowski
"Sisters" by Brian Evenson
"All Through the Night" by Elise Forier Edie 
"A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds" by Eric J. Guignard
"The Turn" by Paul Kane
"Jack" by Pat Cadigan
"Lost in the Dark" by John Langan
"The First Lunar Halloween" by John R. Little

Why am I waiting on this one? Halloween is my favorite holiday. I really enjoy stories that center around it. Ellen Datlow is an excellent editor. And Lisa Morton is considered "a leading authority on Halloween." The two working together on a book of Halloween short stories seems like could be a stroke of genius. 

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

All Hallow's Read

Basically, it's about giving books, particularly scary books, at Halloween to someone else. Sounds like a lovely tradition to me. Maybe I will give one to my daughter this year. She's been reading Stephen King's Gunslinger books. I can give her something else to read by him or by someone else like Ray Bradbury.

Also Litsy and Out of Print are partnering together to donate books to children in need. The details are on https://www.outofprintclothing.com/pages/all-hallows-read

Some recommendations for books to give can be found on the All Hallow's Read website. If you do a web search for All Hallow's Read book recommendations, you can find a wide variety of recommendations from different outlets.

Some of my picks for picture books are:

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old House by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Five Little Pumpkins illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly illustrated by Pam Adams
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Does this sound like a good idea to you? What book recommendations would you have for a particular age group (adult, YA, middle grades, picture books)?

Review: Halloween by David J. Skal

Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday by David J. Skal is an interesting nonfiction account of the history of Halloween. It is a re-release. It was out of print for about 10 years before being released in this edition.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Acclaimed cultural critic David J. Skal explores one of America's most perplexingly popular holidays in this original mix of personal anecdotes and social analysis. Skal traces Halloween's evolution from its dark Celtic history and quaint, small-scale celebrations to its emergence as a mammoth seasonal marketing event.
Skal takes readers on a cross-country survey that covers remarkably divergent perspectives, from the merchants who welcome a money-making opportunity that's second only to Christmas to fundamentalists who decry Halloween a form of blasphemy and practicing witches who embrace it as a holy day. He also profiles individuals who revel in this once-a-year occasion to participate in elaborate fantasies. Their narratives, combined with the author's cultural analysis, offer a revealing look at an intriguing aspect of our national psyche.

My thoughts on this book:"You can't kill the bogeyman. But does anyone really want to?" (Halloween: Homecoming film) By the end of the book, it seems that this is precisely what many people are seeking to do in the guise of political correctness or religion.

I found parts of the book to be very interesting. In other parts, it seemed to drag a little. I found myself skipping parts of some sections like in the one about the gay Halloween parades in New York City. And sadly, I found myself skimming a little even in the sections I really liked, for example: the one about haunted houses, and the one about movies. I was glad that the author pointed out more than once that Halloween had nothing to do with Satanism. And that he got the cultural origins of the holiday right.

Generally speaking, I really enjoy books about Halloween. This one, not so much. It was still a good book overall. It just wasn't a great one. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Teaser Tuesday: Halloween by David J. Skal

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Published June 20th 2016
by Dover Publications

Call it Samhain, Summer's End, All Hallow's Eve, November Eve,  or Witch's Night - Halloween has its essential roots in the terrors of the primitive mind, which made no distinction between the waning of the sun and the potential extinction of the self. ~ 7% on my Kindle

In reality, contemporary Halloween is a patchwork holiday, a kind of cultural Frankenstein stitched together quite recently from a number of traditions, all fused beneath the cauldron-light of the American melting pot. ~ 9% on my Kindle

What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever-growing TBR list. Thanks for coming by!

Waiting on Wednesday #139: Halloween by David J. Skal

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.  

This week the book that I am waiting on is Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday by David J. Skal. 

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Acclaimed cultural critic David J. Skal explores one of America's most perplexedly popular holidays in this original mix of personal anecdotes and social analysis. Skal traces Halloween's evolution from its dark Celtic history and quaint, small-scale celebrations to its emergence as mammoth seasonal marketing event.
Skal takes readers on a cross-country survey that covers remarkably divergent perspectives, from the merchants who welcome a money-making opportunity that's second only to Christmas to fundamentalists who decry Halloween a form of blasphemy and practicing witches who embrace it as a holy day. He also profiles individuals who revel in this once-a-year occasion to participate in elaborate fantasies. Their narratives, combined with the author's cultural analysis, offer a revealing look at an intriguing aspect of our national psyche.

Why am I waiting on this book? I love Halloween. I am curious to see what he has to say about it.  According to the Boston Globe, It's "Entertaining … and scholarly … Like a bag of Halloween candy, the book is a lot of fun."

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever-growing TBR lists. 

What was the first scary book you read on your own?

What was the first book that you remember reading on your own that scared you? For me, the one that stands out is The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs. There were other Halloween books before that and many since then. The ones before that one weren't as scary I think because I wasn't reading them alone. The House with a Clock in Its Walls, on the other hand, was scary among other reasons because I was reading it on  my own.

Brief synopsis from Goodreads:
Orphaned Lewis Barnavelt comes to live with his Uncle Jonathan and quickly learns that both his uncle and his next-door neighbor are witches on a quest to discover the terrifying clock ticking within the walls of Jonathan's house. Can the three of them save the world from certain destruction?

I think for my daughter, the first scary books she read on her own were the Goosebumps books by R.L. Stine. 

If you were asked, what books would you recommend for the young to read for pleasant chills? I would still recommend The  House with a Clock in Its Walls and other books by John Bellairs, books by R.L. Stine, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz.  What would you add to this list? I'm sure there are lots more out there.

Review Treat: A Haunting Is Brewing by Juliet Blackwell

Published October 21st 2014 by InterMix

A Haunting Is Brewing by Juliet Blackwell is a novella that brings together characters from two of her series - the Haunted House Renovation series and her Witchcraft Mystery series. It's a fun, cozy novella centered around a house that Mel has been hired to fix up that currently serves as a museum and has gotten rundown.

Spooner House is having a Haunted Halloween Ball to raise funds for the museum it houses as well as a nearby youth center. Just a couple of problems. Some renovations are needed to make it safe for the bash and then there are the life size dolls of the family. And if the threat of a specter or two wasn't enough, one of the young men helping clean and decorate the place is murdered. This time Mel thinks that maybe a real witch is needed to get through it all. She is introduced to Lily Ivory by another volunteer on the house. The two women use their know-how to try and deal with things seen and unseen. And it never hurts to have police backup for those culprits that prove tangible.

I had never heard of either series before and I am glad that I finally have. I will be looking for more from both of them. The novella was very well written. There was nothing extraneous. It all worked together to further the plot. I loved that both Lily and Mel seem to have their own familiars in the form of pets that see more than most people see. Characterization was done well. I enjoyed seeing Mel make new friends with both Lily and the volunteer Maya. It's a gently spooky murder mystery. No gore. Just a murder mystery with paranormal extras.

 I would recommend this book for people who enjoy reading about the paranormal and mysteries. It's a perfect Halloween read. I hope you will give it a chance and enjoy it. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Some Halloween websites

Halloween is tomorrow. Just in case you haven't found your saturation point yet for the holiday and its trappings, which I have not, here are a few websites with information about Halloween or books with a Halloween theme to them.

The History Channel has a nice little site with information about the history of the holiday and the things surrounding it such as pumpkins, candy.and trick or treating.

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween




Halloween.com has tons of information and links to explore. They have info on costumes, pumpkin carving, and activities to name a few items.


http://www.halloween.com/

The Cozy Mystery List has tons about cozy mysteries, but they have also made lists of mysteries pertaining to each holiday. This is the link to the mysteries that have to do with Halloween.

http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Holiday-Mystery-Books/Halloween-Mystery-Book-List.html

 A few nonfiction Halloween books I've come across and found interesting are:
Trick or Treat? A History of Halloween by Lisa Morton
Halloween! by Silver Ravenwolf
The Pagan Book of Halloween by Gerina Dunwich

Many, many more books exist on the topic of Halloween. These are just some that I enjoyed for the history and lore content.

Do you have any favorites, fiction or nonfiction for Halloween? Please share in the comments. And Thanks for stopping by!

Teaser Tuesday: Trick or Treat? - a History of Halloween by Lisa Morton

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of  Should Be Reading.

Anyone can participate. just do the following.

Rules:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t  give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

Published 2012 by
Reaktion Books Ltd.

This week's teaser is from Trick or Treat? a History of Halloween by Lisa Morton.

"One town took the pranking so seriously that it ended up becoming the town's identity: Anoka, Minnesota, claims to have been the first city in the United States to put on a Halloween celebration to divert its youngsters from Halloween pranks. Tired of waking up on 1 November to find their cattle roaming on Main Street, in 1920, Anoka's civil leaders instituted a programme of Halloween parades, giveaways and bonfires." (p.77)

Further reading on the same page reveals that a young man went to Washington in 1937 and asked for the town to be named the official Halloween capital of the world. And currently the week preceding Halloween is filled with contests and parades "boasts 40,000 participants."

The book is filled with facts about Halloween. I am enjoying it, although I find the reading a little dry in parts.

So, what are you reading this Tuesday? What's your teaser? Please share it in the comments. Thanks for visiting!

A Few Halloween Reads - Adult Fiction

 There's less than a month to Halloween. So, I thought that I would mention a few good Halloween reads. These were not all published in  2014, but they are good reads.

The first 2 books are collections of short stories that have something to do with Halloween. Both books were edited by Paula Guran who does a great job. The picture on the left is the first anthology, the one on the right the second. The first collection has a variety of authors some current and some classics such as Ray Bradbury and H.P. Lovecraft. The second anthology is pretty much all current authors, but it is a good read as well. Halloween edited by Paula Guran was released September13, 2011. Halloween: Magic, Mystery, and the Macabre edited by Paula Guran was released September 10, 2013.

Lucretia and the Kroons by Victor Lavalle is a kindle single that was released last year. It is definitely a creepy novella. Lucretia, or Loochie as her family calls her, remembers her brother Louis saying, "Horrors come for kids too. Being young doesn't protect anyone." Her friend Sunny has been away getting treatment and is weak from it and from the illness she has. Suddenly she disappears. A Kroon comes onto Loochie's fire escape and tells her with gestures that Sunny is up in apartment 6D. And the horror/adventure begins. If you click on the title, it will bring you to my review of the novella.

The Ocean and The End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman is a full length novel. I listened to on CD and didn't write a review of it.That doesn't mean it wasn't good. It was excellent. It's listed as a sort of adult fairy tale. The narrator drives back to his old neighborhood after attending a funeral and finds himself remembering all sorts of things from the year he was 7 years old. Some of them are nice things, like the 11 year old Hempstock girl. Other things are less pleasant, a malign force that follows him and Lettie home from another dimension and the consequences. It might not have set out to be horror, but it certainly gave me chills at times. It's well written and if I had reviewed it, I would have given it 4 stars. The audiobook is read by Neil himself.

If you are looking for something more classic, you might want to try something by Ray Bradbury like Something Wicked This Way Comes or The Halloween Tree. Dracula by Bram Stoker is also an interesting read if you haven't read it before. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux is good too.

There are many more titles available than I've mentioned here. What's your favorite Halloween read? Or, is there a new one coming out that you're looking forward to? Please share with us in the comments. And thanks for stopping by!

Review: Halloween: Magic, Mystery, and the Macabre edited by Paula Guran

Halloween: Magic, Mystery, and the Macabre edited by Paula Guran is an anthology of 18 tales ranging from the simply magical to the horrifying about my favorite holiday. There is an excellent selection of writers. Some of the authors included are Caitlin R. Kiernan, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem.

I really liked all of the stories, but I still had a few favorites. My favorite magical tale was "For the Removal of Unwanted Guests" by A.C. Wise. When a witch moves in unbidden, what would you do?

As for a mysterious story, perhaps you could call, "Long Way Home" by Jonathan Maberry a mystery. A soldier returns home after war on Halloween, but the town is not quite the same.

And for the macabre, Maria V. Snyder's tale, "The Halloween Men," takes place in a city where you must wear a mask every day of the year except Halloween. For an excerpt of this tale you can check out the author's page.

This book is perfect for the Halloween season. I would recommend it in particular for fans of dark fantasy because most of the tales do seem to have a darkness to them. All of the stories are well written.

I give this anthology 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.