Horror has quickly become one of my favorite genres. It is so fun to read about anything dark spooky, and terrifying. I have been reading a lot of horror books in the past couple of years, but they were mainly new releases. I also really want to expand my reading horizons and one of those horizons is stepping into is the classics. So, I have decided that I want to read some classic horror novels in the near… or far future.
I don’t have a lot of rhyme or reason when it comes to choosing what horror books I want on my TBR. I’m pretty easy to please. If someone even mentioned a horror book that they liked, consider it added to my TBR. I’m definitely not picky.
But I have little experience with classic horror novels, no matter how many have been recommended to me. I’ll admit it, I am a reader who is afraid of the classics. There is no reader shame on my blog! I think everyone should read whatever they want, and no one has the right to feel superior because of what they read.
With that said, I do actually want to read a couple classic horror novels because I want to see where the genre came from. As a lover of books, I have a huge interest in seeing how fiction progresses over time. So, out of pure curiosity, I am attempting to read some classics. For the good of the people… well for the good of me… maybe
Which Classics Have I Read?
I have actually read a classic horror novel! But only one…
Last year, in an attempt at comparing the book to the Netflix series, I read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, which was released in 1959. You can read my full review of the book here.
My verdict? 3.5/5 stars. It wasn’t the worst book in the world, but I had the deep disadvantage of watching the spectacular Netflix series before reading the book, which set the bar a little too high. And just a warning if you plan to read this book, it is not similar to the series. Some of the characters have the same names, and there is a haunted house… that’s it.
Anyway, I felt like The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson was a fantastic first step into reading classic horror novels. It was easy to read, and the atmospheric and spooky qualities were there.
Classic Horror Novels on my TBR
Now to get into my TBR. I make no promises on when I will read these books, hence the title of this post. But eventually, I want to read these books so I have a better view of the horror genre as a whole.
A lot of people call Something Wicked This way Comes by Ray Bradbury one of the best horror novels out there. Released in 1998 and set the week of Halloween, this story is about a spooky circus that comes into town, with haunts at every corner. I love books about carnivals, and I love stories with spooks, so this book sounds perfect for me. I am actually planning to listen to the audiobook of this book this month, so stay tuned for my thoughts!
Move over Edward Cullen, the O.G. vampire is coming into town… or my TBR. I have seen the film, Dracula by Bram Stocker, and it is certainly a classic film. You know, it’s old… So I am unsure how I will feel about the book, but I really feel like I should read the original vampire book. I also studied the film in my pop culture class in college and learned of all the cultural and religious implications and prejudice that show up in the movie, so I am interested to see the source material for that.
Although Beloved by Toni Morrison was published in 2004, I know many who call this work a modern classic. This book is about Sethe, who escaped slavery but didn’t escape the memory of it. Also, her new house in Ohio is now being haunted by her baby who passed away far too early. Not only does this book have haunting and psychological twists, but the horrors of the reality of slavery are also present in the story. This sounds like an incredibly haunting and dark story, and I will be reading it as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.
After watching the movie a couple of years ago, I was immediately interested in reading The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. Published in 1983, this book is a classic ghost story, just like the cover suggests. When the main character, Arthur, comes to a friend’s manor to wrap things up after a funeral, he gets more than he bargains for when he encounters a ghost. The film adaptation to this novella was fantastic, one of my absolute favorites.
When talking about classic horror novels, you can’t forget Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Published in 1818, this book is one of the oldest on this list. Because of this notoriety, I am honestly just curious to read the origin of Frankenstein’s monster. The monster is such a classic icon in Halloween, every Halloween store has Frankenstein costumes and decorations. I need to go all the way back to the roots if I want to analyze the horror genre.
I have never given a classic novel 5 stars. Out of the few, I have read, they usually sit in the 2-3 star range. I just, don’t enjoy classics. There is nothing wrong with that, I don’t read to be better than anyone else, I read because I love it. I read because I want to escape the stressful world that I am living in.
But I also want to give every book a chance. So these 5 classic horror novels on my TBR might just change my mind. Maybe I will find something I love. Or maybe I will reaffirm what I already knew, that I would rather read new releases. Either way, hopefully, I enjoy myself, and maybe learn a little something about myself along the way.
Let me know in the comments below if you have a favorite classic horror novel. Or any horror books. I would love to add some more to my TBR.
Thanks for reading!
