It has always been a mystery to me why human beings enjoy being unnecessarily frightened. Don’t we already have enough to worry about? Perhaps not compared to our caveman ancestors. An article on Today.com suggests, “The moment we feel threatened, we feel increasingly more strong and powerful physically, and more intuitive emotionally. This charge to our physical and mental state creates an ‘adrenaline rush,’ and as humans we are apparently hard-wired to be drawn to this type of feeling.”
Even though I don’t understand it, I too find myself (especially if my husband is out of town for added drama) needlessly flirting with fright. I’ll watch a creepy serial killer documentary and then imagine a mad man’s footsteps creaking down my wood floors all night. And, bonus, my floors are often genuinely creaking in the wind because my house is 100 years old!
Halloween is the time when this all makes sense. A time when we can, as humans, shamelessly proclaim our love of a good fright. Connect with our caveman roots and assure our DNA that we can still handle a sudden burst of danger. So, because it is the season, let’s lean into our Paleolithic neuroses and amp up the drama. The experts at both Octavia Books and Garden District Books have offered several spooky book recommendations to keep you needlessly shivering in your sheets all night!
Garden District Book Shop:
“This Cursed House,” Del Sandeen
In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth: They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it.
“Seraphim,” Joshua Perry
From a former New Orleans public defender comes a gritty and thrilling interrogation of crime, violence, and the limits of justice in the chaotic times after Hurricane Katrina
“The Devil’s Jazz,” Vincent B. Chip Lococo
In the sultry heart of New Orleans, a city haunted by the legacy of Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror in London, a new menace emerges. The year is 1918, and the Axman of New Orleans prowls the cobblestone streets, targeting the city’s large population of Sicilian immigrants.
Octavia Books:
“Our Share of Night,” Mariana Enriquez
A woman’s mysterious death puts her husband and son on a collision course with her demonic family
“Mexican Gothic,” Silvia Moreno-Gracia
An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets
“Midnight Feast,” Lucy Foley
It’s the opening night of The Manor, the newest and hottest luxury resort, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.
But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And it’s not too long before the local police are called. Turns out the past has crashed the party, with deadly results.
“The Only Good Indians,” Stephen Graham Jones
A novel that is equal parts psychological horror and cutting social commentary on identity politics and the American Indian experience. Fans of Jordan Peele and Tommy Orange will love this story as it follows the lives of four American Indian men and their families, all haunted by a disturbing, deadly event that took place in their youth. Years later, they find themselves tracked by an entity bent on revenge, totally helpless as the culture and traditions they left behind catch up to them in a violent, vengeful way.
Sale & Event Picks:
Oct. 25 & 26 (7-9:30 p.m.): Taylor Swift Silent Disco, The Rink
Oct. 28 – Nov. 5: Children’s Clothing Exchange, CCEX
Nov. 1-3: Aux Belles Choses Holiday Pre Sale, #11 Trianon Plaza
Ongoing: 60% Off Gift Wrap, Home Malone