It is the most wonderful time of the year! Hearing that you are probably picturing stockings hanging on a mantle and couples kissing under a sprig of mistletoe. You would be DEAD wrong , though, because it is the middle of October, the trees have burst into flaming brilliance, and the library is decked out in bats, monsters, and jack-o-lanterns. There is no better time for reading books that will have you diving under the covers.

There are oodles and oodles of fantastic Halloween picture books for little readers. I will save those for another post, though, since let's be honest most of those books are more silly than spooky.  The one picture book that I do want to mention is actually better suited for older kids. The text of the story is actually a poem that was written in 1829 by English poet, Mary Howitt. In 2002 Tony DiTerlizzi (who you may recognize as the author and illustrator of The Spiderwick Chronicles) turned The Spider and the Fly in a stunning picture book that won him a Caldecott Award in 2003. The Spider and the Fly is basicallly an early stranger danger warning. A villainous spider lures a naive fly into his web with flattery and artifice. Seriously, every time I read this book I hear the voice of Vincent Price as the spider. DiTerlizzi's black and white illustrations transform Howitt's poem into a story that is magical, suspenseful, and defnitely creepy.  Readers of all ages will be mesmerized by all of the details such as the ghost bugs attempting to warn the fly, the twenties costumes the insects wear, and the dollhouse that the serves as the spider's home. It is a true feast for the eyes just as a gullible fly is a feast for a spider.

On to some chapter books that will definitely have braver kids wanting to sleep with the lights on. One of the series that I have particularly enjoyed is the Small Spaces Quartet by Katherine Arden.
The final book of the quartet, Empty Smiles, just came out this past August  and it was a wonderfully creepy conclusion to Ollie, Coco, and Brian's misadventures with the diabolical smiling man. Of course, you need to start with the first book, Small Spaces, which is the perfect book to read this time of year. Eleven year old Ollie is still grieving the death of her mother and has completely withdrawn from everything but books. She discovers a mysterious diary and is soon captivated by the story of two brothers and their tragic encounter with a "smiling man".  During a fall field trip to a local farm Ollie and two of her classmates, Coco and Brian, have their own encounter with the smiling man. They manage to defeat the smiling man at least until the next book. All four books are tremendously entertaining with great characters, atmosphere, and are scary without being too scary for younger readers. Each book is set in a different season so start with Small Spaces this fall and Dead Voices during a snow storm, Dark Waters for spring, and finish in the summer with Empty Smiles.

If you want a classic ghost story for younger readers that is truly bloodcurdling look no further than The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier. First off, let me say that I absolutely love all of Auxier's juvenile fiction. He is a spectacular story teller and he doesn't dumb down his writing for kids.  The Night Gardener is the story of Molly and Kip, a sister and brother from Ireland, who are orphaned in England and take a job as servants in a crumbling English manor for a family that is definitely hiding something. Molly must confront her own fears and the evil infecting their new home to protect her brother.  This is like a classic story by Poe but written for a younger audience. I take that back, The Night Gardener is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.

Next I want to discuss a couple of  wonderfully spooky books that will appeal to older kids, teens, and adults.

Let's move on to some terrifying reads for teens.  Bad Witch Burning Burning by Jessica Lewis is a newer young adult novel that does a deftly combines the supernatural with actual serious issues like homelessness, poverty, and abuse. Wow, that makes it soun d like a super downer I know, but I promise that Bad Witch Burning is an amazing book. Katrell has long used her ability to talk to the dead to earn extra money to help pay her unemployed mom's bills. When her powers dramatically expand to the ability to bring the dead actually back to life she is able to earn more money than she has ever had before. Even when she starts to notice problems with the people she has brought back it is is hard to give up being able to afford groceries, utilities, clothes, and other things most teens take for granted.  This is one of those stories where it is very obvious how bad things are going to go, even when the protagonist does not. You still will not be able to put this book down, though. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as Katrell attempts to control the negative effects of her gift while learning to trust people who want to help her.

 

Ok, my next recommendation is an oldie, but a goody that I have reread multiple times over the years.   Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury is a fantastic mix of horror and fantasy that is quite short, so you won't freak out teens by handing them a foot thick book (not that adults won't love this book too). Bradbury's atmospheric coming-of-age story takes place during October in a small mid-western town so it is perfect for reading by a toasty fire on a cold, fall evening. Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are 13 years old and best friends in sleepy Green Town, Illinois (the same town that Dandelion Wine is based and is inspired by Bradbury's actual hometown). Nothing exciting may ever seem to happen in Green Town, Illinois, that is until a carnival led by the mysterious Mr. Dark arrives.  The two friends soon discover that the carnival can make dreams come true, but at a cost, and they go on an adventure to save the town while resisting the seductive powers of the carnival and Mr. Dark.

In my opinion one of the most beautiful and haunting films ever made is Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. The movie is a dark, fantasy set during the brutal reign of fascism of post WWII Spain. Ofelia is a young girl whose father has passed and her mother has married the sadistic Captain Vidal and takes them to an outpost in the countryside. The film delves into folklore and the super natural when Ophelia meets a faun who tells her that she is the lost princess of the underworld. The movie is strange, evocative, mystical, terrifying, and creature actor Doug Jones is unforgettable as both the faun and the pale man.

You are probably why I just told you all about a movie in a post about books. Well,  in 2019 del Toro collaborated with Cornelia Funke (the author behind the Inkheart series) to publish a novelization of Pan's Labyrinth. Now I am usually the person who is saying do not watch the movie if you love the book. This time I am going to say if you love the movie please read the book. Even if you have not watched the movie (which you should) I encourage you to read the book. The book gives del Toro the space to expand the mythology he gives you glimpses of in the film. The book gives you the stories behind the folklore and also more of the history of the fascist regime in Spain. The writing is fantastic and is accompanied by beautiful illustrations. Read the book, watch the movie, and be prepared to be mesmerized, frightened,
and heartbroken.

Survivor Anger

 I am sure that I am not the only woman who spent the past couple of weeks engulfed in anger. Everyone knew that Trump was a rapist and a pedophile who was so enmeshed with Epstein they may as well have been conjoined twins sharing a pair of testicles. The release of the Epstein files, though, did prove that depravity of Trump and the other actors, businessmen, politicians, athletes, etc. named is only matched by their belief that their wealth, fame, and/or prominence gives them permission to commit any atrocity. The lack of response of the justice system, politicians, and the world for that matter have proven that these pigs (I refuse to call them men) are right. There has not been a time in history where men have not abused and exploited girls and women. We are the weaker sex, after all, and we learn from very early on to be wary of men, all men. 

In April 2024 the "I choose the bear" went viral.  The response was predictable: Not all men are bad; bears don't pay child support; bears are leaving the forest to escape women, and so many more that are much more misogynistic and repugnant. To be clear, I am a heterosexual woman in a monogamous marriage and I am the mother of three boys. I am well aware that not all men objectify women or are capable of sexual assault or misconduct.  What most men do not understand is that we (women) cannot tell if a man is safe and to be clear so many are not. Maybe they are not rapists or abusers, but do they laugh along with the sexist jokes, will they call out their friends or coworkers when they say disgusting things about women? In the case of Epstein where were the wealthy men who did not go to the island or agree with what they knew was happening, but did they say anything? Where were these men who did not want to participate in sexual abuse, but did not possess the moral fortitude to object, to stand up, to say something, anything. What about the wives, and yes I am talking about Queen Elizabeth the Second and Hilary Clinton. Queen Elizabeth II gave millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements and then also gave millions of dollars to charities supporting victims of sexual assault and abuse. Maybe she could have held her son accountable or perhaps have raised him to keep it in his pants and not pal around with child sex traffickers. 

We still have zero accountability for anyone mentioned in the Epstein files (at least in the United States). All these wealthy, privileged cretins are free to go about their lives. Many are still in positions of power, including of course the president of the United States. Apparently we are going to let him to face zero consequences for being a rapist and a pedophile while he destroys democracy in the United States.  Everyday that despicable, spray tanned sack of shit puts on display his misogyny, racism, ignorance, and incompetence. Yet his sycophantic supporters continue to deflect and defend the indefensible. 

 I highly recommend that everyone in this country right now read Virginia Giuffre's memoir Nobody's Girl.  Then tell me how anyone can continue to support the man mentioned nearly 40,000 times in the Epstein Files. Who says that they are a liberal hoax and that America should move on. Why is nothing being done and how do we ever move forward from the damage wrought by the current Republican party? And please do not start down the "but both sides are bad" road. No democrat is trying to protect anyone in their party who is in those files. Put them all in jail and let's also hold accountable the men and women who knew and kept silent.

My final plea to anyone who may read this is to not to become indifferent to what is happening in our nation. Be angry, speak out, read, learn, and stand up for common decency. I have had family members and former acquaintances try to make me feel stupid and ashamed for being a liberal, but they are the ones who should be ashamed. It can be really hard to keep some people at a distance, but this is not about politics, it is about morals. Ultimately each of us have to make the decision who is worthy of being in our circle.  I can be polite, professional, kind, but I do not have to allow people who do not share my values to take up space in my brain and heart. And I especially do not have to allow these people to influence my children. Also, if you know anyone who is a survivor of sexual abuse reach out to them. I guarantee that they are struggling with what is going on right now.

Legacy

 If you have been watching the news or on any form of social media you are probably aware that Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, were recently murdered. The presumed killer is, tragically, their own son who has long struggled with addiction and mental illness. There is no doubt that this is a horrific event that has been made very public due to the fame of the victims. Let me first state that addiction along with all other mental disorders are illnesses. Unfortunately mental disorders are misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and horrifically stigmatized by the general public.

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has written (and reiterated in interviews) that Rob Reiner was a horrible person that  deserved to be murdered because of his liberal views. 

 Since then there has been a tsunami of admonitions of Trump for his crass and insensitive remarks. Also, there has been an effusive outpouring of live for Rob and Michelle Reiner, who friends, neighbors, and acquaintances have described as kind, generous, and compassionate. Then there are the scores of people who laughed, cried, experienced every emotion from sadness to joy due to Reiner's art. 

Am I surprised that a despicable, narcissistic person said something ugly and hateful about someone who dared to criticize him? Absolutely not. If anything the last decade has proven that Trump is not only a racist, a pedophile, and a rapist he also has the emotional bandwidth of a toddler having a tantrum over not being given a second cookie. 

What truly matters right now, though, is legacy which Trump with his demolition  and renaming of buildings and covering everything in cheap gult seems overly concerned about. Rob Reiner is a beloved human being who will forever be remembered for the positive impact he had on individuals and the world. People will continue to watch The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, Spinal Tap, old clips of All in the Family and they will laugh, cry, and ultimately feeling love for the artist and creator who made think and experience things outside of themselves. 

Trump will leave no such legacy. He is nothing but everything ugly in America scraped into a greasy wad and stuck to the bottom of someone's shoe. A century from now people will watch A Princess Bride and laugh and feel joy and Trump will just be a repulsive blot on American history that serves as a warning to future generations.