Horror Stories You Can Read and Watch This Season

Tis the season for frights, freaks and ghouls. Tantalizing tales of terror. Frightening fables of misfortune. Electrifying legends of horror. ...Well, not for everyone exactly. There are many that don't take part in the traditions of Halloween, but for the lot that do, I've compiled a list of books made into movies or T.V. series - some older, some newer - that are sure to make you double check your locks at night (and if that's a little too dramatic, at least entertain you for a bit). So whether you are a searching for a terrifying book or movie (or both!), check these out.

*though some contain graphic content and parental guidance is suggested when permitting minors to read or watch (especially the DVDs that have a R rating)*

1. The Shining - Stephen King
Availability: Library - BOOK | DVD 

                      

Sorry to be so predictable. But let's be honest with each other. Stephen King is the most prolific horror/suspense author out there, so it's a genuine no-brainer that this would be here.  It's the unforgettable tale of the Torrence family alone in a secluded resort and all the supernatural happenings that take place there as the father Jack Torrence's mind starts to unfold. If you can't get enough, RPL also has the sequel that was released in 2013: Doctor Sleep.

2. Rosemary's Baby - Ira Levin

Availability: Library - BOOK & DVD

                     

Rosemary's Baby was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2014 thanks to some coercion from the Library of Congress. They found it to be historically and culturally significant. Sweet! Its conception would then spawn several woman-gives-birth-to-son-of-devil type movies that seemed 'o so popular in the 70s. It could even be said that along with The Exorcist, this movie helped propel the fad of demonic possession movies that flooded the big screen at the time (one of the most obvious movie series being The Omen (some horror buffs theorize that those two stories are interwoven)). All in all its a creepy tale. One that must be seen and read about. 

3. The Exorcist - William Blatty

Availability: Library - BOOK & DVD

                     

Blatty's book never had quite the success that his screenplay did. Though one considerably exciting thing about the adaptation is that it was written and directed by the author himself, which isn't always the case for successful adaptations. But it's left a lasting legacy on what scary / gross / horrifying really is. Despised and loved by many. It was the first horror film nominated for Best Picture despite its content. During its release, some theaters offered barf-bags (though some parts are admittedly cheesy). And it was even responsible for eliciting a message from the Zodiac Killer in 1974. The killer had been silent for many years, but this movie prompted his last letter sent to The San Francisco Chronicle, praising the movie. He called it, "...the best satirical comedy" he had ever seen. 

4. Invasion of the Body Snatchers - Jack Finney

Availability: Library - BOOK & DVD

                   

Originally published as a serialized story for Collier's Magazine, it's the tale of an alien seed race coming to earth. These aren't your typical alien race, more microbial and deadly. They make carbon copies (which only have a life span of 5 years) of human hosts while destroying the originals. Not exactly sure why these seeds do this. But they travel through space wreaking this havoc from planet to planet. This sinister story has been adapted four times in the last 60 years. And if you read the book and watch the movies, you'll notice some clear discrepancies. It has to do with the endings, which you'll just have to read to find out, or google it. 

5. I am Legend - Richard Matheson 

Availability: Library - BOOK & DVD

                      

Matheson's book release in 1954 was important landmark for the horror community. It was the first book that set up the zombie genre. Even though the antagonists are called vampires and garlic is a repellent, the disease they carry is transmitted through blood. But in their relation to the tried and true vampire motif that everyone had come to love, it didn't have much in common. George A. Romero (who you should know as one of the masters of horror ((responsible for giving us Night of the Living Dead)) credited this book as one of the main pools of inspiration for his brain-hungry monsters. It was the earliest zombie-apocalypse book to ever happen. If you want to read or see where all the sensation began, look no further than this cult masterpiece. 

6. American Psycho - Brett Easton Ellis

Availability: Library - BOOK

I remember this book coming up in my post-modern literature classes, which was surprising to me at the time.  Having little experience with Brett Ellis, I only knew about the movie, which was a classic dark-comedy about a Manhattan businessman. Upon the release of this film, some countries found the content so inappropriate that it was sold encased in shrink-wrap. We could dive into the awesome literary theory around this transgressive novel and talk about postmodernism in some attempt to look at the details of the book in a more theoretical way, but we'll save that for another day. Instead here's a little background on this book. The book was originally  dropped by Simon and Schuster for aesthetic differences. Ellis received death threats for this book and mountains of hate mail. Germany deemed it "harmful to minors." Australian legislation put a rating of R18 on it and most libraries require an age of 18 or more to check it out. Bookstores there still sell it shrink-wrapped. As you can tell, not everyone appreciates the content, but it certainly has a created a frightening legacy that makes it one of the important works of horror. Brett Ellis has commented on the serious amount of censorship his book has / continues to receive: he says, "I think it's cute...".

7. The Walking Dead - Robert Kirkman / Tony Moore
Availability: Library - BOOK & DVD

Once you know about Richard Matheson's I Am Legend, it's awesome to see how he created a theme that is still being explored to this day. It originally started out as a graphic novel series that has been adapted to a public television series. Not exactly the most frightful of stories out there, but it does keep close to the ideas like I Am Legend and Body Snatchers, human isolation and the looming end of humankind. What's not scary about that? This series has enthralled fans of the graphic novel and the show (which has engaged million of viewers continuously over the past several years). It even won the heart of another horror novelist dabbling in the zombie world. Which brings me to the next item on the list...

8. World War Z - Max Brooks

Availability: Library - BOOK AND DVD

Last on the list is Max Brook's most recent release. It manages to pull from the greats while doing something totally unique. That something is its international focus. The story is told through the accounts of people all across the globe. Unlike most zombie-apocalypse stories that have a feeling of human isolation, this one feels much bigger and more connected, exploring the whole global catastrophe by asking real survival questions. The story has been known for its political undertones and its focus on various governments and their response to the outbreak. Its got enough of a new twist on the genre to keep you hooked while having enough of the old tricks to keep it in company with Matheson and the others. All in all, a great story to sink your teeth into this Halloween season.


So there you have it folks. Eight seriously great books and movies that will chill you to the core this season - and even beyond, because it doesn't always need to be Halloween to get your scare on.  Just remember that they're all available in RPL system. So come in and check out (or get a card first if you don't have one already). It doesn't cost a dime to get scared this October when you have a RPL card.

Exciting book to film news!

You may have read this morning that M.R. Carey's best selling smash hit The Girl with all the Gifts will be released in theaters sometime this year.

The trailer is one huge spoiler alert for those who haven't read the book so proceed to that link with caution. I'll just say here that it looks like it's going to be pretty darn good, with loads of creepy kids plus Glenn Close. 'Nuff said.

And you may be absolutely jumping out of your seat if you are anything like me over the news that Margaret Atwood's historical novel about real life convicted murderer, Grace Marks, will be coming to Netflix as a miniseries this year.

Also, If you are anything like me, you will be made insanely jealous by the news that I will be seeing the fabulous and brilliant Margaret Atwood live in person at the Great Big Annual American Libraries Association conference this weekend. I may be paralyzed with fangirl-itis and unable to speak if I happened to meet her but I will do my best to report back here on her, and other news of interest to readers. A question for you, our readers: Given the chance, what would you ask your favorite author?

P.S.
Speaking of speculative fiction: Holy mackeral, this is a big list of speculative fiction in translation. Thanks, Book Riot!

me on Sunday, returning to Richmond with ALA swag

The Sound of Buster Keaton

If you’re looking for a movie this weekend, why not try something a little older? Like, really old. Like, a silent film. Because the fun thing about silent films is that they needn’t be silent, and the choice of how they should come to audible life is entirely up to you.

Many silent films on DVD come with a few options for the soundtrack, usually something closer to the organ music you might have heard in the 20s but then sometimes something a bit more unusual. But why limit yourself to the DVD menu? If you can bring down the volume on your TV then you can bring up the volume on something else. Here are some ideas for killing two birds with one stone: watching a great movie, listening to some great music.

Buster Keaton’s 1924 comedy Sherlock, Jr. is a movie about movies. In it, Buster, a young projectionist, falls asleep on the job and dreams he can literally step into the films he screens. The movie, while hilarious, is also downright experimental. Try pairing this with something equally searching, say a Thelonious Monk album. You’ll notice that there are moments when the music and the picture synthesize into something whole, new, and unexpected, as if those moments had always been planned. At other times the music and the picture will drift apart, allowing your attention to follow one or the other.

College (1927) gives Keaton the perfect vehicle for his athleticism: he plays a young man attempting to become an athlete. Given all the scenes of long-jumping and pole-vaulting, some more muscular music might fit, like a selection of rockabilly tunes. They would capture the movie’s teenage longing and soda-fountain awkwardness, and also perfectly underscore that great scene at the end when the young man flings himself about the room, unleashing the full force of his hidden athleticism when rescuing his one true love.

This last idea is a bit of a cheat, but if you’re up for it, try watching Keaton’s Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) silently, that is, without any pre-planned soundtrack at all. It will definitely be awkward at first, just staring at the screen, but everything in this movie is so perfectly timed you will start to pick up on the rhythm of the film itself. The film, without music, will offer the effect of listening to music. Also, you’ll start to notice all the sounds that are already around you. Steamboat Bill, Jr. is a film largely about the rain and wind. Watch it on a stormy night and the elements outside your window will collaborate with Buster Keaton.

Director's Cut: 5 films to inspire you from the Filmmakers Collaborative

Recently I spoke with James Couche of the Richmond Filmmakers Collaborative, who hold their monthly meetings at the Main Library and recently showcased their films here during the First Friday Filmfest. If you missed the Filmfest definitely keep an eye out for the next one. We laughed, we cried, we learned about indie film making and we watched some terrific short films created by local talent. James has shared with us this list of inspiring books and films for movie lovers and would be film makers:

If you want to see what you can do with few resources, watch El Mariachi, and be sure to listen to the commentary. The director basically funded it by selling his body to science.

El Mariachi (1992) is Robert Rodriguez's first full-length film.
"He didn't come looking for trouble, but trouble came looking for him."

Rodriguez did raise $3000 of the film's total budget of $7000 by testing a cholestorol lowering drug for a pharmaceutical company. No official word on how his HDL is doing. He did however get a lot of writing done while serving as a test subject.

To see the realities of film making, and the dedication required for the craft James suggests American Movie.

American Movie (1999) is a documentary by Chris Smith about Mark Borchardt, an aspiring filmmaker struggling to find the money to finish a horror film he started years before.

To run away screaming from film making James recommends Hearts of Darkness.

Hearts of Darkness (1991) is a documentary about the nightmarish experience of making Francis Ford Coppola's celebrated 1979 film, Apocalypse Now.

For something uplifting, James recommends Primer, the critically-acclaimed sci-fi thriller made for just $6,000.

Primer (2004) is about four engineers who build a time machine in their spare time.

For an example of success, James says to check out Following, Christopher Nolan's first film. (You may remember Christopher Nolan from such little known films as The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, and The Prestige.)

Made for 6,000 pounds, the indie thriller Following was shot on the weekends to accommodate the cast and crew's full time jobs.

For a riveting read about working with difficult directors James recommends you check out The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero, a tell-all by one of the stars of The Room", the "greatest bad movie ever made".

(Then go watch The Room. It's spectacularly awful and you won't regret it.)

Read-alikes* for movie lovers

*That's librarian-ese for recommending books one might also like based upon their favorites. For another fine piece of reader's advisory I recommend this article from Bustle: "14 Books from Wes Anderson movies we wish were real", complete with real life read-alikes! I too wish I could read all the fake books from Wes Anderson movies.

Since I wrote recently about books I wished were movies, I thought I would take this week to mention movies I wish I could read as books. Have you ever experienced that? The feeling that a movie was so amazing that surely it must be a really great book, too? And then searching for the book only to discover that it was not inspired by one at all?
(You know, sometimes it's hard to come up with good blog themes week after week. Coming soon: "Novels about Ikea I read in the past year". There were several.)
Here's a list of books to keep you busy reading while you wait for the movie to start:

Speaking of Wes Anderson...

Fans of Wes Anderson's films will find a lot to love in Bellweather Rhapsody, a darkly funny charmer about a haunted old hotel, a music competition, thwarted promise, ambition, and young love. This is the kind of book you'll want to create a mix-tape soundtrack for. I think there might even be a role for Bill Murray in this murky, quirky tale of teenage musicians.

If the hilarious adventures of neurotic, hapless romantic male protagonists like those in Woody Allen's films appeal to you, you are sure to love the books of Jonathan Ames. Both writers understand well that there is humor to be found in pain.

How about The Babadook! This limited release Australian import about a boy and his mother getting wrapped up in a demented picture book was totally terrifying. As a lifelong devotee to the genre I can say that truly good, really scary horror films are rare. But when they do get to you with more than cheap startles and shaky cameras, or senseless splatter, when they really manage to get under your skin and follow you home, make you turn on every light in the house and look under the beds? That's what keeps horror fans coming back. A Good and Happy Child by Justin Evans is a super creepy psychological thriller about a new father afraid to hold his newborn son that hits a lot of the same haunting notes as The Babadook. A Turn of the Screw by Henry James will also get your creepy kid thrill on, if in a more proper late-Victorian English nanny story gone horribly awry kind of way. Highly recommended for folks who get that sometimes kids can be creepy.

Haruki Murakami and David Lynch both have great taste in music and a fondness for showing us dreamlike, earnest young people caught up in the surreal and nightmarish underbellies of seemingly ordinary settings. Anybody with a healthy fear and suspicion of bucolic small towns and suburban landscapes will surely enjoy both.

This scene? With the beetles?! Totally Murakami.

More Bill Murray! In Broken Flowers, aging Don Johnston tracks down his former lovers after he gets an anonymous letter claiming that he has a son.  In F: a novel, Arthur Friedland suddenly abandons his three young sons after taking them to see a hypnotist. The boys each grow up to be frauds in their own ways and struggle with their father's attempts to reconnect. Both works focus on the relationship between fathers and sons. Lovingly translated from the original German by Carol Janeway, F is not to be missed.

Both are adventure tales involving archaeology and obsession; Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark fans will get completely sucked into the The Lost City of Z, "the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century".

Careful with that, dude. It's cursed.

It Follows just opened and is getting some rave reviews probably because, as I mentioned above, excellent horror movies are surprising. Dire consequence is stalking teenagers in It Follows, and a nasty STD stalks teenagers in Black Hole, a graphic novel by Charles Burns, turning them into genetic mutants.

Books about to be movies, books I wish were movies (but aren't), and a few movies that just didn't get the book right

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who think the book is always better than the movie, and those who didn't read the book. I love movies. I love them almost as much as I love books, so it is always thrilling to find out that a favorite book will be coming to a theater near me. So often the adaptations are disappointing though. If only David Fincher could adapt ALL my favorite books to films. Imagine Lauren Beukes' genre bending sci-fi noir thrillers set against her haunting backdrops of Midwestern urban decay done by the director of good books to great movies such as Gone Girl, Fight Club, and The Social Network.

A few books I would love to see adapted to film:

The psychological thriller A Pleasure and a Calling

How perfect would Phil Hogan's prim and proper vigilante sociopath/real estate agent (with the keys to everybody's house) be if played by Jude Law? Or maybe Joseph Fiennes? Definitely Joseph Fiennes.

They would probably end up casting James Franco and spinning it as a screwball hi-jinx comedy though.

The Tusk That Did the Damage byTania James

This book is a strong contender for my "favorite book of 2015" and it's only March. Complicated, graphic and intense, James' second novel is the story of Gravedigger, a vengeful elephant, and Dr. Ravi Varma, a man dedicated to reuniting abandoned elephant calves with their mothers and rescuing orphaned elephants, told through the alternating narratives of a two-person American documentary film crew, a poacher's brother, and Gravedigger. Check out a review here. And go read the book! Here's hoping for a CGI elephant that will do this book justice someday.

A few more from my wish list in brief: Zone One by Colson Whitehead, Night Film by Marissha Pessl, How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran, and The Dog Stars by Peter Heller all need to be movies NOW please.

Now for the failures:
This is Where I Leave You, the movie version of Jonathan Tropper's hysterically funny and deeply touching portrayal of a family at odds sitting shiva for their deceased father was a massive disappointment for me. The cast was so promising too! Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, and Adam Driver, in the right director's hands, should have been perfect as the siblings. But they just weren't. Most of the actual humor in the book was completely ignored, and the tenderness felt maudlin and insincere. Maybe if I hadn't read the book I could have enjoyed the film? I suppose that sometimes a book is just too good in your own head to see it cast in another person's vision.

And I defy anyone who read Max Brooks' World War Z to say they liked that ridiculous film. I imagined it as the slightly tongue in cheek History Channel style reenactment program with oral history that it was in the book. What a perfect response to the excess of zombie zeitgeist and cable television history programming that would have been! Instead, Brad Pitt got in there and made it into piles of fast running CGI corpses and ludicrous action sequences. Where was the Otaku narrative? The Queen of England's touching story? Madness.

Anyway, get ready to feel superior to everyone else in the theater for having already read these books BEFORE you see the movie this year:

Are you as excited as I am that The Martian by Andy Weir is going to be a movie starring MATT DAMON and directed by RIDLEY SCOTT this year?

I KNOW, RIGHT?

And Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is also going to be a movie? 

And Dark Places, my favorite of Gillian Flynn's novels, will be starring Charlize Theron?

A Hologram for the King by Dave Eggers as a movie?! I loved that book!

But with Tom Hanks? 

Sigh. I don't know about that. Tom Hanks apparently has some kind of deal going with Dave Eggers. It has been reported that he will also be producing a film version of The Circle. No word yet on Your Fathers, Where are They [...etc] but I have my fingers crossed for that one.

Also hitting the big screen this year:

Into the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick directed by Ron Howard will be in theaters this December.

Serena by Ron Rash will be released (apparently this weekend) starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, so that should be pretty good, right?

Classics Madame Bovary will star Mia Wasikowska this Summer, and Frankenstein will inexplicably feature Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe (of the regrettable Horns) as Igor, Viktor F's assistant. Really?

True Story Starring Jonah Hill and the guy who is in everything, James Franco will be out soonish. I just saw a trailer for this and it actually looks really good.

The insanely popular Me Before You by Jojo Moyes will be out this year and The Longest Ride, another Nicholas Sparks adaptation, is on its way this April.

Of course Tim Burton is directing the adaptation of Ransom Riggs' creepy YA novel, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children!

I am also pleased to report that allegedly Richard Linklater, of the (go ahead and hate me for saying) DISAPPOINTING Boyhood fame, among other, better films, will be handling one of my recent favorites, Maria Semple's Where'd You Go Bernadette. That one could go either way.

And who's ready for the inevitable continuation of 4 OR 5 different teen dystopian novel adaptations in theaters this summer? DIVERGENT HUNGER MAZES PART X?!

See you at the movies!