Mary in Vancity

Just in time for Halloween! Who doesn’t like to be scared? I know I do. Halloween is my favourite time of year!

If you know me, you know I love to read. I am a fan of the written word. I read about 3-5 books a month. More if I’m on vacation. I have a very active imagination, so when I’m reading, the plot comes alive in my head. It’s like I’m watching a movie. So if you’re like me, and you like to read, and like to be scared, here are my top 5 best scary books (in no particular order):

1. Word War Z

The Z stands for the Zombie War. It takes place in the not too far future, when a virus infects man kin and turns them into, yes, you guessed it, flesh-eating zombies.

I love zombies, but this is not why I loved this book. I loved this book because the scenarios described here can totally happen! Sure, you have to take the zombies out of the equation, but what about a virus or a disease of some sort? Countless movies have been made based on that. The politics, the cultural references, the economics are totally real.

The book is a collection of first-account narratives told by survivors of the zombie war. There are stories about military personal, pharmaceutical reps, reality TV producers, housewives. It’s a really, really interesting read. And it’s scary as hell.

2.Salem’s Lot

You can’t have a top-5 list of anything horror without Stephen King. He has managed to create everyday normal things into masterpieces of fright (Cujo, Christine, The Cell).

I read this book when I was a young teenager it scared the crap out of me. I read it again as an adult and it still scared the crap out of me.

I want to go on record to say that I’m a modern, educated woman. I am not overly superstitious and I am sane. I do not believe in vampires, although I do enjoy the occasional episode of True Blood. So please, don’t judge too harshly when I tell you that I still have a crucifix  hanging on my bedroom window and I still can’t look in a mirror after midnight. All because of this book.

3. Ghosts: True Stories from British Columbia

Did you know that BC is one of the most haunted province in Canada? It seems that ghosts favour moist, rainy climates more than drier ones, thus making British Columbia the perfect place to spot a ghost.

This book is a collection of the most interesting ghosts stories in BC. The accounts have been taken from archive files, newspapers and in some cases, first person accounts. It has stories of haunted houses, haunted places and in some cases, haunted people.

If you’re an amateur ghost hunter or love to be scared, pick up a copy of this book and check out one of the many places that are famous for their restless dead.

4. The Woman in Black

 This story is set in modern day England, and it will soon be made into a movie starting Daniel Radcliffe. You think Dan would’ve pick something a little less morbid after his Harry Potter days were over…

This is a chilling story of yearning, loss and revenge. It’s bad enough to think about ghosts hanging around your house. It’s even worse when ghosts are seriously pissed at you and are looking to get even.

I can’t really get into the details of the story without giving too much of it away – so pick it up and read it, but make sure that someone else is in the house with you when you do.

5. The Picture of Dorian Gray

So let’s say you’re in the famous words of Derek Zoolander “ridiculously good looking”. You have the world at your feet, everyone admires you, you’re wealthy and popular, what’s next?

That’s what young Dorian asks himself, after being confronted  with his own mortality. What’s a beautiful person to do?

Why, channel all your carnal desires and pleasures into a portrait of course.

The picture of Dorian Gray reminds us, that although there might be no physical consequences to our actions, every deed leaves an imprint into our soul, and those imprints cannot be erased.

In my opinion, this is one of Oscar Wilde’s most powerful works. I loved it.