Summer Scares: Horror Anthologies To Chill You To The Bone
I love to read scary stories in the summer. Not only are the days longer (so I'm "safe" for longer), but also, I like to read outside, which means there…
What Is the Law?: “The Island of Dr. Moreau” Retellings
There's something about a mad-scientist story that really gets under your skin. Laboratories full of terrifying experiments, strange contraptions, horrible henchmen, and more come together to make a story that…
Are You Scared Yet?: The Horror Film Club Wants You!
There's something scary going on at your library--and it happens once a month! March 5, 2023-- The Westlake Porter Public Library Horror Film Club celebrated our 8th anniversary! We are…
C. Auguste Dupin: The Original Sherlock Holmes
Ironically, I think the title of this blog post would be considered somewhat offensive, both to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. But, I think it's eye-catching...after all,…
Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe
It's a hill I'm willing to die on. Hirohiko Araki is a horror writer. I've had serious debates with friends who argue that his writing falls more under the umbrella…
You Don’t Need to Be Psychic to Read These Books!
There's something both exciting and terrifying about psychic powers. To be able to see through walls, move things without touching them, read minds, hypnotize people...well, the list goes on and…
The Classic of the Month: Frankenstein
The past few installments of The Classic of the Month have all been speculative fiction. And today, we're continuing that theme with one more... Frankenstein. This terrifying tale is a…
The Fiendish Faces of Film
I first got hooked on horror films in high school. This was after a childhood of growing up with Scooby-Doo and Abbott and Costello meet the various monsters. My tastes…
Four Classic Vampire Stories (That Aren’t Dracula)
Count Dracula is probably the world's most recognizable vampire--and with good reason! This blood-sucking bad guy has been terrorizing generations of readers, ever since he first appeared on paper in…
Buried Alive: Graveside Tales of Terror
I recently read the shocking Poe story, "The Premature Burial". And it got me thinking...which horror novels feature someone getting buried alive? Or what other stories in general feature such…
Sherlock Holmes Meets the Monsters
A few days ago, I shared a list: Sherlock Holmes vs. the Vampire. Today, I wanted to look at Holmes' adventures against other monsters. Unless something squeaks by me, there…
Sherlock Holmes vs. the Vampire
Say what you will about Sherlock Holmes--there is no denying the universal appeal of this most famous of detectives! In addition to the 56 short stories and four novels penned…
The Classic of the Month: Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad
This month, we're going to look at a scary short story, instead of a full-length novel. This chilling little tale will not be a very long read (or listen, if…
Hoopla MEGAPACKS
Sometimes, when you find an author you really like, there's nothing better than just sitting down and reading as much as you can by that author, one title after another.…
The Universal Monsters
I'm a big fan of classic horror and the grouping of films about the Universal Monsters are my favorites. Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man...I can't get enough of these big…
Ten 1950s Sci-Fi Films for World UFO Day
World UFO Day is today (July 2nd) and as a librarian with a passion for classic horror films, I though it would be fun to celebrate the occasion with some…
Ligeia, Morella, and Annabel Lee: The Women of Poe
Reading Edgar Allan Poe is like a fever dream. And the more that I read from the Master of the Macabre, the more I realize that he had a very…
I Want My Mummy: Tales of Reanimation, Reincarnation, and Revenge
I enjoy a good horror story, and there's something genuinely chilling about a mummy story. The idea of a being that has survived for hundreds, if nothing thousands of years,…
Beyond Sherlock Holmes: The Other Writings of Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes is easily the most famous detective of all time. And I absolutely love a good Holmes mystery. A couple of years ago, I decided to read all the…
Terror in the Snow
There is something beautiful and haunting and even a little scary about the cold. The silent isolation of a snow-covered mountain, the rising unease that comes with being "snowed in,"…
A Case of Mistaken Identity
At the end of 2021, I shared my yearly Reading Challenge. Throughout the year, I'm going to share some lists that might help with some of the prompts provided. Of…
Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Adaptations
If you've been reading my blog posts long enough, you'll know that I enjoy a good scary story, a good folktale, and a good classic. So, I guess it's a…
Favorite Folk and Fairy Tales
I love, love, love folk and fairy tales! These classic stories of good and evil, clever heroes and brave heroines have been entertaining people for centuries. Whether you hear them…
Monster Books for Your Little Monsters
Halloween is almost upon us! And as we prepare for the spooky season, trick-or-treating, and the longer nights that come with this time of the year, it's important to remember…