Happy Halloween! Francine and Amir here! How is everyone doing? We’ve got lots to talk about today, so grab some coffee or some tea and…
I’ve been missing blogging lately, and I’m hoping to ease back into it bit by bit. I’ve been busy working, and since I’m currently working as a profreader, all the reading I’ve been doing has been work, and I can’t really blog about those. Lol. I’m slowly, but surely, reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin though. I’ve been loving it so far so I recommend it if you’re into inspirational/self-help books. I might even start my own happiness project because of it. 
I’m not around that much in the blogosphere too and I’m also blaming work. Since I mainly do graphics and digital marketing, I’m in front of the computer the whole day and by the time I get home, I just don’t want to by near my laptop anymore. It has been an eventful couple of weeks though! I attended two book signings which I think I would talk about on a separate post. I have also been listening to a lot of audiobooks so I’m finally “reading” quite a bit! I fell in love with Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge, The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet by Kate Rorick and Rachel Kiley and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling. I also enjoyed The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins and The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. To be honest, I’m in a bit of a psychological thriller kick lately. Maybe it’s because it’s halloween? 
Let’s Talk Halloween
For me, Halloween is the time to avoid browsing social media sites because there would usually be something scary on my feed, which would totally haunt me for days. I hate all kinds of scary things mostly because the scary things sticks with me and make feel all paranoid. Lol. Though I must say that all the other Halloween festivities seem fun, I’ve never really celebrated it due to growing up in a conservative community, but I did dabble into some of it once I entered teen years and later. I remember this one time I joined a pumpkin carving contest with some friends. Yes, those are plastic spoons for ears, a marker for a nose, and seeds for teeth. And we got an award for effort. Lol. I also like the decorations, costumes, food, etc. Just nothing too scary, please!
I’m the exact opposite, I love all things scary and twisted! I mean, I think I’m as much as a scaredy cat as Francine, I’m just more of the “enjoy the scary now and get paranoid later” type of girl. And boy do I get paranoid. I have quite the vivid imagination…sometimes it gets so vivid that I’m too scared to wash my face because I don’t want to close my eyes. And that, kids, is the reason why I always have facial wipes.
To be honest, I haven’t celebrated halloween properly in two years. Last year, I was a bit under the weather so I ended up bailing and the year before that I just didn’t feel like dressing up and doing anything. I do love to go out and party during Halloween though! I enjoy dressing up and I get excited to see what or who my friends will be dressed up as. Here are some of my halloween costumes over the years:
This weekend I’m out and about though and the character I picked is a bit common according to a report from Google, but I’m hoping I’m able to make it work.
How do you celebrate Halloween?
Let’s Talk Biggest Book Scares
Now this isn’t losing or ruining a favorite book. We want to know what what was the scariest books you read.
Since I’m a big coward, being able to finish these books might be an indication that the scare level is pretty mild. Or maybe I’m getting braver? Anyway, these are the creepiest books I have read and would recommend:
Shades of London series by Maureen Johnson
I like Maureen Johnson’s voice in writing so I picked up this series even if I knew it was going to be scary. I was surprised to find that I loved it. The series does a play on ghosts and Jack the Ripper so it was pretty intense. I’ve yet to read the latest book, but I think I’ll wait until the series ends before I pick it up again. Or maybe I’ll just give in and buy the third book already.
The Unearthly series by Laura Thalassa
For this series, I wasn’t really expecting to be creeped out by it. It’s mostly paranormal romance after all. I started reading it because of those unearthly covers, pardon the pun. But there was an unknown entity following the main character around, and it just gets worse once you get deep into the story. I had to take breaks from reading it because I was getting too frightened. This is also ongoing so I’ve yet to finish it.
I’m pretty sure this is a children’s book, but it was surely freaky, especially the illustrated version. Those button eyes, man.
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
This one’s a graphic novel so the creep factor is both in the visuals and the story. Emily Carroll writes horror well, and she complements it with her beautiful art style. There’s this spread that I just took the time to really stare and appreciate.
P.S. I keep mixing up this title with Into the Woods (the broadway musical/movie). XD
As I said, I enjoy horror so sometimes my taste in movies and books tend to go the darker route but they’re more the psychological thriller variety and not really full-on horror so I’m going to focus more on YA for my horror recommendations:
The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco
I already reviewed this so I’m not going to dwell on it more but if you are looking for a horror read with an asian horror feel, this is definitely the book for you! I was still creeped out weeks after reading this… and I read it during the day. Plus, Okiku is super creepy and awesome! I seriously want to post a photo of how I envision her but I promised Francine I won’t post any scary pictures.
Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
I consider Anna Dressed in Blood as one of my all-time favorites so I definitely recommend it! I’m going to quote what I said a couple years back because I feel like it sums up what I feel about this book (and the sequel): “This book doesn’t just stop with the beautiful cover. Plainly put, this book was pretty kick-ass awesome inside and out. I love the storyline, Cas, the supporting characters, the creepiness, and most of all… Anna. Murdering, rip-a-person-in-half Anna. Is it wrong to have a slight girl-crush on a murdering ghost?”
And I’m also recommending these adult books because I love them and they can definitely get creepy:
Night Film is more the psychological thriller than horror but it definitely has some creepy factor to it, like the fictional movies featured and described on here for example. They were creepy and fucked up movies all on their own. I wonder if there will ever be a book tie-in? I’d definitely read that! 
The Others Series by Anne Bishop
This series is more Urban Fantasy than horror but since it doesn’t hold back on how it portrays supernatural characters like vampires and shapeshifters (and how brutal they can be), it is worth recommending. And did I mention that I’m obsessed with this series?
What are your spooky/creepy/thrilling book favorites?
Would you recommend it to cowards like Francine or to enthusiasts like Amir?
Let’s Talk Imagination Dress Up
I’ve always wanted to dress up as either a character from the Splintered series by A.G. Howard or The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.
I just love the radioactive Alice in Wonderland take that A.G. Howard did, and I would love to wear any of the Wonderland outfits that she so wonderfully described. My top pick would be Alyssa, but I wouldn’t really say no to Morpheus or the Tweed sisters.
The Night Circus has instilled so much wonder in me that it’s still a favorite after all these years. It does help that the main colors are red, black, and white, which are favorites. I could easily dress up as one of the circus followers. But I must say that the best ones would be the performers’ costumes. I especially love Celia’s transforming gowns, though I don’t really have the ability nor money to actually make them.
This is a bit redundant but I would love to dress up as Anna from Anna Dressed in Blood or Okiku from The Girl from the Well!
I mean, they dress kind of the same but I love the idea of a wearing a white dress like Anna’s with blood at the hem because creepy. Also, I would incorporate Okiku’s creepy hair with the dress. I have a lot of hair so I think it would work. I would also love to dress up as Elena from Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh:
Doesn’t she look badass with all that leather and black wings? Or maybe something steampunky because let’s face it, steampunk fashion is just plain awesome:
I haven’t read this book by Meljean Brook but I do love what the girl in the cover is wearing. But my first choice is definitely the Anna/Okiku hybrid. Just thinking about the bloody dress is giving me goosebumps!
Which book character/cover/etc. would you like to dress up as for Halloween?
Or have you dressed up as something bookish before?
Let us know your thoughts, or answer our questions above!
