What better way to get into a scary mood than to think of haunted houses? If you want to immerse yourself in an anxiety-provoking and terrifying atmosphere, JustFocus offers two readings that will make you afraid of your own home.
Salem by Stephen King:
What a mystery this city of Jerusalem's Lot is. Located not far from Portland, Maine, this city seems to have been deserted when Ben Mears decided to set foot there again. A renowned writer in need of inspiration, Ben Mears decides to return to Salem's Lot – as locals call him – the city where he spent four significant years of his childhood. In this strange city is the Marsten house. It is a large house located on the hills of the city, which makes it visible from both sides. Creepy things have already happened in this house, and it seems that the return of Ben Mears has rekindled the darkness hovering over it, as well as the entire city.
As in all of King's books, Salem is a novel in which tension rises to a crescendo. From the beginning, we know that Salem's Lot is an almost cursed place. Suicides, disappearances, an unhealthy atmosphere, in short no one would want to live in this place. When the Marsten House is bought by two strange men, the worries come back. Who are these unknown people, what do they want to come and do in such a morbid small town?
Salem is a perfect novel for Halloween or the autumn season because the landscapes described are grayish and monotonous. It's a novel as intriguing as it is terrifying, and you won't want to get rid of it anymore – it is the case to say it, but shhh!
So, a morbid small town, a scary big house, and disturbing events, what could be better for Halloween?
Shirley Jackson's Haunted House:
Better known as The Haunting of Hill House (the original title), The Haunted House is a novel written by author Shirley Jackson, published in 1959. This book is considered to be the "pillar novel" of stories of paranormal activities and haunted houses.
In this novel, we find Doctor Montague who decides to work on strange phenomena that happen in a certain house. This is none other than the Hill House, built by Hugh Crain many years ago. To do this, the Doctor invites three quality hosts that he hopes will help him awaken the ghosts inhabiting these walls. They are présent.es: Eleanor Vance, a young woman disoriented by the death of her mother, who during her youth witnessed a stone throwing on her house. Then we have Theodora, a woman with telekinetic powers, and finally Luke Sanderson, the grandson heir to the house.This experience at Hill House will not make them stand out unscathed.
The Haunting of Hill House is a perfect Halloween read. The novel is short (about 200 pages) and it leaves us no respite. Everything is perfectly condensed so that we can both know the characters, know the house and at the same time live everything that happens there. This little book is a pure marvel and we strongly recommend it!
In addition, it has just been beautifully adapted into a series by Mike Flanagan for Netflix. The story doesn't totally match that of the book, but the series makes for a great performance and the production is breathtaking.
How about you? Tell us what your favorite reads are in this time of horror! And then, happy Halloween! 🎃
