It looks like book club members were just as excited as we are to read a Halloween-themed book as we received a number of comments noting folks were going to read their top picks either way too!
But before we get to the winning book, I want to introduce you to a book that wasn’t chosen which I highly recommend. As someone who hates horror, it was also a surprise to me that horror could just be fun/creepy (& not filled with gore & the other things I hated about horror). +It’s also a good intro to flash fiction if you’re unfamiliar.
The Cave
“When I was a kid, I loved to play with my sisters under the blankets of my parent’s bed. Sometimes we pretended it was a tent, and sometimes we said it was an igloo near the North Pole, though the best game was always the cave. The bed was huge! Once I took the flashlight from the nightstand and told my sisters I was going to explore the deepest part of the cave. At first they laughed, then they got nervous, and they ended up calling down for me. But I didn’t pay any attention to them and kept crawling until I couldn’t hear their cries any more. The cave was enormous, and, when the batteries ran out, it was impossible to go back. I don’t know how many years have gone by since then, but my pajamas wore out and now I wrap myself up in them like Tarzan.
I’ve heard my mom has died.”
This is 1 of the pieces of flash fiction in Grave Goods written by someone renowned as one of Peru’s best contemporary writers. For those of you like me who didn’t really know how good flash fiction could be, I hope it’s just as eye-opening. I had no idea you could get a whole story out of so few words! I also really enjoyed the surprise factor of these stories as shown above as well as the author’s humor in other stories.
The Kindle book is currently only $2.99 (Click here to view on Amazon) so now’s a great time to check it out. It’s the perfect October read in addition to the group pick. (I’m also happy to have a discussion about this book as well if anyone is interested.)
BUT WHAT BOOK ARE WE READING FOR THE CLUB?
A bold, clever, and sublimely sinister collection that dares to ask the question: “Are you ready to be un-settled?”
Many Indigenous people believe that one should never whistle at night. This belief takes many forms: for instance, Native Hawaiians believe it summons the Hukai’po, the spirits of ancient warriors, and Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, a witch that can transform into an owl. But what all these legends hold in common is the certainty that whistling at night can cause evil spirits to appear—and even follow you home.
These wholly original and shiver-inducing tales introduce readers to ghosts, curses, hauntings, monstrous creatures, complex family legacies, desperate deeds, and chilling acts of revenge. Introduced and contextualized by bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones, these stories are a celebration of Indigenous peoples’ survival and imagination, and a glorious reveling in all the things an ill-advised whistle might summon.
Featuring stories by: Norris Black • Amber Blaeser-Wardzala • Phoenix Boudreau • Cherie Dimaline • Carson Faust • Kelli Jo Ford • Kate Hart • Shane Hawk • Brandon Hobson • Darcie Little Badger • Conley Lyons • Nick Medina • Tiffany Morris • Tommy Orange • Mona Susan Power • Marcie R. Rendon • Waubgeshig Rice • Rebecca Roanhorse • Andrea L. Rogers • Morgan Talty • D.H. Trujillo • Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. • Richard Van Camp • David Heska Wanbli Weiden • Royce Young Wolf • Mathilda Zeller
“Never failed to surprise, delight, and shock.” —Nick Cutter, author of The Troop and Little Heaven
(A special thank you to book club member, Amanda Foxman for the suggestion.)
Happy reading! (If you want to read & discuss the book together, join our online book club on Facebook.)