Recs if you like Smothermoss...

Hauntology is the philosophical concept, as quoted by Mark Fisher from his article taking a deeper look into Derrida's philosophical work, that "the present is always haunted by the ghosts of the past and the unfulfilled promises of the future." From generational trauma to dark histories to dying Old World pagan traditions, these elements persist throughout the wide genre of folk horror. These books explore deeply into the hauntings of the past and the instability of the future.

A selection of contemporary Southern Gothic titles exploring the decay, despair, and trauma of the reconstructed American South. Come for the palpably atmospheric settings and descriptions, stay for the literary commentary on the legacy of the South's oft-romanticized past.

As a note: I did not include the most well known writers in the genre, e.g. Truman Capote, Harper Lee, William Faulkner, etc. as the list is more focused on the resurgence of Southern Gothic in contemporary literature.

Kudzu climbs up the hills, katydids sing in the hollers, and there's something calling from the woods...

Think: whistling winds, howling coyotes, rural isolation, small towns, folklore, religious fanaticism, and ghostly voices coming from the forest

❗️Some of the these books are classified as extreme horror/splatterpunk. PLEASE protect yourself, and check all trigger warnings.❗️

Fiction featuring sisters, because sisters are the best. (Note that not all sister relationships are easy, they are complex and layered and sometimes difficult.)

Please leave your additions in the comments!

These unsettling mountains

a collection of horror books set in Appalachia - recommended by the community

not food related, not the prettiest covers ever (though some of them definitely are), just book covers I want to eat 👅

"Weird girl literature" with different flavours of horror elements

💜 yarnandbooks

This is the list from which I'll be choosing for my Personal Syllabus this year. It explores the question: "How has the history and culture of Appalachia impacted Appalachian literature and storytelling?"

I would love recommendations! Nonfiction about Appalachia and fiction produced by Appalachia.

Gabs 2024 reads in her ranking video. Hope you'll find something you'll like!

I’m really fascinated by cover trends in publishing and this one has felt inescapable this year so I decided to make a list of them all! I feel like I personally see this most often in horror & lit fic, but I’d love to hear if you’ve seen this trend outside those genres or if there’s another trend you see!

Not all of these books will have cannibalism... but there is a non-zero chance at least 1% will.

Inspired by Autostraddle's Queer Books Across America list

floral and fungal. all things must return to the earth

There's something sinister growing in the garden

Past and present winners and nominees of the Shirley Jackson Awards. Frightful reading!

girls, women, and femmes from times past, being sad and getting mad and acting bad.

Rule #1 of the Holler: If you hear something calling your name, no you didn't.