Recs if you like The Hounding...

in the first edition of ‘the monstrous-feminine’, barbara creed challenges the dominant representation of women in horror films as victims, arguing that patriarchal ideology constructs women as monstrous because of their sexuality (or lack thereof).

later, creed reinterprets the monstrous-feminine as a being who embraces her body and reclaims her otherness. in line with this contemporary vision, these are books which use horror to redefine notions of ‘womanhood’.

recommendations welcome!

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.

We all love gothic classics, but what is new when it comes to the gothic genre (from the last 20 years or so)?! For fans of Dracula, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, etc. Please comment with suggestions to add!

Books We Love from NPR began in 2013, always boasting over 200 books (almost 400 in recent years) featuring genres from memoirs, to cookbooks, to graphic novels, to children’s literature, to nonfiction, to novels. Check out NPR’s website to filter this massive list.

The list is in reverse alphabetical order directly from NPR.

Horror books to read just for the aesthetic

Beautiful books for when your monthly reading roundup needs a little facelift 😉

Feminism and female empowerment in fantasy and speculative fiction, inspired by the always iconic Éowyn. Only the first book in a series listed unless there’s something specific about a later book, and suggestions welcome!

Every single Aardvark Book Club book pick since its inception. Updated monthly!

All the towns or cities in these books deserve a detour. Some probably even a quarantine. From bizarre creatures to cosmic weirdness to simmering malevolence to just plain human absurdity, these stories have it all. If you can’t keep driving, just remember, don’t drink the water

Social commentary under patriarchy

Dive into these historical fiction books that are shorter than 300 pages! Selections here tried to stay away from historical fiction with fantasy or magical realism elements.

As always, open to any suggestions for additions to this list! 🙂

have I read them all? there is literally no way to know. #whoworeitbetter

Books that are just as good as the cover promises. AKA: Fantastic book covers that also happen to be fantastic books! List will be added to in the future because I can’t leave well enough alone. (Suggestions welcome, leave it in the comments.)

weird. strange. off putting. confusing. despite this you cannot put these books down.

mostly horror or disturbing books that include big bodies of water, are set during the summer, or overall just give fucked up summer vibes!

can also be used as a rec list for summerween if you participate :)

🌊🪼🏖️🌞🪸🐚🧜🏻‍♀️

any recs are welcome!!

Book Club for @littleleggies twitch community Jan - Days at Morisaki Bookclub Feb - And Then He Sang a Lullaby Mar - Redwall Apr - The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers May - Portrait of a Thief June - Hungerstone Jul - When Women Were Dragons Aug - Atmosphere Sept - The Sea Gives Up the Dead Oct - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter Nov - The Hounding Dec - Seasons of Glass and Iron

Fiction featuring humans turning into dogs* wild and domestic (animals including dogs, coyotes, wolves, foxes, jackals) — and vice versa.

This is not a werewolf or shapeshifter list.

SISTER LISTS: Strange Transformations: Insect Style | Strange Transformations: Avian Style | Strange Transformations: Small Mammal Style

books that fall in the “woman unraveling” subgenre. life is so much, and sometimes the only way we know how to react is to spiral…. for better or worse !