Boo!
Oh, did I startle you? I apologize. Or maybe you enjoy being scared by the possibility of things that go bump in the night. Perhaps you especially like reading creepy horror stories and novels. Maybe you revel in learning about real-life objects that may be connected to something even more sinister than ideas presented in the scariest fiction. If so, whether you prefer hair-raising fiction or spine-chilling nonfiction, the Salina Public Library has materials for horror lovers like you. The following are just a few of the items in our stacks that contain stories or information about things and people that are haunted or cursed. (There may also be a few surprises for those who are not horror lovers).
I have become a fan of Grady Hendrix. I am working my way through reading all of his books. I would call his writing a kind of quirky horror. That is, his writing blends frightful plots with a touch of comedic genius. One of my favorites of his works is How to Sell a Haunted House. It contains all my favorite fictional ingredients, such as family trauma, a house that is just not quite normal, and dolls. (Yes, dolls. I collect dolls, so I have to love any story in which dolls are more than just a sweet or pretty face). In How to Sell a Haunted House, a family death forces the protagonist back to her childhood home where she faces sibling rivalry, a dark past, and events a bit more unexpected than drama with relatives. Why not give Grady Hendrix a try? See if you enjoy his brand of quirky horror as much as I do.
Haunted: Tales of the Grotesque
If you are a short story lover, may I recommend Haunted: Tales of the Grotesque by Joyce Carol Oates? Melissa and her friend Mary Lou enjoyed exploring forbidden houses when they were pre-teens. It was all fun and games – until it wasn’t. The Minton farm was more than they expected. Poor Mary Lou lost her life, and, years later, Melissa is tormented by memories of their experiences. The sixteen stories contained in Haunted are sure to disturb even the most loyal horror fan.
Can I interest you in a red 1958 Plymouth Fury? No, no, I don’t have one for sale. But I do know of a book that is all about such a car. In fact, if you did happen to be interested in a red 1958 Plymouth Fury, you would have something in common with Arnie Cunningham, the protagonist in Stephen King’s Christine. Against the advice of his friend, Arnie purchases the run-down car, Christine, for just $250. As Christine, with Arnie’s elbow grease, begins to look better and better, Arnie begins to change – a bit for the worse. Just what is making Arnie change? Why not check out Christine and find out? We have both the novel and the movie here at Salina Public Library.
Since we have included a book by Stephen King, we might as well have one by his son, Joe Hill. Hill’s novel Horns is about a specific, rather interesting type of curse. The novel’s protagonist, Ig Perrish, has some tragedy in his past. However, it is a big shock to him when one day, after a drunken night spent near the location the tragedy took place, he awakens to discover he has grown horns. What is even more shocking is everyone he encounters, after he has grown the horns, confesses to him their deepest, darkest secrets. That is just the beginning of Ig’s journey with these cursed horns. Sounds interesting, right? Why not make it a theme – Stephen King’s Christine and Joe Hill’s Horns? See for yourself how expert father and son are at writing scary stories.
Many may consider a trip through hell while still alive to be the ultimate curse. Dante Alighieri’s fourteenth-century masterpiece Inferno is the telling of just that – the narrator’s Virgil-guided journey through the ultimate place of punishment. The narrator of Inferno finds himself lost in a dark wood, where he is met by the Roman poet, who guides him through hell. I love many things about Inferno, including the symbolism, the at times biting satire, the poetic justice. If you love classical literature like I do at times, pick up Inferno – or even the full Divine Comedy, which contains Paradiso, Purgatorio, and Inferno all three. There’s a reason this work is considered one of the greatest in Western literature. It’s an interesting and powerful telling of Dante’s ideas about Divine judgment.
What list of stories about something – or someone – being haunted or cursed would be complete without mentioning The Exorcist? Both the book by William Peter Blatty and the movie based on the novel became a sensation when they were released. The story of twelve-year-old Regan MacNeil becoming possessed by a demon whom she contacted by playing with a ouija board caused many a nightmare. (My husband saw the movie in theaters when he was a child, and he still refuses to watch it again). Father Damien Karras, who is having his own crisis of faith due to the death of his mother, is called in to help the afflicted girl and her movie star mother. When he finds he is in over his head, he calls for backup – and in comes Father Lankester Merrin, the exorcist himself. If you have never read or seen The Exorcist, I can personally recommend both, and we have them here at the library, waiting for you.
Behind the Horror: True Stories that Inspired Horror Movies
When I hear a story is based on a true story, I have to research to see what the true story is. For example, did you know the previously-mentioned The Exorcist is based on a real event? It involved a boy named Roland rather than a girl named Regan, and, according to my research, there was no pea soup in sight. The story of Roland is in the book Behind the Horror: The Stories that Inspired Horror Movies by Dr. Lee Mellor. The Exorcist is not the only story contained in this spine-tingling work. Those who dare to read this book will also learn about the real stories behind A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Amityville Horror, Poltergeist, The Conjuring, and The Witch. If you love researching like I do, take a look at Behind the Horror and see what you make of these real-life events.
Haunted Kansas: Ghost Stories and Other Eerie Tales
If you enjoy exploring haunted locations, Haunted Kansas: Ghost Stories and Other Eerie Tales by Lisa Hefner Heights is for you. This work is a collection of the stories about some of the most haunted locations in the state. The author includes eyewitness accounts, folklore, and written history about legends of hauntings throughout Kansas. I have personally read Haunted Kansas (and explored several of the locations included in the book). It’s a fun journey. Why not check Haunted Kansas out from the Salina Public Library and begin your own exciting expedition?
One of my personal favorite horror movies is the aforementioned The Conjuring. I cannot tell you how many times I jumped the first few times I watched it. The movie, which is based on the experiences of the Perrin Family, who experienced other-worldly encounters when they moved into a Rhode Island farmhouse, was just the first in The Conjuring series. We have The Conjuring movies (and their spin-off Annabelle movies and The Nun movies) here at the library. It’s always fun to have a movie marathon. The Conjuring series is the perfect opportunity!
Another set of movies that is just too much fun to view in marathon form is the Paranormal Activity series. The Paranormal Activity series is a collection of seven movies whose characters are connected in some way by a demon named Tobi. How Tobi curses the people with whom it comes into contact, I cannot tell you. That would give too much away. However, can I recommend checking the movies out from Salina Public Library and finding out for yourself.
Okay, even though it’s never too early for Christmas for me, I know many people do not want to even think about it until after Thanksgiving. But just hear me out. I think you will see why this next one belongs on this list. It’s the movie Krampus. Krampus does take place during Christmas, and it depicts many of the reasons why the Christmas holiday season gets a bad rap. It really makes some good points. However, here’s how it fits with our haunted and cursed theme: the family in Krampus is cursed by something much darker than Santa Claus. This curse is waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike, which it does when young Max Engel destroys his letter to Santa. I watch Krampus every December 5. I call the movie a cross between comedy, horror, and, (okay, I’ll sigh and admit it) a feel-good Christmas movie. But really, it is so good. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
If you’re looking for something a little more lighthearted, but that still falls under the category of haunted and cursed, try The Canterville Ghost. This animated tale is based on the short story “The Canterville Ghost” by Oscar Wilde. Unlike the others in our list, this one will cause tears of laughter rather than terror or deep thinking. And if you really like the movie version, why not check out Complete Works of Oscar Wilde that contains the original story? We have it here as well. You won’t be disappointed!
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Let’s bring the kids in on the haunted and cursed fun. Why not start with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Collected from Folklore and Retold by Alvin Schwartz. I remember reading this book with my sons when they were little. The stories are quite creepy, and the book is an enjoyable way to learn about folktales and culture as well. You just know stories with titles such as “The Big Toe,” “He Heard Footsteps Coming Up the Stairs,” “The Hook,” and “The Ghost with Bloody Fingers” are going to bring hours of eerie fun. Why not check out Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark to enjoy reading with the young ones in your life?
Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy
Another series of books my sons and I enjoyed reading together in years past was the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. Maybe it’s the doll thing again, but some of my favorite Goosebumps books involve the evil ventriloquist dummy Slappy. Slappy is not exactly haunted or cursed, but he has been given powers by his magician owner – powers that wreak havoc on anyone who possesses him later on. Take, for example, the first Slappy story – Night of the Living Dummy. We have this and other stories of Slappy the deranged toy at the Salina Public Library.
After you finish watching the movies, reading the books, and doing the research, why not relax with a good documentary? The History Channel’s Haunted Histories Collection sounds like a good one with which to wind down. This DVD, which, of course, can be found at the Salina Public Library, contains the history behind Dracula, exorcisms, witches, and voodoo. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect way to relax? Come check it out and see what you think.
I can definitely get into good horror – whether it be in the form of novels, nonfiction, movies, or documentaries. If you also enjoy a good scare (or, as some of the works on this list show, a good laugh), come to the Salina Public Library. We have you covered – with a dark, heavy weight upon your haunted shoulders that are scarred by…
About The Author: Kandy
Kandy works in the Circulation Department at Salina Public Library. She holds two bachelor's degrees in religion and education and three master's degrees in human services counseling with a cognate in Christian ministries, history, and professional writing - all from Liberty University. In her free time, she enjoys fiction and nonfiction writing, reading, researching her favorite historical, sociological, psychological, and theological topics, conducting Bible studies, and visiting her favorite historical sites and museums. Her favorite things at the library are books and writing events.
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