It’s the season of witches and monsters and vampires and the dead rising from their graves. Much have been associated with Halloween that has transformed it from its originally religious origins to the rather festive and delightful holiday that it is in modern times, but the fact remains that it is one of the most eagerly awaited days of the year. It’s that day when children go around the neighborhood in their best costumes to swindle older folks for some treats, least they be tricked with the children’s “frightful” appearances. Horror movie marathons pervade cable channels. Retail stores and restaurants decorate their outlets to coincide with the theme of the season.

And what could you do to commemorate this holiday of horrors with the rest of the world when you expect to spend the occasion by your lonesome self? You could rely on a faithful book, of course! Here are some suggested readings for a truly fright-filled Halloween.

1. The Amityville Horror, by Jay Anson. This book is a true-to-life story of a family’s ordeal in a place they thought would be their dream house. But the house is a place with a mysterious past, where animal sacrifices and grisly murders and other vile and bloody crimes were committed. What is the secret behind this house? Why do strange and terrifying things happen every time the clock strikes 3:05 a.m.? This book shocked the whole world when it was first released, and it even inspired a series of films.

2. Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King. Stephen King is the acknowledged master of horror fiction, and this is one of the reasons why. Recognized as one of the two most horrifying books in his resume, Salem’s Lot is a tale of a neighborhood plagued by the supernatural. What is this supernatural force all about? Let’s just say that it isn’t reassuring to live beside a nest. Not a nest of birds, mind you, but a nest of ancient, bloodsucking vampires. This book also inspired a film, and later on, a mini-series.

3. Pet Cemetery, by Stephen King. Again, the second book of Stephen King’s twin masterpieces of modern day horror delivers the chills in abundance. The premise alone would cause a lot of sleepless nights. A family transfers to a suburban neighborhood. The boy dies. The father learns about the pet cemetery, where pets which are buried there mysteriously come back to life. You know where this is leading to, so you’ve got to read the book and prepare yourself to be jolted with each and every chapter.

4. Books Of Blood, by Clive Barker. This is the trilogy of books that catapulted Clive Barker to global recognition. Each book is an anthology of spine-tingling tales of the macabre. If they were good enough to launch a career, they should be good enough for some genuine thrills.

5. Black Hole, by Charles Burns. This isn’t really a novel, rather, it is a graphic novel that would be easier to read, and where the terrors can become more real. It’s about a group of teenagers having to deal with a new kind of STD. But the supernatural flavors in this work take a back seat to the real horrors that the teenagers commit themselves.

So if you’re not in the mood to participate in any costume party, movie marathon or trick or treatin’ on Allhallows Eve, sink your teeth into any of the books we have discussed above. All of them can give you an occasion to remember, guaranteed. Just be sure to keep the lights on even when you prepare for bed.