A visit to the october country — 2014

And as the days began to grow shorter, the air a bit crisper, and the trees a touch more colorful, the boy began to make his annual vacation plans.  

It was not the same as it had been in his younger days, of course.  What with having a job and a so-called ‘grown up’ life, he had a little less time than he might’ve liked. It was no longer a place he could go for the entire 31 days. But the month was inflexible in its length and time was only relative - so 31 days it would be.  He would aim to leave just after midnight on the 1st and only truly return the following 1st.  His friends, companions, co-workers, etc would just have to understand.  

In his bag, he packed books.  Having been building his stack for the year previous, he felt confident in the collection.  

Perhaps he would not get to all of them. In fact, that was quite likely.  But he always liked to be prepared.  And although there were still weeks to go, his bag was packed, his tickets purchased.  

And the boy went to sleep that night with a smile as the wind whispered through the window, sending dreams of his destination: The October Country…

The 2014 October Country Reading List

  • The Supernatural Enhancements, Edgar Cantero

  • The Creeps, John Connolly

  • The Boy Who Drew Monsters, Keith Donohue

  • A Good & Happy Child, Justin Evans

  • Horrorstör, Grady Hendrix

  • Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, Haruki Murakami

  • People Who Eat Darkness, Richard Lloyd Parry

  • Prince Lestat, Anne Rice

  • Party Games, R. L. Stine

  • The Tale of Raw Head & Bloody Bones, Jack Wolf