For our October 2021 recommended reading list, we’re featuring authors from the horror genre and celebrating talented Hispanic-American authors in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Plus, we have books about breast cancer and fall/Halloween cookbooks. Enjoy!
Different Seasons by Stephen King – This book consists of four novellas to make your heart beat a little faster and sleep with the light on. You’ll recognize three of these stories as the inspirations for popular films. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption is the story of a wrongly convicted prisoner out for a unique form of revenge. Apt Pupil tells the story of a high school student who becomes obsessed with the dark and deadly past of an older man in his town. The Body became the movie, Stand by Me. It’s about four boys who come face to face with life, death, and their own mortality in a small town. The fourth story, The Breathing Method, is about a disgraced woman determined to triumph over death.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – This book has been the standard for all other books about haunted houses since it was published in 1959. Four people arrive at Hill House to discover its mysteries and prove or disprove if the house is haunted. The terror builds slowly as the house seems to gain power from its inhabitants before choosing one to possess.
Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky – Chbosky, best known for The Perks of Being a Wall Flower, may be a newcomer to the horror genre, but his tale about a boy haunted by a voice in his head is redefining the genre. Kate Reese and her son Christopher flee an abusive relationship to make a fresh start in a small Pennsylvania town. When Christopher goes missing for six hours, he returns physically unharmed, but menaced by a voice only he can hear. The voice threatens his family and their new community unless he can build a treehouse in a specific tree before Christmas.
Where They Burn Books, They Also Burn People (Hispanic-American Heritage Stories) by Marcos Antonio Hernandez – Hernandez cleverly weaves two stories together – one of historical significance and the other a modern tale with implications for the present day. In 1549, Friar Diego de Lando feels called to convert the Maya of the Yucatan Peninsula to Christianity and rescue them from a cruel Spanish landowner. As Diego becomes more immersed in Mayan culture, his obsessions begin to threaten the people he has vowed to protect. In 2010, Cortez Vucsar is attempting to grow his congregation and convince his father to return to the church. Vuscar decides his perfect mate and the only woman capable of helping him with his church is a woman involved with a wealthy man. During his attempts to woo her, Vuscar becomes obsessed with the literature she reads and descends into religious fanaticism. Both stories reflect the all-consuming power of religious fervor and how it has shaped Hispanic history.
Short Stories by Latin American Women: The Magic and the Real by Dora Alonso (author) and Celia Correas de Zapata (editor) – Zapata has collected stories written by thirty-one women authors from fourteen countries in Latin America. This book includes an introduction by Isabel Allende.
The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henrίquez – When fifteen-year-old Maribel Rivera is seriously injured, her parents risk everything by leaving Mexico to bring her to America for treatment. As Maribel recovers, she falls in love with a neighbor boy and their relationship sets events in motion that will affect the entire immigrant community. Henrίquez weaves testimonials from people who have come to the United States from Latin America into her story. She focuses on their hopes, dreams, loves, and regrets and what becoming an American means to them.
Breasts: The Owner’s Manual: Every Woman’s Guide to Reducing Cancer Risk, Making Treatment Choices, and Optimizing Outcomes by Dr. Kristi Funk – This book has a foreword from singer Sheryl Crow who is a breast cancer survivor. Dr. Funk is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon. Based on her years of experience, she believes knowledge is power and every woman should know how to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer and what to do when you hear the words, “You have breast cancer.”
Everybody’s Got Something by Robin Roberts and Veronica Chambers – In her memoir, Robin Roberts recounts the lessons she has learned along the way including her battle with breast cancer and years later her battle with a rare blood disorder that required a bone marrow transplant. As a breast cancer survivor, I respect Robert’s abilities to keep the challenges she has faced in perspective. She is an inspiration and living proof that we can manage whatever life sends our way with a little help from friends, family, and faith.
The Breast Cancer Cookbook: Over 100 Easy Recipes to Nourish and Boost Health During and After Treatment by Mohammed Keshtgar – Dr. Keshtgar has a BSc, MBBS, FRCSI, FRCS (Gen), and a PhD. He is a surgical Oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer. According to Dr. Keshtgar, his research on breast cancer indicates diet and lifestyle are significant risk factors in the development and progression of breast cancer. This book is a proactive approach to help women develop healthier eating habits. A healthier can help prevent the occurrence of breast cancer and will help women stay strong during and after breast cancer treatments. Creative cookery writer, Emily Jonzen has devised the recipes in the book.
The Midnight Dinner Cookbook by Ivy Stacy – 50 sweet and savory recipes for Halloween including Ghost Cake, Monster Wraps, Jack-o-Lantern Pot Pies, Ghostly Pizza, and Enchiladas with Pumpkin Seed Salsa.
The Great Autumn and Halloween Cookbook with 700 Recipes by Johannes Altdorf – this cookbook is filled with recipes that can easily be adapted to suit different diets and tastes. Each recipe can also be economically prepared.