ALL ABOUT HALLOWEEN TAG

While Halloween is primarily a Western thing, the custom has spread to various parts of the world. I, for one, am glad because I freakin’ love this holiday!

I found the All About Halloween Book Tag over on What Em’s Reading. This tag was created by CatFairy Books.

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I was a huge fan of Japanese horror in my younger days. Top faves are:

• Ichi the Killer – starring Tadanobu Asana who was glorious as the sadistic yakuza Kakihara (check out his wardrobe)
• Mononoke – a horror anime about a kusuri-uri or medicine seller who goes from town to town exorcising bad spirits. The artwork for this anime is sublime!
• Rampo Jigoku – a movie anthology based on Edogawa Rampo’s works. Mind-boggling and very disturbing
• Battle Royale – a very Japanese story of high schoolers taken to an island for a last-person-standing survival game. Spectaculary gory and OTT
• Nightmare before Christmas – who doesn’t love this Tim Burton classic?

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Y’all probably tired me of me always answering Books of Blood, so here’s another often-mentioned favorite: Exquisite Corpse which is a love story between two serial killers. Another favorite while growing up is the classic, Interview With the Vampire.

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Admittedly, I haven’t read many books that are specifically set at Halloween. But here are some that have that spooky Halloween vibe:

Devil Take Me – this is an anthology about people who sold their souls to the Devil and now the Devil comes calling. I love books about demons. If you like those too, this anthology offers a wide variety of stories by big-name MM authors, ranging from fluffy rom-com to horror.

Bone Parish – I have only read Vol 1 so far but this graphic novel is very fascinating. It’s about a crime family who sells a special drug that gives one hallucinations and other interesting side effects. It’s part family drama, part mob politics, part supernatural horror. It’s pretty intense!

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal – written as a collection of stories, each featuring a case as well as the romantic development between a ghost hunters and his assistant/chronicler/lover. The stories are brilliant spins on British folklore interwoven with actual historical details. The Gothic Victorian atmosphere is perfect for the season.

Watersnakes – this graphic novel is bizarre and surreal with languid-looking art. I love the combination of innocent faces, gruesome deaths and the copious amounts of blood that goes with it. If you like gothic horror with cute, doll-like characters, you might enjoy this.

Reaper – now this one is actually set at Halloween. It is a your classic boogeyman tale only much, much better. The plot is very well-executed. The boss fight had my pulse raising. And that ending! The book reminded me of the R.L. Stine stories of my childhood. If you’re feeling nostalgic, this lil gem will take you back to the good ole days.

Nope. But I have an Emily Strange hoodie that’s falling apart.

Halloween always makes me miss my cosplaying days. My best friend and I used to go the malls during Halloween, dressed up as anime characters. People would look at us funny because we were grown ass adults and trick or treating was for lil kids.

Anyway, here are some of my dream costumes:

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We’re not big not Halloween ’round these parts. All Souls Day and All Saints Day are the bigger deal. Normally, there’s mass and visits to dead relatives but with the pandemic, things would be more subdued,

That’s my roundabout way of saying I’ll just be chillin’ at home.

Hanging out in cemeteries and exploring the grounds.

Traditionally, this is the time where entire families would visit the cemeteries, bringing food and drinks. Basically we have a picnic there. The intention was to pray for the dead but it always turns out to be a big rowdy event.

My sibling and I always take this time as an opportunity to explore the mausoleums. Specifically, the Chinese ones because those are always grand and fabulous.

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Do you celebrate Halloween in your country or do you have different holiday? How do you celebrate it?

HAPPY TUESDAY!

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