Halloween candy is in the grocery stores, Pumpkin Spice scents are everywhere, and I saw the announcement for the R.I.P. XVI yesterday. While it may be a little early for autumnal things now, it is always fun to anticipate cooler weather and an eerie atmosphere to be lightened with candlelight and hot beverages.
I saw this list of “spooky reads” put out by New Directions publishing last year, and saved it for this one. So, here they are, a few books I’d like to dip into between September 1 and October 31:
The She-Devil in the Mirror by Horacio Castellanos Moya
Love Hotel by Jane Unrue
Hawthorn & Child by Keith Ridgway
The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark
Dinner by César Aira
The Hall of the Singing Caryatids by Victor Pelevin
Professor Andersen’s Night by Dag Solstad
Mazurka for Two Dead Men by Camilo José Acela
Have you read any of them? Any particular recommendations?
Dolce Bellezza 
What a very interesting list — I’ve had fun clicking on the titles, none of which I’ve read! In fact, I’ve only heard of a couple of the writers, but then, that’s New Directions Press (I only discovered the press last year and must say that reading some of its offerings has really expanded my horizons). Although I love Muriel Spark (my favorite of her novels is Momento Mori) I’ve only read a fraction of her novels, so I’m definitely interested in The Driver’s Seat. I did see a review (favorable) of the Ridgway novel in the Guardian; it sounded interested but demanding. I’d definitely be interested in Profesor Andersen’s Night; ditto for Mazurka for Two Dead Men but here I’d definitely have to be in a certain mood as it sounds brutal.
Congrats on thinking ahead — these all sound like fascinating reads.
BTW I noticed that you are, so far, enjoying Sahota’s China Room, which is encouraging. The New Yorker did a very favorable review. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/09/sunjeev-sahotas-novels-of-arrival-and-departure As I think I remarked, I loved his earlier novel, The Year of the Runaways (which also made the Booker list) so maybe I’ll move China Room up on the TBR list.
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