Happy Halloween everyone! An extra video this week as a Halloween treat from me. Please check the description box for links to all books mentioned. Miranda x
This is a wonderful selection of books and stories. Thank you for sharing them with us. And yes, several will be showing up in my ever growing piles of books.
Really enjoyed these reccomendations, Miranda ... so atmospheric and perfect for the Halloween season. I also love your black lace dress. You look so elegant.
Oh you are lovely! Glad to have stumbled on your channel - lots of fantastic recommendations, some already on my radar! I have the Discovery of Witches books that I really need to get to (equally, the tv show), because it really sounds like something I'd love I love the whole set up on this video and you have a great voice to listen to! Thank you so much for sharing your suggestions!
You certainly look spookily lovely! Thank you for previously recommending Sleep No More by P.D. James. It was perfect for the season and I never would have thought of her for Halloween!
How lovely to see you recommending some of my favourite authors! Deborah Harkness, Laura Purcell and Diane Setterfield write great stories so beautifully. They all manage to surprise us with unexpected plot twists, perfect for this time of year.
What a lot of interesting book choices, Miranda. I always feel that an anthology of short stories or poems is marvellous to have as bedside reads, and I'm really keen to try some of your recommendations. Funnily enough, I have been thinking of buying 'Carbonel' recently, as I read it as a child but can't remember much about it. Another of your suggestions, 'The Small Hand', is a great read and I found it quite sad as well as spooky. That's a really lovely dress, Miranda, and it suits your dark hair so well!
I love A Discovery of Witches also and read/watch it every year. It is even more special to me now though as my daughter has just started a degree at New College, University of Oxford which is Diana Bishop's Alma mater and is used in the filming of the series!
Many thanks for the smorgasbord of book recommendations.I look forward to reading the latest Laura Purcell offering and ‘The New Magdalen’ . What a shame that due to their prohibitive prices,the novels of Ruth M. Arthur are currently only accessible to bibliophiles instead of children and young adults. There are so many excellent writers who are neglected, out of print or hard to come by.Until recently, such was the fate of Dorothy Macardle.I highly recommend her first novel,a gothic ,spine chilling,unputdownable ghost story entitled ‘The Uninvited’ which was subsequently made into an Oscar nominated film starring Ray Milland. Both ‘Earth-Bound and Other Supernatural Tales’ and ‘Dark Enchantment’ with its undertones of witchery,superstition and magic would make suitable Halloween reading.Fortunately, all three books are now in print and readily available.
Such a great list, but I’m easily spooked… 😢 I stumbled upon The Amazing Mr Blunden when I was in London in September, fell for the wonderful cover and finished reading it today, just in time. A children’s ghost story that I utterly enjoyed. Happy Halloween!
Love having your videos in the background while I'm working but always stop to watch the video. Love the clothes and baking and other things you do. Such a lovely video every time. Ordered a few books and shall be doing gifts for Xmas thanks Sue
Oh dear, the wishlist grows again. Ghost stories, Golden Age crime, and much of the touching genres are my favorites so I can't pick one title, though House of Seven Gables is a proper good read. Thank you for this treat of a video, and happy tidings to you and your Mum.
Just finished Dracula today !! It was simply perfect . 🤩🦇 I will continue to read spooky books in November , so this was just perfect in it's timing . ☺️
New subscriber, thank you for your suggestions. I absolutely love The Woman in White! Wilkie Collins is my favourite classic author. The Law and the Lady is one I definitely recommend as well.
Thanks for the unexpected video surprise, I have taken note of five books, I definitely have to read Laura Purcell. Have a nice and spooky Halloween night Miranda. Xxx
Thank you so much for “A discovery of Witches” tv series and the book recommendation. I started to watch the first season and enjoy so much! I am going to read a book as well in autumn ❤
Hi Maranda, Love these seasonal recommendations videos. Will check out Damnable Tales,, A Fuge in Time, The Love Child, The Autumn Ghosts, The Little Broomstick and Night Walking. I've read the first two books in A Discovery of Witches series. Loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Hare House is on my TBR too.
The Love Child was such a memorable read. I celebrated Halloween by starting Lucy Worsley's bio of Agatha Christie. So far, it's a gem. This was such a delight. So many fun titles and such a short spooky season--thank you! 👻 🎃
Thank you so very much, Pamela, for your lovely support! I finished Lucy's Agatha Christie biography a while ago now and I SO enjoyed it. Hope you do too! xxx
That Folio edition of Dracula looks gorgeous! I have an edition of Dracula that's illustrated by Edward Gorey, but I am really intrigued by your copy. Folio books are always so beautifully illustrated. I just read The Folio Book of Horror Stories. With the exception of just a few, most of the stories didn't do anything for me but the illustrations were outstanding.
Thank you as always for some wonderful spooky recommendations, taking us neatly from Halloween up to Christmas. I’m very grateful for your earlier recommendation of the Kate Saunders books, I love this series and Beswitched. I will definitely seek out the Sangu Mandanna book and Damnable Tales. My recommendation would be Celia Fremlin’s Don’t Go to Sleep in the Dark 🧡🖤🎃
Hello Miranda! This bonus video was delightful. I recently finished reading Agatha Christie's 'The Hallowe'en Party' for the holiday. I am participating in Nonfiction November, but I may try to sneak in a few of the spooky reads this month.
I'm just starting to catch up with your recent videos. Thanks for these recommendations; I already have The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches on my TBR shelf and like the sound of many others, though I will be giving the very scary ones a miss! I am definitely too much of a wimp and I know they would give me nightmares. I realised as you were speaking that I have already read The Secrets of Wishtide, just a few weeks ago.
Hi, I am late watching, but this is the first opportunity I have had. There are so many great books I love about this season. I picked up a second hand copy of The Manningtree Witches, which I'm yet to read. I loved Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree and I have A Skinful of Shadows, which I hope to read that soon and sounds perfect for this season. Apart from Gobbolino being my favourite Hallowe'en children's book, I remember Moondial by Helen Cresswell very well. I saw the BBC series on TV as a child and the book is fantastic too - not about Hallowe'en, but full of supsense.
Thank you for these really great Halloween recommendations! I’ve put quite a few on my list to read. I am currently listening to Purcell’s The Shape of Darkness as an audiobook and enjoying it a lot! 👻🎃💫 P.S. it took me a few attempts to read all of Woman in Black too! 😁 and I also found Mexican Gothic absolutely terrifying 😱 I am looking forward to reading other Susan Hill’s novels, she is such a great writer!
Thank you so much for your support, Kristine! I really appreciate it. I bet the audiobook of The Shape of Darkness would be good - I listened to the audio of The Silent Companions and really enjoyed that. Hope you have a great November ahead! xxxx
@@MirandaMills thank you so much! Looking forward to your November trip to Bath! I’ve been once, many many years ago and fell in love with it. Have a great November, Miranda! 💫
Hello Miranda, what a lovely surprise for Hallowe'en. I found Susan Hill's The Small Hand was a very frightening read and at the moment I am enjoying P D James' The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories. Thank you for the recommendations. Happy Hallowe'en reading, Teresa
Great Halloween treat love your gorgeous black💕📕 lace dress.Vera is going to the top of my tbr. pile.Just received The Food Almanac based on your recommendation wonderful edition can’t wait to dig in.
Thank you Miranda for all the recent videos!! I’m not a fan of really scary, but you suggested several books that I would love to read. You always add brightness to my days🌸
Your dress really sets the scene. Love the backdrop too. You do that so well, I always look forward to see your sets.👍 One of my all time favorite books is The Thirteenth Tale. I need to reread that one. Great list too. Happy Halloween! 🎃👻📚🤗💕
Hello, Miranda Happy Halloween to all! Thank you for your recommendations. I am a new follower discovering the Comfort Book club alongside your inspirational channel. I have purchased Wintering and looking forward to discussing.
Hello Miranda, Many thanks for the Halloween video. Great recommendations. I am listening to the Audible version of The Haunting Season, and reading Michelle Paver's Dark Matter (a ghost story set in the interwar years in the Arctic, and is rather spooky for a timid person like myself). I shall look out for A Fugue in Time, the Folio edition of Dracula, and Lost Houses Revisited. Ps. The sleeves of the LK Borrowed dress are fabulous! Have a great week ahead. Best wishes, Jason
Oh you’re right, Dark Matter is a spooky one! I bet the Haunting Season on audible would be good; I’ll have to check it out. Thank you - I thought this dress had a touch of the gothic!! 🖤
Thank you for this wonderful surprise Miranda. Great recommendations of short stories. Love your back ground . Would love to get The Haunting Season.. A bit late but being busy lately,Happy Halloween 🎃
Happy Halloween Miranda! 🎃 A Wilkie Collins book I recently read was The Haunted Hotel, and I really enjoyed it, it was a great spooky mystery and quite a quick read.
Thanks for all the spooky recommendations, Miranda. I've already dropped several of them in my Amazon cart. 🙂 I love your Folio edition of Dracula. It's gorgeous!
I'm so glad you enjoyed them, Angela! Yes, the Folio Dracula really is a thing of beauty; I love Angela Barrett's drawings - often for her cosy interiors - but she does creepily atmospheric so well too!! xxx
What a wonderful surprise! So many great book recommendations. I have been wanting to read The Thirteenth Tale for a while, I think now I will speed things up and get to it! I'm actually reading The Little Vampire by Angela Sommer Bodenburg with my son. It's pretty cute. Happy Halloween! And ThankYou!
Interesting! I have read both Mexican Gothic and The Corset - I really liked both of them, but I found The Corset so much more disturbing (and truly hard to read at times) since most of the horror is so realistic and human-based, whereas I found Mexican Gothic to be supernaturally campy. My favorite of these is Jane Steele - love that one!
I loved this video 🖤 I adore the gothic. My dissertation at university was Madness in Women in Victorian Gothic which I think just about sums my tastes up 😄 I think I would like Vera very much and that gorgeous book about 'ghost' houses. From my childhood, I remember adoring Gobbolino, the Witch's Cat and the Green Knowe books (which terrified me 😱) Thanks so much for this xx
Great video. I’m thinking it could be good if you did one on your favourite illustrators. You’re very knowledgeable and I think publishers are starting to use them much better now than pre-Kindle! Though, of course, they were used well in the nineteenth century.
Same many never-heard-of-before recommendations. I have never known most of these before, thank you so much for this video Miranda. Definitely checking all of them
I loved The Secret Society of Irregular Witches and I loved The Thirteenth Tale which I read when it was published. I’ve also enjoyed the Letitia Rodd books I have read to. I missed The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis but have read the 1st and 3rd. I did like Mexican Gothic and really enjoyed The Daughter of Dr Moreau.
Happy Halloween, Miranda🧡🖤🧡🖤thank you for the wonderful treat. Last month I read A Discovery of Witches and fell in love with it. I was very happy to learn it was a trilogy so I have more to look forward to. I’ll be adding many of these books to my wish list also. And I love your dress and the beautiful setting you’ve given us. Have a lovely week.
I must tell you how much I enjoy your many videos. Mostly I read non-fiction but a book I read recently that has sort of a "spooky" mood is Billy Summers by Stephen King. It is more of a detective/suspense story not like most of his horror or supernatural titles. I live in USA and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery. Thanks so much.
Hello Miranda tfs a great selection of "spooky" reads . . all sound very interesting . . have a Happy Halloween 💜🎃🖤👻🧡🐈⬛ may you have lots of yummy treats 😋
Bit of a late comment but thank you for these! I love reading during autumn and winter and so many of these books look amazing for the long evenings. I read The Lost Ones by Anita Frank at the start of this year and thought it was a fantastic ghost story!
Thank you for another wonderful book list. You've helped me find some wonderful reads. I live in the US, and I've noticed that so many of your UK editions are beautifully bound and/or illustrated. When I look for the editions on Amazon, I only find rather mundane American editions. I have ordered from UK Amazon before, but shipping is not inexpensive. Like you, I love books that are visually appealing as well as great to read.
What a great selection. I recently read The Society of Irregular Witches on your recommendation and it was the perfect cosy Autumn read, so thank you, and Happy Halloween! 😊
Thank you for yet another lovely video! I so like the different paper (?) decorations you often have in the background. They are lovely and such a clever way to let the room change with the season. May I ask where you get them?
OMGGM!! "Jane Steele" is perhaps my favorite of the Jane Eyre retellings, I sincerely hope you enjoy it. Also, another really good one is "My Plain Jane" by the trio of authors Hand, Meadows, and Ashton. It's a YA fantasy version that is just lovely, I think. Happy reading ;)!
Always enjoy your videos! Thank you for the books, I've added a few to my list :). I loved Laura Purcell's "The Silent Companions" Gothic & creepy. I want to read "The Woman in White" but all the copies I've found have really small print. Wondered if the one you show does?
Thank you for the extra video, Miranda. Halloween reading is not something I particularly like. I always choose classics like Jane Eyre or Rebecca and suggest We were liars to younger friends. Have a nice, cozy Halloween!
I put Nightwalking on my wishlist. This time of the year I really enjoy The Moonstone (I've never read The Woman in White), or Sherlock Holmes (though more likely listening than reading). There is something so cosy, and reassuring about Victorian Literature this time of the year (ETA: That is the perfect, Halloween dress.)
I really love your videos and I take notes while watching. I read A Fortnight in September, recommended by you and really enjoyed it! I’d like to know your opinion about one of the most beautiful books I’ ve ever read: Magorian’s Goodnight, Mister Tom! What a wonderful story! I can’t stop thinking about it … Thank you! Giovanna
I just stumbled across your channel thanks to TH-cam suggesting this video. I watched the other Halloween recommendation video you mentioned at the beginning of this video before watching the remainder of this video. Your videos are dangerous. By the end of the videos I had ordered a few books, and added several more to my wish list. Earlier today I finished reading The Folcroft Ghosts by Darcy Coates. It was probably my least favorite of her books that I've read so far. At the moment, my favorites by her are Gallows Hill, House of Shadows, and it's sequel House of Secrets.
I recently picked up Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott, which I am thoroughly enjoying, and can certainly recommend. Ms Stott is a professor of English literature who lives in, works at and has written this book about Cambridge. Ghosts, witches, alchemists, university fellows and a possible murder or murders. No vampires so far though!😂
Just finished hare house and also recently read Mexican gothic. Hare house was very atmospheric but things as you said were not tied up at the end who was anne who wandered about the countryside and what exactly did happen. The narrator was to blame in the end and I guess the ending left a bit of mystery which was not entirely unwelcome. Mexican gothic I found novel with its take on evil fungi but It was a bit like a james Herbert book I read set in a Scottish grand Old Hotel in the countryside. I was not scared really by Mexican gothic. Hope all good.
Yes, there was definitely room for quite a bit of speculation at the end of Hare House, which Is why I think it would make a good book club choice for groups! There's definitely a lot to discuss.
'The Magic Cottage' by James Herbert published in 1986 and i think one of the best Ghost stories he has written and leaves that wonderful chill in the air and encourages the use of bright lights until bedtime if you are a scardey-cat. 'The Shining' by Stephen King, such a good read but not for the feint hearted. 'The Turn Of The Screw' by Henry James, its a bit unnerving but not scary, worth the read even though it was written in the 1800s. 'Bone China' by Laura Purcell an interesting read that is chilling in places and i enjoyed the book. Another gothic ghosty story which i really liked 'Wakenhyrst' by Michelle Paver, published in 2019, i listened to it on Audible but the voices of the characters didn't match the ones in my head so best read as a hard copy. Lastly, one that if you have a week to read 'Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell' by Susanna Clarke - i loved it and the fairy/ghostly/magic goings on had me gripped. I bought two copies one with a black paper cover and the other in white same story i just loved the detail.
I'll have to look out for the Magic Cottage, thanks. All the others I know and have spoken about on my TH-cam channel, apart from 'The Shining,' which I know would be too frightening for me!
Thanks for the work that you do, my children and I love watching your videos although our bank account is not so keen! We were wondering if you will be doing a Christmas gift guide or recommendation video as last year we got quite a few ideas for gifts from you. Sorry I know it’s still early for some people but as we home educate we always start early. Thank you.x
Thanks for the video. I made a long list of books to look into. I'm not reading anything spooky this Halloween because I couldn't find anything that was interesting, until now. The good thing is that I can read spooky stories any time of the year. However, I did read Mexican Gothic and did not like it at all. It wasn't scary, it was just very gross. I couldn't wait to finish it. I don't think I'll be reading anymore books by that author.
That was a magical surprise! So many wonderful recommendations! I have read lately Jessie Burton "the miniaturist". Full of atmosphere and mystery. There is also a great mini serie about it! Maybe you like it too. Thank you so much and greetings from Germany!
Happy Halloween everyone! An extra video this week as a Halloween treat from me. Please check the description box for links to all books mentioned. Miranda x
Fang you very much for this lovely ghoulish extra. 🧟♂️🧟♀️🧟
This is a wonderful selection of books and stories. Thank you for sharing them with us. And yes, several will be showing up in my ever growing piles of books.
That’s so kind of you! Thank you very much for your support, which means so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed these recommendations 🧡😊
Really enjoyed these reccomendations, Miranda ... so atmospheric and perfect for the Halloween season. I also love your black lace dress. You look so elegant.
Thank you for your lovely words! So glad you enjoyed the video 🖤
Oh you are lovely! Glad to have stumbled on your channel - lots of fantastic recommendations, some already on my radar!
I have the Discovery of Witches books that I really need to get to (equally, the tv show), because it really sounds like something I'd love
I love the whole set up on this video and you have a great voice to listen to! Thank you so much for sharing your suggestions!
You certainly look spookily lovely! Thank you for previously recommending Sleep No More by P.D. James. It was perfect for the season and I never would have thought of her for Halloween!
Haha thank you. I thought I’d make an effort! So glad you enjoyed the P. D. James. That is an excellent short story collection.
How lovely to see you recommending some of my favourite authors! Deborah Harkness, Laura Purcell and Diane Setterfield write great stories so beautifully. They all manage to surprise us with unexpected plot twists, perfect for this time of year.
What a lot of interesting book choices, Miranda. I always feel that an anthology of short stories or poems is marvellous to have as bedside reads, and I'm really keen to try some of your recommendations. Funnily enough, I have been thinking of buying 'Carbonel' recently, as I read it as a child but can't remember much about it. Another of your suggestions, 'The Small Hand', is a great read and I found it quite sad as well as spooky. That's a really lovely dress, Miranda, and it suits your dark hair so well!
Thanks so much, Carol! I started 'Damnable Tales' myself last night. I do enjoy a good ghost story anthology this time of year! xxx
I love A Discovery of Witches also and read/watch it every year. It is even more special to me now though as my daughter has just started a degree at New College, University of Oxford which is Diana Bishop's Alma mater and is used in the filming of the series!
Happy Halloween, your dress looks lovely. Plenty of books I shall be adding to my tbr 😊🎃
Thank you very much for your support and kind words, Sophie! They mean a lot 🖤🧡
Many thanks for the smorgasbord of book recommendations.I look forward to reading the latest Laura Purcell offering and ‘The New Magdalen’ .
What a shame that due to their prohibitive prices,the novels of Ruth M. Arthur are currently only accessible to bibliophiles instead of children and young adults. There are so many excellent writers who are neglected, out of print or hard to come by.Until recently, such was the fate of Dorothy Macardle.I highly recommend her first novel,a gothic ,spine chilling,unputdownable ghost story entitled ‘The Uninvited’ which was subsequently made into an Oscar nominated film starring Ray Milland. Both ‘Earth-Bound and Other Supernatural Tales’ and ‘Dark Enchantment’ with its undertones of witchery,superstition and magic would make suitable Halloween reading.Fortunately, all three books are now in print and readily available.
Many thanks for your very kind support, and your recommendations! I'll have to look those up. 🧡
Such a great list, but I’m easily spooked… 😢 I stumbled upon The Amazing Mr Blunden when I was in London in September, fell for the wonderful cover and finished reading it today, just in time. A children’s ghost story that I utterly enjoyed. Happy Halloween!
That is a good story! xxx
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your very kind support! I so appreciate it xxx
Discovery of Witches is fantastic. The first book is my favorite as well, though they are all worth reading.
Love having your videos in the background while I'm working but always stop to watch the video. Love the clothes and baking and other things you do. Such a lovely video every time. Ordered a few books and shall be doing gifts for Xmas thanks
Sue
Thanks
Thank you so much, Kate! That's very kind of you! 🧡
Love your videos! Looking forward to reading several of these titles. Happy Halloween! 🎃🕷🕸👻🧙♀️
I'm so glad! Thank you! Happy Halloween 🎃 👻
Oh dear, the wishlist grows again. Ghost stories, Golden Age crime, and much of the touching genres are my favorites so I can't pick one title, though House of Seven Gables is a proper good read. Thank you for this treat of a video, and happy tidings to you and your Mum.
Thank you so much for your good wishes and very kind support, Martialia! 🧡
Thank you for the bonus video which made for a very cosy evening. I think you would also enjoy Turtle Bunbury’s picture books
I'll have to look those up! Thank you xxx
Just finished Dracula today !! It was simply perfect . 🤩🦇 I will continue to read spooky books in November , so this was just perfect in it's timing . ☺️
New subscriber, thank you for your suggestions. I absolutely love The Woman in White! Wilkie Collins is my favourite classic author. The Law and the Lady is one I definitely recommend as well.
I so often turn to his books at this time of year!
This was quite a list! I’d love to read many of these - thank you for the suggestions! It will soon be spooky season again! 😊👻
Thanks for the unexpected video surprise, I have taken note of five books, I definitely have to read Laura Purcell. Have a nice and spooky Halloween night Miranda. Xxx
Her books are great Gothic reads! Happy Halloween 🎃 👻
Treats not tricks! Love it, thank you
Thank you so much for “A discovery of Witches” tv series and the book recommendation. I started to watch the first season and enjoy so much! I am going to read a book as well in autumn ❤
Such s treat! Thank you very much for these amazing suggestions.
Based on your earlier recommendation I read “The Secret Society of Irregular Witches”. It was wonderful! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
So glad you enjoyed it! xxx
Hi Maranda, Love these seasonal recommendations videos. Will check out Damnable Tales,, A Fuge in Time, The Love Child, The Autumn Ghosts, The Little Broomstick and Night Walking. I've read the first two books in A Discovery of Witches series. Loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Hare House is on my TBR too.
I’m so glad you enjoy them, Amy! You’ve picked out some great ones 😊
The Love Child was such a memorable read. I celebrated Halloween by starting Lucy Worsley's bio of Agatha Christie. So far, it's a gem. This was such a delight. So many fun titles and such a short spooky season--thank you! 👻 🎃
Thank you so very much, Pamela, for your lovely support! I finished Lucy's Agatha Christie biography a while ago now and I SO enjoyed it. Hope you do too! xxx
That Folio edition of Dracula looks gorgeous! I have an edition of Dracula that's illustrated by Edward Gorey, but I am really intrigued by your copy. Folio books are always so beautifully illustrated. I just read The Folio Book of Horror Stories. With the exception of just a few, most of the stories didn't do anything for me but the illustrations were outstanding.
Thank you as always for some wonderful spooky recommendations, taking us neatly from Halloween up to Christmas. I’m very grateful for your earlier recommendation of the Kate Saunders books, I love this series and Beswitched. I will definitely seek out the Sangu Mandanna book and Damnable Tales. My recommendation would be Celia Fremlin’s Don’t Go to Sleep in the Dark 🧡🖤🎃
I too really enjoyed a discovery of witches. Must read.
Hello Miranda! This bonus video was delightful. I recently finished reading Agatha Christie's 'The Hallowe'en Party' for the holiday. I am participating in Nonfiction November, but I may try to sneak in a few of the spooky reads this month.
I'm just starting to catch up with your recent videos. Thanks for these recommendations; I already have The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches on my TBR shelf and like the sound of many others, though I will be giving the very scary ones a miss! I am definitely too much of a wimp and I know they would give me nightmares. I realised as you were speaking that I have already read The Secrets of Wishtide, just a few weeks ago.
Love your dress Mirander as well as your decorations 🎃
Thank you! 😊
Thank you Miranda for this lovely video. I have enjoyed so many of your recommendations so far and added many from this list.
That is so kind of you. Thank you very much for your lovely support! 🧡
Hi, I am late watching, but this is the first opportunity I have had. There are so many great books I love about this season. I picked up a second hand copy of The Manningtree Witches, which I'm yet to read. I loved Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree and I have A Skinful of Shadows, which I hope to read that soon and sounds perfect for this season. Apart from Gobbolino being my favourite Hallowe'en children's book, I remember Moondial by Helen Cresswell very well. I saw the BBC series on TV as a child and the book is fantastic too - not about Hallowe'en, but full of supsense.
Thank you for these really great Halloween recommendations! I’ve put quite a few on my list to read. I am currently listening to Purcell’s The Shape of Darkness as an audiobook and enjoying it a lot! 👻🎃💫
P.S. it took me a few attempts to read all of Woman in Black too! 😁 and I also found Mexican Gothic absolutely terrifying 😱 I am looking forward to reading other Susan Hill’s novels, she is such a great writer!
Thank you so much for your support, Kristine! I really appreciate it. I bet the audiobook of The Shape of Darkness would be good - I listened to the audio of The Silent Companions and really enjoyed that. Hope you have a great November ahead! xxxx
@@MirandaMills thank you so much! Looking forward to your November trip to Bath! I’ve been once, many many years ago and fell in love with it. Have a great November, Miranda! 💫
Hello Miranda, what a lovely surprise for Hallowe'en. I found Susan Hill's The Small Hand was a very frightening read and at the moment I am enjoying P D James' The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories. Thank you for the recommendations. Happy Hallowe'en reading, Teresa
Those P. D. James collections are always a good choice! xxx
Great Halloween treat love your gorgeous black💕📕 lace dress.Vera is going to the top of my tbr. pile.Just received The Food Almanac based on your recommendation wonderful edition can’t wait to dig in.
Oh wonderful! I love the Food Almanacs - enjoy!!
Just what we all needed.Thanks!
Yay! Thank you!
Thank you Miranda for all the recent videos!! I’m not a fan of really scary, but you suggested several books that I would love to read. You always add brightness to my days🌸
Your dress really sets the scene. Love the backdrop too. You do that so well, I always look forward to see your sets.👍 One of my all time favorite books is The Thirteenth Tale. I need to reread that one. Great list too. Happy Halloween! 🎃👻📚🤗💕
Thank you so much, Diane! The Thirteenth Tale is such a page-turner!! Happy Halloween to you too xxx
Hello, Miranda Happy Halloween to all! Thank you for your recommendations. I am a new follower discovering the Comfort Book club alongside your inspirational channel. I have purchased Wintering and looking forward to discussing.
Welcome! I'm so glad you'll be reading along with us. Thank you for your kind words! xxx
@@MirandaMills Thank You kindly!
Hello Miranda, Many thanks for the Halloween video. Great recommendations. I am listening to the Audible version of The Haunting Season, and reading Michelle Paver's Dark Matter (a ghost story set in the interwar years in the Arctic, and is rather spooky for a timid person like myself). I shall look out for A Fugue in Time, the Folio edition of Dracula, and Lost Houses Revisited. Ps. The sleeves of the LK Borrowed dress are fabulous! Have a great week ahead. Best wishes, Jason
Oh you’re right, Dark Matter is a spooky one! I bet the Haunting Season on audible would be good; I’ll have to check it out. Thank you - I thought this dress had a touch of the gothic!! 🖤
@@MirandaMills And I have heard reviews that the Audible version of Paver's Dark Matter as read by Jeremy Northam is especially atmospheric and scary.
I’ll have to look that up too! I think I have a new audible credit due soon, yay! I can imagine he’d be excellent.
Thank you for this wonderful surprise Miranda. Great recommendations of short stories. Love your back ground . Would love to get The Haunting Season.. A bit late but being busy lately,Happy Halloween 🎃
Happy Halloween Miranda! 🎃 A Wilkie Collins book I recently read was The Haunted Hotel, and I really enjoyed it, it was a great spooky mystery and quite a quick read.
Good to know, thank you!
Thank you for this quite thorough list of recommendations.
I love what you're wearing! It's so pretty.
Thank you! 😊 I wanted options for this season and your recommendations are all wonderful. Definitely all of them to my TBR.
I'm so glad you enjoyed these recommendations! xxx
Thanks for all the spooky recommendations, Miranda. I've already dropped several of them in my Amazon cart. 🙂 I love your Folio edition of Dracula. It's gorgeous!
I'm so glad you enjoyed them, Angela! Yes, the Folio Dracula really is a thing of beauty; I love Angela Barrett's drawings - often for her cosy interiors - but she does creepily atmospheric so well too!! xxx
What a wonderful surprise! So many great book recommendations. I have been wanting to read The Thirteenth Tale for a while, I think now I will speed things up and get to it! I'm actually reading The Little Vampire by Angela Sommer Bodenburg with my son. It's pretty cute. Happy Halloween! And ThankYou!
It’s a very gripping read!! Happy Halloween 🎃 👻
Interesting! I have read both Mexican Gothic and The Corset - I really liked both of them, but I found The Corset so much more disturbing (and truly hard to read at times) since most of the horror is so realistic and human-based, whereas I found Mexican Gothic to be supernaturally campy. My favorite of these is Jane Steele - love that one!
Definitely different opinions on that one! I'm looking forward to reading Jane Steele!
I loved this video 🖤 I adore the gothic. My dissertation at university was Madness in Women in Victorian Gothic which I think just about sums my tastes up 😄 I think I would like Vera very much and that gorgeous book about 'ghost' houses. From my childhood, I remember adoring Gobbolino, the Witch's Cat and the Green Knowe books (which terrified me 😱) Thanks so much for this xx
Those are favourites from my childhood too (and I was also terrified by Green Knowe at first!) xxx
How incredibly fascinating.
😀💕xx thanks Miranda. Great choices as always. I love the wallpaper in your house. Did you choose it or was it already up when you moved in?
The wallpaper has been in the house since the 1930s xxx
@@MirandaMills 😀💕xx goodness me! I hadn’t been expecting that, on camera it looks in excellent condition.
Great video. I’m thinking it could be good if you did one on your favourite illustrators. You’re very knowledgeable and I think publishers are starting to use them much better now than pre-Kindle! Though, of course, they were used well in the nineteenth century.
Same many never-heard-of-before recommendations. I have never known most of these before, thank you so much for this video Miranda. Definitely checking all of them
Glad it was helpful! Thank you! xxx
I loved The Secret Society of Irregular Witches and I loved The Thirteenth Tale which I read when it was published. I’ve also enjoyed the Letitia Rodd books I have read to. I missed The Diabolical Bones by Bella Ellis but have read the 1st and 3rd. I did like Mexican Gothic and really enjoyed The Daughter of Dr Moreau.
Happy Halloween, Miranda🧡🖤🧡🖤thank you for the wonderful treat. Last month I read A Discovery of Witches and fell in love with it. I was very happy to learn it was a trilogy so I have more to look forward to. I’ll be adding many of these books to my wish list also. And I love your dress and the beautiful setting you’ve given us. Have a lovely week.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sandy! A Discovery of Witches is such a fun read! xxx
I must tell you how much I enjoy your many videos. Mostly I read non-fiction but a book I read recently that has sort of a "spooky" mood is Billy Summers by Stephen King. It is more of a detective/suspense story not like most of his horror or supernatural titles. I live in USA and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery. Thanks so much.
I'm so glad you enjoy them, and thank you for the recommendation!
These are great recommendations. The Lost House Revisited sounds fascinating.
It's a beautiful book! xxx
Hello Miranda tfs a great selection of "spooky" reads . . all sound very interesting . . have a Happy Halloween 💜🎃🖤👻🧡🐈⬛ may you have lots of yummy treats 😋
Thanks so much! Happy Halloween to you too 🧡🖤
Bit of a late comment but thank you for these! I love reading during autumn and winter and so many of these books look amazing for the long evenings. I read The Lost Ones by Anita Frank at the start of this year and thought it was a fantastic ghost story!
Thank you for another wonderful book list. You've helped me find some wonderful reads. I live in the US, and I've noticed that so many of your UK editions are beautifully bound and/or illustrated. When I look for the editions on Amazon, I only find rather mundane American editions. I have ordered from UK Amazon before, but shipping is not inexpensive. Like you, I love books that are visually appealing as well as great to read.
PS: I discovered Rumer Godden as a teenager, and have loved her books ever since.
Thank you for the amazing recommendations. I'm starting The Thirteenth Tale right now thanks to you. This video was my absolute favorite 😍🎃💀
I'm so glad! I hope you enjoy The Thirteenth Tale as much as I did! xxx
A discovery of witches show is actually one of the few times I like the TV adaptation more than the book!
I agree!! That first season especially is so good and beautifully filmed! xxx
What a great selection. I recently read The Society of Irregular Witches on your recommendation and it was the perfect cosy Autumn read, so thank you, and Happy Halloween! 😊
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it xxx
Thank you for yet another lovely video! I so like the different paper (?) decorations you often have in the background. They are lovely and such a clever way to let the room change with the season. May I ask where you get them?
The fold out cards are by Mark Hearld, which I bought a few years ago. The haunted house is from Marks & Spencer (last year). xxx
OMGGM!! "Jane Steele" is perhaps my favorite of the Jane Eyre retellings, I sincerely hope you enjoy it. Also, another really good one is "My Plain Jane" by the trio of authors Hand, Meadows, and Ashton. It's a YA fantasy version that is just lovely, I think.
Happy reading ;)!
I own Jane Steele and haven’t read it yet, will have to prioritise it. And I loved My Plain Jane-so fun.
A great list. Thanks
Always enjoy your videos! Thank you for the books, I've added a few to my list :). I loved Laura Purcell's "The Silent Companions" Gothic & creepy. I want to read "The Woman in White" but all the copies I've found have really small print. Wondered if the one you show does?
It has small print too. Might be one to read as an ebook where you can adjust font! xxx
Thank you for the extra video, Miranda. Halloween reading is not something I particularly like. I always choose classics like Jane Eyre or Rebecca and suggest We were liars to younger friends. Have a nice, cozy Halloween!
Reading 'Vera' alongside 'Rebecca' would be a fun project! I suggested a few atypical 'spooky' reads in this list. Enjoy your week! xxx
I put Nightwalking on my wishlist. This time of the year I really enjoy The Moonstone (I've never read The Woman in White), or Sherlock Holmes (though more likely listening than reading). There is something so cosy, and reassuring about Victorian Literature this time of the year (ETA: That is the perfect, Halloween dress.)
Excellent review as ever
I really love your videos and I take notes while watching. I read A Fortnight in September, recommended by you and really enjoyed it! I’d like to know your opinion about one of the most beautiful books I’ ve ever read: Magorian’s Goodnight, Mister Tom! What a wonderful story! I can’t stop thinking about it … Thank you! Giovanna
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoy my recommendations. I love 'Goodnight Mr Tom,' a favourite from my childhood xxx
I just stumbled across your channel thanks to TH-cam suggesting this video. I watched the other Halloween recommendation video you mentioned at the beginning of this video before watching the remainder of this video. Your videos are dangerous. By the end of the videos I had ordered a few books, and added several more to my wish list. Earlier today I finished reading The Folcroft Ghosts by Darcy Coates. It was probably my least favorite of her books that I've read so far. At the moment, my favorites by her are Gallows Hill, House of Shadows, and it's sequel House of Secrets.
I recently picked up Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott, which I am thoroughly enjoying, and can certainly recommend. Ms Stott is a professor of English literature who lives in, works at and has written this book about Cambridge. Ghosts, witches, alchemists, university fellows and a possible murder or murders. No vampires so far though!😂
Oh that sounds an interesting read! I'll have to look into it. Thank you for the recommendation xxx
🎃Excellent!🧡
Just finished hare house and also recently read Mexican gothic. Hare house was very atmospheric but things as you said were not tied up at the end who was anne who wandered about the countryside and what exactly did happen. The narrator was to blame in the end and I guess the ending left a bit of mystery which was not entirely unwelcome. Mexican gothic I found novel with its take on evil fungi but It was a bit like a james Herbert book I read set in a Scottish grand Old Hotel in the countryside. I was not scared really by Mexican gothic. Hope all good.
Yes, there was definitely room for quite a bit of speculation at the end of Hare House, which Is why I think it would make a good book club choice for groups! There's definitely a lot to discuss.
'The Magic Cottage' by James Herbert published in 1986 and i think one of the best Ghost stories he has written and leaves that wonderful chill in the air and encourages the use of bright lights until bedtime if you are a scardey-cat. 'The Shining' by Stephen King, such a good read but not for the feint hearted. 'The Turn Of The Screw' by Henry James, its a bit unnerving but not scary, worth the read even though it was written in the 1800s. 'Bone China' by Laura Purcell an interesting read that is chilling in places and i enjoyed the book. Another gothic ghosty story which i really liked 'Wakenhyrst' by Michelle Paver, published in 2019, i listened to it on Audible but the voices of the characters didn't match the ones in my head so best read as a hard copy. Lastly, one that if you have a week to read 'Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell' by Susanna Clarke - i loved it and the fairy/ghostly/magic goings on had me gripped. I bought two copies one with a black paper cover and the other in white same story i just loved the detail.
I'll have to look out for the Magic Cottage, thanks. All the others I know and have spoken about on my TH-cam channel, apart from 'The Shining,' which I know would be too frightening for me!
Thanks for the work that you do, my children and I love watching your videos although our bank account is not so keen! We were wondering if you will be doing a Christmas gift guide or recommendation video as last year we got quite a few ideas for gifts from you. Sorry I know it’s still early for some people but as we home educate we always start early. Thank you.x
I'm so glad you enjoy them! Yes, I'll be doing a book gift guide very soon xxx
Thanks for the video. I made a long list of books to look into. I'm not reading anything spooky this Halloween because I couldn't find anything that was interesting, until now. The good thing is that I can read spooky stories any time of the year. However, I did read Mexican Gothic and did not like it at all. It wasn't scary, it was just very gross. I couldn't wait to finish it. I don't think I'll be reading anymore books by that author.
Glad you found some books of interest to look into!
✨💜✨
That was a magical surprise! So many wonderful recommendations!
I have read lately Jessie Burton "the miniaturist". Full of atmosphere and mystery. There is also a great mini serie about it!
Maybe you like it too. Thank you so much and greetings from Germany!
Thank you! I do like The Miniaturist and though the TV series was beautifully done. I've yet to read her new book that continues the story though! xxx
your dress! dark and lovely :) beautiful as always🤍
Thank you!! 🖤
Vera is the best example of a toxic relationship.
Thanks
Thank you so much for your very kind support! It's much appreciated! 🧡
Thanks!
Thank you so much, Angela, for your very kind support! I so appreciate it! 🧡
@@MirandaMills You're very welcome, Miranda.
Thanks!
Thank you so very much for your wonderful support! I so appreciate it ❤️