Ghost Stories to Keep You Awake

Here's another list to give you chills in October: Great Ghost Books!

If you're looking for something about local ghosts, take a look at David Dominé's Ghosts of Old Louisville and Phantoms of Old Louisville. Both will tell you things you never knew about Louisville.

One of my favorites (and the 2009 Newbery Award winner) is Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. It's the story of a child raised by ghosts in a graveyard after his family is killed. Gaiman is a great writer (you may remember his book Coraline and the movie made from it), who can hold your interest all the way through. While this was written for children and young adults, I think all ages would enjoy it.

Definitely for older readers, Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box is guaranteed to keep you up at night. It's the story of a man who buys a suit online, attracted by the promise that the previous owner's ghost will be included. He figures it's a joke. Needless to say, he's wrong.

Ghost Story, by Peter Straub, is an older book that gets overlooked a lot these days. It was also made into its own fairly creepy movie in 1981, starring Fred Astaire and Melvyn Douglas. Compared to today's books, it may seem a little tame, but it's a story you won't forget.

So, five ghost stories. That should keep you busy for a while.