Episode 42: Why I Love Horror
Episode 42 Show Notes In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to librarian and horror expert Becky Spratford about the forthcoming collection of essays she edited, Why I Love Horror, what Mary Shelley might think about the current trend of monster romance, and, of course, why she loves horror. Then Booklist’s Audio Editor Heather Booth presents an epic rant against AI-narrated audiobooks, and Susan and Booklist Senior Editor, Adult Books Annie Bostrom chat about two water-related books they’re loving. Here's what we talked about: Becky’s early “Why I Love Horror,” featuring Booklist folks The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Horror, by Becky Siegel Spratford Danse Macabre, by Stephen King Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Seth Grahame-Smith The Hunger, by Alma Katsu Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones James, by Percival Everett Horror for Weenies, by Emily Hughes Circulating Ideas podcast, hosted by Steve Thomas LibraryReads Hall of Fame Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein The Grip of It, by Jac Jemc Horror Makes Us Happy podcast with Becky Spratford The Bewitching, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Cynthia Pelayo 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered, Sadie Hartmnn Paperbacks from Hell, by Grady Hendrix A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen, by Erin Frankel and Paola Escobar. Read by Luis Carlos de la Lombana. (Odyssey Award Winner, 2025) How the Boogeyman Became a Poet, by Tony Keith Jr. Read by the author. (Odyssey Award Winner, 2025) The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story, by Pagan Kennedy. Read by Claire Danes The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Read by Del Roy Listening Still, by Anne Griffin. Read by Nicola Coughlan A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck, by Sophie Elmhirst Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, by Jon Krakauer The Love Fix, by Jill Shalvis The Listeners, by Maggie Stiefvater