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