October 6, 2023
Alumni bookmarks: ten books to read before Halloween
It’s officially spooky season! And what better way to celebrate than with an aptly themed book written by a fellow alum?
But first, let us help you set the mood: grab your favorite blanket, light your pumpkin-spice candles, brew your favorite fall-time drink, open up the window to let that crisp autumn air in, and find a cozy corner to curl up in for a few hours. Whether you’re a fan of mysteries, atmospheric horror, dark comedy, or cozy autumnal page-turners—we promise you’ll be so immersed in these books, you’ll forget about that strange shadowy figure you keep seeing in the corner of your eye . . . (just kidding).
Note: By the nature of their genres, some of these titles will explore dark topics. Check out this article by Book Riot for help finding content warnings for each title before you read.
For fans of buzzy psychological thrillers
By Tim Lane, BA ’06 (magazine journalism, Spanish)
This psychological page-turner, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn, explores how far couples will go to keep their marriage intact—unless their secrets tear it apart first. The novel centers around Adam, who is having a hard time adjusting to the stay-at-home-dad life and his deteriorating marriage with Sarah. His one respite is his growing obsession with their neighbor, Ali. When Ali goes missing, Adam becomes determined to seek the truth behind her disappearance, leading him down a path of no return.
For those looking for hometown horror
By Benjamin Kalb, BS ’69 (journalism)
What if there was a $1,000,000 winner-take-all-event for serial killers? In this novel, an anonymous benefactor pays two serial killers, Bri and Hunter, to compete against each other to get rid of some of the country’s worst villains. Then, in turn, the benefactor, pays those villains to kill our main duo. Their mission takes them from sunny Los Angeles all the way to Eugene as they try to stay alive and seek revenge on Mr. Anonymous.
For those who think spooky season isn’t complete without witches
By M. K. Hobson, BA ’90 (English)
This debut novel from M.K. Hobson was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award. Set in the Sierra Nevada in 1876, if follows the adventures of Emily Edwards, a town witch whose love spell goes horribly wrong, forcing her to accept the help of a pompous warlock from the city. During their travels, they’re pursued by various factions seeking a powerful magical artifact that has come into Emily’s possession. As the first in a series, this novel is the perfect autumnal read featuring the enemies-to-lovers trope, a high-stakes adventure centering around the concept of marketing as magic, and . . . zombies.
If you want a classic detective story set in the Pacific Northwest
By Scott William Carter, BA ’94 (English)
A curmudgeon. An iconoclast. A loner. That’s how people describe Garrison Gage, and that’s when they’re being charitable. These provocative mysteries follow the adventures of a sharp-witted private investigator who retires early to the Oregon coast to mourn the death of his wife . . . only to find himself drawn back into his old ways when, in The Gray and Guilty Sea, the body of a young woman washes up on the shore. Carter is also the author of the popular strip comic Run of the House, about what a group of pets do when their owners aren’t around. For a Portland-based paranormal detective series and more spooky books created for children and young adults, visit Carter’s website.
For fans of cozy mysteries
By Ellie Alexander, BA ’99 (communication disorders and sciences)
This entertaining and delectable cozy mystery series set in the charming hamlet of Ashland, Oregon is about an artisan pastry chef, Juliet Montague Capshaw (Jules), who returns home to heal her broken heart and help run her family bakeshop. This pun-filled, heartwarming series includes recipes with every installment. Alexander’s work has been featured by Buzzfeed, Women’s World, iHeartRadio, and more. You can find more of her books here.
For the true-crime enthusiasts
By Jennifer Chambers, class of 2004
Beneath the bucolic scenery of Oregon's Willamette Valley lies a dark and sinister past. The 150-mile swath of vineyards, farmland, and idyllic towns has hosted its fair share of murderers, bootleggers, and even a serial killer. Jennifer Chambers writes about this history with cadence, focusing on the resiliency of survivors. She is a host of The Courage Checklist and Mayhem-porium podcasts, a co-owner and contributing editor of Groundwaters Publishing, the founder of the TEDxVenetaWomen event, and a survivor of a traumatic brain injury and comorbid rare autoimmune disease. You can find out more about Jennifer’s work here.
The obvious choice for fans of dark comedy (if you can stomach it)
By Chuck Palahniuk, BA ’85 (journalism)
From the bestselling author of Fight Club comes a hilarious horror satire about a family of professional killers responsible for the most atrocious events in history and the young brothers that are destined to take over—and maybe end the world as we know it in the process. Called “the new generation’s Kurt Vonnegut,” Palahniuk is absolutely not the author for everyone, and everyone who is considering reading him should check the content warnings for his books. For more Palahniuk, try The Invention of Sound, a grim and disturbing reflection on the commodification of suffering and the dangerous power of art featuring a father searching for his missing daughter against the backdrop of Hollywood.
If you couldn’t get enough of Netflix’s Squid Game
By Michael Arnzen, PhD ’99 (English)
In this novel, a gambler who has hit rock-bottom discovers a card game where the payout is survival and folding means death. It’s a game where the question becomes: are you playing the cards or are they playing you? All fifty-two chapters of Arnzen's novel-of-cards are stacked with mischief and thrills and will keep you guessing at his hand. If short fiction, poetry, or essays are more of what you’re looking for, Arnzen has been writing with some of the most prolific authors and for some of the most beloved publications in the genre since the early ’90s. You can find the full scope of his work here or connect with him through his website, Gorelets. Arnzen is also a member of the Oregon chapter of the Horror Writers Association.
For those looking for something short and sweet
By Gayle Forman, BA ’95 (magazine journalism)
The villains of Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel team up in this subversively funny short story to set the record straight about what really happened in the fairy tales. They’re through with warts-and-all tabloids, ugly lies, and ungrateful stepchildren—and ready for revenge. The Wickeds is part of Faraway, a collection of retold fairy tales that take the happily-ever-after in daring new directions. Gayle Forman is an award-winning author and journalist who primarily writes young adult romance. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Elle, and more, and her novel If I Stay was adapted into a major motion picture in 2014.
If you’re craving the childhood nostalgia evoked by The Goonies or Stranger Things
By Colin Meloy
Okay, okay . . . we’re cheating a bit with this one (again). Technically, Colin Meloy didn’t graduate from the University of Oregon. However, the lead singer-songwriter for The Decemberists did attend the university for two years in the mid-’90s and his children's books are inspired by the Pacific Northwest, where he and his family primarily reside out of Portland. The Stars Did Wander Darkling is Meloy’s newest novel, building on the success of his Wildwood Chronicles series. Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Margaret Peterson Haddix, the suspenseful and atmospheric story centers around a group of tweens who must band together to battle an ancient evil unleashed in a small Oregon town. You can connect with Colin on Twitter @colinmeloy.
Did you or a UO alum you know recently write a book? Tell us about it for a chance to be featured on a future UO alumni author list! Didn’t see your book featured on our newest list? We might be saving it for an exclusive issue!
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If you’re ready to embark on a literary adventure that will transport you across the globe and through the ages, look no further than the University of Oregon Alumni Book Club. From October—December, we’ll be reading Come Fly the World: The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am by Julia Cook and we want you to join us!
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