Summer is finally winding down and we here at the Signal are getting our book club ready for spooky season! 

Our fall semester reads were chosen with all of the moods for this point in year in mind. For September, October and November, we chose a group of spooky books sure to get you in the mood for Halloween and beyond. September’s book is Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked this Way Comes, October’s is Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, and November’s is Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. 

For December, we decided to step away from the spook and shift the focus to the idea of family that is a mainstay of the holiday season. So, we decided to read Johnathan Tropper’s This is Where I Leave You this December. 

With that being said, let’s get right into the preview!

September: Something Wicked this Way Comes

Zoom Meeting: Saturday, October 3, 2020

Ray Bradbury’s classic novel, upon which Disney based a movie back in 1983, tells the story of two children, Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway, and their run in with a mysterious carnival that makes its way to their town. A strange occurrence for their hometown of Green Town, Illinois, this carnival and its cast of characters arrive on October 23rd. If interested in joining us for this month’s discussion, you can find the book’s Amazon link here. 

October: The Haunting of Hill House

Zoom Meeting: Thursday, November 5, 2020
The Shirley Jackson novel, which served as inspiration for Netflix’s 2018 horror series of the same name, follows four strangers who cross paths when they make their way to the thought-to-be-haunted Hill House. They are guided by Dr. Montague, who is hoping to use his experiences at the home to scientifically prove the presence of the supernatural. Chronicling the groups stay at the home one summer, it seems as if the rumors are true. If you want to get spooky with us and join in on the Halloween fun, you can find the book on Amazon here. 

November: And Then There Were None

Zoom Meeting: Thursday, December 3, 2020

Keeping the spooky fall vibes going in November is Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The murder mystery novel that was adapted for film in 1945, it is considered by some to be the best one ever written. Ten strangers are lured to an island by their host, a host who, upon their arrival, accuses each of his guests of murder. Christie is known for her ability in the mystery genre, so I’m very excited for this one. If this story sounds intriguing, join us and pick up your copy here. 
December: This is Where I Leave You

Zoom Meeting: Thursday, January 7, 2020

Written by Johnathan Tropper, and even turned into a movie back in 2014, this novel explores the themes of love, marriage, divorce, family, and the connections that these types of relationships have built into them. Brought together by the death of a family member, this novel follows the Foxman family as they get together for the first time in years. If this read sounds interesting to you, you can get your copy here. 

Just as a disclaimer, purchasing a copy of each book is not required. There are other ways to get the texts, such as through your local library and any e-book check out systems it may offer. For example, the Stanislaus County library runs their e-book rentals through the cloud library and hoopla apps. Amazon sometimes offers used copies of the books as well. This is a good option if you would like to purchase, but want to save some money. 

Everyone is welcome to join us for any of this semester’s discussions. I’m so excited about this line-up and I hope others are as well! If you’re interested, please fill out this form.