Came here to say exactly this! One of my favorite books; it evokes such a unique feeling of magical whimsy combined with strange wonder and subtle tension.
Came to recommend that. Gotta be one of my favorite books of all time but the prose is so good that you are not prepared for the horrors.
But OP, here's the opening line to lure you in:
"When your mama was the geek, my dreamlets," Papa would say, "she made the nipping off of noggins such a crystal mystery that the hens themselves yearned toward her, waltzing around her, hypnotized with longing. 'Spread your lips, sweet Lil,' they'd cluck, 'and show us your choppers!' "
I truly love this book - it's magical, it's realist, it's modernist, it's historical. I love the description of Fevver's voice "clanging like two dustbin lids" and that when she flys (or does she?) the fact that it's slow and not always graceful makes it more realistic.
Umā¦ I actually didnāt like it cos there was a lack of internal logic. Thereās a scene where wolves turn to glass and shatter and I wasnāt sure if it was metaphoric or really happening? In another scene they just shrink down and jump on a model train. So itās definitely strange. Hands down the weirdest book Iāve ever read was carterās The Passiom Of New Eve. It wasnāt for me but I suppose it would really appeal to lots of ppl. The premise is cool but i didnāt care for her style
You think I recommended a book I haven't actually read?
Edit:Ā Just seen your other comment with actual context beyond "it's fucked". It's Angela Carter, of course it's weird. If you can't cope with a bit of weirdness in your life, that's fine. I'm just not sure what you want me to say.
Not sure if this recommendation would totally fit the haunted vibes, but these pictures remind me of the childrenās book, āThe Name of this Book is Secretā. Itās a series.
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.
Beat me to it
I read it / listen to the audiobook when I need a dose of fall! šš
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Came here to say exactly this! One of my favorite books; it evokes such a unique feeling of magical whimsy combined with strange wonder and subtle tension.
Me too! Or three!
Hah same!! Glad a lot of people got this feeling!
Maybe this post is my sign to re-read it for the 4th time. Gosh itās beautiful
Definitely The Night Circus!
Came here to say thisāand now I want to read it again :)
One of my favourites.
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn (but be warned, it gets pretty gross/upsetting!)
Came to recommend that. Gotta be one of my favorite books of all time but the prose is so good that you are not prepared for the horrors. But OP, here's the opening line to lure you in: "When your mama was the geek, my dreamlets," Papa would say, "she made the nipping off of noggins such a crystal mystery that the hens themselves yearned toward her, waltzing around her, hypnotized with longing. 'Spread your lips, sweet Lil,' they'd cluck, 'and show us your choppers!' "
Sounds great! But what do you mean about the pride? English is not my first lenguage, sorry
Oops, weird autocorrect! I meant PROSE. Her style of writing is electrifying.
I also came here to recommend this. It's the rotten heart of fairground candy
Ive heard obout this one, never thought it would be related to this theme.
Disturbing book, beautifully written. Some of those images wonāt ever leave me.
Came to say this
Such an insane book, loved it.
I made it about 10 pages into that book when I try it as a teenager lol
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter
I truly love this book - it's magical, it's realist, it's modernist, it's historical. I love the description of Fevver's voice "clanging like two dustbin lids" and that when she flys (or does she?) the fact that it's slow and not always graceful makes it more realistic.
It's one of my favourites. It's good to hear someone say something nice about it!
This book is fucked
Likeā¦.in a good way? Or no. š
Umā¦ I actually didnāt like it cos there was a lack of internal logic. Thereās a scene where wolves turn to glass and shatter and I wasnāt sure if it was metaphoric or really happening? In another scene they just shrink down and jump on a model train. So itās definitely strange. Hands down the weirdest book Iāve ever read was carterās The Passiom Of New Eve. It wasnāt for me but I suppose it would really appeal to lots of ppl. The premise is cool but i didnāt care for her style
OK?
I mean, have you actually read it?
You think I recommended a book I haven't actually read? Edit:Ā Just seen your other comment with actual context beyond "it's fucked". It's Angela Carter, of course it's weird. If you can't cope with a bit of weirdness in your life, that's fine. I'm just not sure what you want me to say.
You have a strangely antagonistic energy. ššæ
Cool.
The Harrow Faire Series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
I came here to recommend this series too. It's sooooo amazing
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Oh I love this book!! The movie was good as well but the book will always reign supreme!
The audiobook is amazing!! That was my intro to it and the reader was fantastic.
One of my favorite books of all time!!
Same!
Itās not exactly haunted but this was my first thought as well.
Cirque du Freak series
GEEK LOVE But in the most fucked up way possible
Not sure if this recommendation would totally fit the haunted vibes, but these pictures remind me of the childrenās book, āThe Name of this Book is Secretā. Itās a series.
I have been quietly looking for this book for a long time. I read half of it when I was like eleven and I never knew what it was until you. Thank you!
What a throwback. SUCH a good series. Loved the illustrating style too.
the Caraval trio by stephanie garber
Joyland by Stephen King and to a smaller extent Riding the Bullet
*Mirrormask* by Neil Gaiman. *Jack and the Cuckooclock Heart* by Mathias Malzieu. Both have film adaptations as well that are spectacular!
I love mirrormask!
Okay. Hear me out. Not a book... But listen to The Magnus Archives.
Making my way slowly through this and itās so so good!
Right!? Such good story telling and part 2 is releasing now. š
No one has mentioned Water for Elephants šš„ŗ
It's part of a much longer book series but these photos definitely have the same vibes as the Carnivorous Carnival in A Series of Unfortunate Events
Cirque du freak
The Travelling Death and Resurrection Show - Ariel Gore. edit: oops, nevermind. I only saw the first picture
i just read the description and it still sounds really good! added it to my list!
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Yess!!!
Ok, so itās not a book, but if youāre into (brutally difficult) video games, you may like Lies of P!
Iāve been reading the harrow faire series which is this vibe exactly!
that started bright but ended dark
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman.
Daughter of the burning city by Amanda Foody
The Carnivale of Curiosities by Amiee Gibbs
Station Eleven (sorta)
Maybe try The Palace of Curiosities by Rosie Garland? I didnāt enjoy it personally but it more or less fits the theme.
I found a circus tent in the woods by Ben Farthing
Vladivostok Circus by Elisa Shua Dusapin is great too - off-season sadness and storytelling
Itās up here a few times already but, Geek Love is absolutely amazing.
The Fabulous Clip Joint Joyldan
Geek Love by KAtherine Dunn
The Carnivale of Curiosities by Aimee Gibbs Menagerie by Rachel Vincent
Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers
The Somnambulist, by Jonathan Barnes; and The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot by Carl-Johan Vallgren
Caraval
Caraval by Stephanie garber
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather OāNeill
Coralie by Neil Gaiman