October’s books were packed with Halloween vibes this year. Despite my dear mother’s DNA, I remain a scaredy cat when it comes to evil witches and things that go bump in the night. Nevertheless, I made it through some classic works without having to hide under the covers in fear of bad dreams. (Full disclosure: I’m still not in any hurry to watch any of the film versions.)

Book 1: The Witches by Roald Dahl

Witches are everywhere, according to this book by the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. You just have to know how to spot them.

This story of a grandmother and her orphaned grandson on the lookout for witches wherever they live or travel is creepy.

Following several narrow escapes, the seven-year-old grandson is eventually turned into a mouse by the witches, but manages to reunite with his grandmother.

With potions, poisons, and plans for murder, this is definitely not a fairy tale!

Book 2: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

This is a re-read from my high school days. It’s even better (and sadder) than I remember.

This is one of those “if you know, you know” situations: Never before has the lack of an apostrophe caused me such distress.

Book 3: Dracula by Bram Stoker

Fearing Dracula and Frankenstein might be too much classic horror for me in one month, I polled the good folks of the Folio Society fan group in Facebook. The vote was close (sound familiar?) but Dracula squeaked past.

Dracula is an amalgamation of journals and doctors’ notes as the main characters eventually work together to end the count’s reign of terror.

I was startled to see the use of the term Un-Dead in this 1897 publication. Turns out, it wasn’t an invention of the more recent The Walking Dead television series (I would have to leave the room when son John watched it – eek!).

Book 4: Aristotle and an Aardvark Go To Washington by Cathcart and Klein

Oh, how our language gets abused! And no more than by politicians at election time.

Although the authors are comedians and this 2008 book includes jokes and cartoons, it’s still painful to ingest. Remember when “spin” was proudly explained during the first Clinton campaign? That was just the start. Double-speak, white lies, and clever turns of phrase may thrill the pundits, but the resulting manipulation of the public is downright sickening.

Book 5: Officers and Gentlemen by Evelyn Waugh

This is the second in Waugh’s Sword of Honour trilogy.

Interestingly, the husband of a minor character’s name is Algernon.

When reading the classics, I’m now making a point to check if each particular book is satire. In this case, it is. But still, the examples of wastefulness and poor communication in the military may not have been all that off track. One of the less honorable characters, it seems, might have been based on the infamous Ghislaine Maxwell’s father.

Book 6: Beatrix Potter’s stories

You know how Beatrix Potter books are all titled The Tale of … ?

Well, it turns out most of them are “tales,” but a few are “stories.” Although now published as books, the stories were originally printed as a long strip and folded into a “wallet,” tied with a ribbon.

The characters in both stories are a bit rough around the edges – especially the rabbit, who bullies a nicer bunny out of his carrot. It gets violent when a hunter enters the picture … but all creatures survive, despite missing a fluffy tale and a few whiskers.

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We’ll hold off on Frankenstein till next October, but I must say I’m looking forward to it already.

A side note, since three of this month’s books featured a mouse: Last night, I managed to coax a fluffy brown mouse to escort himself out the door of his own volition. When you live adjacent to a farmer’s field, you should not be surprised to see a field mouse or two when the weather cools. But never before has a mouse accepted my invitation to head back outside across the welcome mat. Clever fellow. I’ll call him Algernon.

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