- ADVERTISEMENT -
Paranormal activity is a fascination and an occurrence many yearn to witness. Aliens, ghosts, spirits, hauntings, and all other kinds of paranormal are captivating our attention and imagination, and have us thinking about what would it be like to experience something like that. However, it’s not something that happens every day.
Still, there are other ways for us to learn about the paranormal or enjoy thinking about it. Books are a great source of stories, information, and inspiration for paranormal appreciators. Therefore, when you feel curious and inspired, try reading one of the classic paranormal novels from our list below. They’ll give you the goosebumps and leave you wondering about the world around you.
Let’s break it down together.
1 – It by Stephen King
Is there anything scarier than having to confront your biggest fears?
The ”King of Horror” and one of the world’s highest-paid authors, Stephen King, deserves a place on the top of this list.
This novel is a story about a shape-changing creature known as It who terrorizes and kills children using their fears and phobias as a weapon. It first appears in the form of a clown named Pennywise and brutally murders a 6-year-old child.
When seven individual children realize they all faced It, they decide to form the “Losers Club” and stop this evil force.
The story continues into their adulthood as they realize It is back. They are forced to face their biggest fears all over again.
2 – The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Set in a mysterious mansion among the hills at an unspecified location, this novel will certainly have you shaking.
Dr. John Montague is investigating the supernatural and decides to rent out the Hill House to gather more scientific evidence. He invites numerous guest who’ve experienced something supernatural, but only two accept his invitation: Eleanor Vance, a shy fragile young woman, taking care of her disabled mother, and Theodora, a bohemian artist.
Luke Sanderson, the heir of the house, hosts the other guests.
Soon, things start to become strange and all residents begin to experience paranormal activity.
The question is, is it a part of their imagination or are these terrible things actually happening?
3 – Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin
When Rosemary Woodhouse and her husband Guy, move into a seemingly ordinary New York apartment building, their life is shifted around without them even knowing it.
Although they’ve been warned about the unsettling history of the building, they still decide to move there, with Rosemary longing to expand their family.
Being a struggling actor, her husband refuses to have a baby at first. However, after paying a couple of visits to the elderly neighboring couple, he suddenly changes his mind.
That night, Rosemary dreams of a violent sexual encounter with a horrifying creature, only to wake up to claw marks on her body.
As she finds out she’s pregnant, more strange things begin to happen. With no one believing her, she’s forced to face things on her own.
Soon she’ll find out the disturbing truth about the child she’s bearing.
4 – Ghost Story by Peter Straub
This book will have you rethink those ghost stories session you may be having with your friends.
The fictional town on Milburn, New York, is the home of four men who have been friends since their childhood. The protagonists who named their group the “Chowder Society”, get together periodically to share ghost stories and event from their past.
While it all seems innocent and ordinary at the beginning, the sudden death of one of the protagonists shifts thing around.
A true story from their past comes back to haunt them. The remaining men realize an event from their youth, which resulted in the death of a young woman, is the cause of the horrible things they now need to face.
5 – Not After Midnight, and other stories by Daphne du Maurier
The 1971 collection of five long stories by Daphne du Maurier is another classic you need to get your hands on.
Don’t Look Now, Not After Midnight, A Border-Line Case, The Way of the Cross, and The Breakthrough all have something unique to offer.
Mystery, murder, unexplained deaths, investigations, darkness and terror are dominating each of the stories. Gathered together in one book, they’re definitely worth your time.
Final Thoughts
These classic paranormal novels will feed your craving for mystery, the inexplicable, and the extraordinary. Each of the books will take you on a ride you won’t be able to forget. And, who knows, by the end of it, maybe you’ll have a paranormal story of your own to share…
