Fall is just around the corner, and the air already exudes an eerie vibe. Readers have started compiling their books to read, and for most people, the fall TBR is all about gothic literature. If you are one of them, you are in the right place because this article right here has 35 Gothic book recs for you.
My favorite 5 have taken the front seat, and I will be doing my best to convince you to read those. Take out your notepad because this article will lead to some amendments in your home library.
1 – Dracula by Bram Stoker
On top of the list is the one and only quintessential gothic novel that has been readers’ favorite for generations. Are you in the mood for suspense, horror, superstition, and a battle between good and evil? If yes, Dracula by Bram Stoker is an ideal read for you.
For all the vampire fans, here’s the tale of the iconic figure who shaped the vampire genre for years to come. You can check more vampire books recs here.
Synopsis:
“Dracula” by Bram Stoker tells the story of Count Dracula’s attempt to spread the undead curse from Transylvania to England. He preys on young Jonathan Harker, whose fiancée Mina and her friends, along with Professor Van Helsing, strive to stop the vampire. Through letters and journal entries, the tale unfolds with suspense, fear, and the battle between good and evil.
An Excerpt From The Book (a meager attempt at convincing you to read this book)
“I comforted him as well as I could. In such cases, men do not need much expression. A grip of the hand, the tightening of an arm over the shoulder, a sob in unison are expressions of sympathy dear to a man’s heart.”
2 – Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Though second on the list, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is on top in every aspect of a gothic novel. Erreie setting? Check! Paranormal elements? Present! Emotional intensity? Shattering! Familial secrets? Plenty! Gothic architecture? More than half of it is literally set in Edinburgh. Victims and Villians? The roles just keep switching!
Synopsis:
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley tells the tragic story of Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a sentient creature through an unorthodox experiment. The novel explores the consequences of playing god and the profound isolation and despair faced by both the creator and his monstrous creation.
An Excerpt From The Book (a meager attempt at convincing you to read this book)
“With how many things are we on the brink of becoming acquainted, if cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our inquiries.”
3 – Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
A classical rom-com, but make it gothic – Jane Eyre is an amazing blend of romance and suspense with gothic elements. In the era of Charlotte Bronte, where young women used to attend fancy balls to court eligible bachelors and any alternative course of action was not deemed respectful, our dear protagonist, Jane Eyre, is traveling across fields all alone in the pursuit of a suitable life.
If you haven’t guessed already, the novel plays with the themes of social constraints, complexities of the human psyche, and the resilience of our dear Jane Eyre.
Synopsis:
“Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë is a coming-of-age Gothic novel that follows the life of an orphaned girl, Jane Eyre. Enduring a difficult childhood marked by mistreatment and hardship, she becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, owned by the enigmatic Mr. Rochester. Jane and Rochester develop a deep emotional connection, but dark secrets haunt Thornfield. As the mysteries unfold, Jane must confront societal constraints, her own morals, and the complexities of love while striving for independence and self-respect in a rigid Victorian society.
An Excerpt From The Book (a meager attempt at convincing you to read this book)
“I had not intended to love him; the reader knows I had wrought hard to extirpate from my soul the germs of love there detected; and now, at the first renewed view of him, they spontaneously revived, great and strong! He made me love him without looking at me.”
4 – The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
The story of a portrait that ages but the person in the picture remains young – The Picture of Dorian Gray is the perfect gothic read for this fall. It won’t be extravagant to say every sentence in this literary gem is a masterpiece, every word a texture. Despite being a century old, it remains timeless.
Synopsis:
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde revolves around the young and handsome Dorian Gray, whose portrait is painted by the artist Basil Hallward. Dorian, influenced by the cynical Lord Henry Wotton, becomes obsessed with eternal youth and indulges in a life of hedonism and moral decadence. Remarkably, Dorian’s portrait ages and bears the consequences of his debauchery while he remains youthful. As he sinks deeper into a life of sin, his portrait becomes increasingly grotesque.
An Excerpt From The Book (a meager attempt at convincing you to read this book)
“You are a wonderful creation. You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know.”
5 – The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern
Did someone say Magic? Last but not the least, a hauntingly beautiful book on today’s list is The Night Circus. Imagine a circus that opens only at night. Eerie? Right! Le Cirque de Reves (The Circus of Dreams) always mysteriously appears and then disappears from various locations around the world.
The Night Circus is not particularly a gothic novel and mainly falls under the genre of fantasy fiction. However, the dark atmosphere and enigmatic setting can make it a part of this list. Consider it a recommendation for the times when the weather is transitioning and you are looking for cheerful books to read.
Synopsis:
“The Night Circus” follows the magical rivalry between illusionists Celia and Marco, set within the enchanting Le Cirque des Rêves. Unbeknownst to them, they’re bound in a competition of creativity and skill that unfolds within the confines of the mysterious nighttime circus. As their rivalry intensifies, a deep romance blossoms between them, leading to a profound tale of love, sacrifice, and the enduring power of magic.
An Excerpt From The Book (a meager attempt at convincing you to read this book)
“They are a bunch of fish covered in feathers trying to convince the public they can fly, and I am simply a bird in their midst.”
More Books To Read This Fall
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
- The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
- Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
- The Monk by Matthew Lewis
- The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
- The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
- Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin
- The Italian by Ann Radcliffe
- The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
- The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- Psycho by Robert Bloch
- The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Vampyre by John Polidori
- At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
- Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
- The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
- The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
- The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
- The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- The Golem by Gustav Meyrink
- The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
- The Family Plot by Cherie Priest
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
- The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton
- The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
