The two books I want to talk about are very different and both are worth reading, but I think both will be quick to review so I’m pushing them together into one post. The first is Revenge, a collection of short stories by Yoko Ogawa (translated into English by Stephen Snyder). The second is The Toll by Cherie Priest. I found them both on the same horror shelf at my local Barnes and Noble, but they could hardly be more different.

I’m not sure I’d personally consider Revenge horror at all. I’ve read some of Ogawa’s other work, and I think of her more as a dark and moody literary author than a typical horror writer. In fact, I’m not sure Japanese authors really draw the same distinctions between literary and genre fiction that American authors do–I can think of several Japanese literary authors that might be thrown in with science fiction or horror on American shelves.

Anyway, if you know what to expect–subtle, emotional stories with brief flashes of gore and darkness–Revenge will not disappoint you. Some characters tug at your heart, some make you laugh, some seem truly villainous. There’s not much action, but you’ll meet some fascinating and myserious characters who are delightfully interconnected in ways they can’t even see. Ogawa thoughtfully builds a world full of strange people and events, and with many layers of weirdness to puzzle through.

The Toll, on the other hand, is a much simpler and more traditional Southern horror story. Where Revenge is complex and unsettling, The Toll is fun and full of charm.

The story is set in the spooky little town of Staywater and the surrounding Okefenokee swamp. Every thirteen years, some mysterious force or monster claims several victims who disappear without a trace. Local witches Daisy and Claire Spratford have tried their best over the years to defeat this mysterious monster, but so far they’ve had mixed results.

The most charming thing about this book is that Staywater is deeply, deeply haunted and no one who lives there is bothered by this. Oh, they’re all bothered by the monster or whatever is claiming victims, but they’re completely at home with all the other ghosts. They’re all quite friendly with the ghost who sits in the local bar every evening. They’re unbothered when the mannequins in the abandoned department store change their own outfits. They’re only mildly spooked by the “museum” full of dolls that move and talk on their own. We never really find out why or how any of these ghosts came to be there because everyone in town thinks this is completely normal. I was amused and completely charmed by this weird town and its citizens.

This story does have some suspense and some mild gore, but it’s more fun and quirky than frightening. It made for an easy, quick read with just enough of a dark side to keep it interesting. Daisy and Claire do work their way up to one last confrontation with the monster and it’s quite exciting to read. Daisy and Claire, themselves, are fun and badass old ladies. I can only hope to be as cool as them when I’m that old.

These books fit very different moods, but they’re both excellent and I’d highly recommend either one. For all the horror I’ve read this summer, I haven’t found one that really scared me or kep me up at night. I’ve found a lot to interest and delight me, though, and I have no regrets about my summer’s selections.

If you have any really scary books to recommend for October, though, do let me know. Until next time, happy reading. –Corvus