Girl Gone Smart: Bring on the horror and the haunted *Language Warning*

My backyard is still lush and green, but along the edges of my yard sit a couple yellow leaves as big as pot holders and as beautiful as the temperature this morning - a bit crisp and a bit cool.

For me, fall has started. Even though the official first day isn't until the 22nd, here it is. (Let people enjoy things.)

Speaking of horror: #fucktexas

More on that in the very near future.

Image: hdwallpaperim.com

A couple days ago I asked the following questions on my social media account:

1. What are your top five horror movies ever, and

2. What is the last horror novel you've read?

The responses triggered a lot of fun memories of childhood when I was much too young to be watching such things. I remember watching Friday the 13th on New Year's Eve with a childhood friend, and covering my face with the pile of blankets we had laid out on her living room floor.

For you, I've listed out the top ten movies, and the top five books people suggested for this time of year.

Movies

In no particular order:

• The Shining

• The Exorcist

• Jaws

• 30 Days of Night

• Amityville Horror (original)

• House on Haunted Hill (Netflix series, and season 1)

• Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original)

• IT

• Alien

• Friday the 13th (first)

Not everyone shared a horror novel, but we do have a few:

• Black Forest by Shane Lee

• It by Stephen King

• Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry

• Hell House by Richard Matheson

• Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer

In this same discussion I shared a book I'm currently reading titled Rovers by Richard Lange.

According to the master of horror, Mr. Stephen King: "The best vampire novel I've read since LET THE RIGHT ONE IN."

Umm... that's the all I need.

What are your favorites, both movies, a series, or books?