Episode 42: Why I Love Horror
From Booklist's Shelf Care by Booklist's Shelf Care Podcast
May 23, 2025 · 1h 9m
About this episode
In this episode, host Susan Maguire discusses horror literature with expert Becky Spratford and critiques AI-narrated audiobooks.
Episode 42 Show Notes In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to librarian and horror expert Becky Spratford about the forthcoming collection of essays she edited, Why I Love Horror, what Mary Shelley might think about the current trend of monster romance, and, of course, why she loves horror. Then Booklist’s Audio Editor Heather Booth presents an epic rant against AI-narrated audiobooks, and Susan and Booklist Senior Editor, Adult Books Annie Bostrom chat about two water-related books they’re loving. Here's what we talked about: Becky’s early “Why I Love Horror,” featuring Booklist folks The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Horror, by Becky Siegel Spratford Danse Macabre, by Stephen King Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Seth Grahame-Smith The Hunger, by Alma Katsu Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones James, by Percival Everett Horror for Weenies, by Emily Hughes Circulating Ideas podcast, hosted by Steve Thomas LibraryReads Hall of Fame Where the Sidewalk Ends, by Shel Silverstein The Grip of It, by Jac Jemc Horror Makes Us Happy…
People in this episode
Host: Susan Maguire
Guest: Becky Spratford
Topics covered
- horror literature
- librarianship
- audiobooks
- book recommendations
- essays
Keywords
- Why I Love Horror
- Readers’ Advisory Guide to Horror
- monster romance
- AI-narrated audiobooks
- water-related books
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Why I Love Horror, The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Horror, The Lottery, Pride and Prejudice, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Hunger, Where the Sidewalk Ends, The Grip of It, The Bewitching, Paperbacks from Hell
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