Halloween Read-a-thon
“Lamb to the Slaughter” Roald Dahl
Short story, 5–7 minute reading time: A woman kills her husband with a leg of lamb. The detectives eat it and, therefore, the evidence is digested.
Lamb to the Slaughter
“The Lottery” Shirley Jackson
Short story, 7–10 minute reading time: A small town holds a yearly lottery. . . for a stoning.
The Lottery
“The Open Window” Saki
Short story, 5 minute reading time: A woman plays ghostly trick on her new visitor.
The Open Window
“The Tell-Tale Heart” Edgar Allen Poe
Short story, 5–10 minute reading time: A man kills an old man and can hear his heart beat beneath the floor boards.
The Tell-Tale Heart
“The Monkey’s Paw” W.W. Jacobs
Short story, 10–15 minute reading time: A monkey’s paw that grants wishes brings only misfortune.
The Monkey’s Paw
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” Washington Irving
Short story, 20–25 minute reading time: A headless horseman haunts unsuspecting townspeople on Halloween.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
“Coraline” Neil Gaiman
Story, 1+ hour reading time: A little girl finds a malicious new world through her wall.
Coraline
“The Body Snatcher” Robert Louise Stevenson
Short story, 20–25 minute reading time: Two shifty doctors find and re-find the mysterious corpses they operate on.