3 Winter Horror books I read on Christmas

Winter and spirits always seem to be closely related. The cold, the isolation, the whistle of wind outside your window. It always seems to bring the supernatural out. Whether you want to lose yourself in the comfort of the day or are looking to give someone a gift to read on the day, let these books be the 3 ghosts that guide you this holiday season.

1. Spirits of the Season: Christmas Hauntings

Part of the British Library's Tales of the Weird, this collection of short stories contains a variety of classic tales you likely haven't heard of. Peek into ghost stories from the 1800s all the way to the 1960s by renowned authors like M. R. James, Algernon Blackwood and . You'll have many classic companions for the long winter nights.

2. The Hunger

Jump into Alma Katsu's historical horror this Winter. It retells the Donner Party with supernatural elements. Curse, disease and the unforgiving cold follow pioneers as the trail wears them down, taking the pioneers one by one.

3. The Shining

This King classic will always be a Christmas read for me. The Kubrick film is iconic but it and the book are more than a little different, so they're always worth checking out separately. The isolation of Winter encourages people to seek comfort in each other, especially with family. However, this deals deeply with feelings of rage and resentment boiling to the surface, and this closeness only exacerbates those emotions.