Some of you may be getting dressed up around about now, some of you might be stuffing your face pre-emptively with sweets and some of you are getting cosy and planning to watch Hocus Pocus (I know I am š). Wherever you are, I think we can all agree that we need some spooctacular book recommendations! And what better topic than talking about *witches*? Yup- Iām giving you a list of some of my favourite witchy books! (NB I had to resist the urge to not just tell you to reread Harry Potter, cos obviously thatās an optionā¦ but I guess I kinda just did thatā¦ ah well š) Without further ado, pick up your broomsticks and letās get this kicked off!
Wicked Deep– one of my favourite spooky reads last year, this spellbinding, atmospheric read with a historical edge definitely cast its spell over me!
Winter of the Witch– such a captivating series set in medieval Rus! Though I couldāve picked any of the books in this series, but this is where Vasya has fully come into her powers, journeys through Midnight and shines in her greatest glory. This is how to tell a witchy tale!
The Witchās Daughter– this fantastical take on historical fiction was fun and brimming with entertainment!
The Crucible– if youāre on the hunt for something about the Salem witch trials, then look no further! Well, I say that, but this isnāt really about that at all š Itās very intense and will transport you in time though!
Circe– thereās something utterly bewitching about this book- itās the perfect retelling of Odysseus, the characters shine and the writing is exquisite. Most importantly for this list, it has one of the most unique takes on witches I have ever seen.
Northern Lights– speaking of unique takes, everything about Lyraās Oxford (and extended world) is different and interesting. So, itās no surprise that his take on witches is *brilliant*.
Doomspell– I always vividly remember this book as well for its *stand out* witches. Although, be prepared for things to get a little creepierā¦ And on that noteā¦
The Witches– yes, this list wouldnāt be complete without Dahlās Witches. Terrifying to adults and children alike, these are the kinds of witches to keep you up at night!
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe– another absolute *classic* book starring a witch! In this case, the White Witch is the epitome of evil, enticing you in with Turkish Delightā¦ only to try and turn you to stone if she gets the chance!
Good Omens– of course, however, if you (like me) prefer your spooky reads not-so-spooky, then look no further. This quirky and hilarious book has everything spooky from witches to the devil to the four horseman of the apocalypseā¦ and yet miraculously manages to be a good time!
Equal Rites– sticking with the fun vibes, this was one of the first Discworld books I ever read and it completely charmed me! The humour and the characters were top notch- and this is definitely a great starting point for people looking for some girl power! And just so you know, the series gets better and better! (Maskerade is probably my favourite!) Pratchett always draws brilliantly on classics as well, which brings me toā¦
Macbeth– hubble bubble toil and troubleā¦ this is the quintessential play with witches! Whether youāve seen it/read it/heard about it vaguely- you canāt go wrong with this ambitious drama!
The Worst Witch– and finally, I thought the best way to end out this list would be to talk about a fun family friendly witch… who happens to not be very good at it. Though she may not fail in the Shakespearean sense, it’s rather comforting (and hella entertaining) to read about a heroine who struggles to *shine* and whose finest quality is her big heart.
And thatās all Iāve got for tonight! Have you read any of these? Do you have any other witchy reads to add? Let me know in the comments! And Happy Halloween!
Unreliable narrators are those that canāt (or wonāt) tell story objectively. The term is a relatively new one, as it was coined by Booth in 1961, however the use of such a character actually extends back to the dawn of Western literature. The lord of lies himself, Odysseus, is a great example of a character whose overinflated ego causes him to exaggerate and expand upon his exploits. Little character flaws can be used to manipulate the narrative and distance the reader from the truth of the tale.
Since the evolution of the term, much work has been done in the literary criticism world to explore this technique. This is why unreliable narration works so well. Types of unreliable narrators have been classified by the likes of William Riggan ie in his work: PĆcaros, madmen, naĆÆfs, and clowns (Picaros = boasters, naifs = immature narratures). One way I like to divide it up is into the fault of the narrator and the narrator merely being a victim of circumstance. If we look at a book like Gone Girl, we have two unreliable narrators creating a toxic environment for themselves and consequently causing the drama in their lives (which becomes the plot). On the other end of the spectrum, there are narrators like Pi in The Life of Pi, who, through no fault of their own, experience a severely traumatic event and slant the narrative through that perspective.
Now, for the most part, this centres on first person narration- though there are rare occasions when it could be used for second or third person. The best example of a second person narration where the story is told through an unreliable lens is Stolen, where the narrator addresses her kidnapper and itās increasingly clear has some form of Stockholm syndrome. Otherwise, unreliable narrators can incorporate some second person to break the fourth wall, such as in Notes from the Underground. Unreliable third person narration is a little trickier to pull off- because the author really has to pull a fast one on their readership. 
This would be something like a twist akin to a Sixth Sense where spoiler alert Bruce Willisā character is a ghost all along. I rarely see this sort of thing in books, but one example Iāve seen lately was in Safe Haven where, again spoiler alert, her friend was a ghost all along. This part of the book didnāt actually work so well for me, because frankly it felt like too much of a curveball. Yet arguably books likeĀ A Monster Calls, though more ambiguous in whether they’re unreliable or not,Ā could be a more positive example of how third person unreliable narration in action.
Most obviously, unreliable narration is perfect for creating bold plot twists. Thereās a reason why itās very popular in thrillers, for example. A favourite of mine will always be Engleby (a book thatās seriously underrated nowadays) where the clever characterisation of the main character drives the story forward.
Of course, one of the best things about unreliable narration is its power to create amazing characters. And not just the psychos of storyville, like Humbert Humbert. As previously mentioned, boasters also make up a huge number of unreliable narrators. Perfect for this time of year, Iād suggest the very atmospheric Name of the Wind. Kvothe, in my opinion, seems to warp some of the narrative to appear larger than life. Strong characterisation, in turn, is a powerful way to create voice.
It can also be used to create another dimension to the story. This is exemplified in Woman in the Window, where itās evident from the start that the main character has secrets and is slowly revealed through her backstory. We then come to see how parts of the narration were unreliable.
Structurally, this also creates other sides to the story. Books with unreliable narration can often incorporate flashbacks for instance. Or unreliable clues might be given through suspicious characters in the story- such as Mrs Danvers in Rebecca. This can create a fantastic Russian Doll effect of hiding clues within the story. Which leads me onto my main proā¦
It turns the reader into a detective. It can be brilliant fun trying to figure out where the truth lies and piecing together that oh, hang on a minute, this narrator has been taking me for a ride. Dodgy actions (it dawning on the reader that a character that commits murder isnāt to be trusted), unclear accounts (whatās not included can be a massive hint that somethingās up) and the reactions of other characters can all help us figure this out (critic Nunning also explores the signs of unreliable narration in more depth). We can also find ourselves to be victims of a savagely dishonest narrator- which lends to a scary feel- such as in Confessions of a Justified Sinner or even Yellow Wallpaper. Yet, whatās great about both of those, is that we canāt be sure that in either of those everything weāve been told was untrue. Which brings me to the fact thatā¦
Unreliable narrators can create a sense of ambiguity. A lot of the time, we may be left wondering if they were reliable at all, and if they were, how unreliable were they? This can lead to a great deal of uncertainty- which lends to an uncanny feel and can be an excellent way to create mood. The Turn of the Screw is one of the best examples of this technique in action- we never get an answer to whether the book is supernatural or not. Being on uneven ground can be one of the most potent devices for scary stories. Nonetheless, there are some drawbacks to this.
On the flipside, placing the reader on unsure footing can put some readers off. Some people might want clear answers and be dissatisfied if the story is left open-ended. And while it can make some standout characters, it can also make for some truly detestable mcs, like Briony in Atonement. Naturally, unreliable narrators donāt belong in every story or genre- readers might dislike being taken advantage of by a peculiar twist. In fact, if it does feel out of place, it can feel cheap.
the orang-utan librarian 