Reading Is Such Scary Fun

Here we are in the middel of October, with Halloween only two weeks away and we are thinking of checking out a scary read at our local library or buy one at the bookstore, or from any of the online retailers.

What is it about this time of the year that we must read something to scare us silly; to give us nightmares at night? After all, horror, dark fantasy and urban fantasy can be read at any time of the year--right?

Is it because of the coolness of the breeze? The leaves changing color? Or the pumpkins for sale at the supermarket or at your local farm? Maybe it's because people are decorating their homes and yards in creepy decor.

Any excuse to be scared to death.

Fear is an emotional response to a preceived threat. It's a basic reaction to a stimulus, such as pain or dangerous threat. Fear is spearate from anxiety, which occurs without external threat. It means to terrify, or to frighten.

Physical reactions from fear are:

Rapid heart rate

Increased blood pressure

Tightening of muscles

Sharpened or redirected senses

Dilation of the pupils

Increased sweating

So why would a person get a scary book when these symptons of fear take over them? For the imagination is the greatest bringer of fear--you read a few pages and suddenly, you thought you saw a shadow in the corner move or heard a sound.

But being frightened is good for you. Just as laughter is. Fear is that rush that brings out the prey in all of us, from our caveman days.

So go ahead. Pick up that book and buy it, or check it out. Read it. You know that shadow didn't more and the sound was the house settling. Nothing more.

Or is it?