It's a Jumble

  I have been drawn to horror literature of late, not despite but because of some dark experiences. I am reminded of how horror in fiction can offer catharsis, a way of processing real-life pain and fear. Of how darkness in art can be a comfort—a friendly tap on the shoulder, a shared moment, a missive that arrives to say, You’re not alone.   Here are a few horror books I’ve read this summer, filled with strange tales to both unsettle and comfort, reminders that none of us are alone—not truly alone—in the dark.   Silk & Sinew: A Collection of Folk Horror from the Asian Diaspora In Silk and Sinew, editor Kristy Park Kulski has gathered together 20 beautiful stories of darkness. The authors and poets (yes, there’s some poetry here as well) represent voices from a range of backgrounds and cultures, including China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Korea, India, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Armenia, and Lao. Ghosts, shamans, fox spirits, sleep paralysis...