Monday, August 31, 2026

Announcing 'The Accursed' Spooky Season Read-Along!


Welcome to the Shadows: Announcing 'The Accursed' Spooky Season Read-Along!

Get ready to dive into one of the most wildly ambitious, darkly atmospheric historical fantasies of modern literature just in time for Spooky Season. From October 1 through October 31, 2026, Marianne @ Let's Read and I are teaming up to tackle Joyce Carol Oates’s epic Gothic masterpiece, The Accursed—and we would love for you to join us!

Set in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1905–1906, the novel weaves real historical figures—like Woodrow Wilson, Grover Cleveland, and Upton Sinclair—into a chilling, surreal Gothic mystery. When a supernatural "curse" overtakes the elite families of the town, society crumbles under the weight of mysterious abductions, demonic visions, and long-buried hypocrisies.

At over 600 pages, it is a dense, feverish read—which is precisely why reading and discussing it together over the 31 days of October will make it so much more fun.

October Reading Schedule

We will break the novel down across the four weeks of October (roughly 150–170 pages per week) so we can all finish together right on Halloween night:

TimelineAssigned ReadingKey Themes / Focus
Week 1 (Oct 1–Oct 8)Book 1 (Chapters 1–4)The curse descends on the Slade wedding; Woodrow Wilson's strain
Week 2 (Oct 9–Oct 16)Book 2 & Book 3Historical cameos; the eerie Bog Kingdom; social satire
Week 3 (Oct 17–Oct 24)Book 4 & Book 5Hysteria spreads; moral decay of the Princeton elite
Week 4 (Oct 25–Oct 31)Book 6 to EndClimax, resolution, and unpacking the narrator’s reliability

How to Participate

  • Weekly Discussion Posts: Every Friday in October (Oct 9, 16, 23, and 30), a new post will go live right here on the blog with guided discussion prompts, character trackers, and space to share your thoughts.

  • Comment Section: Drop your theories, favorite quotes, and reactions in the comments of each weekly post as you read along with Marianne and me at your own pace.

Grab your copy, dust off your reading chair, and drop a comment below if you're joining us this October!

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11 comments:

  1. Marianne September 2, 2026 at 4:51 AM

    Thanks for this, Lisa. I am looking forward to our next buddy read and have announced it shortly in my September greeting:
    https://momobookblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/happy-september.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Captivated ReaderSeptember 5, 2026 at 7:56 AM

      Thank you for leaving me your link, Marianne.

      Delete
    2. Marianne September 5, 2026 at 8:14 AM

      You're welcome. And I left the link to this post on that one.

      Delete
    3. Captivated ReaderSeptember 5, 2026 at 1:56 PM

      It will be interesting if others read along with us.

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    4. Marianne September 6, 2026 at 5:18 AM

      That's for sure. But even if it's only us, I'm really looking forward to it.

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    5. Captivated ReaderSeptember 6, 2026 at 9:18 AM

      I am looking forward to the read along too, Marianne. We always have such a great time discussing what JCO has written!

      Delete
    6. Marianne September 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM

      I always enjoy it a lot. And I get more from the book that way.

      Delete
    7. Captivated ReaderSeptember 8, 2026 at 9:26 AM

      I find that I learn a lot from buddy reads too.

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    8. Marianne September 9, 2026 at 2:42 AM

      It's like a book club, fewer members but more intense talks.

      Delete
    9. Captivated ReaderSeptember 9, 2026 at 9:35 AM

      I like the way you said it... 'fewer members but more intense talks.'

      Delete
    10. Marianne September 10, 2026 at 2:48 AM

      ♥

      Delete

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