Grass Roots Books and Music: A Very Literary Halloween

Monday, October 25, 2010

A Very Literary Halloween

Halloween is fast approaching, and that means costume time!!! (I'm very excited.) Here are a few tips for those of you who want to make Halloween a book-appreciative event and could use some ideas.

1. Do you want your costume to translate immediately? It helps to dress as a character that has a visual trademark.

Think: Alice in Wonderland, Frankenstein's monster, Sherlock Holmes, Hester Prynne, Hamlet, or even Edward from the Twilight series (hmmm...that may not qualify as literary...). These are usually easy costumes because they require one or two signature props (Alice wears a puffy blue dress and white pinafore; Holmes has his hat and pipe; Frankenstein's neck plugs; Prynne's scarlet A; Hamlet carries Yorick's skull; Edward has that dreamy glittery complexion).

Example:

Hamlet--a costume you can whip up at home

2. Supporting characters are a fun option that may make fellow partygoers pause for thought. Rooster Cogburn of "True Grit," The Queen of Hearts, Zaphod Beeblebrox from "A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy," a Siren from "The Odyssey," Miss Havisham from "Great Expectations," and Ophelia covered in seaweed are just a few ideas.

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Dickens' Miss Havisham

Add some seaweed and a frown for a more sinister Ophelia.

3. Some costumes are destined to be misinterpreted, and others are simply too obscure for accurate translation. Embrace it! Go as your favorite character, even if that means your Laura Ingalls is thought to be a random prairie girl until you correct people. If it really drives you nuts, carry around a copy of the book that your character stars in. Fun ideas: Leonard Maltin of movie review fame; the guy that stole Jonathan Franzen's glasses (I've been trying to persuade our receiver, Michael, to do this!); Mikael Blomkvist or Lisbeth Salander from "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" (make sure to carry a faux-MacBook and a cup of coffee); Sookie Stackhouse from "True Blood;" and Penelope from "The Odyssey"

Who?...OH, that movie guy...What's-his-na--that's right, Leonard Maltin!

4. On a related note, there are a few authors that have enough of a look to hold up to imitation. My favorites are Anne Rice (somebody please do this!), Edgar Allen Poe, Hunter S. Thompson, and Sylvia Plath.

Guess who! Hunter S. Thompson's a bit batty.

5. For readers who will be spending Halloween surrounded by adorably costumed children, here are some kid-friendly costume ideas: Mrs. Frisby from "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" (white mouse with a cape); a Hogwarts instructor; the Man in the Yellow Hat (perhaps with a little stuffed monkey wrapped around an arm, or, um, see below); Waldo of "Where" fame; you can even get the whole family involved for an Alice in Wonderland or Wizard of Oz theme.