Before I became a blogger a little over a year ago I resisted the siren call of many weblogs that had been recommended to me over the past couple of years. I didn’t doubt that they were great, I just didn’t have the time. Also, reading off of a computer screen has never been my favorite way to absorb information. I prefer to curl up on a chaise with something bound in my hands. I must be part French.

Yet here I am, a blogger. Since becoming part of this fast-growing cyber-community, I’ve found a wealth of information, insight and opinion out there that I now can’t do without. There are several blogs that I visit daily; sometimes twice daily. I appreciate every new post and resent every missed day. Sudden passion is a bitch… but in the spirit of information-sharing and the spirit of Halloween, I’d like to direct you to some of my favorite sites, and their thoughts on the looming All Hallows.

Make your first stop Frankensteinia … a blog devoted exclusively to Frankenstein’s monster. Mary Shelley’s pitiful man-made-man has had such a lasting influence on Western society that a tony cultural analysis has just hit the shelves explaining how our adoption of this patchwork creature has not only changed but transformed our collective consciousness. Frankensteinia discusses the F-word in film, literature, comic books, breakfast cereal, toy collectibles and everything else you can think of. It’s not only fascinating and funny stuff… it’s aliiiiiiiiiiiiive!

Final Girl is the work of one Stacie Ponder (and if there were two Stacie Ponders, the world would be a better place). Not exclusively devoted to the slasher movies from which the phrase “final girl” was derived (to represent the virginal naïf who always seems to triumph in those gnarly psychothrillers) but leaning heavily in that direction, Final Girl is a great read and one of the more interactive blogs, with contests, chats and film club roundtables. Warning: Stacie buys her snark in bulk.

A new kid on the block is Craig Blamer’s Old Dark House, whose banner is just about my favorite to look at. Craig’s got a fine mind and not just because he writes what I think. He just needs to update a little more often. October 16?! Craig… I’m getting angry!

Jonathan Lapper’s Cinema Styles is another movie blog going all-out for Halloween, with lots of seasonal cheer. Any impression that starchy blog name might give you up front is instantly dispelled upon arrival by seeing the words written in blood! Up today is a list of 10 movies that sound misleadingly like horror movies but aren’t. (Boo on you, Monsters Ball!) Also up in the last week are some gorgeous promotional materials from The Most Dangerous Game. Go now!

At The Horror Blog, various Internet wags (not me, sniff-sniff) were asked to contribute “depressing tales of lousy Halloweens past.” If I had been asked to participate (which I wasn’t), I would have told the sad story of the time my parents dressed me as a hobo. I didn’t cry, I just bit down hard on my corn cob pipe and soldiered through the night. But that’s another story (that I wasn’t asked to contribute).

Specifically for Halloween, Todd Franklin's candy store of a blog, Neato Coolville, has been renamed Neato Ghoulville. Check out those vintage Halloween photos and the shot of the marquee boasting a Boris Karloff double feature.

Also worth your while with tons o'reviews to help you decide what to watch on October 31st:

The Bleeding Tree (on Dracula remakes!)

Cinebeats (William Beaudine double creature feature!)

Arbogast on Film (obscure 60s and 70s horror!)

The Blood Spattered Scribe (from Raw Meat to Hostel II!)

Shoot the Projectionist (the "31 Flicks That Gave You The Willies!" finalists)

Now off you go! You've got reading to do!