alGuillermo del Toro has established himself as an amazing filmmaker over the decades. He has directed many amazing movies and also happens to be an avid book reader. Keep reading to find out Guillermo del Toro’s favorite books and recommendations!
Born in Mexico in 1964, the Mexican filmmaker has come to be known for his use and connections to fairy tales and horror. That is also reflective of his taste in books as he is a big fan of gothic novels. Martin says he started reading gothic novels early but doesn’t fully agree with Frankenstein being labeled as a gothic novel
“I guess I started reading it really, really early, because some people consider Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to be Gothic. I would take a little bit of exception to that, but it doesn’t matter,” said del Toro

Toro has cited many of his favorite books as inspiration for his movies and that is a big reason why they resonate with fans. He also says A Dictionary of Symbols by Juan Eduardo Cirlot is vital to him. “It helps me interpret paintings, cipher and decipher art and view the world.”
Any filmmaker that reads lots of books gets an A+ in my books. These authors know the important of the original source material and actually enjoy reading unlike many directors. You can see Guillermo del Toro’s favorite books below!
Guillermo del Toro’s Favorite Books and Recommendation.
- The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
- Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
- The Chrysalids by Wyndham
- The Midwich Cuckoos by Wyndham
- Printer’s Error: Irreverent Stories from Book History by Rebecca Romney
- Stinger by Robert R. McCammon
- The Vampire, His Kith and Kiss by Montague Summers
- The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
- The Gods of Pegāna by Lord Dunsany
- A Dictionary of Symbols by Juan Eduardo Cirlot
- Dangerous Visions by Harlan Ellison
- Heavenly Bodies: Cult Treasures and Spectacular Saints from the Catacombs by Paul Koudounaris
- The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation by Ollie Johnston
- The Arrival by Shaun Tan
- The Lost Thing by Tan
- Making Movies by Sidney Lumet
- The Book of Monelle by Marcel Schwob
- The BOOK OF JOB by Stephen Mitchell
- Serenade by James M. Cain
- Pet Sematary by Stephen King
- Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things by Lafcadio Hearn
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- Hitchcock by Francois Truffaut
- Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin
- Sandkings by Martin
- The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas
Conclusion
These are Guillermo del Toro’s favorite books and recommendation. I love how many of these books are unfamiliar to me and provide great reading material. What do you think of Guillermo del Toro’s list? Let us know in the comments below!
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