Back-to-school time really makes me sad. While summer inevitably ends up just as busy as any other season, there's still a laid-back sort of quality to it. Less things that must comply to someone else's schedule, I guess. Anyway, for the past several years,
Carl has softened that back-to-school blow by hosting what may well be my favorite reading challenge of them all. (Unless you ask me during the spring, then I'll likely say it's Once Upon a Time.) Actually, there are many, many things I adore about fall, but RIP is really the thing that cheers me up at a time when I need cheering.
Should some complete stranger stumble upon this and wonder what the heck I'm talking about, do head over to
Carl's intro post for this year. I promise you won't be sorry. In fact, that's one of the very best things about Carl's challenges--his welcoming spirit and the sense of community he builds during his challenges. I'm seriously having to bite my tongue here...I want to gush away about what a great friend, great person period Carl is...but he might be getting sick of hearing it. :)
So I know I'm really late in getting up my post here, but I have already started my reading. In fact, I believe all of the Stevens' have begun...because yes, of course we're all participating! And maybe this year I'll be better about actually getting everyone to talk about what they read. Maybe.
Anyway, I love the variety this challenge encompasses: Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. Dark Fantasy. Gothic. Horror. Supernatural. In the past, I've stuck mostly to the horror and supernatural, but this year I'm really hoping to mix it up. In fact, I'd love to try to read something that would fit each of those categories...but well, I really need to stop setting myself goals that I tend not to meet. :P Nope, the only goals I have are to 1.) have fun (easy goal to meet!) and 2.) read as many books and short stories and watch as many movies as I can (even if life gets in the way and the actual numbers aren't that high).
Oooh, oooh...now comes the fun part--making a book pool! My choices are more limited as I've packed up about half of my fiction in our hopefully-we're-moving-next-year preparations. But more limited choices might actually be a good thing in this case.
Abandoned by Cody McFayden. (suspense/thriller)
Higurashi When They Cry Abducted by Demons Arc Volumes 1 and 2 by Ryukishio7 and Karin Suzuragi. (mystery/horror/supernatural)
A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. (horror?) And yes, I already went and bought this because of
Chris. RIP tends to do a bit of damage to the old wallet. ;)
Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers. (mystery) I actually started reading this book several months ago, but set it aside. Not because I wasn't enjoying it--in fact, I was loving it. But as sometimes happens, life got in the way. Anyway, I'd really like to start it over and actually finish this time. :)
Sunshine by Robin McKinley. (supernatural?)
Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft and Locke & Key: Head Games by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. (horror)
Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures by Bill Schutt. (okay, so this doesn't really fit one of the categories, but I think it still fits the spirit of RIP, right?) Started this book ages ago. About time I finished it.
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld. (horror/supernatural?)
Carrie by Stephen King. (horror/supernatural) Because I've decided I want to reread all the Stephen King books I've read and finally get around to reading all those I haven't.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. (gothic/mystery?) Wonder how many times I can put this on my RIP list and still not read it. :P
Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley. (horror?) I was so excited to see this book on my shelves when I went in search of RIP reads--I'd totally forgotten I had it.
A Soul in a Bottle by Tim Powers. (dark fantasy?)
Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge. (horror?)
Bliss by Lauren Myracle. (horror/mystery)
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. (horror)
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. (gothic/mystery)
Fledgling by Octavia Butler. (horror?)
Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block. (horror/supernatural?)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. (mystery)
Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie. (suspense?)
The Wyvern Mystery by Sheridan Le Fanu. (gothic/mystery)
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. (gothic?)
Nightmares & Fairy Tales: Once Upon a Time... by Serena Valentino. (horror?)
House of Mystery: Room & Boredom by Matthew Sturges, Bill Willingham, and Luca Rossi. (horror)
From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell. (mystery)
Okay, so that's ten times as many books as I'll likely get read. But that's what a pool is for, to have choices, am I right? And of course, the possibility that I'll actually end up reading books not even included on the list (as in books that other people read for RIP and I find myself helpless to resist) is quite strong. As always. And as for the short stories and the films, well, I'll just wait and see what grabs me.
Happy haunted reading! And thank you, Carl, for bringing so much fun to so many people!
6 comments:
I love seeing all these RIP lists! I ordered A Tale Dark and Grimm from the library because of Chris too. Peeps and Carrie and The Thirteenth Tale and Uncle Montegue and Shirley Jackson and Rebecca and Alan Bradley...yeah, great choices. :D
Great list! Sunshine is on mine, too. I have owned it for a ridiculous amount of years and really want to read it. By rights The Little Stranger should be on my list, too, but I put another Waters' book instead. And then I am happy to see you have included Alan Bradley, du Maurier, Chris Priestley, Setterfeld, and Westerfeld included on your list. :)
I have read a few of those..not many lol Rebecca, The Little Stranger and the Thirteenth Tale.
I have to tell you... if you like "discovering horrible family secrets" Thirteenth Tale is for you!... some fabulous twists and turns in that book too! This is the year for The Thirteenth Tale Debi!! LOL... nah, whatever you read just enjoy the heck out of it.. that's what RIP is for!
Fantastic list Debi my dear! Whatever you do, do manage to fit in The Little Stranger. Geez louise but I love that book. Also Rebecca. And The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Flavia de Luce is not to be missed.
I should NOT have come over here. All those books. I'm already over committed and now I want to read, and re-read, so many more!!! LOL.
You'll love Uncle Montague.
That Tale Dark and Grim looks good, may have to try to track that down.
Chris, I believe, got me to read Dark Harvest and I remember enjoying it.
I suspect you'll enjoy the Flavia de Luce mysteries. Those would be fun to share with Annie as well.
And please, don't gush. This challenge is what it is because of people like you, not me. I'm just the one who flings open the door every year. You guys are the ones who come in and make it a party to remember.
I know you are soooo swamped come the start of school and am thrilled that you are taking part, even if you can't fit much in because of all you have to do.
Love you and your family dearly, thanks for coming along again this year.
OMGOD I'm so in love with your list :D I'd tell you which ones I think you should read right now, but I'm afraid that's all of them, lol. You see, I'm afraid you've already done damage to MY wishlist too :p I totally need to get my hands on Dark Banquet!!! Ooooh, I'm so excited that this challenge is here :D
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