(Picture taken from the Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey)
As you can see I have edited this portion out of the earlier prizes post (which still exists in the post below this one). That way I have kept your comments, links etc. and new visitors can continue to join the challenge if they wish!
Several of the book sites I have recently discovered have done and are continuing to do various book challenges. It is almost September and as summer turns to autumn I get in the mood to read old favorites like Dracula and other gothic tales. I have a number of these stories that I have not read in addition to others that I would like to reread. What I want to do is this:
Starting this weekend through Oct 31st I am going to begin a quest to get through a number of gothic, scary, moody, atmospheric stories. My goal is at least 5. Some ideas for books I may want to read are:
1. Dracula by Bram Stoker
2. The Mystery of the Sea by Bram Stoker
3. Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories, edited by Roald Dahl
4. The Haunted Looking Glass, edited by Edward Gorey
5. The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson
6. The Moonstone and/or The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
7. The Wyvern Mystery by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
8. Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Maturin
9. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
10. Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
11. Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell
12. The Perfume of the Lady in Black by Gaston Leroux
Just to name a few.
Here’s how the contest works:
Simply join me in this challenge. Post an entry on your blog indicating that you are taking on the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P.) Autumn Challenge (or post here if you are blogless) and pick out any 5 books that you want to read (they don’t have to be from this list) that you think meet the very open, broad criteria of being scary, eerie, moody, dripping with atmosphere, gothic, unsettling, etc. and vow to read them. You may have even read one recently and want to count it. That’s it! Let me know in the comments or via email (poegeek@gmail.com) that you are joining in. The reason that I say this contest is simple is that you don’t even have to finish the books to win. This isn’t a race or anything of the sort. It is simply a way to encourage reading around a specific, though broad, theme to generate discussion. And this is my absolute favorite time of the year so I want to do something to celebrate it.
And what is the prize? Well, in part it will be this:
(not my copy though!!!)
There will be some fun extra items in the prize pack…not my wife’s necklace however. And because I know that you might actually want this before the end of October the prize (or possibly two depending on the number of entries) will be drawn at random out of a hat one week from today, on Wednesday September 6th at 5 p.m. central standard time.
This may be the last contest until later in October so don’t delay, act now!!!
I will post links to the posts of the bloggers who join in the body of this post as they sign up:
1. Quixotic’s List
2. Good Girl’s list
3. Angela’s list
4. Heather’s list
5. Carl’s list (finally)
6. Adrienne’s list
7. Janet (Shifty)’s list
8. Danielle’s list
9. Lynette’s List
10. Kristen’s List
11. Ex Libris’ list
12. Booklogged’s list
13. LK’s list
14. Suzanne’s list
15. Elaine’s list
16. Dovegreyreader’s list
17. Victoria’s list
18. Bellezza’s list
19. Kailana’s list
20. Litlove’s list
21. Bloglily’s list
22. Bikeprof’s list
23. Jenclair’s list
24. Tanabata’s list
25. Susan’s list
26. Kate’s list
27. Colleen’s list (scroll down on sidebar to see)
28. Ruth’s list
29. Anne’s list
30. Petunia’s list
31. Wendy’s list
32. Deborah’s list
33. Susan’s list
34. Sherry (Semicolon)’s list
35. Amanda’s list
36. Amanda A.’s list
37. Heather (AKA Orange Blossom Goddess)’s list
38. Cam’s list (Cam’s Commentary)
39. Nicole’s list (Life in Sicily)
40. Helen’s list (Aurora’s Books)
41. Jeff’s list
42. Becca’s list
43. Michelle’s list
44. Pat’s list
45. Mysfit’s list
46. Brandon’s list
47. Carrie’s list
48. Michelle’s (SittinHereKnittin) list
49. Melissa (MissyJoon)’s list
50. Lesley’s list
51. Lisa’s list
At the request of Iliana I have made some buttons/banners of various sizes to use if you so desire on your website to link to this post:
(115X85)
(150X111)
(179X133)
(200X148)
(250X185)
And thanks to Iliana’s fantastic idea I have added a link category in my side bar, on the right hand side, just under categories that has a link to this post for future reference, should you want to come back and post about your progress or let us know if you’ve reviewed any of your books on your site, etc.
If you need something a different size feel free to let me know. We’ve got a good number of you who have joined the challenge already, but we want more! Sign up today!
Ooh, you start this just at the beginning of the new school year! That is mean! I don’t stand a chance, unless I cheat and use those that I have already read. Poop! May I request a reading challenge that coincides with the Christmas holidays? It would be a welcome relief for those os us who live with families ;).
You know, I don’t usually do this kind of thing, because I’m very fickle in my reading fancies… But then you had to list The Moonstone… and I adored that book… So I’m going to take that excuse to re-read it.
Can’t you at least try??? After all that is what the rules stipulate. Read the fine print, the contest is over, and prize is awarded, next week!!!
More than anything I just want an excuse to send somebody something cool!!!
So does that mean you’re signing up for the challenge Anne?
I’m totally signing up for this one. 🙂 Will work on my list today!
I absolutely love both the cards btw – gorgeous.
Oh yay! This sounds like so much fun! Hmmm, now I have to decide which books to read…
Glad you signed up Quixotic, I added a link to your post in the body of the post above and will do that for all who join in.
Link to my list can be found above.
Oh I’ll do it, totally! I’ve been wanting to read things like this anyway, so it’s perfect timing! Plus I want that Dracula! LOL
Carl gives the best gifts! (and so creative with the wrapping, that opening is the best part!)
ok, here’s my list i’ll be reading this coming month:
1. Winter Moon, by Lackey, Lee, and Murphy
2. Vulcan’s Soul Trilogy, Book 2, by Josepha Shwartz and Susan Shwartz
3. The Reluctant Miss Van Helsing by Minda Webber
4. Magic Street by Orson Scott Card
5. Everybody Comes to the Nightside (contains 3 novels), by Simon R. Green
My list will be up shortly.
And may I say, that edition of Stardust is gorgeous. I read that book a few years ago and loved it, as I do most of Gaiman’s work. But that book is beautiful!
I’m so jealous of Jeff and Pat. Those prizes are amazing!
Since my summer reading challenge is over you bet I’ll take you up on the R.I.P. Challenge. Love it and as I’m a huge fan of mystery/gothic/scary stuff in general this should be an easy one 🙂 I’m also taking note of some of the books you mentioned as I hadn’t heard of them before. I’ll think about my 5 books and post them later tonight.
I’ll put a link up to you as soon as you get yours done Heather and Iliana, glad you’re both joining in. And yes, I cared nothing about the extra stuff I just wanted Stardust because of the way this one looked!
Got your link up in the post now Good Girl, excited you are joining in.
Angela!!!! Glad you were able to get into my site and like your list. I have read 2 of the Nightside books by Green and they’re fun…a little repetitive at times because Green seems to treat each book in such a way so that a reader could pick up any one and have an idea about the universe. There are several out now and I need to catch up on them, my hope is that the tendency to reintroduce the world starts fading out with the sequels.
Man, I am such a pushover for things like this. Since I just started The Mystery of the Sea, I guess I will have to join in. Must think about what else to read. Wonderful idea!
You’ve read some books already that can ‘count’ towards the total. I’m being very flexible since I know some of you have read Collin’s and Well’s books this past month that in my mind definitely qualify as meeting the challenge!
Oh, I’m so doing this! My list will be up soon!
Love the wrapping paper on Jeff’s gift, how beautiful!
I’ll post your link as soon as you get it done Janet!!!
I guess I should’ve participated. The girls want me to read the Edward Tulane book to them. There was an excerpt from it in the back of Desperaux that piqued their interest. We finished Desperaux and the girls and I really enjoyed it.
Way to go Pat and Jeff!
Meh – I won’t have time to do this challenge, what with my world literature tour. It sounds so interesting though! I recommend ‘The Golem’ by Gustav Meyrink for this challenge, for somebody to read. I’m just about to start on African authors, and I don’t think they’re known for their tales of horror unfortunately!
I’m not sure about that Max, some of the characters in American Gods and Anansi Boys by Gaiman are from African mythology so I’m sure there is plenty of what could be defined as horror in their lexicon of books.
Cool. I’m going to have to do a little research, but I hope to have my list up soon!
Good, let me know Adrienne and I’ll put it up and I’ll get the link in.
I have yet to commit to a list of 5 so here are the ones I have decided to read, at least first and foremost, to meet my challenge”
1. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
2. The Mystery of the Sea by Bram Stoker
3. House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson
4. The Haunted Looking Glass, stories chosen by Edward Gorey
5. Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
This give me two re-reads (#1 and #2) and the rest will be new for me (at least I am fairly certain I haven’t read Murders by Poe.
Most of these are fairly quick reads, my hope is to get through all these plus a large number of others that are books I have been saving until this coming season. Books like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell (which I have to finish) and House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski feel like books that I want to start reading again in Oct. and can blend nicely into November. I haven’t read Dracula for a couple of years and will start working my way through the annotated edition but don’t want to feel rushed with it for this challenge. I also want to get through a number of the other ones listed.
I plan to finish my current sci-fi book and the rest of Return of the King in the midst of the R.I.P. challenge reading and will probably then concentrate on just these books…except of course for reading Little Women for the Our Coffee Ring club.
I’m thrilled so many are responding and invite you to tell your friends. There is still a week until the prize winning to dig in (bad grave pun!)
OK. It’s up and running.
I got you linked Adrienne. Fantastic choices!!!
Alright count me in. I’ve posted about it but I can’t seem to make up my mind on what books to read! ack!!
By the way, are you going to have a button so we can use it for a link?
I will indeed make a few buttons Iliana, great idea. I’ll try to get them up and posted tomorrow! Glad you’re joining in. Is there any way that I can link directly to the post you just did about this?
The buttons are made and are now in the post (which has been edited) Iliana, and everyone else who wants one.
Excellent choice of image for the button!
Oh dear! What if one doesn’t have a blog but wants to join in? I’m so happy to discover that I’m not the only one who feels the need for a change in reading material as soon as summer turns to the “season of mists”, and when I saw the prizes for your last challenge, well…! In addition, I’m feeling a bit left out of my daughters’ back-to-school shopping and preparations, so this could be like a fun little lit. class assignment for me. I had planned to re-read both Coraline and Stardust this fall, and have always wanted to read the Moonstone. Would Dickens’ Bleak House count as Gothic? And I’m sure I could squeeze in one more, I’ll have to go look on my Gothic shelf (behind my Jack Skellington and Sally dolls, and my Gorey bat with the ruby eyes) for something I’ve saved for a rainy day.
Please can I play too?
Yes Wendy, it would be great to have you join in. It is a long, rambling post but it does say “or post here if you are blogless”. Angela, though not blogless, has a very specific theme on her site so she posted her choices here. Please join in! (Bleak House sounds appropriate to me….not a small book!)
Speaking of Dickens, when I was at Barnes and Noble the other day I noticed that they had these huge, beautiful Dickens books. They are reprints of early 20th century books by Nonesuch Press. Here is an example of the Bleak House edition. The picture doesn’t do them justice, they are beautiful. And only $19.99. Here’s a little blurb about Nonesuch Press:
The Nonesuch Press was founded in London by Francis Meynell in 1923. Applying the refinement and expertise of the private press aesthetic to commercial publishing, Nonesuch books were among the most elegant and treasured volumes produced in the first half of the twentieth century. The fabled Nonesuch Dickens was the Press’ most ambitious project, treasured both for its quality and its rarity: only 877 twenty-four volume sets were issued, and complete original sets have sold recently at auction for more than $30,000.
I’m new to your site, but would love to join in your R.I.P. challenge! Great idea! I’ll think of some titles and will blog about it, hopefully yet today. Sharon
Fantastic – count me in! I love the little badges thing to put on your site but am technically incapable of adding it – I’m sorry! Won’t mean I’m not in.
Great buttons! I’ll add it tonight 🙂
I want to participate, but I need to figure out five books to read first… So, I am going to think on it…
Glad to have you all aboard. Let me know when you have it posted and I’ll add the links in here.
The button/banner is not required, it was just a request that I thought was a fun idea.
Definately count me in! I’m about to post my 5 books on my blog! Happy Reading!
Hi Carl,
What a great idea! Halloween is my favorite time of year so this is right up my alley. Still deciding on what five I am going to read though. I will post on my site later today.
October cannot come soon enough! So glad you are both joining in!!!
those prizes certainly are amazing and i am sad i missed this game (win or not) – it’s just so pleasant on Neptune this time of year…
congrats to Pat and Jeff!
Great idea, Carl! I’m not registering just yet  will have to think about what books I want to read that qualify. I’ve started The Turn of the Screw, and I’d reread Coraline in a pinch, oh and Lemony Snickett is due out soon… Hmmm.
Oh, please! Can I play too? I’ve never been here before, but this sounds fun! (Heard about it at Janet’s!)
My list is here:
http://www.rampantbicycle.com/blog/?itemid=197
If anything is gloomy it is sure Lemony Snickett!!! 😉
I’ve added your link Lynette.
I will add all the others as they come up.
Mysfit, glad you were able to get back in. My internet guru explained to me that this is a DNS thing and it is the individual internet provider’s issue, has to do with the way they update things or something. Usually is corrected in a few days. You’re welcome to get in on this contest!!!
I have blogged about the challenge – you can view my list here:
http://exlibris.typepad.com/ex_libris/2006/08/new_reading_cha.html
Can’t wait to begin!
I’m going to start with “The Historian.”
No sense starting with something small Suzanne. 😉
I think all my 5 added together may not have as many pages as The Historian! You’ll have to let me know what you think. I have heard so many mixed reviews. I’m not sure if the payoff is worth the journey through the book and so it makes me reluctant to read it.
I think I might re-read “Devil in the White City” as well.
I’m in! Will have to think about which ones to choose and will post later.
Did you see my comment on your blog that this is in no way limited to fiction. There is plenty of nonfiction that falls into the broad definition as well.
I saw that and added a couple more based on the relaxed criteria, that just leaves me with one more book to make a decision on. Guess you can count me “in.”
Okay, once you are done Suzanne either update your post so I can link to it or put your list here in the comments.
Jenclair, welcome!
How funny! While I was messing around with my R.I.P. post you happened along to comment. I’ve spent the most part of the morning choosing my books and thought I would get the post ready before declaring myself a contestant. Yes, I’m joining! Very excited to read 5 books that will be so new in content for me. Can’t wait to get started on my first book. That means I will need to finish up two others before the weekend. What a great challenge. Thanks for ‘brewing’ the idea and inviting us.
Oh no, other people making bad puns on the site….I think as long as we all don’t get in close proximity with one another we won’t cause any significant world damage!!!
I’ll get your link posted asap, Booklogged.
Hey, Carl, yes, I’m joining. Sent you an e-mail. This will be rockin’.
My choices are posted, but as I see some more familiar names, I’m off to check for more possibilities. What fun, Carl!
I updated my list…checked out the other blogs to see what everyone else will be reading. I almost chose Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as a couple people did (might still read it just because), and it’s nice to see I’m not the only one reading The Historian.
Ths sounds fun. Those that come to mind and will probably be on my list are:
1 – The Historian – Kostova
2 – Gothic Tales – Mrs Gaskell
3 – Ghost Stories – Edith Wharton
4 – Ghost Stories and A Christmas Carol (even if it IS out of seaon) – Dickens
5 – Gothic stories by LM Alcott or perhaps Turn of the Screw by Henry James
This is going to be fun!!
Elaine
Ooooooohhhhhh Carl, how can I resist? I’d love to join in.
But can I please have a stay of execution on my selection while I untangle myself from this Booker-thon madness?
Sure, the only deadline is for the prize which is the 6th. As far as joining in I hope people hop in the hearse all month long!!!!
You’ve gotten me hooked on the idea now and I can’t let it rest…so I’ll have to join in. 😉 Anyway, I’ll post my list on Eve’s Alexandria ASAP. At the moment it looks like being:
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Dracula by Bram Stoker
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Affinity by Sarah Waters
And I love the buttons btw. Huzzah for Gorey! 🙂
Not sure if I can participate (time constraints at the moment, besides, I’m hopless at reading books within a certain timeframe) but I just HAD to write in to tell you what a great idea this is and I look forward to reading everyone’s comments as they progress with the challenge. Heard of the challenge at Danielle’s and booklogged,btw..
Count me in! I don’t have a list of books yet though. Working on it and will post it in a day or two!
What a perfectly splendid idea! I read Bram Stroker’s Dracula for the first time (sigh of shame) last October and truly got shivers. The whole concept of evil is very real, and terrifying, to me. Okay, so I’ll add to my list:
1. Frankenstein (the original, of course)
2. The Ruin (just released, Stephen King said it scared the heck out of him)
3. Re-read The Woman In White (I LOVED it)
4. My son’s geometry book…wait a minute, that’s not scary to most people…
5. The Snow Garden by Christopher Rice which has been sitting on my shelf for about two years.
6. For anyone who hasn’t yet read it, don’t forget The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
7. Oh, and Wuthering Heights.
Elaine, glad to have you! Great list.
Dovegrey Reader, look forward to seeing your list.
Victoria, great list as well. I read I Am Legend a few years ago and really enjoyed it.
Lotus, sorry you can’t participate but I am so glad you visited and am blushing because of your kind words, thanks!!!
Stefanie, look forward to seeing your list and I’ll post it when you have it done.
Bellezza, like the list. Read The Secret History a few years ago when I was home sick and my weakened state added an extra dimension of eerieness to the tale. I’m interested in checking out the Ruin based on the King quote!
Well I’m not reknowned for finding time to read but I’m going to give this a go. To encourage myself I’m putting The Haunted Woman by David Lindsay on the top of the list as I ‘ve already read it.
My No. 2 book will be The Castle of Otranto by Hugh Walpole.
So glad you’re joining in Ruth. The Castle of Otranto is a book that I read last year and really enjoyed. It really inspired me to check out other true ‘gothic’ novels and in part inspired this post. Good choice!
This hardly seems fair, since I usually try to read a lot of gothic or scary things without a challenge like this. But count me in. I’ll have to think of a list.
I’m going to have to revise my list, I think. Hawksmoor wasn’t quite what I was looking for, and the others are proving difficult to track. Oh well. I shall keep trying. 🙂
I tried to resist but I’ve just blogged about it so there’s no going back now!
I’m in. My books (at this moment in time) will be The People’s Act of Love; The Turn of the Screw; Harriet Hume; Macbeth; and Warlock.
Count me in, even though I’m, well, terrified of reading scary books. I’ve begun compiling a list of possibilities for myself here:
http://katesbookblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/autumn-reading-challenge.html
Came here via sassymonkey, and I’m glad I did. I’m in. I’ll post my list on the sidebar of my blog.
Whoops – I typed that THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO was by Hugh Walpole – should be HORACE!!!!!
Carl! What a great idea! I love that you’re using “The Gashlycrumb Tinies” to illustrate the contest. (My favorite Gorey)
Ruth – ha ha ha. I took Hugh for Horace once. Man, what a disappointment. But I’ve read “Castle of Otranto” and can vouch for its excellence.
Ella….I’m feeling very bad now because I’ve been meaning to email you for days just to say ‘hi!’. Once Iliana came up with the suggestion for the button I just knew it had to be Edward Gorey and this image is perfect. I think its my favorite of Gorey’s little story books.
Is it not too late? I’ve just posted my list.
Found you through Pages Turned. I’ve blogged my list. This should be fun!
http://educatingpetunia.blogspot.com/2006/09/rip-autumn-challenge.html
Hi Carl
Would it be okay if I nick this idea for a small promotion in Nuneaton library? It’s a lovely idea!
Thanks
Carla Tate, Stock and Reader Development
Warwickshire libraries
Anne, Petunia…I happy that you are joining in and I added links to your lists in the body of the post.
Carla, feel free to do whatever you want with the idea, I’d be thrilled. If you do something at the library you should take some pics and email them to me at poegeek@gmail.com and I’ll post them here!
Here’s my official list:
1. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
2. Bleak House by Charles Dickens
3. Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
4. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
5. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
I’m starting and finishing with rereads of favorites. Gulped Coraline down in one day and would like to know if anyone out there has let their children read it? My older daughter read it at 15 and was just as terrified of it as I am; I can’t figure out if my younger daughter will EVER be able to read it, she’s not a Goth like Emily and me. I know Mr. Gaiman has said that children experience Coraline as an adventure while adults are thoroughly creeped out by it…has anyone else found this to be true? It covers so many of the most horrifying nightmare-inducing elements that it’s almost a textbook for terror: rats, spiders, ghosts, beetles, enclosed spaces, eyeballs, needles, abandonment, decaying bodies…(all reasons we enjoy reading this stuff, of course, because of that thrill of ooky fear) so for ages 8 & up? Really? That being said, can’t WAIT for the movie.
Into Bleak House now, already lapping up the foggy carriage rides and swooning ladies, the mad woman in her attic and the sinister lawyer who knows everyone’s secrets. Loved the recent Masterpiece Theater adaptation on PBS but didn’t get to see all the episodes, so in some places I’m aware of foreshadowing and in others it’s all new information. Apparently the MT version was quite faithful to the original.
This was such a great idea for the time of year! Today, cold and grey and rainy, a particularly good day to curl up with an atmospheric book. Thanks for counting me in, Carl!
How do we post our comments on the books? on our blogs or send to you?
Elaine
A nice solid list there Wendy. I haven’t read any Maguire though I would love to see the musical for Wicked someday. I haven’t read Bleak House either…always looks like a daunting task. However its good to take on one of those big books once in awhile when the story is worthwhile as I’m sure it is. I may have to Netflix the PBS version of it as it sounds interesting.
I read Coraline to my daughter when it came out…she would have been 10 or 11 at the time and she really enjoyed it. She didn’t get too creeped out by it but all children are different that way. I personally feel it is important to at least give children the option to be introduced to some ‘safe’ scary stories through books and movies at an appropriate age. First I think it is important for kids to overcome their fears and alot of the really good books do just that. Secondly, if you read scary stuff as a child and remember just how wonderful it was to have that eerie, creepy feeling steal over you as you read than you know just how important it is for a child to have that experience. I would hate to have missed out on that as it is such an important reading memory and one that causes me to continue to cherish similar books today. Again I think it should be the child’s choice, the parents shouldn’t force them to read scary stuff. I think kids know their limits for fear very well and communication and knowing your child essential to judging whether or not you think they are ready to be at least given the option.
When Tori was very young I had the movie Labyrinth and she said she wanted to watch it. We showed her a few minutes as an example (and this was during the daytime) and she said that she definitely wanted to watch it. That night she said she felt a little scared but she didn’t have nightmares or anything. After that we waited a few years before letting her watch it again and she was much more ready at that time…I think she was 8 by then.
Anyway, enough of my rambling! Again, glad you’re on board Wendy.
Carl I am in! I will put up my list today.
Amanda
Cool! I just discovered this! I’d like to join in. Perhaps I can finish The Moonstone for this challenge…hmmm I wonder which other books I can add?
Would MacBeth count?
Looking forward to seeing your list Amanda.
Heather, I would count Macbeth, most definitely.
I couldn’t resist. I’ll post my list later today but one will definitely be The Historian! LOVED that book. I’m deciding which ones to include. and, thanks a lot, Jen! This is all your fault! 🙂 Just kidding. My favorite genre and absolutely my favorite, most beloved time of year: fall & Halloween!!
Count me in too please 🙂 I’ll be posting my list tomorrow(I need to get it together today). I LOVE the button, by the way.
I’ll check back with you later then Kim!
Great idea! I’m using it as a reason to do a little background reading on the gothic theme as well. My list is posted here: http://ibuybooks.blogspot.com/2006/09/rip-autumn-challenge.html
I’m in…my post will be up in the next few days!
I added your list to the post Semicolon!
I’ll be looking out for yours Jenni….and hooray for you for being the 100th post…a first for the Stainless Steel Droppings site! Too cool!
Sign me up please! Some of these books will be great fun to booktalk! 😉
I’ve posted my list on my blog. This will be fun!
Count me in! My list can be found here: http://elskermeg.wordpress.com/2006/09/04/rip-autumn-reading-challenge/
I’ve only just cottoned on to what this is all about (having just read dovegreyreader’s selection). Count me in! Fab idea! I’ll post in my blog later with titles, link to your journal, etc. What a great idea for autumn!!
Of course, count me in. It was cool to read that so many people loved The Moonstone as much as I did. I’ll put a list together soon. Wow! Did you get a great response to this contest.
My selection has gone on my blog today Carl, some lateral thinking involved to get in books I really want to read off the tbr stack and one old favourite.
I am excited about all the new people continuing to sign up. I look forward to seeing your list Pat.
I updated the link to your newest list Dovegreyreader. You are number 16 in the post above in case you don’t know.
Wonderful idea my friend. Count me in for the challenge. Here is my list since I don’t have my own blog. 🙁
1. The Homecoming by Ray Bradbarry ( thanks to YOU! )
2. Nightflyers by George R.R. Martin
3. Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
4. Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman
5. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
6. Innocents Aboard by Gene Wolfe
7. The Savage Tales of Solmon Kane by Robert E. Howard
8. Hellboy – The Bones of Giants by Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola
Going with 8 books, eh Jeff. Pretty bold! Great list. Can’t wait until Fragile Things comes out later this month. I assume there will be some stories in it that fit in this category so it will definitely be a ‘bonus book’ for me.
I’ve started a few of them already so the RIP challenge is a motivator to completeing them, plus I’m listening to Clarke on CD so that should help. 🙂
Well I didn’t really enjoy 2 of the RIP books I’ve finished so far, so I started on an extra book.. a murder mystery, since I always enjoy them.
I’m halfway through “Death Splits a Hair” by Nancy Bell, and it’s hard to put down.
Hi there, I found this through Helen (aurora_floyd)! My list can be located in her thread, but I can post it up public in my livejournal if required. My list is as follows:
1) Dracula – Bram Stoker
2) In a Glass Darkly – Sheridan Le Fanu
3) The Unicorn – Iris Murdoch
4) Tales of Unease – Arthur Conan Doyle
5) Melmoth the Wanderer – Charles Maturin
It’s a great challenge 🙂
Okay Angela, what two books didn’t you enjoy?!?!
Glad to have you in Becca, good list. I’ll have to look into that Tales of Unease by Doyle as I have not heard of that one!
I’m in. Sounds like fun.
Okay, here’s my list:
Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving; Coraline by Neil Gaiman; Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte; Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue. Now I think I’ll retire to my English reading room and start one.
You can borrow Coraline if you need to…if you don’t have it that is!
The Winter Moon stories were just blah. And The Reluctant Miss Van Helsing (while it sounded like a funny vampire slayer spoof) was just a slightly funny piece of romance fluff. Actually, more degrading to women than romantic. ick. Which is sad since it was written by a woman.
Sorry to hear that about the Miss Van Helsing book as the title was marvelous. I hope the rest of your reading turns out to be worthwhile!
Come and visit my blog later today, where I will post my list of books!! It will be a spoook-tacular fall!
Will do, and I’ll post your list as well!!!
ok, sorry for the wait 😉 – mysfit’s list of misty horrors is posted on the fish
Yay!!!! Mysfit is in. I’ll post your list!
count me in as well. i have to get back to you with that list, tho. my library is in boxes at the moment awaiting my inpending move across the north shore from port richmond to west brighton. i’ll post it on the fish as soon as i can.
Cool Oldben, great to have you in!
Well… I’m a bit late to join in for the prize but I love the idea and would like to join in for the sheer fun of it. I’ve seen some great ideas and books I’ve been meaning to read anyway so this should be a hoot.
Its not too late yet! There is an hour and a half before the deadline for the drawing. And remember there will be some sort of drawing for something at the end out of the list of those who finish. The real reward is reading great books though so join in!
I wandered over by way of another blogger’s site and I’m in on the challenge. I hate horror films and the only horro book I’ve read is Dracula. I’m easily spooked so this will indeed be a challenge but I will just have to read in the morning (coughs) at work. I’ll get back to you with that list after I find out what these books are about. This should be fun! I have a blog on MSN Spaces but I have no idea if I can post a button to it. So I will probably be posting here.
Count (no pun intended) me in! Here’s my blog post about the challenge, outlining the books I plan to read.
Look forward to reading your list Geeky Dior Girl.
Thanks for joining in Lesley!
Got my first review (-ish thing) up, of The King In Yellow:
http://www.rampantbicycle.com/blog/?itemid=201
Just posted about ideas for my fall reads. Thanks for the fun and flexible challenge.
I’m surprised no one has been on me yet today to report who the winners of the drawings were. 😉 The drawing has been done, with help from the missus to make things fair, and there were 6 winners. The top two for sure will get the Dracula book and the others will get various other related prizes. I think I’ll have time to work on the prize packs over the weekend (if I get my friend’s gift finished).
So, the winners are: just kidding, you’ll have to wait until later tonight or tomorrow morning. 😉
Am nearly through my first one LM Montgomery Among the Shadows. I have blogged if anyone wants to have a look
Elaine
I would like to join the autumn reading challege too!
Please do Paula!!!
Count me in!
I will have my list up on my blog by sunday eve. Great Idea.
I love the button (I’m a Gorey fan!)
Great, I’ll keep an eye out for your list Wendy!!!
I’m hoping it’s not too late to join the contest. My five books are (1) Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells; (2) Gothic Tales by Elizabeth Gaskell; (3) Grange House by Sarah Blake (4) The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells and (5) Dracula by Bram Stoker. A mix of new titles and old familiars…I’ll post to my blog as soon as possible.
I’m in! My list is posted at http://bookfoolery.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Carl! I’m on my second read; finished Girlfriend in a Coma and I’m working on My Cousin Rachel (and loving it).
I am sorry I forgot to post my list. But it is up on my site now.
My 5 books are:
1)The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman
2)The Picture of Dorian Gray by: Oscar Wilde
3)Frankinstien by: Mary Shelley
4)Gothic Tales by: Elizabeth Gaskell
5)The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes by: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
It isn’t too late to join in the fun. I’ll be adding these new lists to the post asap.
#2 complete, thoughts posted!
My list is on maggiereads now. Sorry, it took so long. Here is the quick version…
My Challenge:
1.) Everyman by Philip Roth
2.) The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
3.) The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Lucia Graves
4.) Spook by Mary Roach
5.) Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
Extra Credit or if Thunderstruck doesn’t get to my home in time…
A.) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I had to change # 1 on my list from The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman to
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales because my Husband told me I couldn’t complete it and all the others on my list by Halloween. SO I had to take that challenge. Hope you understand.
I’m okay with any changes you want to make. Good luck proving your hubby wrong! 🙂
Good Evening,
My list is on my blog. I’ve chosen these:
1. Odd Forever by Dean Koontz
2. In Silent Graves by Gary A. Braunbeck
3. Broken by Kelly Armstrong
4. Dark Tower V : Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King
5. Dreaming Jewels by Theodore Sturgeon
What a fun challenge!
what a great challenge. i am signing up. i have posted my list on my blog, and well we’ll see if i’m up to getting through them all!
I am a newbie to this blogging world but am so happy I stumbled across your site. I have decided to join in your challenge and have posted my list on my fledgling blog!
Sign me up! here is my list: http://www.msmelanie.prettyposies.com/?p=351
Ok I’ve got my list up on my site, http://geekydiorgirl.spaces.live.com/. I hooked it up the best I could. It’s on the left side. I’ve started Moonstone and it’s slow going right now but hopefully over the weekend I’ll kick it into high gear. I’m so excited!
1 down and 4 to go! Everyman by Philip Roth
My thoughts…http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2006/09/everyman-copy.html#links
Me, too! I’m working on my list and will post it this weekend.
How wonderful that I found this! I love the idea and will be working on my list in the next few days. I’ll post to my blog for all to see and keep you updated on my progress. Since it’s already mid-September, I’ll commit to read 4 books before the end of October. I think that’s reasonable so I can also read things that won’t keep me up at night!
Is it too late to join? I will post my list tomorrow.
I just finished reading a book on my lsit and now have 4 to go!
No Rebecca, join away. I will update this post…and be sending out the first newsletter…within the next few days.
Oh wow, I love this! absolutly brilliant.
My books are
1. Tales – HP Lovecraft (so excited about this)
2. Phantoms – Dean Koontz
3. The Witching Hour – Anne
Rice
4. Horror: The 100 Best Books (I know it’s not a story technically, but i’ll at least get a book about books right?)
5. Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales
I might not get through them all, but, it should be wonderful
I would love to join in. I’m on a 50bookchallenge (over at LJ) anyway, so this will work in nicely, and I still have 6 weeks. Yay! Great idea, thanks for doing it.
Liz
As you might guess from the name of my blog, I will be reading Poe.
In addition to rereading favorite stories such as The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Gold-Bug, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Purloined Letter, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Pit and the Pendulum…
…I want to sample some of the new fiction about Poe such as The Poe Shadow by Pearl, In a Strange City by Lippman, The Lighthouse at the End of the World by Marlowe, and In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe by Fuqua.
The anniversary of Poe’s death is in October, btw. I’ll be in mourning.
I finished The Moonstone and absolutely LOVED IT! I posted some thoughts on it on my website http://geekydiorgirl.spaces.live.com/ but I will say here I am an adamant fan Mr. Betteredge’s and Miss Clack worked my nerves! Overall a wonderful wonderful read.
Is it too late to join in on this, Carl? I’ve been procrastinating or busy, depending on which day it is!
Lisa G.
My list is here http://www.letterstoelizabeth.us/2006/09/letter_115_1.html
and my books arrived yesterday. First up is The Haunted Hotel.
I’m taking this opportunity to read those classic stories that have made their way into the movies – thanks for the challenge, this will be fun!
I just wanted to stop by and thank you for launching this challenge. If you hadn’t written about Gorey’s illustrated anthology, The Haunted Looking Glass, I would never have encountered Montague Rhodes James (M.R. James). I’m thoroughly enjoying his literary ghost stories. As you might expect, it’s always an unexpected treat to come across enjoyable reading material if you’ve never heard of it beforehand. I may not complete the five challenge titles I originally listed, but I will have read beyond my normal horizons. *And* I’ve been blogging more frequently. So, thank you for thinking of this autumn challenge.
Come me in! I already met my 2006 reading goals for the year & I’m trying to figure out my goals for 2007 already. I’ve been trying to figure out a mini goal or two for the rest of the year, so I’m joining in! My list of books will be up soon-ish.
I decided to update my list. I’ve finished three of the five and have substituted in one book. I’m having great fun with this challenge!
I have just read my third of the five and blogged about it. I am enjoying this very much indeed and have spent the last two Saturday nights scaring myself witless!
Just finished The Ghost Writer by Robert Harwood. I enjoyed it and wish someone who has read it would contact me for a discussion. It was pretty complex by my standards but then, I have many distractions and maybe that contributed to my perspective. I do recommend it. On to the next book.
OK I have finished the challenge! if anyone wants to check it out and my comments please click onto category RIP challenge on the right hand side of my blog and up they will all come. I changed my books as I went along so ended up with one serendipidity find, two brand new really scary ones, one re-read of an Edith Wharton I had forgotten about, and the umpteenth reading of one of my favourite books of all time.
Great fun Carl – thank you so much for this.
Any ideas for a New Year/Easter/Summer challenge you would like to share with us???
Elaine
Whoo Hoo! I am only 20 pages away from completing the last book on my reading challenge list! I am so glad I took this challenge. I read books I have wanting to read for over 20+ years!
Hi…
I know I’m too late to join the challenge, but if you want a good, scary, gothic read, I whole-heartedly recommend “Rebecca” by Daphne DuMaurier – talk about creepy! And the movie – fabulous!
Carl – I like your site, I hope you don’t mind if I list you on my blog.
Yeah I am done! I finished the last of page of the last book on my challenge list! 🙂
Finishing my last book tonight. Sneaking it in under the wire! Thanks for the fun challenge.
Barely finished all my titles but got a *lot* out of the experience. I had never heard of M.R. James before this fall and now I’ve read alot of his ghost stories. I know much more about gothic literature, not that it comes up often in conversation. I have blogged much more in these past two months so I got alot out of it!
Great idea and thank you!
I have posted a wrap up newsletter here if you’re interested.
I’m looking for someone to read and review our first offering: GRIM LEGION, a novel of Edgar Allan Poe at West Point.
I’ll send a free copy to the first two people to respond.
Otherwise, it is available from our website and various places like Amazon and B&N.
–Jerry
Oh yeah…
editor@bewilderingpress.com
I’ll take one and read/review it. I sent you an email. If no one else responds here by tomorrow I will include your offer for the second book in a post and someone will respond right away. Thanks for the generous offer.
Okay, Carl, one to you and one to Jeff Smith. I tried to send Jeff an email, but ampress.com just bounced.
Curiously, I am in Lawrence, KS until 12/22, teaching an electrical class. I fly out on Friday night at 6:30
–Jerry
How oddly coincidental! Jeff actually is a friend of mine so if it saves you time you can ship them both to me and I’ll give the other to him.
Is this how I sign up? My blog is under construction, but I am on goodreads.com under the email lisalit2@aol.com. I am looking forward to this challenge! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I enjoy this genre!