R.I.P. V Challenge
by Jenners • 09/02/2010 • Reading Challenges • 37 Comments
I’ve decided that I will not miss out on the fun of the R.I.P. Challenge this year (Readers Imbibing Peril), which is hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.
As far as I can tell, the R.I.P. is all about scaring yourself silly by reading books in these categories:
Mystery
Suspense
Thriller
Dark Fantasy
Gothic
Horror
Supernatural
Suspense
Thriller
Dark Fantasy
Gothic
Horror
Supernatural
There are several levels of Peril that you can sign up for, but the real goal is to have fun and share that fun with others. The challenge runs from September 1 until October 31st. You can find all the details (and the really cool buttons) here.
After browsing my bookshelves, I decided I could definitely read at least four books, which means I’m participating at the Peril the First level. Because I am the world’s slowest book reviewer, I am vowing to review each book immediately after finishing so that I’m not writing about scary books at Christmas time! I’ve decided to come up with some kind of review format that will make it easier for me to write my reviews in a timely fashion. So here are the seven books I’ll attempt to read …with a little bit about why I think they fit the challenge.
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier: “Arguably the most famous and well-loved gothic novel of the 20th century.” And yet, I’ve never read it. FINISHED
- We Have Always Lived In The Castle
- Infected by Scott Sigler: “…riveting horror thriller, alien seeds from outer space infect a number of unlucky humans, who develop some unusual symptoms—itchy, blue triangular growths on their skin—that eventually result in the carriers becoming screaming, homicidal maniacs.” Sounds deliciously horrible to me! FINISHED
- In The Woods by Tana French: “Irish author French expertly walks the line between police procedural and psychological thriller in her debut.” Plus I hear she gets better and better and better… FINISHED
- Stiff: The Curious Lives Of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach: It is about dead bodies!! ‘Nuff said. FINISHED
- What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman: “After fleeing a car accident, a middle-aged woman with no ID is questioned by both the police and hospital administration. Refusing to reveal her identity (and proof of health insurance), she instead hints that she is the younger of two sisters, Heather and Sunny Bethany, who disappeared the day before Easter in 1975.” Sounds like a good mystery to me! FINISHED
- The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson: From a blurb on the back of the book: “It’s as engrossing as it is gruesome, the kind of horror you watch with one eye closed. A hell of a story.” Oooooohhhh…sounds wonderful! FINISHED
Pingback: RIP Review: Infected by Scott Sigler
Rebecca and The Gargoyle are definitely creepy! Good luck.
A good selection there, especially Rebecca (as you know I plan to read it for RIP also). Genius on picking 'Stiff" — it's hard to think of non-fiction that would fit the RIP challenge! maybe I'll make note of it for next year!
The Gargoyle was REALLY good! I hope you enjoy it!
I can't wait to hear what you think of Rebecca! It is one of my all time favorites and I am thinking you will have much to say about it.
Stiff! I loved Stiff. It was so funny. It was especially fun reading it during my lunch break at work and sharing all the tidbits with those in the room with me. LOL Good luck with the challenge! I'm going to be joining tomorrow.
I loved Rebecca! I didn't finish We Have Always Lived in the Castle, but I think it was just the wrong time of year for me or something. I love this challenge. I'll be interested to see what you think of your choices.
Everyone seems to just adore “Rebecca” so I’m really excited about it. And now I’m curious to see what I think of “We Have Always Lived in the Castle.” It sounds different!
This challenge is going to kill me…in a fun way though!
I want to read everything on your list as well as what's on my list. I may have to put all of my books that fall under this category in a big basket and blindly draw from it. 
I'm curious about something…you and several other book bloggers mention from time to time "getting behind on your reviews." How in the world do you read multiple selections and then go back and review? Do you ever forget things? I'm a stewer…I need to read, think, chew and draft before I can finish a review. Maybe my brain is just more feeble than ya'lls
Great list, have fun!
I've been wanting to read Daphne Du Maurier. The Gargoyle sounds excellent too.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
Great list, have fun!
I've been wanting to read Daphne Du Maurier. The Gargoyle sounds excellent too.
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
What a great list! And I love the header photo on your page. I noticed it included your current selections. Do you change it often as your TBR pile changes?
Love your choices – Rebecca, In the Woods and The Gargoyle are all great reading.
I'll have to check out the others I haven't read.
Rebecca is WONDERFUL, one of my all time favorites. I'm planning on reading another DuMaurier. I also really liked Stiff, an easy, fun read.
Stiff is the perfect choice!!! I'm listening to her Packing for Mars right now and it is hysterical.
looks like some good picks for some scary reading–have fun.
I thought you'd already read Stiff, no? Maybe it was another Roach book. I loved Stiff!
And I've finally come up with an easy review format that works for me. I'm not good at thinking of things to say, so I procrastinate writing reviews. I had to fix that problem! You're welcome to use it. It kind of incorporates the Show Me 5 format, in that I use "liked" and "didn't like," with the way I've always done my reviews.
Have fun with your scary reading. It's September and I've been so good with my "no challenges" vow. Gotta keep it up.
I have vowed that no matter how out of control my life is this fall, I will NOT miss this challenge. I also plan to join at the "peril the first" level.
You will adore Rebecca (then you can watch the Hitchcock movie and participate in CBs challenge) ….. and I enjoyed We Have Always Lived in the Castle so much, that I plan to re-read this year as well.
Tana French will be on my list, but not sure what else. I hope to have a post up this weekend.
Should be fun!!!
Great choices, I love Rebecca and long to know your views. Stiff sounds like an intriguing read as well. Good luck with the challenge.
Good luck with the challenge!
oh what a fun and scary challenge this shall be!!!
I LIKED the Gargoyle a lot. Enjoy all you have lined up for the best challenge ever!! love it
Rebecca, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and Stiff are AWESOME reads! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on them. I'm reading What the Dead Know as well, so how cool are we?
What a great lineup! I read Rebecca years ago. I read Infected earlier this year and bet you'll want to read Contagious next. (You might as well go ahead and get it.) My husband and daughter both read In the Woods, but I decided to pass on it. I'll tell you why after you read it. Stiff and The Gargoyle are both in my TBR pile.
Looking forward to your reviews!!
You have SO MANY good books on your list. Stiff . . . In the Woods . . . What the Dead Know . . . Rebecca. I wouldn't even know where to start!
since the first three categories are 90% of what I read, this would be an easy challenge…if I did challenges, which I do not.
'Rebecca' is excellent..and I an a Lippman fan. 'The Gargoyle' I read so long ago..whenever it came out..that I forget what i thought of it. I remember a lot about the book though, which is saying something. French..I think I own two of her books and have not read them yet.
Good luck on the challenge! Your books all look good! I've had my eye on The Gargoyle for a while.
I LOVED the first two books on your list. Happy reading!
Rebecca!!! I read that last year after Jason had tried to get me to read it for a decade and wondered why it took me so long! It was wonderful.
Fantastic that you are diving in with us this year. Thank you!
Great, great list of books. I picked up the audio version of In the Woods last night from the library to start as soon as I finish my re-listen of The Graveyard Book.
i loved "rebecca" and "in the woods". hope
the others are great, too.
better leave your night light on.
I should probably join this challenge because I would complete it without even trying. But I'm feeling defiant and slightly lazy (having a hell of a time getting my reviews written). Anyway, Rebecca is AMAZING. I read it last year for RIP. And I just finished In the Woods. That woman just blows me away. I declared her the object of my literary obsession after The Likeness, and In the Woods just reminded me again. Now I am starting Faithful Place.
Sounds like a fun challenge but I'm too much of a sissy to join. I think you will really enjoy Rebecca. Mrs. Danvers is CREEPY!
Awesome choices! So glad you're joining in (and finally reading Rebecca)! And yes, it might be helpful to review the books in the proper season.
(Please don't notice my stack of review books that have been piling up!)
Sounds like a lot of creepy!
I too have never read Rebecca. I've been eyeing the Lippman and French books. I'll be interested in reading your opinion.
Rebecca is always a great choice. And I loved In the Woods.
Do check out the books I already read for RIP V. Also you will find my tentative read list.
Have fun with the challenge!