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26.Aug.2009 R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IV

Filed In: challenge

rip4300
25 August 2009 – 31 October 2009

Carl @ Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting the fourth R.I.P. Challenge. I’ve never joined R.I.P. challenge for various reasons. First I have never lived at that part of the world where it’s going windy and gloomy around the time of the challenge so I don’t get that Halloween atmosphere going. Even now it’s actually going warmer in Sydney and I’m waiting for the daylight to go longer and my plants to start growing.

Second, I can never stand scary stuff. As a kid I had a ridiculously vivid imagination that even without reading or watching many scary stories, I could easily imagine monsters coming out of the closet — not the fuzzy and colorful ones like Monster Inc but the real bloody disgusting ones like from hell, and scary spirits with body parts hanging out or chopped in grossly manner.

Then I realized there are many books that count for this challenge that don’t have to be about crazy puppets come to live or serial killers that can go into your dreams. As Carl described, you can go for mystery, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy, gothic, horror, supernatural, etc. Even if it’s just slightly spooky and chilly or windy it’s fine (It’s fine right? It is?)

In fact, what I’m reading now is kinda gothic, and my next book in mind could be a good contender.

Carl asked us to share our Reading Pools for everyone to get ideas from each other, which is a great idea! So here’s mine:

  1. Snakes & Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (reading now, also for Japanese Literature challenge)
  2. If On A Winter’s Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino (the next one I intend to read)
  3. Strangers by Taichi Yamada
  4. Dracula by Bram Stoker
  5. Anything by Poe
  6. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
  7. Anything by Ryu Murakami (I don’t dare reading any of his books so far)
  8. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
  9. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Since the challenge is going only a little over 2 months, I’m aiming for Peril the Second which requires you to read two books, any length, any category. At worst I would go for Peril the Third which requires you to read only one book.

Hope everyone have scary months ahead! *laughing maniacally*

Books I read:

  1. Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (urban gothic) 3 stars
  2. Strangers by Taichi Yamada (ghost, mystery) 2.5 stars
  3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (ghost) 3.5 stars
  4. Wicked by Gregory Maguire (dark fantasy) 4 stars
  5. Dracula by Bram Stoker (gothic, vampire) 3 stars

R.I.P. IV Review Site

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There are 16 Comments to "R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IV"

  • diane says:
    26 August 2009 at 11:12 pm

    I joined this challenge too. It was so much fun last year –enjoy

    Reply
  • gautami tripathy says:
    27 August 2009 at 2:03 am

    I forgot to mention Murakami in my list!

    :D

    Here is my RIP IV read list

    Reply
  • Suko says:
    27 August 2009 at 3:16 am

    Sounds scary–and fun! I’ve joined this challenge also. I have a lot going on right now, so I will do Peril the Third.

    Reply
  • Carl V. says:
    27 August 2009 at 11:25 am

    I don’t really enjoy “crazy puppets come to live or serial killers that can go into your dreams” either. I am much more a fan, a die hard fan, of the spooky atmosphere of those classic gothic tales, and a fan of a good mystery. I don’t generally do true ‘horror’. Occasionally, but not much. Which is why the definition is pretty broad for what counts in this challenge.

    I do feel bad that I emphasize the weather so much in this challenge, especially since it is only that way in my part of the world, but it is such a part of the experience, for me, that it is hard not to get swept up in it. I am so glad you decided to go ahead and join this year and not let those things stand in the way.

    Your list looks fantastic, so read what makes you feel good and have fun with us!

    Reply
  • deslily says:
    27 August 2009 at 8:20 pm

    i can’ believe i’ve read 3 that are on your list! My favorite of them is The Thirteenth Tale, I hope you get to read it.. i love reading what others think of the book.

    Reply
  • mee says:
    27 August 2009 at 10:21 pm

    Diane: Thanks, hope you’re enjoying it too!

    gautami: We must make sure that people know it’s the other Murakami :P

    Suko: So you’ve been joining a few challenges recently eh!

    Carl V: I admit I haven’t read many books with spooky atmosphere too, so it’s all pretty new to me. I absolutely agree about the weather. Feel a bit left out sometimes because the season here is the complete opposite all the time with most countries. Even Christmas often doesn’t feel like one because it’s usually the hottest time of the year! Thanks for visiting here and hosting the challenge Carl. I would definitely have fun!

    deslily: The Thirteenth Tale has definitely been on my physical tbr pile for quite a while!

    Reply
  • Aimee says:
    28 August 2009 at 10:16 pm

    I cannot wait to start this –

    and just to jump on the bandwagon – YOU NEED TO READ THE THIRTEENTH TALE!

    Reply
  • Eva says:
    29 August 2009 at 6:24 am

    I loved If on a winter’s night, but I wouldn’t think it’s a R.I.P. book. I found Lord of the Flies incredibly disturbing when I read it back in middle school. I loved Dracula and The Historian! :)

    Reply
  • mee says:
    29 August 2009 at 9:13 pm

    Aimee: Wow that shout may just have given me that push I need! Lol.

    Eva: Oh you don’t think it is, do you? I thought with the “winter night” thing on the title it would be RIP-ish. I will see after I finish if I can qualify it as RIP book.

    Reply
  • Michelle says:
    30 August 2009 at 10:11 am

    Hi Mee. Just came over after getting your comment on my blog, and am loving your site here! :)

    Of your list, I’ve read Dracula and The Historian, both of which are good books. I particularly enjoyed Dracula, which I read just recently, while the weather was still relatively winter-y.

    I like the list you’ve put up, it gives me some ideas as to which books I can pick up on my next trip to the library. I’ve been looking at Strangers for quite a while now, but just never happened to pick it up. I might do that on my next trip.

    Looking forward to reading your reviews on these books, and more!

    Reply
  • mee says:
    30 August 2009 at 9:59 pm

    Thanks for visiting Michelle. Love your blog too! I would definitely like to read Dracula first before The Historian, since The Historian is sort of based on Dracula. Not sure if I can get to it this year though. I may do it in autumn next year (though it’s spring on the other part of the world..)

    Reply
  • Mark David says:
    3 September 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Wow, this is a pretty long list. I hope you enjoy all of them Mee :)

    Reply
  • mee says:
    5 September 2009 at 9:57 pm

    I won’t be able to read all of them, but I do hope I’d enjoy ones that I get to read :)

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Wicked by Gregory Maguire and the Musical! | Books of Mee
  2. Dracula by Bram Stoker | Books of Mee
  3. R.I.P. IV Challenge Wrap-up | Books of Mee


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