Tag: karen essex

Sunday Post #29: R. I. P. Challenge X

Posted on by Dana

R. I. P. XI can hardly believe it, but this year marks the 10th anniversary of the annual R. I. P. Challenge, hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings typically, but this year by Andi and Heather of the Estella Society. I look forward to this challenge more than any other every year, and it think it’s mainly because it’s the perfect marriage of time of year (fall) and subject matter—anything creepy, scary, or as Carl says, “Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. Dark Fantasy. Gothic. Horror. Supernatural.” I plan to go for broke and read four books. Might be ambitious considering I have a book club and school is starting, but I am going to go all in this time and see what happens.

I need to figure out what I am going to read, but my longlist includes the following books, some of which I already have and should read:

                  

It looks like a good list! Some of these books were on my list last year, and were probably there the year before. I really need to read the ones I’ve bought already, but I have to admit, I’m giving several of these books that I don’t own some rather longing looks.

Aside from starting the challenge, there isn’t much news. I have continued working my way through a re-read of both King Lear and A Thousand Acres in preparation for teaching them. I am also listening to the second book in the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness, The Shadow of Night. I can’t count it for the R. I. P. Challenge because I started it before the official start date of September 1. I have some other books I pick up from time to time. I’ve also been re-reading the Harry Potter series and am nearly finished with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I really loathe Dolores Umbridge. She’s too realistic a villain. I’ve known crappy teachers like her, and yes, sometimes they go on to be crappy administrators. That book is a really interesting study of what happens when the government interferes with education. I understand the purpose of oversight, but when you have a bunch of people who know nothing about teaching running the show, you’re going to have a disaster. And frankly, this book is too accurate a portrayal of what that looks like in the real world, never mind Hogwarts.

So, are you joining me in the challenge?

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news, recap the past week on your blog, and showcase books and things we have received. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

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R. I. P. Challenge 2014

Posted on by Dana

R. I. P. ChallengeIt’s time again for my favorite reading challenge, the R. I. P. Challenge. It’s hard to believe this is the ninth year. I don’t think I participated until the third one. I absolutely love this time of year for reading creepy stories.

I like to do Peril the First, which is to “read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R. I. P. literature.” I have been gathering together my list of potentials, and I plan to select my reads from the following list of books:

Aside from More Than This, I’m not sure which of these books I’ll choose. They look like a good list.

   

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R.I.P. Challenge VII

R.I.P. Challenge VII: It’s That Time of Year Again

Posted on by Dana

R.I.P. Challenge VIIOoooh! Time for my most favorite reading challenge, the R.I.P. Reading Challenge. No other reading challenge so perfectly matches the time of year to reading selections, in my opinion. I have not been reading as much as I usually do this year. A big move, a new job. Lots of reasons. I really want to participate in this challenge, but I am not going to commit myself to a set number of books, especially because I will be taking a Harvard course pretty soon, and I’m not sure how much time I’ll have. But technically, I’m shooting for Peril the First.

I am thinking about these choices:

I also really want to read [amazon asin=0380977273&text=Something Wicked This Way Comes] by Ray Bradbury, which strikes me as both the quintessential fall book and most perfect book for this challenge ever. I’ve already read both of the group reads for the challenge, and while I really wouldn’t mind reading [amazon asin=0060530944&text=The Graveyard Book] book again, I want to read books I haven’t read yet this time. Both of the group reads are excellent and perfect for this challenge.

To make it more interesting, I’m going to create a soap recipe for each book that reminds me of some aspect or other of the book, and if the recipes turn out well, I’ll give away a bar of each, here on this blog. So stay tuned, and encourage me to read, because otherwise no soap.

I will try to read these five books, but I’m not sure if I will get to all of them. Here’s hoping! I need to get cracking, but I need to read [amazon asin=006218850X&text=The Orchardist] first as I have a deadline very soon. More on that book later. Wish me luck!

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Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesdays—August 30, 2011

Posted on by Dana

Top Ten Tuesday

This week’s Top Ten Tuesdays topic is top ten books on my TBR list for fall.

  1. Right at the tippy top is [amazon_link id=”0312558171″ target=”_blank” ]The Ballad of Tom Dooley[/amazon_link] by Sharyn McCrumb. I have been working through her other ballad novels, and I am so anxious to read this one about perhaps one of the most famous murder ballads.
  2. [amazon_link id=”1594744769″ target=”_blank” ]Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children[/amazon_link] by Ransom Riggs is on my list, too. It looks wonderful, doesn’t it?
  3. [amazon_link id=”031262168X” target=”_blank” ]The Witch’s Daughter[/amazon_link] by Paula Brackson looks good, but I don’t have it yet.
  4. I want to read [amazon_link id=”0345506014″ target=”_blank” ]Summer in the South[/amazon_link] by Cathy Holton before the weather cools too much and reading a “summer” book feels weird.
  5. [amazon_link id=”1416550550″ target=”_blank” ]The Forgotten Garden[/amazon_link] by Kate Morton is well-reviewed everywhere and perfect for the R.I.P. Challenge.
  6. [amazon_link id=”1400031702″ target=”_blank” ]The Secret History[/amazon_link] by Donna Tartt. When I made my prospective list of R.I.P. books the other day, I forgot I had this. I really want to read it this fall.
  7. [amazon_link id=”076793122X” target=”_blank” ]Dracula in Love[/amazon_link] by Karen Essex looks so good and would be perfect for R.I.P.
  8. Also, [amazon_link id=”0062049690″ target=”_blank” ]The Lantern[/amazon_link] by Deborah Lawrenson looks good.
  9. [amazon_link id=”1463612214″ target=”_blank” ]Whitechapel: The Final Stand of Sherlock Holmes[/amazon_link] by Bernard Schaffer—Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes. Awesome. Good reviews, too.
  10. [amazon_link id=”0553385615″ target=”_blank” ]Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor: Being the First Jane Austen Mystery[/amazon_link] by Stephanie Barron because, after all, I am trying to complete the Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge.

You have a big list for fall?

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Friday Finds

Friday Finds—July 15, 2011

Posted on by Dana

Friday FindsI’m on my way to my parents’ house to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Everyone in my family is an HP fan. You can look for my review fangirly squee tomorrow. Meanwhile, I found a few good books this week to put in my TBR pile.

I’m not sure which of these books I’ll actually read or when, but I saved them for future reference in my to-read shelf on Goodreads. I wish I weren’t so bad at documenting how I heard about these books. If it was from you, thank you, and I’m sorry! I do remember where I found a few of them.

I’m the last book blogger to put a Donna Tartt on my list, but I found [amazon_link id=”1400031702″ target=”_blank” ]The Secret History[/amazon_link]—academics, secrets—I’m there.

I can’t decide if [amazon_link id=”0670022691″ target=”_blank” ]Rules of Civility[/amazon_link] by Amor Towles is something I would like or not, but it has an extremely high rating on Goodreads, even after nearly a couple of dozen reviews. I think I found it via Shelf Awareness.

I think I came across [amazon_link id=”0500286965″ target=”_blank” ]The True History of Chocolate[/amazon_link] by Michael D. Coe and Sophie D. Coe on PaperBackSwap. I think it came up in a list of books similar to a different book I was trying to put on my wish list. But doesn’t it look good? I think I found [amazon_link id=”1594482691″ target=”_blank” ]The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic—and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World[/amazon_link] by Steven Johnson the same way.

[amazon_link id=”076793122X” target=”_blank” ]Dracula in Love[/amazon_link] by Karen Essex looks like a good book to store away for the R.I.P. Challenge. I ran across it when I read Essex’s recent post on the Writer Unboxed.

I just can’t remember where I found [amazon_link id=”006176910X” target=”_blank” ]A Thousand Times More Fair: What Shakespeare’s Plays Teach Us About Justice[/amazon_link] by Kenji Yoshino. I love books about Shakespeare and culture.

[amazon_image id=”1400031702″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Secret History[/amazon_image] [amazon_image id=”0670022691″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Rules of Civility: A Novel[/amazon_image] [amazon_image id=”0500286965″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The True History of Chocolate (Second Edition)[/amazon_image]

[amazon_image id=”1594482691″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic–and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World[/amazon_image] [amazon_image id=”076793122X” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Dracula in Love[/amazon_image] [amazon_image id=”006176910X” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]A Thousand Times More Fair: What Shakespeare’s Plays Teach Us About Justice[/amazon_image]

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