I should definitely not be doing this. I've got more than a dozen books already lined up to read this fall, for various challenges I've got going. So one more challenge is probably not a good idea. But Carl V at Stainless Steel Droppings has announced the start of the R(eaders) I(mbibing) P(eril) IV Challenge, and I j(ust) c(an't) r(esist). (Also can't resist that gorgeous banner with artwork by Jennifer Gordon.) Many thanks to Carl for hosting this again.The challenge runs for two months, from September 1 through October 31, and there are multiple reading levels, or "perils" to choose from, and several different subgenres (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Supernatural). You can read all about the guidelines and join the fun by visiting the challenge announcement page at Stainless Steel Droppings.
I'm going to throw caution to the wind and sign up for Peril the First (read four books of any length, from any of the subgenres). That may be wishful thinking on my part, but no guts no glory – right? Haven't made a final choice of books yet, but my main list includes:From Doon with Death. Ruth RendellThe list includes choices from several different subgenres. And, since I love making lists almost as much as I love reading the books themselves, you had to know I'd have a list of other possibilities. So, a few backups:
The Horned Man. James Lasdun
The Lair of the White Worm. Bram Stoker
The Man in the Picture. Susan Hill
The Woman in Black. Susan Hill
We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Shirley Jackson
Bleeding Heart Square. Andrew TaylorAnd now I'm off to have my head examined. Oops! I mean off to start reading those scary stories.
Cemetery Dance. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Dark Echo. F.G. Cottam
Her Fearful Symmetry. Audrey Niffenegger
Lethal Legacy. Linda Fairstein
Mr. Murder. Dean Koontz
Requiem. Graham Joyce
The Book of Air and Shadows. Michael Gruber
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. H.P. Lovecraft
The Forgery of Venus. Michael Gruber
The House Next Door. Anne Rivers Siddons
The House of Lost Souls. F.G. Cottam
The Real Opera Ghost and Other Tales. Gaston Leroux
The Little Stranger. Sarah Waters
The Séance. John Harwood
Do we need an intervention?
ReplyDeleteI certainly am pleased that you decided to join up and sincerely hope that you can somehow use your book readings across multiple challenges, killing more than one bird with one book, as it were. :)
ReplyDeleteLove your list of books. Some wonderful reads there. At least with this challenge if you only get through one book you can claim completion for Peril the Third!
Have fun, and thanks for joining in.
Good luck with the challenge!
ReplyDeleteI have never done a challenge...I will never do a challenge...lol
ReplyDeleteit seems that half the folks signed up for this challenge are all waiting for Her Fearful Symmetry to be released! lol
ReplyDeleteNow you got some wonderful books there. Have fun reading!
ReplyDeleteHere is my RIP IV read list
The Lair of the White Worm is awesome if a little creepy. R.I.P. IV
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