R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril XV

Now that September's here (amazing, but true!), it's time for the annual R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril (RIP) reading challenge/event. This is the fifteenth year for RIP, and I've participated in eleven of those years. I always look forward to it.

It's very informal this year — there's no sign-up, and you can read as much as you want from any of the mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, Gothic, or other "dark lit" genres. Then if you're into Instagram or Twitter, you can join in the discussions there (tags are @PerilReaders and #ripxv). I'm not a huge social media fan, but I might pay an occasional visit. Or maybe not. Either way, I'm still looking forward to doing some spooky reading for the event.

Don't have a specific list of reading to do, but I've got a few things in mind:

• The Lost Village, by Camilla Sten (English edition to be published early in 2021. This one has been called "relentlessly creepy" — which sounds perfect for me and for RIP!) 
• Plain Bad Heroines, by Emily M. Danforth (To be published in October. This one is getting lots of advance hype and sounds really intriguing, but it's much longer than the books I generally choose.)
• Snow, by John Banville (Also coming in October. This will be my introduction to Banville, but I've got tons of his works on my TBR list.)
• The Suicide House, by Charlie Donlea (I'm reading an ARC of this, and I really should have finished by now, since the book came out in July!)

I'll also be watching lots of mystery/horror movies and TV shows, of course. And I'll be keeping track of all my reading and viewing over on my challenge blog (HERE).

So, Happy Fall! And Happy Reading, everyone.

WWW Wednesdays: 19 August 2020

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for WWW Wednesdays! This meme was originally hosted by MizB over at A Daily Rhythm, and then revived by Sam Stevens of Taking on a World of Words. Just three questions, once a week:

1. What are you currently reading?

I've got several books started right now, which of course means that I'm having trouble actually finishing any of them. I'm hoping to finish this one this week:

The Suicide House, by Charlie Donlea

I've also just started reading an advance copy of this one:

Plain Bad Heroines, by Emily M. Danforth

(with illustrations by Sara Lautman)

Emily Danforth's historical novel is due out in October, and it's getting an awful lot of pre-publication buzz. Sounds like an interesting read, but it's a chunkster with just about 600 pages — so it's very unlikely I'll get it read before it comes out.

2. What did you recently finish reading?

I've been reading a lot of cozy mysteries and kiddie lit lately. They seem like good genres for this strange time — sort of comfort food for the mind/psyche/soul. In the last couple of weeks I've finished these:

Knot of This World, by Mary Marks
(Quilting Mystery #8)

A Death Long Overdue, by Eva Gates

(Lighthouse Library Mystery #7)

Beezus and Ramona, by Beverly Cleary

(Ramona Quimby #1)

The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip, by Jerry West

(Second in the Happy Hollisters series, first published in 1953)

3. What do you think you’ll read next?

Well, I'm probably going to be reading those first two for a while. But once I finish those (or possibly abandon them?), I'll most likely be looking for something nice and light, with a little humor. Maybe something like this:

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage, by M.C. Beaton

(Number 5 in the series, first published 1996)

Or maybe something completely different!

So what about you? Have you been reading more than ever, in quarantine? Or about as much as usual? Or maybe you just can't settle down and read as much as you'd like. That's definitely been my problem for the last few months. I guess I'm still waiting for the new normal to feel ... well, normal.

Anyway, happy reading, everyone! And have a great Wednesday.

Book Beginnings: The Suicide House

The Suicide House

by Charlie Donlea

Kensington Books, July 2020

Opening Lines

Session 1 

Journal Entry: THE TRACKS 

I killed my brother with a penny. Simple, benign, and perfectly believable.

About the Book

One year ago, two students were killed inside the walls of Indiana's elite Westmont Preparatory High School, in a grisly slaughter. The case has since become the focus of a hit podcast, The Suicide House. Though a teacher was convicted of the murders, mysteries and questions remain. The most urgent among them is why so many students who survived that horrific night have returned to the boarding house—to kill themselves.

Initial Thoughts

Killed with a penny. Well, OK.... I'm sort of eager to find out what that's all about. I received an ARC of this one, and (as usual) I'm a little late in getting started on it. It's part of a series, and (also as usual) I haven't read the book that came before this one. But this is just the second book in the series, so I shouldn't have too much trouble getting caught up on things.

I only just started this one, but I've read some of the reviews and they're mostly very positive. So I have high hopes.

Have a good weekend, everyone.
Stay safe. Stay calm. And happy reading!

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday.  As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

Book Beginnings: Knot of This World

Knot of This World
by Mary Marks

Kensington Publishing, July 2020

Opening Lines

"Birdie!" I rushed forward to embrace my friend.
My seventy-something friend had dyed a turquoise streak in her long, white hair, which undulated through the weave of the braid hanging over her shoulder.

About the Book

Number 8 in the Quilting Mystery series. Quilter Martha Rose must patch together the clues to solve the murder of a cult leader in the California mountains.

Initial Thoughts

Here I am, once again jumping into a long-running series without having read a single one of the earlier books. I keep promising myself I won't do that, and I keep right on doing it.

But this series has been pretty easy to pick up on. Not too much detail about prior "cases" and the characters have (for the most part) been fun to get to know. So I'm having a good time reading this one.

One of the nicest things about the book (and actually one of the main reasons I chose it) is that most of the characters are older — what used to be called senior citizens before 2020 when they just started calling us "the elderly." It's gratifying to find a book with a few characters over 70 who aren't at death's door or lost in a fog of dementia. Very refreshing.

Have a good weekend, everyone.
Stay safe. Stay calm. And happy reading!

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday.  As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

Book Beginnings: Nothing to Report

Nothing to Report

by Carola Oman

(first published 1940)

Opening Lines

The moment that Miss Morrison woke up she felt that something pleasant was going to happen today. 

About the Book

Unmarried and nicknamed “Button” by her friends, Mary Morrison is a (very mildly) distressed gentlewoman. She no longer lives in her family home, but remains at the very centre of village life, surrounded by friends including carefree, irresponsible Catha, Lady Rollo, just back from India and setting up lavish housekeeping nearby with her husband and children—socialist Tony, perfect Crispin, and Elizabeth who’s preparing to be presented at Court. Then there’s Marcelle, Mary’s widowed sister-in-law, and her challenging daughter Rosemary, who may soon be planting themselves with her to escape London bombs, Miss Rosanna Masquerier, a historical novelist who might just be a wry self-portrait of the author, and an array of other Sirs and Ladies who rely on Mary’s sympathy and practicality. And perhaps there’s just a hint of romance as well.

Initial Thoughts

Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up that way? Usually the first thing I think when I wake up in the morning is — which part of my body is going to fall apart today?

I've been looking for something diverting to read, something that I'll actually stick with and finish. Lately, I've been having a LOT of trouble with that. Just can't seem to stay with any one book for very long. I've never read anything by Carola Oman before, but she's been recommended as a "Barbara Pym-ish" author, so I'm hoping this one will keep me reading.

Have a good weekend, everyone.
Stay safe. Stay calm. And happy reading!

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday.  As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

Book Beginnings: The Jane Austen Society

The Jane Austen Society
by Natalie Jenner
St. Martin's Press, May 2020

Opening Lines

Clawton, Hampshire

June 1932

He lay back on the low stone wall, knees pulled up, and stretched out his spine against the rock. The birdsong pierced the early-morning air in little shrieks that hammered at his very skull. Lying there, still, face turned flat upwards to the sky, he could feel death all around him in the small church graveyard. 

About the Book

A heartbreaking and uplifting novel of hope, loss and love.

It’s only a few months since the war ended but the little village of Chawton is about to be hit by another devastating blow. The heart of the community and site of Jane Austen’s cherished former home, Chawton estate is in danger of being sold to the highest bidder.

Eight villagers are brought together by their love for the famous author’s novels, to create The Jane Austen Society. As new friendships form and the pain of the past begins to heal, surely they can find a way to preserve Austen’s legacy before it is too late?

Initial Thoughts

I guess my first thought is that we've got a really depressing opening there. But the book is supposed to be "uplifting," so I'm assuming (and hoping) it gets some uplift pretty quick.

I received an advance copy of Natalie Jenner's debut novel several months ago, but had to put it on hold in order to finish up a few other books. So I'm getting to it a little late. (Yeah, like that never happens around here!)

This one's a little out of my comfort zone — lately, I've been reading mysteries and suspense novels almost exclusively. But variety is a good thing, right? Not sure how long I'll stick with it, but I'm eager to make a start.

Have a good weekend, everyone.
Stay safe. Stay calm. And happy reading!

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday.  As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.

WWW Wednesdays: 17 June 2020

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for WWW Wednesdays! This meme was originally hosted by MizB over at A Daily Rhythm, and then revived by Sam Stevens of Taking on a World of Words. Just three questions, once a week:

1. What are you currently reading?

First of all — it's sort of hard to believe June is half over already, isn't it? It seemed like May dragged on forever, but this month has just sort of buzzed right along.

I've had a lot of trouble settling into any books lately. I've sampled quite a few — kept putting one aside to start another. I guess the unsettled nature of life in general right now is affecting my reading habits, but I frequently have problems sticking with anything during the summer, for some reason. This week, I'm concentrating on reading one of the books I've received from Library Thing's Early Reviewer program:

The King's Justice, by Susan Elia MacNeal

I've had it for a while now and really need to get it finished and reviewed in a hurry.

2. What did you recently finish reading?

In the last couple of weeks, I've finished these two:

Access Point, by Tom Gabbay

The List of Things That Will Not Change

by Rebecca Stead

Enjoyed both of those, and hope to get some reviews up soon. (Yeah, I always hope to do that, don't I?)

3. What do you think you’ll read next?

As usual, I have a few ARCs that I need to get to ASAP. These two are at the top of the pile....

 Or What You Will, by Jo Walton

(Coming out in July, from Tor Books)

 Knot of This World, by Mary Marks

(A Quilting Mystery, from Kensington Publishing, also due in July)