Tag: the ghost map

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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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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