Monday, August 30, 2010

RIP--RIP--RIP--RIP...

Makes a nice little cheer, doesn't it? Sorry. Can't help myself--just too darn excited. But hey, I know I'm not alone on this one!

Yep, the oh-so-amazing challenge king, and even more importantly, oh-so-amazing person and friend, Carl, has officially announced RIP V!!!!

Here in the Stevens household, we've been talking about RIP for weeks now. And we've all decided to join in the fun. (Well, those of us who are literate, that is. Unfortunately, Liz, who is probably exemplifies the spirit of RIP better than any of us mere humans (she's a tarantula), simply can't read.)

Carl has made it as easy as can be for everyone to join. After all, it's not about number of books read, it's all about having fun! And if ever a host can make a challenge fun, well yeah, we all know it's Carl! :D Anyway, there are a number of "levels" of participation. And he's bringing back one of my favorite things with the Short Story Peril. And if that wasn't enough, there's also Peril on the Screen this year!

Do I sound hyper? If so, I apologize...but I *am* hyper...I just get this way when I'm really excited. And I'm really excited right now! Tell me, everyone actually gets this way, don't they?

Okay...onto the "pools of peril." And well, if you know me at all, you already know that I am a woman of excesses. In just about every aspect of my life. And putting together book lists is certainly no exception. I tried to weed these down. In fact, I *did* weed them down...they were about twice as long an hour ago. But this was as far I could go. I want to leave my options open. You know, because Carl would probably come up with some horrendous form of torture if I dared read a book that wasn't in my official pool. ;)

 I'm planning on shooting for Peril the First...which involves reading four deliciously creepy books. My pool:

*Tamsin by Peter Beagle
*Brains by Robin Becker
*The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury (this would be a reread, but it's such a perfect little book for this challenge)
*Black Hole by Charles Burns
*Fledgling by Octavia Butler
*The Monsters of Morley Manner by Bruce Coville
*Locke & Key by Joe Hill
*The Tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann (I'm actually already reading, and loving, this one)
*The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
*The Promises of Dr. Sigmundus: The Hollow People by Brian Keaney
*I Have the Right to Destroy Myself by Young-Ha Kim
*The Wyvern Mystery by Sheridan Le Fanu
*A Nameless Witch by A. Lee Martinez
*Sunshine by Robin McKinley
*From Hell by Alan Moore
*Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
*Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge
*Whose Body by Dorothy L. Sayers
*The Lords of Misrule by John Tomlinson
*Nightmares & Fairy Tales: Once Upon a Time... by Serena Valentino
*Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
*House of Mystery: Room & Boredom by Matthew Sturges and Bill Willingham

 Okay, I've got so many books I want to pull short stories from...in fact, I had a harder time weeding this list down than I did the above list.  I think I only managed to put back about a quarter of this original pile.

*Half-Minute Horrors edited by Susan Rich
*M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman
*Everything's Eventual by Stephen King
*Nocturnes by John Connolly
*The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre
*The Museum of Dr. Moses by Joyce Carol Oates
*Just an Ordinary Day by Shirley Jackson
*The Best of Roald Dahl
*The Portable Poe edited by Philip Van Doren Stern
*Troll's Eye View: A Book of Villainous Tales edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
*The Haunted Looking Glass edited by Edward Gorey
*The 13 Best Horror Stories of All Time edited by Leslie Pockell
*Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales edited by Deborah Noyes
*Stories of Terror and Madness From the Borderlands edited by Elizabeth E. and Thomas F. Monteleone

Well, at least this is a short list. :P  Mostly because we don't own many movies. Nor do we generally watch many. Not because we don't like to...it just seems hard to carve out that big a patch of time to do anything. (Fall is just a busy time around here.) But I'd really, really like to try to watch a handful of appropriate movies this season. And I'd sooooo appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions--especially for some older classics. But anything's good. :)

*The Nightmare Before Christmas
*Halloween

Thank you once again, Carl, for making autumn all the more incredible!!!

19 comments:

  1. Ooh, I need to add Tamsin to my list!!

    I love RIP! Even though it's 100 frickin' degrees here, it makes me feel just a little bit like Fall!

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  2. Holy crap, I'd hate to see a long list! ;) Ha, I'm so excited just because of the Stevens' household enthusiasm! Woo-hoo!!! I've enjoyed what I've read of House of Mystery thus far. I am woefully far behind in reading my single issues. Same with Fables, I'm embarrassed to say.

    I have Wyvern Mystery on my bookshelf downstairs. Yet another I bought years ago that has just been warming my shelves. I read Haunting of Hill House last year and enjoyed it. Not as much as We Have Always Lived in the Castle, but still, a good read. I enjoyed Haunted Looking Glass. Don't remember much about it now, but I did enjoy it.

    And I wouldn't be so sure about Liz and reading. You might be surprised what she gets up to when all of you are asleep!

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  3. Don't feel alone -- my list had 45 books (novels and short story volumes) on it and others keep cropping up that I should have probably included!

    I read Half-Minute Horrors for last year's challenge and it was pretty awesome (and a very quick read).

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  4. Oooo Peeps is so good! Slightly disgusting but so good. My favourite book by Westerfeld, by far. Hope you enjoy.

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  5. Oh my gosh, thank you for reminding me of the House of Mystery series! I have the first two, haven't read them yet, and they are perfect for RIP! You have a great list there, enjoy the challenge!!

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  6. Woot! this is going to be so much fun! Your book list sounds amazing! If I weren't already up to my eyes in class prep, grading, and baby shower planning for a friend, I'd add a few more of yours to my own list!

    As for classic films--if you're reading The Haunting of Hill House, you should watch The Haunting (The 60s version).
    If you enjoy Nightmare Before Christmas, you might try The Corpse Bride as well.
    I'll be watching The Exorcist and Gaslight, and I'd love the "company" if either of those interest you.

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  7. Wow! What at huge list, you certainly are apart of my club of excessive list making, but I think you win...at least for now. ;)

    I read Sunshine, and liked it a lot, but it seems to be getting mixed thoughts on it. If you read it, keep in mind that McKinley is mainly a middle-grade, YA author AND this was written before much of the popular type glam vamp books. Beyond that, I think McKinley is a fabulous author.

    There are several on your list that have peaked my interest. Actually, what I think I may do is checked out several (more than 3, for sure) books to have around for the girls. Sometimes, a book that is just laying around sparks an interest, and i think it would be cool to have a theme pile for them. So, I am going to try and check-out Peeps (for the older girl), and The Halloween Tree. Now that I have this new idea, going to have to keep my eyes open for other titles to add to this pile.

    Have fun reading through your list!

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  8. Wow, those are some amazing lists! The best of luck to you, I can't wait to see what this challenge holds for everyone!

    Also, a quick thank you for the encouraging comment on my blog. Much appreciated! :)

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  9. What amazing lists :) I just adore A Lee. Martinez and I'm glad to see one of his books in your list :)

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  10. I have Gaiman's M is For Magic, too, which I thank you for reminding me to read! Also, you may have already read Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes which I preferred to The Halloween Tree. But, my friend dearly loves the later, and rereads it every Autumn. Great list, great enthusiasm, Debi! I'm glad to visit your literary blog again; it's wonderful!

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  11. Your list has me so freaking excited Debi :D And just wait until you see mine :/ I think it's even bigger than yours!!! And you have me wanting to read even MORE now and adding even MORE to my list!! Like BRAINS!! That's the book you told me about while I was there. Totally forgot about that one...I need to get it! And I can't tell you how thrilled I am that the whole family is joining in this year :D :D Oh yes, this is going to be SO SO SO much fun :D

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  12. I think I read "Hill House" a few times already and loved it. GREAT list, you'll have a hard time choosing.

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  13. Fantastic list! Very *inclusive* :) The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorite books. Unlike Carl I like it more that We Have Always Lived in the Castle, but I have this suspicion that people tend to like best the first Shirley Jackson they read. As for films, you can never go wrong with some Hitchcock! Notorious is my favorite. For sheer terror, though, try Ils, a French film that came out a couple of years ago - but warning, seriously, it gave me nightmares for weeks.

    Happy reading and viewing!

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  14. Wow! You have a good list there! It just reminded me that I want to read Shirley Jackson -- I only read "the Lottery" in HS, and it was definitely creepy. I also have read her autobiographical works (Live Among the Savages, and Raising Demons). Maybe for the next RIP!

    I know how you mean about movies -- I like them too, but have so little time to sit and watch them. I think I might try to watch one, though!

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  15. Amanda,
    I'm glad RIP at least helps it feel a little more fall-like. Hope the weather cooperates soon, too. (Does it ever feel like fall there?)

    Carl,
    Oh my gosh, you wouldn't believe how much RIP spirit is flowing in this household!!! In fact, I'm soon going to write a post about it...I owe you a huge THANK YOU.

    Kristen,
    I know what you mean...I just want to keep adding and adding and adding to my list! Every time I see one on someone else's list that I'd weeded out, I want to cry. :P

    Slbylle,
    I must admit Peeps is one of the ones I'm most looking forward to! I don't know of anyone who's read it that didn't like it. And I love parasites as it is. Hmmm...perhaps that should be reworded--I'm fascinated by parasites as it is.

    Heather,
    I really hope House of Mystery is as good as it sounds! I can't wait to get to that one.

    Birdie,
    Thank you SO MUCH for the film suggestions!!! Sounds like a nice variety there...I need to head right over and fill up my netflix queue. :)

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  16. Ibeeg,
    Thanks for the info. I'm actually a big fan of middle grade and YA, and I'm not a fan of the newer vampire glam...so it sounds like this book may really be one I'll love!

    Carrie,
    It really is fun seeing what everyone reads, isn't it? Of course, all those delicious reviews just make my wish list grow exponentially. But that's part of the fun, too, right?

    agirlreads,
    Good to hear! This will actually be my first book by him.

    Bellezza,
    I have read Something Wicked This Way Comes. In fact, it was for RIP a few years ago. It easily became one of my favorite books ever! In fact, it's probably time for a reread of that, too!

    Chris,
    You know, I'm ALWAYS excited about Carl's challenges, but for some reason I'm just beside myself giddy this time!!! I swear someone in this house brings up something RIP at least 20 times a day. :) But it would be even better if you were here reading Half-Minute Horrors with us. :(

    whereisrikki,
    I can't believe I haven't read The Haunting of Hill House yet...it's one of those books I just *know* I'm going to love. Enjoy the challenge!

    Kate,
    Thank you for the movie suggestions!!! I can't believe I didn't think of Hitchcock...I feel like a complete dolt! I love his movies, and there's still several I haven't seen yet.
    My daughter just read both Hill House and Castle a couple weeks ago...her favorite was Hill House, too. I adored Castle though, so Hill House is really going to have to kick butt to surpass it in my eyes. :P

    Valerie,
    I didn't even realize Jackson had written any autobiographical stuff. I'm guessing they're pretty good, huh?

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  17. That's quite the list, Debi! I hope you get a chance to read some of them. After I read a few books I have planned I am going to steal from people's lists. :)

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  18. that is an excellent list, and inspiring.
    'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is a Halloween and Christmas staple in our house. seems most anything Burton does qualifies for RIP...

    ~L

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  19. Oh what a list it is, I like your excitement.

    I'm a new follower, glad to have found you from the RIP Challenge.

    My post if interested

    http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/09/readers-imbibing-peril-v-challenge.html

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