R.I.P. XI - Signing Up Yet Again!

The 11th R.I.P. hosted over at Stainless Steel Droppings. I have signed up every year, but don't always read as much as I would like for it. I am hoping this fall will be a good reading month and I will read some good stuff off of my TBR!

My Pool of Possibilities:

The Troop by Nick Cutter
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Something by James S.A. Corey
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Something by Ilona Andrews
Something by Jennifer Estep
Something by Sarah Waters
Something by Alan Bradley
Something by Derek Landy
Something by Patricia Briggs

As you can see, I am a bit indecisive about what I want to read this year...

What is in your RIP pool of possibilities?

Once Upon a Time X

Ten Years! Hard to believe! That means that I have known Carl, the host and blogger at Stainless Steel Droppings, for over 10 years. Crazy! It is exciting, too... Over the years we have recommended books to each other and done buddy reads. I have participated in every one of his challenges (until recently when I didn't do the Sci-Fi Experience. I used to have a great track record). Oh, and our Advent Calendar posts every December 24th were traditions. We had some great ideas! Blogging comes and goes. We read.. And then other times life gets in the way... But, at the end of the day I am really excited to see another Once Upon a Time...

On to the challenge...

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

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This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of any weekend, or weekends, during the challenge. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.

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I enjoy sharing a 'pool of possibilities' as a separate post, so check it out later in the week!

Once Upon a Time IX - Pool of Possibilities

It is a bit of a tradition to post a pool of books I am thinking about reading for the Once Upon a Time Challenge hosted at Stainless Steel Droppings... With the way my reading is going recently, I am not sure if I will follow it, but list making is fun!

1. The Very Best of Kate Elliott
2. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
3. Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
4. Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs
5. Black Thorn, White Rose Edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
6. The Devil's Diadem by Sara Douglass
7. Instead of Three Wishes by Megan Whalen Turner
8. Fire & Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones
9. Black Swan, White Raven Edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
10. Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears Edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
11. Silver Birch, Blood Moon Edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
12. Black Ivory, Ivory Bones Edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling
13. Poison Study by Maria Snyder
14. The Little Country by Charles de Lint
15. The Broken Lands by Kate Milford
16. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale

... And probably a whole score of books not on this list...

Once Upon a Time IX

Hard to belief this is the 9th Once Upon A Time hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings. In my own way I have never missed one yet! I just fluctuate on how much I read. I am hoping this year will be a good year after the ridiculous amount of snow we got yesterday and the fact that spring seems very far off at this point!

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

I almost always do Quest the First. It is fun to see what I can find on my shelves that fits this category!

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This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of any weekend, or weekends, during the challenge. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.

I am the worst short story reader ever, but it just works out that Carl and I are reading The Very Best of Kate Elliott so at least that will be something for this category!

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**I posted a list of possibilities in a separate post.** 

R.I.P. IX

*tap tap tap*

Is this thing on? Is there even anyone out there? I have apparently forgotten how to blog. I want to come back, but then never do... And here is is Fall, my favourite season of the year, and the R.I.P Challenge is running and I haven't even signed up! So, I am dusting off the dust and cobwebs to make an attempt to get back in the swing of things... Wish me luck!

I don't even know what I want to read. This is what happens when you are living under a rock... Normally I am more social and have read more, so I know what is happening in the world. We will just have to see how things go.

Any recommendations?

Once Upon a Time VIII

A rare picture of me... 

Okay... I need spring. My car is still not shovelled out from Wednesday... I am just hoping it will melt! It took forever to just get to one car... I am not reading or blogging. I am just in a 'cabin fever' slump. A lot of it is that for a week we were able to go OUTSIDE and not freeze to death... And now it is cold and yucky and supposed to snow again this weekend. I am so done! This is also affecting audiobooks because I look at my treadmill... And then I look outside... And then I kind of walk off and do something else.... It is really hard to go back to a treadmill after walking outside. And, it was mild when we first got back so we were continuing it... I managed to not get depressed in February, but I think it is hitting me this month! I was more optimistic about the weather following Florida than has actually happened.

But, one 'spring' activity is the Once Upon a Time Reading Challenge. It is the 8th year that Carl has hosted this challenge. Normally I would have signed up by now, but I think I am generally in a better mood and feel 'spring-like' in March. It is usually a way better month than February. Mother Nature has gone wacko this year. Anyway, I do want to participate and hopefully I can kick off this slump soon. This means I should sign up!

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

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Stories are not just limited to the printed page. Many entertaining, moving, profound or simply fun stories are told in the realm of television and film. To participate in this quest simply let us know about the films and/or television shows that you feel fit into the definitions of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore or mythology that you are enjoying during the challenge.

1. Frozen (March 26, 2014)
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I usually post my 'pool' of possibilities separately. I will hopefully manage that tomorrow.

Week in Review (2)

Random Thoughts

Today will mark the end of Bout of Books. I will be curious to see what my numbers are provided I get time to read today. I am hoping to finish a few things up, so hopefully I end on a high note. I am still trying to get into a routine, so it is a work in progress. I would have liked to have read more, but life happens.

Don't forget that you have until January 20th, 2014 to sign up for Start 2014 'Write' hosted at the Estella Society. If you missed it you can read my post here and head over to the sign-ups here.

Lucy Maud Montgomery Year

Okay, if I waited to finish short story collections before moving on to her novels I would be here all year. So, I started Anne of Green Gables. I am doing it on audio and the narrator recently narrated Stiff by Mary Roach to me. It is going to take me a bit to get used to her telling a charming little tale of a girl with red hair and freckles. I do like her voice, though, so hopefully it works out. In short story land, I am still 50 pages away from finishing the first short story collection. I absolutely suck at reading short stories. My goal is to force myself to read the last 50 pages today. It isn't even that it is bad. I just am more likely to pick up a novel than a short story collection.

Graphic Novel Year

This is still happening. I could probably have read more graphic novels this week, but I am participating in an informal Graphic Novel Month in February. The goal is to read my own books, so I don't want to read everything now and have nothing for February. That is not to say I didn't finish anything. I read the following:

Ex Machina - Volume 1: The First Hundred Days by Brian Vaughan and Company

The Escapists by Brian Vaughan and Company

Fables - Volume 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham and Company

Other Reading Projects

I am 100 pages from finishing a Lois McMaster Bujold. I aim to finish that today... Then I am not sure what will be next... Another book by her, Mort by Terry Pratchett, or figure out where I am with J.D. Robb. (I had planned to catch-up on Terry Pratchett on audio, but I didn't like the narrator. There is a different one for some of them, so I might read some and listen to others.)

Challenge News

Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys - Counts for the Postal Reading Challenge, the Audiobook Reading Challenge, and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. - Counts for Long-Awaited Reads Month.

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan - Counts for the What's in a Name Challenge: A Number Written in Letters. - Counts for Long-Awaited Reads Month.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - Counts for the Audiobook Reading Challenge.

Fables - Volume 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham - Counts for the Graphic Novel Challenge.

Ex Machina and The Excapists by Brian Vaughan - Count for the Graphic Novel Challenge.

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight - Count for the What's in a Name Challenge: A Forename or Names.

Audiobooks

I finally finished Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, sped through Henrietta's War by Joyce Dennys, and have started Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Next up will be The Black Flower by Howard Bahr for the Literature and War Read-along.

Currently Reading

It seems like a lot because I keep starting something and then getting distracted by something else...

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Antagonist by Lynn Coady

The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor

Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1896-1901 by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Abaddon's Gate by James S.A. Corey

Pantomime by Laura Lam

Weekly Reads

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan - Read my review here.

Fables - Volume 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham and Company. I am really enjoying rereading this series! 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell - You can read my review of this one here.

Ex Machina - Volume 1: The First Hundred Days by Brian Vaughan and Company. A good start to a new series. Reading on will depend on how easily it is to get the rest of the books.

The Escapists by Brian Vaughan and Company - I really liked this. I think there are sequels, but I haven't been able to find them anywhere, so I will have to research more.

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. I read this on a whim and didn't think I would like it, but wound up reading it in one sitting almost.

Henrietta's War: News from the Home Front 1939-1942. This book has appealed to me for ages. I couldn't easily get a paperback copy so went with the audio. Really good, but still would sort of like to read it one day.

Weekly Posts

Week in Review (1)

Start 2014 "Write" - Hosted at the Estella Society

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Goals/Resolutions for 2014

Cat Thursday - Cat in a Drawer

Audiobook Review - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Book Review - Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

New Additions

The other half of my Christmas books:

Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey

The Truth About Stories by Thomas King

The War That Ended Peace by Margaret MacMillan

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton

James Tiptree Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon by Julie Phillips

The Maleficent Seven by Derek Landy

Gold Diggers: Striking it Rich in the Klondike by Charlotte Gray

Last Stand of Dead Men by Derek Landy

A gift card I got after all the others:

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

For Review:

Under the Jeweled Sky by Alison McQueen

A Christmas book that shipped separately:

Letters from a Lost Generation 

The only order I actually didn't have gift cards for...

A Study in Darkness by Emma Jane Holloway

Shine by Lauren Myracle

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septys

Loki's Wolves by Kelley Armstrong and Melissa Marr

Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear

Written in Red by Anne Bishop

Some other stragglers... I don't know why they have to divide orders up so much:

The Best of all Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

Love Minus Eighty by Will McIntosh

Once Upon a Time: Shadow of the Queen (graphic novel)

Yeah... This is a lot of books. Good thing for the most part I will only have pre-orders trickle in until next Christmas.

Wilkie in Winter - Hosted by The Estella Society (#WilkieWinter) & The 2014 Historical Fiction Challenge

The Estella Society is hosting Wilkie in Winter! Yay! First you read a novella, The Frozen Deep, and then you read The Woman in White. I have never read the first before, but I read The Woman in White a few years ago and really liked it. I am hoping to reread it; but we will see how that goes. I made sure I still had it on my e-reader. I considered going with a paperback this time around, but the print is so little I stuck with an e-copy. Wilkie is technically out of copyright, so you can get his books for free in most cases if you go the e-book route. It should be fun!

Hosted by Historical Tapestry.

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

Here are the details:

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)

• add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)

• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)

During the following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels: 

20th century reader - 2 books 

Victorian reader - 5 books 

Renaissance Reader - 10 books 

Medieval - 15 books 

Ancient History - 25 books 

Prehistoric - 50+ books

My Thoughts: Well, I didn't do this challenge in 2013 because I didn't do any challenges, but since I technically blog at Historical Tapestry I decided I should maybe include it this year... My historical fiction often moves into the historical fantasy realm, so we will see how much books I get to.

Some House-Keeping AKA More Plans for 2014...

Hosted by The Indextrious Reader

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

There are a few ways to participate in this challenge:

Postcard Level:   Read and review 4 books with a postal theme.

Snail Mail Level:   Read and review 8 books with a postal theme.

Parcel Post Level: Read and review 12 books with a postal theme.

Air Mail Express Level:   Read and review 12 books with a postal theme AND commit to sending more old fashioned letters this year. At least 12 pieces of mail (or more!), and you can share numbers or even images of your mail art in the quarterly roundups.

The key is to read and review books with a postal theme. These can be non-fiction on the subject of letter writing, collections of real letters, or epistolary fiction of any era. Be creative! Review each one and link back to the challenge -- there will be quarterly roundup posts for you to link reviews and posts to as you create them.

My Thoughts: um, yeah, this is so me! I love this and I am so excited and I have all ready been hunting down books! In a more coherent sentence format, I would love to reach the Air Mail Express Letter because I love sending mail! My Christmas cards alone, which some may be after Christmas cards, are more than 12... It will just depend on how my reading for the year goes. It also works out that two books I was considering for January fit the challenge.

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Literature and War Readalong 2014

Hosted by Caroline at Beauty is a Sleeping Cat.

The Books:

January: The Black Flower by Howard Bahr

February: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

March: March by Geraldine Brooks

April: Toby's Room by Pat Barker

May: Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

June: Fear by Gabriel Chevallier

July: The Lie by Helen Dunmore

August: Undertones of War by Edmund Blunden

September: My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young

October: Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey

November: Flight Without End by Joseph Roth

December: Letters from a Lost Generation by Vera Brittain and Four Friends

My Thoughts: I really hope I can stick with this because I would love to finally participate! I all ready have The Black Flower. I had to get an audio copy from Audible because it is out-of-print in Canada and my library didn't have it. There are a couple others I can't get easily either, but I will take it a month at a time. I own March and Phoenix and Ashes. I actually read My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You in 2012, I think, and liked it. I hummed and hawed but decided to get rid of it in my most recent purge. I guess it will be coming back for a reread! (I bought it for a few people after I read it, so someone will just have to lend it to me!) The book I am most excited about is Letters from a Lost Generation because I was saving it to read this year for the centennial and am tempted to buy it now instead of waiting... But, well, I have to wait...

Hosted at The Worm Hole.

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

During this time you choose a book to read from each of the following categories (examples of books you could choose are in brackets):

• A reference to time (Eleven Minutes, Before Ever After)
• A position of royalty (The People’s Queen, The Last Empress, The Curse Of The Pharaoh)
• A number written in letters (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, A Tale Of Two Cities)
• A forename or names (Rebecca, Eleanor & Park, The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D.)
• A type or element of weather (Gone With The Wind, Red Earth Pouring Rain)

Extra information

• Books can be any format (print, audio, ebook).
• It’s preferred that the books don’t overlap with other challenges, but not a requirement at all.
• Books cannot overlap categories (for instance my first example, Eleven Minutes, could be used for category 1 or 3 but not both).
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!
• You don’t have to make your list of books beforehand, you can choose them as you go.
• You don’t have to read your chosen books in any particular order.

My Thoughts: I wasn't going to do another challenge and I probably won't complete most of these goals I am setting for myself.... But, I am going to try another because it is fun. I have joined before but I forget about it. I need to do better!!

A Reference to Time: 

A Position of Royalty:

A Number Written in Letters:

A Forename or Names:

A Type or Element of Weather: 

Long-Awaited Reads Month

Alrighty! I am going to try and join in for Ana and Iris' Long-Awaited Reads Month in January. If I make a list I never follow it, but people like lists... So, a pool of possibilities is in order. Only, what would this be...

Well, there is whatever I haven't read from my Winter TBR that I posted as part of Top Ten Tuesday.

I need to read some science-fiction for the Sci-Fi Experience. I have Star Trek and then there is John Scalzi. I love him and listened to two audiobooks by him this year. I haven't finished his Old Man War series and it would be awesome to get back to them. I also want to read more from Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan series. It is one of the series that I would like to come near to completing in 2014. If not complete! And then there is J.D. Robb! I have no idea when I even last read a book in the series and I like the series...

Another project I have toying around in my mind is Terry Pratchett. I updated my list of Discworld novels that I own and I have almost all of them. I am humming and hawing with whether I want to go audio or paperback. I am listening to Hogfather right now and the narrator is kind of annoying me. He is fine most of the time, but his female voices leave a bit to be desired.

Then there is so many other options! I am behind in a lot of series. There are a lot of favourite authors that the books are just sitting on my shelves. It would be nice to get to some of them!

What are some of your long-awaited reads?

2014 Reading Challenges

I didn't do any reading challenges last year... Well, this year. I decided to do a couple in 2014, though. Nothing too stressful. We will see how it goes! The ones I picked out are below: 

Hosted By Teresa's Reading Corner.

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

There are five levels to the challenge: 

Flirting-Listen to 6 Audio Books
Going Steady- Listen to 12 Audio Books
Lover- Listen to 25 Audio Books
Married-Listen to more than 25 Audio Books
You Define the Relationship- Create your own challenge (choose your own name and level starting as low or going as high as you’d like) 

This challenge is completely laid back. I want it to be as enjoyable as possible.
Audio Books can be any genre
You can cross challenges
You don’t have to be a blogger to participate. You can tell us about what you are listening to in the comments of the monthly link up.

My Thoughts: In a dream would I would like to listen to two audiobooks  a month, but we will see how that goes... To start with I will go with Going Steady - Listen to 12 Audio Books.

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Hosted at it own dedicated blog.

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

Wondering what’s a chunkster? A chunkster is an adult book, non-fiction or fiction, that’s 450 pages or more.

Rules for this challenge:

Audio books and e-books are now allowed. You want to listen to a chunkster on audio? Be my guest.
Essay, short story, and poetry collections are allowed but they have to be read in their entirety to count.
Books may crossover with other challenges.
Anyone can join.
You don’t have to list your book ahead of time.
Graphic novels don’t count. Sorry guys but reading a chunkster graphic novel isn’t the same as reading a non-graphic chunkster.

I’ve been thinking long and hard about the levels of participation that have always been a part of this challenge. This year we’re going to try something new: there won’t be any levels.

My Thoughts: I am not going to stress about it. I just want to clean some of the chunskters off my shelves.

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Hosted at its own dedicated blog.

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

Here’s the schedule:

Jan./Feb.: Gulf Wars (Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm and Iraq War/Operation Iraqi Freedom)
March/April: French and Indian War
May/June: Korean War
July/August: WWI (100th Anniversary)
Sept./Oct.: WWII
Nov./Dec.: Vietnam War

Level of Participation:

Dip Your Toes: Read 1 book for any war
Novice: Read 1 book per war throughout the year for a total of 6 books on 6 different wars
Intermediate: Read 2+ books for 1 war, and 1 book for each of the others for a total of 7 books
Expert: Read 2+ books for each war for a total of 12 books

My Thoughts: I really like the idea of this challenge. I should do it more! I am not sure what level to go with just because I have no idea what to read for some of the wars. I normally read primarily WWI and WWII, so I will have to see what the options are for the other wars and take it from there.

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Hosted at its own dedicated blog.

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014

Here is how the Challenge will play out this year:

Levels:

Modern Age: read and review 12 books during the year (that's only 1 book a month)
Bronze Age: read and review 24 books during the year (Can you handle 2 books a month.)
Silver Age: read and review 52 books during the year (Are you up to a book a week!)

You must sign up for a level, but once you complete that level you may move up and try for the next one.

My Thoughts: I am behind on my graphic novel reading. I need to catch-up! I am going to go with the Modern Age. I would have to start going back to the library to do better than that. We will see how it goes.

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Once Upon a Time VII

I can't believe I am so slow signing up for Once Upon a Time VII. It has been the slowest I have ever been in signing up... I guess I am having an off year with blogging and reading in general. I still want to join in, but who knows what I will actually manage to read!

I am going to join in for my normal quests and take it from there...

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

Some possibilities:
1. The Forever Knight by John Marco
2. Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
3. The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint
4. Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
5. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

And many many more...

This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of any weekend, or weekends, during the challenge. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.

This is a maybe. I am not even sure if I have a short story collection that fits this challenge this year... We will see what happens!

Stories are not just limited to the printed page. Many entertaining, moving, profound or simply fun stories are told in the realm of television and film. To participate in this quest simply let us know about the films and/or television shows that you feel fit into the definitions of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore or mythology that you are enjoying during the challenge.

I am not sure what I will watch to be honest, but I am sure something will fit the category. I will likely rewatch The Hobbit at some point.

Long-Awaited Read Month - January 2013

Ana and Iris are hosting this event this month. I would hypothetically like to join in. If I read basically anything I own, except recent purchases, I would essentially only read books that count. Except that I am currently reading a graphic novel series I was lent on Christmas Eve. Those don't count. But, should I actually get in a groove following this series I will be reading books that count for this.

As to what I want to read... Sequels. If I made a list it would include The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson, The Girl Who Fell Below Fairyland and Lead the Reveals There by Catherynne Valente, The End of the World by Derek Landy, and Island of Doom by Arthur Slade. Oh, and the new Moira Young, Rebel Hearts. Yes, they were all last year releases, but I can't believe I haven't read any of them. And, these are just what I am thinking about right now. I can probably think of a lot more.

What are some books you really want to get to that you haven't yet?

R.I.P. Challenge VII - Reading Pool

Okay, people wanted a reading pool...

Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop
Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine
Gravelight by Marion Zimmer Bradley
When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason
Hourglass by Claudia Gray
Hex and the City by Simon Green
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Melusine by Sarah Monette
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Book of Lost Things by John Connelly
Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

... And Many Many More...

What are you reading?

R.I.P. Challenge VII

Are reading challenges supposed to make you feel old? I do the math and I am amazed at a) How old I was for the first R.I.P. Challenge and b) That I have done every single one of Carl's challenges since day one. This is because Carl likes what I like! Do you have any idea how amazing that was to discover way back in the day? I LOVE the fall... So does Carl. I like 'dark' books that fit the 'mood' of the season and am eyeing that at about this time of year... So does Carl. This was the early days of blogging and I didn't know anyone in 'real life' that read what I did (Although, Vanessa does now. Hi Vanessa!). Blogging seemed kind of literary and this was the early days of young adult blogs. (At the time I didn't read young adult books, so I thought adults that did were a tad bit crazy... Things change...)

Anyway, I am joining for another year and am happy to see many other people are, too. If you want to sign-up yourself the post with all the information is found here.

Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be King or Conan Doyle, Penny or Poe, Chandler or Collins, Lovecraft or Leroux…or anyone in between.

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I am a big fan of short stories and my desire for them is perhaps no greater than in Autumn. I see Poe and Lovecraft in my future for sure, and some Angela Carter. You can read short stories any time during the challenge. When I can, I like to read short stories over the weekend and post about them around that time. Feel free to do this however you want, but if you review short stories on your site, please link to those reviews on the Review Site.

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This is for those of us that like to watch suitably scary, eerie, mysterious gothic fare during this time of year. It may be something on the small screen or large. It might be a television show, like Dark Shadows or Midsomer Murders, or your favorite film. If you are so inclined, please post links to any R.I.P.-related viewing you do on to the Review Site as well.

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Hosted by Andi and Heather at The Estella Society.

Hosted at Carl's site and starting October 1.