It all began on August 30th, 2006, when I posted the first ever R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril (R.I.P.) Challenge post. I had–and still have—such a love of reading mysterious, gothic, creepy, things-that-go-bump-in-the-night fiction and I wanted to share that experience with others.
Thus R.I.P. was born and it gave me the gift of getting to know so many amazing fellow kindred spirits out there in the blogosphere, and so many wonderful artists who allowed the use of their art for annual R.I.P. banners.
I hit a point several years ago when I knew that sustaining blogging was just not working out for me and I handed the reins of the R.I.P. event over to Andi and Heather, who have done a wonderful job keeping it alive.
Whether it is because of the pandemic or an unusual temperate Summer or growing older or a combination of all three, I’ve been very nostalgic for the old blogging days all Summer long and I have been longing to participate in Readers Imbibing Peril this year. Needless to say, I was excited to see the banner drop on social media this morning.
And what a great banner it is. Great job Heather! It reminds me so much of the look of Halloween decorations and graphic art when I was a kid in the 70’s, dressing up to go trick-or-treating on a cold Nebraska Halloween night. Blogging isn’t necessary as far as participation in the event. They are keeping it very simple with an account and hashtags on Instagram and Twitter: @perilousreaders on both and use hashtage #ripxv. You can also post on FB.
Then just read or watch any perilous thing you want and post about it on social media. And of course there is always the option to just participate quietly on your own, joining us in the spirit of the event. Love of reading and watching this kind of material is the point, after all.
My previous post was a bookshelf tour showcasing books in the R.I.P. vibe that I had pulled out for potential Autumn reads. Those books are:
Fer-De-Lance by Rex Stout [Completed 9/1/20]
The Last Seance by Agatha Christie
The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [Completed 8/30/20]
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
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I’m currently listening (once again) to the unabridged full cast audio version of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (so great!) and may try to get caught up on the last two Inspector Gamache novels by Louise Penny and the last two Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley on audio. The readers for both series are outstanding.
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We will of course be doing some “perilous” viewing as well during the months. We started watching the original b/w Perry Mason series on the CBS subscription service. Used to watch those all the time many years ago and it is fun to see them from the beginning.
We are halfway through the episode of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and they are very well done. I’ve not read any of the books, but Mary has read them and loved them and she is pleased with what they have done with the series.
We always make it a point to watch Arsenic and Old Lace on Halloween evening, while we wait, often in vain, for trick-or-treaters to arrive. I wonder if that kind of activity will be fully cancelled this year.
If I can work in viewings of The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride and the Bob Hope film Ghost Breakers then I am always happy.
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I have a Shirley Jackson short story collection, tons of Edgar Allan Poe and HP Lovecraft, a book of classic ghost stories edited by Roald Dahl, and several other books to choose from if I decide to go off course with the list above (always likely).
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I do hope you will consider joining in for R.I.P. XV. It promises to be a wonderful time.
I used to cheat and begin early when I was the host. I see no reason to change my behavior at this point! So let R.I.P. XV begin!
I can NOT believe you started RIP back in 2006. No way!!!
I don’t read as many horror books but I can certainly read some spooky comics. I’ve loved the recent Marvel comic Strange Academy by Scottie Young and Humberto Ramos. I also will be reading some Justice League Dark and maybe even watch the recent animated film of the same name.
If I get a chance I want to watch the short lived Swamp Thing tv series. Right now I’m watching Lucifer season 5 on Netflix which is awesome.
I will look around for some books that might qualify. Maybe some Bradbury.
I am listening to the Sandman Audiobook and plan to listen to the Graveyard Audiobook as well you mentioned over the next two months. Anything by Neil is amazing.
Glad to be on this reading journey with you again my friend.
I know! When I saw that the banner had “XV” on it, I had to go back and look. That seems crazy!
I would certainly consider Umbrella Academy to be in the R.I.P. spirit, that’s for sure. Did you read the famous Swamp Thing run? I’m trying to remember writer/artist? Wasn’t there a particular run of Swamp Thing that is universally praised? Maybe I’m just getting old…(maybe, lol!).
Bradbury for sure. It has been so long since I’ve read Something Wicked This Way Comes that I would like to read that. And he has a short story collection that I recently grabbed a copy of called October Country.
I’m glad you are on it with me as well. And I really look forward to and appreciate our daily check ins.
I’m not sure if I should even say this, but the tears just rolled as I read this. I’m just gonna have to hope you’ll understand, as I think you will. They weren’t sad tears, but nostalgic tears. In fact, reading what you’re thinking of reading and watching made me quite happy. I’m just a crier, I guess. 😉
I completely understand, Debi, believe me. It is nice but also tinged with melancholy to come back to this and remember what the community used to be like, and how it has changed because technology has changed and our lives are understandably filled with things important to us. I would certainly cherish what we all had even more had I known it would change so much. I certainly miss communicating with you and your family, Chris, and so many others, on a regular basis like we used to. It is an emotional thing, no doubt about it.
The Hound of the Baskervilles was my favorite Sherlock Holmes book …and Movie!
You and RIP changed my whole world of reading!
Why does the “Notify me of new posts by email” not work? The only way I know to look here are your posts on FB
I’m pretty sure most of the things on this blog don’t work because the template is old and not supported anymore. I need to work up the courage to port to a different template. I’m always a little iffy about that, but it needs to be done at some point.
RIP and Once Upon a Time really changed my reading as well. Heck, I was always a reader but I never read nearly as much or as varied as I did once I met all of you and started being influenced by everything you all liked to read.
I’ve not seen the film, but I’ve seen the Sherlock episode…which frankly I don’t remember as I’ve only seen it once. I’m about 75% done with the book, so I imagine I’ll finish it sometime tomorrow. I’m enjoying it.
Yes!! This event is how I came across your blog to begin with. It’s literally the only challenge I participate in and it always, always cheers me up and sets the stage for a new season. I do like the retro 70’s vibe of this graphic too.
I remember that, Ti. It is a great graphic. I’m so pleased with the creativity and fun vibe of it.
That is a very nice banner for R.I.P. XV. The first time I joined in on your challenge was for R.I.P. VII in 2012. We often watch Arsenic and Old Lace around Halloween too, although I could watch it anytime.
Oh yeah, any of the Cary Grant comedies are golden, no matter what time of year. Bringing Up Baby, Holiday, Arsenic and Old Lace, Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer, and so many more.
It was fun for me to go back through my blog today and look at the banners I had put together for all the R.I.P challenges that I did. Hard to believe time has passed so quickly.
I have read The Historian (twice!) for the R.I.P. challenges over the years, and loved it each time. As for The Silent Companions, I have that waiting for me…thanks for the reminder. It would be fun to talk about if we both end up reading it.
Its about time I read it once then!
I certainly don’t have any excuse not to get to The Silent Companions, it is a short book by comparison.
I was just thinking yesterday about it being time for RIP and then I saw something and was super excited. I am not sure I have much on my reading list this year that qualifies but I will try and squeeze something in for old times sake!!
I’m happy that you will do so for old times sake. It is certainly nostalgic to be doing this again, and especially to be here reading R.I.P. related books on a dark, rainy Saturday morning.
I save up books for this all year!! I can’t wait to get started.
It’s been too long since I’ve seen Arsenic and Old Lace. I need to add a bit of a movie playlist to my fall. I don’t watch too much in the scary realm, but I definitely have a few staples that I need to see again!
I’m not a scary movie watcher in the sense of modern horror. I often find it way to dark or too gross or both. I love stuff that is moody, like The Others, and the old Vincent Price films. Cary Grant is so hilarious in Arsenic and Old Lace. The whole cast is just wonderful. It is such a witty, well-written script. Not surprising that it was first a play. I’d love to see it acted out on stage some day.
Glad you are taking part this year.
I did so love joining your RIP event. I don’t seem to have been as involved in the last few years but it does always give me a blast of nostalgia when I see the other posts and tweets.
Lynn 😀
I’m so grateful that Andi and Heather have kept is alive and made it their own. I was thrilled to see it go live so I could join in this year.
Oh R.I.P is my favourite reading event, that I look forward to taking part in each year, and will be great to have you taking part again, too! Just off to put my finishing touches to my post… as I had a basic sign up post ready for whenever the announcement dropped! 😄 Happy, spooky reading! 👻
Thanks Jessica. Look forward to checking out your post. Happy spooky reading to you as well. I think we have a fun couple of months ahead of us!
This was always one of my favorite reading challenges and even the years I didn’t “officially” participate, I tried to read lots of “perilous” books during that timeframe. I’ve kept aware of it through Jessica’s participation the last few years and was pleased to see your comment pop up at her blog. I have memories of you loving the Louise Penny books and have just finished number 15 this month, just in time for the next one’s release.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is the only Sherlock Holmes I’ve ever read!
I’m sure I’ll add more to my list, but so far I’m planning to read Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes (read Dandelion Wine this month), The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths, and perhaps the final two Southern Sisters mysteries by Anne George.
Happy R.I.P. reading!
I don’t remember who recommended Louise Penny, but when I picked up that first book I got sucked in so hard that I read the first 8 books, I believe, back to back to back. I’ve never before or since read a series that way. I just had to see what happened next. I look forward to catching up with the couple that I am behind on.
I’m thinking of reading Something Wicked too. I read it many, many years ago when I was a kid, and saw the film then too, but I don’t remember either of them at all so it would be fun to experience that again.
I’ll have to check out your Dandelion Wine review if you did one.
So amazing that this challenge is now in its 16th year. Love it and love all kinds of spooky reads and now just need to put my list together. Happy R.I.P., Carl!
Hard to believe how quickly time passes. I was just thinking yesterday that it is just a bit over two months from now and I’ll be decorating for Christmas (I usually start early-mid November). It doesn’t seem that long since I was putting the Christmas decorations away. But in the meantime I will enjoy the Autumn and the lead up to Halloween and to Thanksgiving.
Look forward to seeing your list! Happy R.I.P. to you as well.
I’m going to join in this year for the first time, I’m looking forward to it.
I’m so glad you will be joining us, Katrina. It has been such a fun event all these years and I’m so glad to be coming back to participate after the hiatus I took after passing the torch to Andi and Heather. It is in great hands and I’m thrilled to come back to it.
I can’t get over the passage of time! I started blogging in 2006, but didn’t join the RIP challenge until the following year. I’ve only participated a few times, but this year I was feeling nostalgic and decided to put together a stack of books to read for the challenge. I plan to share that post later this weekend.
Isn’t The Graveyard Book a wonderful audiobook?! I love listening to Gaiman and should add that to my list for a re-read. I’m anxiously awaiting my turn with the new Louise Penny book (my husband has first dibs), but that will be added to the list, as well.
Happy reading, Carl! Thanks again for creating such a fun challenge all those years ago.
Yes, time’s passage is wild to behold.
If you haven’t tried it, you should listened to the full cast audio of The Graveyard Book. It is unabridged and wonderful. As is Neil’s version.
I look forward to seeing your list and am glad you are joining in this year. It has been fun to be back participating.
Are you on Instagram?
I have not tried the full cast audio! Thanks for the recommendation, Carl. Yes, I’m on IG. You can find me under lesscher
Cool, I will follow you.
You will not regret the full cast audio. The Neverwhere one is good too, but it is just an adaptation, unfortunately, not the whole novel.
Ahhhh this was my first favorite reading challenge! Glad to see it’s still going on 🙂
I am too, Janet. I was excited to see the announcement go up this year. How have you been?
I think there’s lots of nostalgia going around this year–I too was happy to see that R.I.P. was happening, although if I don’t get my act together here soon, I won’t have anything read/watched in time to participate! You’ve some great choices, though. I love this time of year and even just watching others participate is fun. Happy reading/watching!