September: it was the most beautiful of words, he’d always felt, evoking orange-flowers, swallows, and regret.
~Alexander Theroux
Though shimmering heat, bright sun, and the sounds of summer laughter belie the fact, it is indeed that time of year, time to embrace melancholy, to seek out things that go bump in the night, to find beauty in darkness. Yes, it is OFFICIALLY the beginning of the R.eader’s I.mbibing P.eril Challenge, Part II. Though myself and others have gotten an early start on this year’s gothic goodness (as evidenced by the growing list of reviews), the actual dates for the R.I.P. II Challenge are September 1st through October 31st, 2007.
My excitement for the coming months is palpable. Speaking personally, I have already had an amazing start to the challenge with Baltimore and Blood and Chocolate and a handful of short stories. As the weather changes, the shadows lengthen, and the nights turn colder, a haunting blanket of melancholy and dread will fall upon our hearts and the gothic reading we will be participating in en masse will be so much more deliciously creepy.
As the days pass through September and the run up to All Hallow’s Eve builds in October, there will be many exciting contests and giveaways happening here at R.I.P. II headquarters. As you may know, those who sign up to participate in the R.I.P. Challenge before midnight, Monday September 3rd, will have their names entered into the drawing for:
An Autographed copy of Natasha Mostert’s gothic thriller, Season of the Witch.
As you also know, if you’ve been reading along the past week, historical paranormal romance author Colleen Gleason has agreed to a wonderful giveaway involving a personalized Advanced Reading Copy of her forthcoming novel, The Bleeding Dusk, as well as autographed cover flats, bookmarks, and an authentic Venator stake for one lucky reader who chooses to read at least one of her first two novels in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles series during this challenge period (more details here).
And there is so much more. Here is just a sampling of items I have been given, found in my secret treasure trove of goodies (i.e., my basement), or have procured at such wonderful prices they would make a crow blush (mostly thanks to the bargain hunting eagle eyes of Jeff Smith and the wonder of discount bookstores):
Items like these an many more wonderful things not pictured will be a part of specific themed giveaways and contests throughout the coming two months. Sharpen your pencils (there will be another story contest), hold tight to your lucky rabbit’s foot, make sure you have plenty of garlic and crosses on hand and get ready for a haunting good time!
In addition to the R.I.P. activities throughout the month, other creative individuals will be hosting sales and giveaways that I will be promoting here as they fit stake in hand with the themes of the R.I.P. II Challenge.
One such contest is happening right now over at Colleen Gleason’s site. Ever wanted to be featured in a book? Ever wanted to give such a gift to a friend? Well, head on over there and find out what you can do to make this dream a reality! And while you are there, check out these amazing wallpapers of Colleen’s three Gardella Chronicles novels, including her latest deliciously wicked cover:
(Click for 1024 x 768 version)
Dew, over at The Hidden Side of a Leaf will be hosting a Bookworms Carnival during the month of October that will focus on R.I.P. style reading and those of you who are participating in this will no doubt be able to participate in the Carnival as well. More details to come as October approaches.
October will also find things eerie and spooky invading Poppet Planet. Lisa Snellings-Clark has some wonderful creations that you will be able to purchase. I have been privileged to get a glimpse at some of the potential sale items and believe me, you guys and gals should be stoked! As they did in the Once Upon a Time Challenge, Poppets and other goodness from the creative team at Slaughterhouse Studios will be featured prominently in the goings on here at R.I.P. II, so keep your eyes open.
As always, the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge can be joined at any time throughout the months of September and October. With perils as easy as only reading one book, I hope we gather more and more participants as the days go on. Tell your friends!
If you want ideas about what to read, check out the links at the end of the original R.I.P. II post to see what everyone else is reading. You can also go to last year’s Grave Times Newsletter to see a list of books that people read during the challenge.
And don’t forget that the R.I.P.ing Yarns Review Site is a great place to get reading ideas as well.
Until then, lock your doors at night, listen carefully for strange footsteps coming down the hall, and stay away from the windows…you never know who, or what, may be peeking inside…
By the way, autumn also started for me officially today, despite the date on the calendar, as the first festival of the season, SantaCaliGon is underway. In addition to picking up those great crows (Jose and Maneul) ictured above, I partook of the ultimate in autumnal cullinary delights: The Turkey Leg!!! I also sampled freshly made potato chips, kettle corn, fresh lemonade, and pecans dipped in cinammon and sugar. YUM!!!
I know, how wonderful! I saw the calendar this morning and headed straight for the Mysteries of Udolpho!!! Only 26 pages in because I’ve been doing a lot, but it was so glorious. The book’s been taunting me.
Hawthorne during the week, Mrs. Radcliffe on the weekends! And more, if I have time after that.
Happy reading!
I’m just getting my list ready. May take a tour of the bookshop and see if I can find anything new to add to the TBR list that would fit in 🙂
Oops, I’m not actually hosting the October carnival. I’m what I guess you’d call the carnival organizer, but it’s hosted at a different blog each month, and October’s will be over at This is the Life. But I guess it’s just semantics! You linked them to the right place. 🙂
I’m just in love with those poppets!
Thanks for the clarification Dew, and please remind me when it gets closer so I can post about this again, if you would.
Can’t wait to read your thoughts on Udolpho, Mrs. M. as that is a book I really want to read.
Look forward to seeing what you choose, Fence.
I’m so eager to begin, but must finish my current book before I allow myself the luxury of Season of the Witch!
Ohhh, I will have to try to win myself a poppet!!!
btw: as for a christmas story.. i’ll pass on your praise to Scott.. also Yano (the bully) and Ian (the littlest boy with the weird eating habits) will be there..
Do the same to them as well Deslily. Watching A Christmas Story this year will be extra fun with the knowledge that I know someone who knows them…
I just love that last picture with all the different poppets.
I also love the goodies bookporn. You spoil us, Carl 😛
Happy official beginning of RIP day to everyone!
Whoo!
Carl, I love those crows.
Ohhh…I love the crows, too! Even the weather seems to be cooperating here…night brought us temps in the 40s…feels deliciously autumn!
It feels like Autumn here this morning as well Debi, but it is supposed to jump up to 91 by afternoon. Cool mornings and evenings are a start, but I cannot wait for 70 degree days instead of 90 degree days!
i’m glad to finally have my participation in the rip challenge up and running!
i’m really enjoying “the claw of the conciliator”!
hooha!
You have no idea how excited I am to start this challenge! I love, love, love this time of year! I love the briskness in the air (God, I hope it arrives soon!) I love the changing of the leaves, and I love things that go bump in the night. I went to see Halloween on Friday and thought that was a good way to start of the RIP season!
Thanks Carl for hosting this wonderful challenge!
Oh, how wonderful to be back. I’ve been in serious withdrawal, and I have missed hearing what everyone is reading. I started R..I.P. books a few weeks ago. I’ll put my list on your e-mail. I loved the poppets. If I’d known they had something as cool as those crows I may have tried to hit SantaCalaGon. Now I’m going back and read all the ones I’ve missed.
There are apparentlly lots of things that have to be changed on a new computer. My name is not one I thought about. I am no longer anonymous.
And They’re Off! In addition to the reading of eerie books that keep me up at nights, I’ve been playing my James Taylor music nonstop since minute 1 of September 1! Sort of a ritual for me, now beginning with “September Grass” off the October Road CD.
My first Sunday Peril review is posted. Yippee!
I’ve started my first book and I’m wondering how I’ll get through any of these since I have a terrible time reading anything creepy after dark!! I may have to save my RIP II books for daytime hours and light fluff for after sundown. I’m such a wimp!
Cool crows! I guess I need to go to SantaCaliGon days some day. I’ve never been.
It is pretty fun as far as festivals go Jeff, and the food is GREAT!!!
It’s a little warm here for my liking (in September no less), but I am sure it (I am hoping) the weather turns cooler. I am really in the mood now for this challenge!
Its very warm here as well, nothing remotely R.I.P. like about this weather. As much as I love it when September rolls around I also dread it because I find myself loathing each warm day, wanting so desperately for it to cool down. It will be here soon, but unless it happens tomorrow, which it won’t, it is not soon enough!
It is kind of as hot as summer. But then, Delhi is hot most of the times.
I finished two books.
1)Frankenstein
2)heart of Darkness
The reviews can be read on my blog:
http://readingandmorereading.blogspot.com/
Steve and I both started reading our RIP-2 books on the 1st!
He just finished his first book on the list this morning! (The butt head)
I am still wading my way through the maze of overly wordy, bad use of parenthesis and run on sentences galore of my 1st book!
Sounds like he reads like my wife does, very quickly.
And I have to chuckle about your description of your first book now that I know what it is since I love the way it is written so much.
Very cool crows Carl! I’m really looking forward to the next writing contest.
Happy official R.I.P. to everyone!
Reading all about everyone’s reading choices, etc for this challenge really makes me wish I had signed up again this year! I so enjoyed the challenge last year. I just had too much on the go. Hopefully you’ll host it again in 2008!!
Can’t you squeeze in one book Heather, or a few short stories?
And, as long as there is interest, R.I.P. Challenges seem like they will be a part of my life for years to come. 😉
Well, in between working at 2 festivals over the weekend and then trying to get caught back up at the day job, I’ve just gotten back into the last Harry Potter book. 🙂 It is still very hot here, but the heat wave of +100F temps seems to have finished. Lets hear it for autumnal reading challenges! Thank you, Carl.
Carl, I’ve decided to try & squeeze in The Thirteenth Tale since you made it sound so good; Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott; Echoes from the Macabre by Daphne Du Maurier and Midnight Tales by Bram Stoker. I love the RIP Challenges.