R.I.P. VI - It's Here!

I've been waiting all summer for this.  Not least because this summer has been so grueling.  I don't do well in intense heat and wilt in the humidity (and it is 95F today--it's also neverending it would seem).  But Carl's RIP Challenge has come to signify for me the coming of Autumn.  I know that now it is just around the corner.  Well, I'm hopeful it is anyway.  I'm ready for open windows letting in cool air at night and a sweatshirt in the morning, that crisp feeling in the air and leaves crunching underfoot.  I can be happy with a little Indian Summer, but I'm ready for these hot humid days to become a bad memory.  So Carl's RIP is sort of a celebration for the end of summer, and I plan on partaking of the fun.

I've chosen a small pool of books (may add to it or take away, but this is what I have in mind at the moment) to read from.  If I can read three of these books in the next two months I'll be very pleased.  In the past I've also read short stories and I may do a little of that as well, but I won't commit myself to anything definite.  The idea is to have fun and enjoy, and that's what I want to do rather than setting too many goals.

Here are the books I have in mind that I'll be drawing from.

The Memory Game by Nicci French - Have started this one already, which is about long-suppressed memories--a woman tries to discover who murdered her friend whose body turned up in the family garden.
The Lady Vanishes by Ethel Lina White - Hitchcock filmed this one--about a young woman traveling by train who realizes one of the other passengers, a woman, has vanished.
The Uninvited by Dorothy Macardle - I wrote about this one not long ago--it was also made into a movie--about a brother and sister looking for the perfect house only to find the one they have bought is haunted.
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver - Have heard this is one is a convincingly good ghost story--set in the 1930s where a group of men travel to the Arctic and find something quite chilling there (and not just the snow!).
A Jealous Ghost by A.N. Wilson - A reworking of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw--this makes my list every year-maybe this is my year?
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - I mentioned I was in the mood for some Agatha Christie and here is my excuse to pick one up--supposedly one of Christie's best about ten strangers invited to an island, all accused of or implicated in murder who then begin being murdered one by one.  But by whom?
Roots of Evil or A Dark Dividing by Sarah Rayne - Not sure which but have heard she does suspense really well. 
And/or something by Barbara Vine/Ruth Rendell--I haven't had a chance yet to sift through my bin of unread Vine books.  It's been far too long since I've read any of her books and I am very much in the mood for her work.

And to top it all off, I am hoping to read The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson with a group as part of Carl's RIP challenge later in October--I already had it on my pile and have heard good things about it. 

I'm very excited about my list and reading any of these (of course I would love to read all of them) will be a treat.  I know what I'll be reading over my long holiday weekend (one, or more) of these books!

Comments

[catharina]

The Memory Game is - with the latest - the only Nicci French I haven't read. So I don't know how much suspense is awaiting you:)
The R.I.P. Challenge sounds like fun!

[litlove]

Yay! It's great to read your list and to think we'll be doing this challenge together (and along with half the rest of the blog world - lol!). I'm definitely up for the Paver, as you know, and I really enjoyed the Sarah Rayne novel I read, though that was a while back now and the details are fuzzy. I also loved the one Nicci French novel I read, and you remind me I should pick another soon. I'll be interested to know what you make of The Memory Game!

[Stephanie]

I am so excited for RIP. I am contemplating joining the readalong for The Lantern too. Or maybe even the Neil Gaiman short stories.

[Darlene]

I brought Dark Matter home for my husband and it well and truly spooked him. Perfect for the challenge I would say. And thanks for the heads up again this year, Danielle! You're always the one to break the news in my blogsphere.

[Danielle]

Catharina--I always look forward to this challenge and it is often one of the few where I actually manage to read what I set out to read! I've yet to read any of Nicci French's books, but I've heard she is a good author for suspenseful stories. Do you have a favorite?
Litlove--There is something really appealing about reading spooky or suspenseful stories and it is fun to do it in a large group--even though everyone reads something different. I've checked out the Paver book before so I am determined to actually read it this time--I think it was waiting for fall for me to bring it home. I've had both Sarah Rayne and Nicci French on my reading piles for ages so hope to read something by each--and will certainly share when I finish them!
Stephanie--I have heard good things about The Lantern and bought it in hardcover, so hopefully this will spur me on to read it sooner rather than later. I usually read some short stories, too, but not sure if I will this year or not--always a matter of whether there is enough time or not.
Darlene--I have heard it is very spooky, so this is the perfect time of hear to read it. I'm glad to hear your husband liked it--i don't think I've yet to hear anything bad about it--and can't wait to start now! I've been looking forward to this for a while and had been mentally planning my list. Can you tell? :)

[AJ]

I absolutely adore the film version of The Lady Vanishes. Have a fun read!

[Caroline]

I read that Nicci French and a few others. They never disappoint. They may not be the height of the genre stylistically but reliable good reads is something.
I'm joining in The Lantern as well.

[Liz F]

Dark Matter is very good - very atmospheric and you can certainly feel the cold of the Arctic winter!
I have read a book called Ghost Song by Sarah Rayne which revolves around a closed up theatre in London and I enjoyed that so it might be time to look for more of hers too - although with a TBR mountain range and a list of books and authors to look for that is a mile long, I have no idea when I will get around to that!
I have the Penguin Book of Ghost Stories for my short story reading so I am hoping that it is better than the Virago collection I read last autumn, which was very patchy!
I do love the artwork for the RIP challenge - very stylish.

[carolinareads]

You have there some great books

[Nadia]

Yay! I'm excited about RIP, too! Its one of the two challenges that I look forward to every year. Love your list of books! I only have two in mind so far, so I need to start looking. I've heard great things about The Lantern - hope you enjoy it!

[Kathy]

Looks like a fun list, and I love the RIP graphic. I can't wait for the fall either, though we don't usually have much of one in FL. Perhaps a slight lessening of the heat and humidity, but even that is appreciated!

[Stefanie]

Dark matter sounds good! None of my local libraries have it though so I guess I will have to keep it off the list this year. Maybe next year though. The A.N. Wilson books sounds good too. As do all the others. I love reading everyone's lists!

[GeraniumCat]

RIP is very much the high point of my reading year - who'd have thought you could get so much pleasure from a couple of months focused on creepy books! Hadn't comer across Sarah Rayne but she sounds good. Our summer has mostly been gruelling because it's been so dismal, but we can give up having expectations now, which is something of a relief.

[Kristen M.]

I think that And Then There Were None is possibly Christie's darkest book. It certainly scared me! I'm excited for The Lantern group read too. I love this challenge!

[Kailana]

Glad to see you are joining in for the Lantern group read. It should be a lot of fun!

[Danielle]

AJ--I enjoyed it as well and at the time didn't know it had been adapted from a book. Now I am excited about reading the book and will have to watch the film again later.
Caroline--I think this was her (or their as I understand they are a husband/wife writing team?) first book? It is pretty good--you're right--not as good as other thrillers but definitely entertaining.
Liz--Dark Matter is a book that I brought home with me from the library several times and am only now hoping to really read it! The timing is right I think. I tried one Sarah Rayne novel that I didn't quite get on with--it went back to the library half read, but I think these stories appeal to me more than that one did. Hopefully will have better luck. I remember you mentioning the Virago book of Ghost Stories, hopefully the Penguin one will be better. I might read a short story or two--will have to see what appeals.
Carolinareads--I'm very excited with my list and will be looking through my Ruth Rendell books this weekend!
Nadia--This is the only challenge that I actually manage to read books for. I am often tempted but easily stray... :) Have fun choosing books--that's one of the fun things about challenges!
Kathy--I'm looking forward to this weekend as we are supposed to get a cool down finally--a proper one with 70F days. I feel bad that the weather is always so sticky in FL. I don't think I could live there--do you at least live close to the ocean?
Stefanie--It is fun looking at everyone's lists--I always add to my own. I'm excited about the Paver story and we'll see if I actually read the Wilson--I keep adding it to my list in high hopes...but there are too many good choices.
GeraniumCat--This is a genre I love, too. I always look forward to it when summer hit as I know that the hot weather will soon turn cooler and more bearable and I get to read great books. I know some people didn't have much of a summer due to cool weather which is no good either. Sunny temperate days would be nice. I'll be curious to see what these Rayne books are like!
Kristen--Interesting--I have heard it's good but didn't realize it was dark and scary--her books are almost comfort reads so I look forward to this one!
Kailana--I'm looking forward to it! I'm so glad I splurged and bought the book now and have it ready to go.

[Joanna]

I absolutely love this time of year! I'm thinking I might join in all the RIP fun this time. Now the hard part: deciding what to read! I can't think of a better dilemma to face, frankly.

[Bellezza]

I'd like to read some Agatha Christie, too (already read The Lantern, about which I'm looking forward to hearing what everyone things). Barnes and Noble just had The Murder at The Vicarage, I believe that's Christie's first?, for Free Book Friday yesterday so I have that one in my hot little hands. We'll have fun talking autumnal books!

[catharina]

Danielle I think my favourite Nicci French at the time was Land of The Living(2006). I haven't reread any of them and gave them all to charity a year or so ago, as the suspense doesn't agree with me these days.

[Dorothy W.]

Except for school starting, I'm ready for fall as well. In fact, it's already feeling a bit like fall, with cooler temperatures and some leaves turning. I hope you get your cooler temps soon! Your list looks great, particularly the Agatha Christie; after having read her earlier this year, I'd love to read more.

[Denise]

I imagine you've read The Woman in Black? The Daniel Radcliffe version should be coming out soon.

[Carl V.]

I'm with you, I look at R.I.P. as a celebration of the end of summer, a season I hate with a passion. Wonderful to have you joining in, you always read such great books.

I do hope you can read The Lantern with us.

I finally read And Then There Were None recently and really enjoyed it. I have seen the play version of it and last year found an old black and white film that was suitably creepy. Well worth tracking down after you've read the book.

[Danielle]

Joanna--My problem is always narrowing down the list to a few. I have loads of good books that would work so well for this challenge!
Bellezza--I loaded it onto my Nook, too! I think you can find an Agatha Christie or two from Project Gutenberg as well. Fall seems the perfect time for an Agatha Christie novel, so I can't wait to start. The Lantern sounds good, too.
Catharina--I go in phases when it comes to books, too. I used to read different sorts of books but now have moved on to other sorts of stories, so I know what you mean. I'll have to look up that Nicci French novel--I do like suspense--for me it is something that will take my mind off everyday problems.
Dorothy--The last couple of days have been really gorgeous here--sunny but mild so I can open my windows and blinds but still have a nice breeze come in. I love these sorts of days and really wish we had more of them!! I'm looking forward to reading more Agatha Christie, too. I like her books and have been watching a DVD that has film adaptations of her short stories.
Denise-I've read it twice! :) I could read it again actually. I heard that Daniel Radcliffe was playing that role--I can't wait to see it!
Carl--I have lived in NE almost all my life and I still cannot get used to summers here--as a matter of fact every year I feel like I tolerate them less. Winter is not any better, but fall is nice. There are some beautiful days in between--wish there were more! I am planning on reading The Lantern and have it at the ready! Thanks for the heads up on the movie version of And Then There Were None--I'm going to dig out my book today and will start it soon. I've already got two books underway--so I'm just diving right in on my reading! :)

[Cath]

The only one of those I've read is the Agatha Christie, many moons ago. It was quite good if memory serves. I'll be interested to hear about the rest.

[Danielle]

Cath--I've heard good things about the Christie--even from friends who aren't mystery readers in general, so I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to all my books as a matter of fact! :)

[Marg]

I am planning to read The Lantern for the readalong too. We will see how we go though!

[Danielle]

Marg--I bought it by chance a while ago, and this will give me the perfect excuse to read it sooner than later.