All right, it's September 1, so it's officially R.I.P Challenge time. I already posted my list of possible reads.
Ghost Story by Peter Straub
Five Mile House by Karen Novak
A Jealous Ghost by A.N. Wilson -
The Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill
Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Hold My Hand by Serena Mackesy
The Grange House by Sarah Blake
Out Backward by Ross Raisin
I pulled most of them out, though I still haven't located a couple of books. I'm sure they are in a pile somewhere, it's just a matter of figuring out exactly where! I have plenty to choose from in the interim, however. I'm not sure which to pick first. I'm leaning towards Shirley Jackson, but a reread of Henry James and then the A.N. Wilson also appeals. I'll flip through a few tonight and see which really grabs me! A short quick read is always a nice way to start a challenge and feel a sense of accomplishment right off the bat!
And I think I'll try and read one story each weekend as well through the end of October. I'm sure I have another volume of stories by M.R. James, but again it's a matter of where I put it. I sort of miss my weekly short story reads, though I admit they are hard to write about (individually that is). I think I can manage it for a couple of months, however.
Don't Look Now by Daphne du Maurier
Count Magnus and Other Ghost Stories and The Haunted Dolls House and Other Stories by M.R. James
The Oxford Book of Victorian Ghost Stories edited by Michael Cox
The Mammoth Book of Twentieth Century Ghost Stories edited by Peter Haining
I could very conveniently read one story a week and finish the du Maurier collection (though two would be rereads--both worthy stories).
Are you reading along? Which book are you reading first?
Edited: I've decided I'm going to start with Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. I think you can't miss with a book by Shirley Jackson! And since it's Tuesday I'll do a little teaser (for me as well, since I'm just going to start reading now).
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two "teaser sentences" from that page.
"There are popular theories, however, which discount the eerie, the mysterious; there are people who will tell you that the disturbances I am calling 'psychic' are actually the result of subterranean waters, or electric currents, or hallucinations caused by polluted air; atmospheric pressure, sun spots, earth tremors all have their advocates among the skeptical. People", the doctor said sadly, "are always so anxious to get things out into the open where they can put a name to them, even a meaningless name, so long as it has something of a scientific ring."
So, now I'm off to go and begin the book properly!