It’s that time of the year again, Carl V.’s wonderful R.I.P. challenge is back. My track record with challenges is always iffy but there’s no way I’m missing out on joining this one. I’ve participated every year and I’m excited to see it back for the fifth year.

I’m going to try and complete the second peril which means I have to read two books between September 1 and October 31. Books can be in the genres of Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Supernatural, Gothic, Horror and Dark Fantasy. I’ll try to stay away from counting traditional mysteries as I read those all the time anyway. I want to expand my horizons a bit more you know.

Part of the fun of joining a challenge of course is the list making right? I have quite a few books that would work for this challenge and I’m just going to choose as I read along but here are some potentials. If one of my list is a must read, let me know and I may move it up on the nightstand.

• The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I thought The Woman in White was fabulous and think I would definitely enjoy this one.
• Noctures by John Connolly.
• Hell by Kathryn Davis. Part mystery, part domestic meditation and part horror story. Scary…
• The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katherine Green. The book which introduces the first American series detective, Ebenezer Gryce.
• 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. I’ve actually read a couple of the stories in this collection but even if I don’t finish it all I think taking in one or more stories would be a good thing.
• Don’t Look Now by Daphne du Maurier.

I have other books, some short story collections and more classics, so I don’t think I’ll have a shortage of reading material for the challenge. All of these sound so good I want to read them all now.

So are you joining? What is one book you can’t wait to read?

So I’m still just reading one book at a time and I think the reason is that because I know I’m going on vacation soon I don’t want to take books with me that are half way read or leave lots of books behind that are in all stages of being read.

Currently, I’m reading Testimony by Anita Shreve which I’m actually glad it’s the only book I’m reading as there are so many characters and changing viewpoints that I think this is one that probably wouldn’t hold up too well if I read it in spurts.

The story is about a sex scandal that breaks out at a boarding school and the aftermath of what happens to students, parents and basically the town. I’m nearing the end and I’ve liked the story although I have to say I’m probably just not a fan of the multiple viewpoints. Just as I’m getting used to one voice or liking one particular character, we jump to someone else who maybe only shows up once or twice more in the story. Hmm, I don’t really like that.

What else? Well I did catch up on the latest Bitch magazine and for those of you who love sci/fi, check it out as there’s an Q&A with Ursula K. Le Guin. One fo these days I must read something by her.

Also have you heard of guerrilla poetry? Check out Broadsided and see how you can help put out art and literature on the streets. I love this idea and promise to do some of it myself as soon as I’m back from vacation.

Okay I’m off to finish Testimony.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was quite productive as I got some stuff ready for my upcoming trip. Of course now it’s all about which books to take. This is when I wish I had an eReader.

Anyway, I’ve been very behind on reviews and at this rate I probably won’t get a chance to write much of anything on the books as some are already fading fast but I thought I’d give you some quick summaries.

I found The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells to be an enjoyable YA read. Mia is sixteen-years-old and is spending the summer with her cousins but the closeness they once shared seems to be over. Now Mia just feels left out until she meets the boy next door. Love, friendship, betrayals, it’s all there. The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was the foreshadowing because it was pretty transparent that something bad was going to happen at some point. (This was an ARC).

The Impostor’s Daughter by Laurie Sandell is a graphic memoir. The author is on a hunt for the truth about her father. As she uncovers more of his past she realizes that their whole life was built on lies. I loved the bright and colorful drawings. I was so into the story I think I read it in one day. The only thing I kept thinking though at the end was that I don’t think I could have ever exposed my family in such a way. Especially as she had other sisters and they seemed to want to keep things quiet. (My personal copy).

A Thousand Sisters by Lisa Shannon. This was a harrowing account of how one woman decided to do something about the horrific situation that is going on in the Congo. Lisa Shannon put everything aside in her life to start running to raise funds for women in the Congo. Finally she knows she has to journey there to see what it’s really like. It’s hard for me to really “rate” this book because there were some chapters that I didn’t really like and I felt some of the urgency was lost, on the whole though I have to say this is a must read for anyone. If you like more information on Lisa’s organization you can read about it here. (Library copy).

Oxygen by Carol Cassella. Most of us have had anesthesia or will have it at one point so if you want to know what happens when you go out, read this book. It is fascinating and okay, a bit scary too, but the author, who in real life is also an anesthesiologist, makes this so easy to read and become interested in. The novel is about an anesthesiologist who loses a child and how everything she’s worked so hard for starts to fall apart. A very good read.

So those are some of the books I’ve been reading. Two of them even count for challenges, yay. I hope you guys are reading some great books. Again, I’m sorry I’ve been such a bad blog friend lately. I do want to try and pop in and visit before I take off on vacation so I hope to do so.