My favorite source for reading experiences is kicking off another seasonal challenge: Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting Readers Imbibing Peril (RIP) celebrating autumn with books on the darker side. This laid-back reading challenge focuses on mysteries, gothic and horror. Even squeamish-me is looking forward to the fun!
I must admit, this doesn’t align with my favorite genres with quite the serendipitous perfection of the Sci Fi Experience or the Once Upon a Time Challenge, but I do like a good mystery now and then, and I have a few shadowy novels in mind. Here’s what I’m thinking about so far:
- Love, Music, Murder by Elizabeth M. Garner (mystery)
- The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (mystery)
- Reread: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente (not very dark, but there’s a creepy autumn scene)
- Reread: The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente (much more shadowy than its predecessor)
- Shadows by Robin McKinley (dark fantasy…I’m guessing)
- The Professor by Charlotte Bronte (probably not actually suitable but, um, it’s Bronte, it may turn out to have moors and mists)
- Possibly something Agatha Christie, not sure what yet (mystery)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (dark classic)
And beyond that…we shall see where the spirit beckons!
Are you joining into the challenge? What autumnal fare are you looking forward to?
Great choices! I am not a big horror person either, so I will probably read some mysteries and light paranormal books. Happy Reading!
Sounds good to me! So far I’ve been reading shadowy books, but I definitely want to get some mysteries in too.
Have fun with the challenge!
I’d say Bronte definitely counts… and you can never go wrong with Agatha Christie. Enjoy the challenge!
Looks like you have a fun combination of books for the challenge. I’m reading The Return of Sherlock Holmes, but haven’t read The Sign of Four. Look forward to your reading your review.
Thanks! I’ll look forward to yours as well!
Nice list! I’ve been wanting to read The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland for ages now. I see you’re rereading it, so I’m taking that as a sign that it is a fantastic book 🙂 I’m also participating in RIP this year am in desperate need of reading ideas, so thank you for sharing you proposed reading list 🙂
It is a *fantastic* book! I’m midway through, and it’s even better than I remembered.
Hi Cheryl – I have been reading some of your posts and I love your blog. You have a great choice of books. Though I do not read it as much as I once did, I love fantasy and science fiction.
Your picks for this challenge all look good. I myself do not read a lot of horror but in my case I will give a book or two a go. I look forward to reading about your picks!
Thanks for reading! I like that this challenge is broad enough so even though I’m not a big horror reader, I can find plenty of mysteries and shadowy reads that fit!
Ooh, lots of choices to pick from! I like that we can include mysteries on our lists myself, as sometimes it’s easier for me to get into a mystery than other seasonal reads. Doyle and Christie are always good picks. Happy RIP reading!
I’m glad about the mysteries too–since I don’t really like horror, it was the mysteries that got me into this challenge to begin with!
Bronte is gothic, that definitely counts! I’ve not read the Fairytale novels, although I own both of them and really want to start them. Perhaps I’ll try to fit them in….
I’m a new follower of your blog 🙂
Thanks for coming by! I hope you can fit the Fairyland novels in. 🙂 They really are wonderful…as I’ve said in response to several comments on this post, I think!
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland is such a fabulous title, it really makes me want to read the book.
Isn’t it the best? I love Valente’s titles!
I really need to read some Valente. I hear such good things about her works. I see a Robin McKinley book on your list. I am thinking about rereading her book Sunshine. My man recently finished it and was quite satisfied with it.
Valente and McKinley are both great! My favorite McKinley is Beauty, and Rose Daughter is wonderful too.
I like your list. I haven’t read Valente yet but I know I should.
The only book on your list (with the exception of Aanatha Christie) I’ve read was the Victor Hugo but it wasn’t my thing. I hope you will enjoy it.
I liked Les Mis, so I’m hopeful about Hugo’s other famous one!
I’m a fan of Agatha Christie and Bronte. I haven’t read The Professor, but like you mention it probably has its moors and mists 🙂
Happy reading!
I’m a little way into it–so far, there’s been some mist, but I’m still waiting on a moor!
You’ve got such an interesting mix! I haven’t heard of Catherynne Valente’s books – I’ll have to look for those.
They’re amazing! Especially if you like classic fantasy–they’re beautifully written in a very classic style, but with a more modern, active heroine.
Excellent choices. I’m looking forward to your reviews of Shadows and I’m a bit jealous that you have it. 🙂 I haven’t read the Hunchback of Notre Dame so I’m also very curious about what you will say about it.
I don’t have Shadows–yet! I’m figuring out how to get it once it’s out…usually I wait for the library, but I think I may have to just buy this one! Too impatient.
I’ve not heard of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland but sounds like a fun read! Plus great title too!
It’s WONDERFUL! And the third book in the series is out this fall. 🙂
Great choices to mull over there, Cheryl. I end up listening to at least one or two Agatha Christie books on audio every year. My wife and I almost always get to one while on our anniversary trip every May and I try to work at least one in during the fall. They are such enjoyable audio books with outstanding narrators.
Thanks for joining us and for a celebration of the things that go bump in the night!
I’ve listened to one Christie audio, The Secret Adversary. It was excellent! The library doesn’t have as many Christie audios as I would like though…
Great choice of books! I would like to read The Hunchback of Notre Dame too, but I have so many other books on my list I’m not sure if I’ll have time for it.
Oh, I know the feeling… 😉
I tried to start with Sherlock Holmes from the beginning, so I tried to read he Sign of Four, but I didn’t connect at all with that, so I will try The Adventures of Sherlock instead for this RIP. Very interesting choices, I hope you enjoy your reads!
The Holmes short stories are great! If you want the beginning, start with A Study in Scarlet–it includes how Holmes and Watson met, and the first case Watson worked with Holmes on.
I really must read the second Valente. I bought it when it first came out and still haven’t read it!! Glad to hear it fits this challenge so maybe I can add it to my list.
It’s an excellent one! The first one was my favorite book last year, and the only serious competition was the sequel. As the title suggests, it’s set mostly below Fairyland, so it’s all a bit more dark and wild and shadowy than the first one. Definitely good for RIP!
You’ve got some excellent choices here. I love Conan Doyle and Catherynne Valente. Really looking forward to checking out everyone’s review. I love this challenge but it is more my kind of reading. I like all the grimdark, urban fantasy, paranormal chiller type books so I’m totally in my element!
Lynn 😀
I keep saying this one isn’t so much my element…but I have a quickly multiplying stack of planned reading that says otherwise!
the girl who fell beneath fairyland simply sounds like a great book and you can never go wrong with Doyle and Bronte! Do you plan on watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well if you read the classic? The old black & white versions have so much shadow and nuance – truly creepy/eerie to go along with the R.I.P.
Valente is wonderful–definitely read The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland first. They’re both amazing.
I’ve somehow never seen any Hunchback movie (except Disney’s, which I really quite love) so after the book I might have to go find some of the classics!
It seems several people have Sherlock Holmes books on their lists, why have I never thought of that? Perhaps I will make one my fourth as yet to be decided book. Hmm…
Holmes is great fun. I recommend Hound of the Baskervilles if you want something probably gothic, though most of Holmes is excellent!
I am the opposite, I am most comfortable with mystery although horror is not to my taste. The Sci Fi Experience and the Once Upon a Time Challenges are much more challenging for me. I look forward to your reviews.
Great choices! I hope you enjoy RIP this year!
Anything by Agatha Christie is good but my favorite (and it is quite spooky) is And Then There Were None. It looks like you’ve got lots of good reading ahead of you. Enjoy!
I just started Elizabeth M. Garner’s book. I don’t think it’s a dark mystery. I believe it’s called a “cozy mystery.” That’s the kind I prefer, nothing too scary. I’d rather read a “whodunit” type mystery that’s like a puzzle than something that’s graphic and violent.
I’m not much for dark mysteries either. But any mystery fits the challenge, so that’s okay. Holmes is rarely all that dark either!
Interesting choices Cheryl. Would be fun if we both end up reading some Christie and Doyle! Happy reading 🙂