Daily Archive

It’s that wonderful time of the year when Carl hosts his RIP challenge and I am determined this year not only to take part but to actually finish the challenge and I have selected an interesting (well I think so) bunch of books from the stacks to help me do so.

I’m actually going to take part in three of the challenges – books, short stories and films, between 1 September and 31 October. Exciting stuff.

So, when it comes to books I’m going to take part in Peril the First and will be reading four books (at least) from the following list. I’ve already started the Stephen King and am already enjoying it in that “why haven’t I read this already” way that I always get when I pick up a King book that’s been sitting on the tbr pile. Anyhow the list goes something like this:

• The Fall by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan – a recent purchase, mentioned here;
• The Possessions of Doctor Forrest by Richard T Kelly – another recent buy, mentioned here;
• The Small Hand by Susan Hill – a ghost story
• Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge – winner of the Bram Stoker award and a fantastic cover (fiery pumpkin-headed things can’t be missed) (I think Susan may also be reading this one);
• Harbour by John Ajvide Lindqvist – had this for ages and Silvery Dude tells me it’s excellent
• The Dead of Winter by Chris Priestley – a boy, a mysterious guardian and a haunted house with a terrible secret;
• The Rapture by Liz Jensen – “electrifying psychological thriller” apparently
• Duma Key by Stephen King – as mentioned above

Not a bad list, I think

For the short story challenge I’m going to concentrate on Lovecraft Unbound; edited by the wonderful Ellen Datlow this is exactly what it says on the tin, a collection of short stories inspired by the works of one of my all-time favourites HP Lovecraft. A lot of the authors are unknown to me, which is no bad thing, but it does include stories by Michael Chabon and Joyce Carol Oates.

And finally a movie challenge. I am going to watch as many of the following as I can (given that I’m actually going to be in Germany for a chunk of October but we’ll see what can be done:

• Let Me In – I loved the Swedish original but am curious about what the (possibly unnecessary) US remake is like
• The Others – another one of those “have you really not seen this?” films
• The Ring – ditto
• The Orphanage – the latest in a long run of really good Spanish language horrors
• The Nightmare before Christmas – it’s a tradition to watch this on Hallowe’en chez Bride

Right, well that lot should keep me busy. What’s on your list??