RIP XI: A Recap

Another RIP is in the books and I'm happy to report that I managed to fulfill my pledge to read four spooky books plus an additional five titles. While I had so much fun dedicating a healthy portion to getting in the spirit of Halloween, I won't lie that I'm pretty excited to move on and start Nonfiction November, or books devoid of ghosts and haunted houses and murder and the like. Below is a short list of what I've read and what I thought about it. Enjoy!

Completed Titles*

*I'm just including a short reaction and star rating on those completed. Full reviews for some titles to come later.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Three and a half stars. Delightfully creepy and sometimes a bit disorienting,  We Have Always Lived in the Castle, is the perfect classic to add to your Halloween reading list.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Four stars. Categorized as a tween graphic novel, Through the Woods, is a perfect combo of creepy stories and beautiful, yet haunting illustrations. It's gorgeous! And I thought the stories were pretty good even if they didn't offer much of a conclusion.

The Forsaken Inn by Anna Katherine Green

Two stars. This one started off ok and then took a nosedive. Too many problems and little payoff.

Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses by Bess Lovejoy

Three and a half stars. Interesting stories of, as the title states, the corpses of famous people and just all around bizarre behavior on the part of the living asked to protect them. I wouldn't say it was fun because it's dead bodies we're talking here, but it was a quick read with historical facts to keep for future trivia situations.

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Three and a half stars. My first Christie (I read for Feminist Literary Society) and a great introduction to the Miss Marple character/mystery series. I could see myself reading more of these in the future.

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

Three stars. Paranormal mystery with a side of steamy romance. It was a fun read and easy to get through (I think I finished in a day), but definitely had some problems. I'll note that it should come with a trigger warning as there are suggestions of sexual violence.

Listen to Me by Hannah Pittard

Two stars. This just did not work for me. I loved the premise and could really feel the atmosphere as Justin and I had just driven from Richmond to Chicago (the same drive, in reverse, that the characters undertake), but could not relate to the characters or wrap my head around the clumsy conclusion. I should also note that I started on audio and could not stand the narrator so my experience could have been clouded a bit by the intro.

The Ghost Writer by John Harwood

Two stars. Another title that had a strong start and then totally crashed and burned. It's creepy, but I was initially really lost in terms of determining what time period the action was taking place, and then found the story within a story within a story within ANOTHER story just too tiring and convoluted. I'll probably try some of this other titles next year.

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd by Alan Bradley

Four stars. Another Flavia de Luce mystery, which I love, back in England and the beloved Buckshaw. I'll probably post a full-length review in the future, but highly recommend to those who have read the others in the series.


So happy that another RIP Challenge is in the books! It's definitely my favorite reading event and know I'll start curating my list for next year soon. Here's to Nonfiction November and meeting those reading goals before the year's end!

What are you reading?

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R.I.P. XI Challenge-- Sign Me Up!

It's that time again!! Yes, the best time of the year (and I'm not talking about Christmas). The R.I.P. Challenge (R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril) hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings is back for it's 11th year and I couldn't be more excited. I'm not kidding when I say that I start planning as soon as the challenge ends-- I love it!

This is my sixth year participating and feel it's going to be one of my best reading stacks yet! I'm sharing what I've got on the R.I.P. TBR and the rules of the game for those who are interested in joining and want to learn more.

What is R.I.P.? 

It's an informal reading event from September 1st to October 31st where participants focus on the following genres:

Mystery
Suspense
Thriller
Gothic
Horror
Dark Fantasy

I'm shooting for Peril the First*:

*Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be King or Conan Doyle, Penny or Poe, Chandler or Collins, Lovecraft or Leroux…or anyone in between. (Head over to Carl's site to learn more.)

Some potential reads to meet my goal of four full-length novels:

Click on the title to read the summary on Goodreads:

Listen to Me by Hannah Pittard, We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, Florence & Giles by John Harding, Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, and Philip Pullman (Editor), The Trespasser by Tana French, The Secret Rooms: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret by Catherine Bailey, The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James, Affinity by Sarah Waters, The Hounds of Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller, The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale, The Asylum by John Harwood

As sad as it'll be to say goodbye to summer,  I can't deny that I'm pretty excited about the crisp autumn air and fun activities that come up this time of year. I mean how can you say no to activities like this...

*Note: I also have three posts of summer reviews that have been languishing in my draft folder this entire season. SHAME. They'll slowly be pushed out in the next couple of weeks.

Are you participating in the challenge?? If so, what's on your list? If not, what's your favorite thing to do during the fall?

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Love and Olive Oil's April Kitchen Challenge: Eclairs

If you can believe it, there was once a time in my life when I couldn't make pie crust from scratch. Actually, before that, cupcakes. For whatever reason, I decided during my sophomore year of college that I was going to teach myself to bake. I had never cared for baking before, or cooking for that matter, but loved gazing at all the beautiful sweet treats at my local bakery and thought I could make those too. I'm a sucker for a challenge and will accomplish anything I put my mind to, so, when I saw that one of my favorite food bloggers, Love and Olive Oil, hosted monthly challenges, I decided to join.

The challenge for April was eclairs and whoa man! are they work. I must note that these really are for an experienced baker. Seriously. Start with cookies or cupcakes if you're wanting to get into baking and move from there. They may not be the most difficult but they're incredibly time consuming (try 7 hours from start to finish). Honestly, my biggest challenge, aside from lack of patience, was getting the filling in the pastry, so it could have been much worse.

Fortunately, I had tasted an eclair pretty recently to know what I didn't want mine to turn out like. It seems that eclairs often get a bad rap because bakeries around the country keep them on the shelf past their best taste date. Bummer. So this was my chance to make a fresh eclair and enjoy it immediately. They were delicious!

Eclair recipes can be found anywhere on the internet, but I used the Bouchon Bakery recipe found in their book:

Tasty!

In the end, my book club group got to enjoy fresh eclairs during our meeting, and I got to try something new. It was a win. The monthly challenge is such a great idea and I can't wait to do it again. Thanks, Love and Olive Oil for hosting!

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A Challenge: RIP VII Wrap Up

Sigh. Halloween has come and gone. I didn't do anything to celebrate. Yeah, you heard me, nothing. I sat at the apartment, alone, reading A Study in Scarlet to finally finish up, and then Dracula until I fell asleep (which wasn't very long - jokes!). 

We bought some pumpkins a couple of weeks ago, on a trip we make each year to this little patch in the mountains of Georgia, but never managed to carve them. Instead, we just placed them in spots around the house to remind us that it was autumn and the holidays were coming. I attribute the lack of celebration to a number of things: the fact that I was sick with bronchitis for three weeks straight, and then caught influenza a week and half after finally making a recovery, and then checking in on the news of the Northeast. Looking at ways I could donate or help or just make sure that the people I knew in these areas were safe and sound. I'm thinking of everyone. So.. I'll have to make up for it next year. Big time. 

I did, however, manage to complete the first in the Sherlock Holmes series last night and achieved:

The list:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Dracula by Bram Stoker

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Pigeon Pie Mystery: A Novel by Julia Stuart

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

6 of 7 books completed 

I'm still slogging through Dracula (which J attempted to read with me but I think I've lost him) and hope to get it wrapped up before the end of the week. I was introduced to Sherlock Holmes in book form and can safely say that I probably won't attempt another of this series for a long time. It was fun but not the most engaging. So many books, so little time!  My favorites were definitely The Pigeon Pie Mystery and A Red Herring Without Mustard, surprisingly enough. They also happened to be the least spooky of the seven chosen. Next year I'll add some horror to the mix to celebrate right. And while I did end up reading The Little Stranger, which has some fantastic paranormal activity, I didn't add it to this list in the beginning and never ended up reviewing it (I know, I know). The Graveyard Book was my introduction to the audiobook and think I might have enjoyed this title a little more reading it rather than listening. 

Look out for reviews from the titles above not highlighted (and click on others to read my reviews). 


Great RIP event again! I can't thank Carl enough for hosting. Thanks!! 

Oh, and I entered this awesome giveaway for cute family cards from an amazing designer for the upcoming season!

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A Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl. Like Austen's Pride and Prejudice I'm not really sure there's much I can add that hasn't been said by a million people already. I'm gonna go for it anyway.

Amy and Nick Dunne have relocated to a small town in Missouri after the economic downturn forces them to leave their lavish life in New York City. When Amy disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary, the cops immediately turn to Nick, and the story begins to unfold from there.

Yeah.. so that's just like a tiny bit of the action packed into this thing. Did I expect everything that was sure to follow part one? Well, yes and no. There were moments, or actions, that were definitely run-of-the-mill, and then there were moments that were like.. what the hell is Flynn doing?!

That was pretty much the whole book. The characters were abrasive and I grew tired of them before finally finishing. I was glad to be rid of them and their twisted dialogue. While I was completely blown away by some of the twists and turns Flynn so artfully placed in the text, I wouldn't say that it would be a top read on my list. I can't site any particular inconsistencies, but I'd say that some events were quite unbelievable. The vulgar language, at times, felt forced and really just didn't do it for me. Otherwise, a great thriller novel.

I've seen numerous comparisons to Tana French, another mystery/thriller author that I absolutely love. Aside from the fact that their work is generally classified as thriller/mystery/crime, there aren't many similarities to warrant such comparison. I find that the writing is much more lyrical in French's work, while Flynn is much more an in-your-face thriller thats prize relies on the mechanics. French usually creates a narrative that is presented by the individuals solving the crime, unlike Flynn, whose characters are those committing the offenses. All and all, if you're looking for a thriller that's going to set you on edge, this is it. It's an entertaining read with many twists and turns.

I read this title to fulfill my pledge to the RIP VII challenge. 2 of 8 completed. 

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A Challenge: RIP VII (It's Here!)

It's that time a year again and I cannot contain my excitement. See. I love the Fall. It's always been my favorite season for so many reasons. Sure the holidays are fun, and my birthday makes it a little more special, but it's the crisp air, the beautiful change in landscape and the autumn bounty that make it my favorite favorite. This challenge just adds to the goodness.

If you're new to the scene, the RIP VII "challenge" offers readers the opportunity to indulge in all the spooky titles they just don't feel right reading the rest of the year. I found it didn't take too long to put together a list since I've been saving a few for this occasion. I've decided to shoot for Peril the First.

Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be King or Conan Doyle, Penny or Poe, Chandler or Collins, Lovecraft or Leroux…or anyone in between.

My (tentative) list:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Dracula by Bram Stoker

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Pigeon Pie Mystery: A Novel by Julia Stuart

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Make sure to visit the site to sign up and link to your own RIP list!

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Read Along Wrap-Up: Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace

"There are always those that will supply you with speeches of their own, and put them right into your mouth for you too."

Let me start by saying that I'm so glad I participated in this read along. For the first time, in a long time, I was challenged by a work to a degree that was both refreshing and frustrating. I feel that the entire experience has made it almost impossible for me to offer any valuable insight. I'll admit that I chose to read this title during the busiest part of my year to date. I traveled to Washington DC to see a friend graduate, I attended a wedding, a couple of birthday parties AND opened an Etsy shop. Needless to say, it's been a challenge just making the time to sit down and read. It took me an entire month to polish off ONE title, so that certainly helps to make my case.  

Aside from the time, Atwood's work requires serious attention to detail, because there are no words or sentences or paragraphs placed anywhere unintentionally. A re-read would probably be beneficial as I feel there's so much I missed. 

NOTE: spoilers ahead! 

Short recap: Grace Marks has been charged with the murder of her employer and his mistress. Years later, she spends her days tidying the home of a governor and his wife, as part of a penitentiary work program, and her nights, locked in a cell with no windows. When a young doctor (Simon), desiring to uncover the mysteries of mental health, and confirm her guilt or innocence, arrives to interview Grace, we see the story of her life up until the horrid event.  

Dr. Simon is sent to determine Grace's innocence, so that she may finally be released to return to a normal life. NOTE: Let's focus on Truth v. Fiction. However, as Grace slowly tells her story, it's clear that there is so much more than the words leaving her mouth. The doubt, on behalf of the reader, builds as the pace of her story is slow enough to force much deliberation. The audience feels the frustration that Dr. Simon, himself, feels, sitting in the small sewing room with the famed murderess. Furthermore, between Grace's narrative, the audience is also witnessing Dr. Simon's life outside of his case, as well as Grace's own thoughts. We understand that she tells stories that she believes Dr. Simon will enjoy, but how much is fabricated? All the while, Grace never actually ponders her guilt or innocence, only the acceptance of the lot she's assumed. 

There are many dream sequences that are questionable. Was Grace actually in the grip of a walking sleep, or was it all a lucid dream when she finds herself out of doors, in the middle of the night, in nothing but her sleeping gown? 

Many of her "confessions" are convincing. However, it seems that after hearing so many others tell her story, she is quite uncertain of some events herself. The sensationalism and gossip of the period (well, throughout time) plays a large role in the way everyone views Grace, notwithstanding evidence that may suggest otherwise. I will note that I found it rather interesting that those rooting for her release were using the argument that she was "possessed" or had multiple personalities, therefore, should not assume responsibility? A sign of the time to be sure. 

The story concludes without much resolution. The audience is still left to ponder Grace's guilt or innocence. I believe the last sentence made me lean towards the former, as she so curiously sews a little quilt with pieces of Mary and Nancy's garments so that they'll all "be together." Grace is released after 30 years of incarceration and goes on to marry one of her accusers, the boy, Jamie Walsh. Which brings up questions of sadism, but that's another post altogether. Did anyone else notice the reoccurring theme of sadism? Perhaps that was just me. 

There are words that come to mind when I think about this novel, namely: suffering, guilt, indecision, spirituality, dreams, and desires. Grace is much less the evil temptress that so many believe her to be. She expresses a love for the simple beauties of an ordinary life. However, the reader can never be certain as to what Grace Marks truly thinks.

There are whole chapters displaying Dr. Simon's life while staying in Kingston to perform his interviews. He ends up going so far that he is forced to flee and never actually learns what he's worked so hard to procure. We definitely see his desires for Grace, and for a life that he does not lead, acted upon his landlady, the pitiful, Mrs. Humphrey. However, it's clear that Dr. Simon often believes he is the smarter of the sexes and completely dismisses the fact that those relations may have plots of their own. I am certain that this side of Dr. Simon's life plays an integral role in the overarching story; however, I've yet to make it any clear connections. In the end, I warmed up to Dr. Simon as many readers pointed out that he had noble intentions and was far more progressive than many in his position during this period.  

Let's talk about the seance scene, shall we? Totally don't have anything to offer there. 

All and all, I walked away from this novel with far more questions than answers. I'm looking forward to reading other reviews to gain more insight so my head doesn't feel like mush. Once again, Margaret Atwood has blown me away and offered a huge challenge. Thanks Zeteticat for hosting! 

Note: Reading the author's notes was very fascinating. The case was so incredibly sensational, prompting news in Canada, US and Britain; however, once Grace was actually released, she managed to drop off the map completely.  

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