RIP IV Challenge

Yay! It's R.eaders I.bibing P.eril time again. Hosted by the lovely Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings, R.I.P IV officially runs from September 1st through October 31st. Covering the genres of "Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. Dark Fantasy. Gothic. Horror. & Supernatural", I'm aiming to complete Peril the First - which is to read four books of any length, from any subgenre of scary stories by the end of October.

It honestly does not feel like a year since I took part in R.I.P. III and I see, slightly to my horror,
that I managed seven books last year! I'm not committing to read that many this time around but I am definitely aiming to read four and I have a few things in mind. Some of which I planned to read in R.I.P. III but didn't quite get around to. Those were:

The Quincunx - Charles Palliser
The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
Ghost Stories - MR James
The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield
The Ghost-Feeler - Edith Wharton

I've also saved listening to some audiobooks of the short stories of MR James, Edgar Allan Poe & HP Lovecraft for this challenge and last year, when I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle, I said I would read more of Shirley Jackson's work so I will be hunting out a copy of The Haunting of Hill House too. I'd also really like to get hold of a copy of The House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski but at £20 it's probably going to stay on my wishlist instead :(

Most of all though, I'm looking forward to seeing what other participants read and getting inspiration from them!

RIP III Challenge

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Thanks to Chris over at book-a-rama, I've joined the fun looking RIP III Challenge which runs from September 1st to October 31st, 2008.

RIP stands for R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril and I'm looking forward to this one as it covers the genres of "Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. Dark Fantasy. Gothic. Horror. & Supernatural". I'm aiming to complete Peril the First - which is to read Four books of any length, from any subgenre of scary stories that you choose by the end of October.

So - on to my list! Neil Gaiman's forthcoming The Graveyard Book is an absolute must although it's released on the 31st October so I'll have to be quick on that one - could this be the excuse I needed to go to London to get a signed copy and hear him talk? Also on my possible reading list are:

The End Of Mr. Y - Scarlett Thomas
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
The Quincunx - Charles Palliser
The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
The Woman in Black - Susan Hill
We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson
Little, Big - John Crowley
The Mysteries of Udolpho - Ann Radcliffe
Ghost Stories - MR James

Later Additions to the list:
The Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield (thanks to deslily)
The Ghost-Feeler - Edith Wharton (thanks to katrina)

I will read at least four from this list but it could end up being more as there's lots there to tempt me.

Looking at my shortlist, I feel as if I need to add something from horror/dark fantasy or supernatural as I don't read in that genre and it would be nice to do so. I also seem to be the only person in the world who is not or has not read something by Stephanie Meyers... Perhaps this is my time. Any additional reading suggestions would be gratefully received!