BiblioAddict

On NaBloPoMo, curling up with a cup of tea and a good book, wrapping up R.I.P. III, and refusing to say goodbye:

Here we are, the first day of NaBloPoMo, and I’m already dragging my feet.  It’s rainy and warm here in San Francisco and the only thing I feel like doing is curling up with all these good books sitting on my nightstand while drinking a warm cup of tea.  But, I’m dedicated to posting everyday this month (for better or for worse), so post I shall.

First things first: I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween yesterday!  I can’t believe October is already over.  It seems that it only arrived yesterday.  Really, I can’t believe it’s November.  When did it get so late in the year? Before I know it, I’ll wake up tomorrow to 2009.  But, let’s back up a bit.  Carl V’s R.I.P. III has, sadly come to an end.  That’s the bad news.  The good news is that I (finally) completed the challenge – whodda thunk?  Here’s a recap of what I read and what I thought:

The Museum of Dr. Moses by Joyce Carol Oates. This was my first introduction to anything written by Joyce Carol Oates, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised at how much I really enjoyed her writing.  I’m not sure what I was expecting, but Oates’ simple but highly effective writing, and her deeply disturbing stories definitely wasn’t it.  I’ve since read The Female of the Species (good, but not as good), and I’ve been dipping in and out of High Lonesome.  She is fast becoming one of my favorite writers.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  This is probably my favorite book out of the bunch.  Ok, not probably – it is.  There isn’t one thing I didn’t like about this book.  In fact, the only thing I didn’t like was that I waited so long to read it!  I can’t wait for the next thing that Setterfield writes, but I gotta say that I’m not sure that she can top this.  It was wonderful.

The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanna Clarke.  This turned out to be a pleasant surprise.  I didn’t really care for the first story, but I loved everything else.  I think out of all the books I read, this one embodied the spirit of fall the most with its dark, magical fairy tales to make you fear what’s in the woods.  In that way, it reminded me of The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, which I read for last year’s R.I.P.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.  This was, sadly, my least favorite of the bunch.  I didn’t like James’s writing style and I didn’t care for the story all that much either.  I was expecting a ghost story and I don’t think that’s what I got.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman.  I thought this was cute, but I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as most people seem to.  I didn’t find it even mildly scary, but I can’t wait to see the movie.  Fragile Things is still my favorite book, although I’m still looking forward to reading The Graveyard Book.

The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti.  I finished this the day before Halloween, and if this wasn’t a great way to finish the R.I.P. III challenge I don’t know what was.  I haven’t posted my review of this yet (procrastination, much?), but this runs a very close second to The Thirteenth Tale for being my favorite book of the bunch.  This is also another author for whom I’ll definitely keep an eye out.

Well ladies and gents, that’s it.  I’m blown away by the fact that I not only managed to complete the challenge, but that I completed more books than was required!  This has been an awesome two months worth of reading.  Thanks Carl, for hosting such a wonderful challenge, as always!  Since I’m still reading quite a few spooktacular books, namely The Dead Travel Fast, The Woman in White, and soon Pretty Monsters, I imagine the fun will continue well into November.