RioLindaAnnie's reading obsession for 2012

Well, here goes a new year. Instead of shooting for 100 (which was too many last year), I am shooting for 75. Audio books will be counted separately.

#1 Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. Starting with juvenile fiction.
Tried listening to this in audio and could not get very far. Finally decided to read it and finished it in two days. Enjoyable read that explored the dark side of "What If the Villains Came Out of Our Favorite Books Into the Real World?" Villains are fun to create and imagine but horrifying in reality.

Hello! That statement is so true: Often, I am more fascinated by the villains - or at least by ambigous characters - than by the crystal-clear heros. But after all it is just a matter of perspective - if the motives are explained, one can easier understand different actions. :)
Is Inkheart recommendable only for kids, or could it be interesting for grown-ups, too?

Welcome! Glad you joined us. I'm with you on the villains. :)

I know that actors often state that they prefer to play villains instead of heroes. Villains are much more fun. There is at least one actor I know of that usually plays bland heroic types. The one time I saw him as a villain, it was a lot more fun to watch.

Hi! Glad to meet you! My daughter's a stage actress, and she much prefers to play villains (the wicked woman or tragic character like Epinine in Les Mis). She says those kinds of roles are so much more meaty ~ and fun to play ~ than heroines.

"Les Miserables" is a really good example! If you take for example Cosette - she's just too good, too pure, too pitiful... I can't really connect with the character. Somehow I like Javert the best! ;)

Hi folks!
My attention span seems to be coming back on line. I read three books in a week for the first time in a long time and since I have not been here since January I need to catch up.

#2 Sabriel by Garth Nix fun juvenile fantasy, but I wanted to see more of her father (the Abhorsen until the title was passed to Sabriel).

#3 One Shot by Lee Child. I can see why Tom Cruise wanted to do this entry in the Reacher series. I will see how well it translates to film.

#4 Among Others by Jo Walton - another juvenile fantasy. I loved the character's discovery of some of my old favorite sci-fi novels.

#5 Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon. Author weaves words well, but the plot seemed to unravel toward the end and the last chapter seemed to be tacked on later. However the idea that a young woman-child would choose to go live with fairies instead of the real world is compelling.

#6 The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Actually had this on my shelf to read then checked out a preloaded Nook from the library that had it and the sequel. Read this one in 4 days, starting the sequel tonight.

#7 The Ridge by Michael Koryta. Good spookie novel with a real tear-jerking scene involving the deaths of a tiger and the man who loved it. I almost stopped reading it after that scene.

Hi! Welcome back. :) Seems you had a good reason for being AWOL the past few weeks ~ you been reading! I haven't read any of the titles you list, but I've been meaning to get to Rothfuss's for awhile. Didn't know there's already a sequel. *sigh*

As for Tom Cruise playing Reacher, don't get me started! All I'll say is the idea is ridiculous!

Lee Child has reputedly said that if they are going to make a movie of one of his books, at least they got a big name to star in it.
Admittedly, Tom Cruise would not have been my first or even second choice, but at least it will generate more revenue for the author.

#8 Alien Diplomacy by Gini Koch - most recent entry in her series. I still like books one and two best but the characters are always fun.

#9 Amazonia by James Rollins - fun thrill ride along the lines of Indiana Jones or King Solomon's Mines. A truly scary idea on mutant piranha.

#10 Breach by Patrick Lee mystery item that came with my used Kindle - enjoyable thrill ride involving alien technology and those who want to use it for their own nefarious reasons.

#11 The Passage by Justin Cronin - end of the world as we know it. Reminded me of The Stand in a way. Read it in one week - could not put it down. Waiting with baited breath for the sequel this fall.

#12 Last Breath by Michael Prescott - anothery mystery item on my Kindle. Lady cop being stalked by serial killer.

#13 - here are multiple items of short fiction that I am counting as one book on this list

The Last Rakosh by F. Paul Wilson

The Peabody-Ozymandias Traveling Circus & Oddity Emporium by F. Paul Wilson

The Cinderella Curse by J.L. Penn - fun piece of fluff about a woman that turns into a pumpkin every midnight.

Questions for a Soldier by John Scalzi - short story set after Old Man's War

After the Coup by John Scalzi - another story set in the same universe as Old Man's War

How I Proposed to my Wife: An Alien Sex Story by John Scalzi - the subtitle says it all.

#14 Time Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein - read this years ago and wanted to revisit it.