#5 - Inkheart

I picked this book up a good while ago solely on the cover and an attraction to it. I had started to read it at the time but had put it down and forgot about it. The spell was too great though and drew me back in when I saw it sitting on the bookshelf. Originally written in German it is a good translation of a contemporary fantasy tale aimed at young adults. It is a bit darker than most YA books, but in a good way and while maybe not a perfect execution it is a good tale and does a great job of transporting the reader into the world. I found out it had been turned into a film and there are additional books in the series which I am looking forward to.

#20 - Where The Wild Things Are

With the upcoming film adaptation I figured I should try re-reading this book again. Admission: I've never seen what all the fuss is about, even when I was a child. I'd take The Berenstain Bears any day. I've revisited it a few times through the years to see if my opinion had changed, it hasn't. I think it is a completely empty tale that is far too short and basic to actually capture the imagination of a child and tells a story that has been told many ways before. Maybe I was a complex kid, but get angry, get sent to bed, have a fantastical dream, wake up, and then the "oh it was just a dream"/"was it a dream?" question just doesn't do it for me. Still doesn't. Not for me.

#12 - Watchmen

This Watchmen graphic novel is a collection of the entire story as originally released in comic book form. I will admit I haven't watched the recent film adaptation, but most comic books turned movie don't do much for me anyhow. This is no mere comic book either, it isn't some happy-go-lucky tale of a do-gooder or mutant/superpower fest, it is simply magnificent writing and execution. I'd say this is about as good as it gets when it comes to graphic novels and really stands in a league of it's own. Highly recommended.

#9 - Snake Eyes: Declassified

Ahh... Snake Eyes. Pretty much *THE* most central figure/hero/idol in my life from age 4 onward. My love for just about any other character in any form (music, film, comics, books, cartoons, etc.) is nowhere near the pedestal that on, alone, stands Snake Eyes. This collection of a 6-part mini-series by Devil's Due Publishing was an instant buy for me. But even with my devout affinity, I buy anything related to him with some trepidation. He is wildly popular, and as such he is one of the most exploited characters and in reality he has the least to cover. By nature he is an enigma with almost no identity, information or past. As you can imagine then, all of these types of tales are simply made up to either pander to the fans or try to give back-story where there really is none. Sometimes it comes off as a bad gimmick and occasionally, not often, someone has a unique angle that works. This is one of those times it worked... thankfully. It takes the parts and pieces that have come out over the years and adds just the right amount to them to form a cohesive story. For any fan this is not to be missed. Highly Recommended!