2012 Reading Challenge Round-Up -- Completed Edition

I hear 2013 calling my name. I think it's time to call 2012 quits and start my end of the year posts. In total I entered 27 reading challenges this year. Let's see how I did... Completed challenges edition.

I went for the highest goal on this one, 16 books, 16 categories. It really wasn't a hugely difficult challenge as I read nonfiction all the time. But it did encourage me to pick up different types of books. My favorite book from this challenge was the Science Fiction and Fantasy pick of The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

Classics – Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (11/8/12)
Biography – Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun by Gita May (9/21/12)
Cookery, Food, and Wine – Chocolate by Shara Aaron and Monica Bearden (12/4/12)
History – The Lost Millennium by Florin Diacu (9/12/12)
Modern Fiction – Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (5/22/12)
Graphic Novel and Manga – Bad Doings and Big Ideas by Bill Willingham (4/23/12)
Crime and Mystery – Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (5/17/12)
Horror – The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan (3/1/12)
Romance – An Offer You Can’t Refuse by Jill Mansell (11/14/12)
Science Fiction and Fantasy – The Magicians by Lev Grossman (1/21/12)
Travel – Paris in Love by Eloisa James (5/16/12)
Poetry – Poems of Emily Dickinson (11/23/12)
Journalism and Humor – The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs (2/26/12)
Science and Natural History – The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson (4/18/12)
Children’s and Young Adult – The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (6/27/12)
Social Sciences and Philosophy – This Book is Overdue by Marilyn Johnson (9/1/12)

I had been meaning to read more classics. After reading only classics back in high school, I haven't really gotten around to any for a few years. This was my chance. My favorite read from this challenge was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (a once very few years reread for me, but still awesome). I'm joining this one again next year.

19th Century – The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (8/6/12)
20th Century – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1/26/12)
Reread Classic – Persuasion by Jane Austen (10/3/12)
Classic Play – The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (8/29/12)
Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime – The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (4/26/12)
Classic Romance – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (8/23/12)
Translated Classic – Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes (12/3/12)
Classic Award Winner – A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (11/21/12)
International Classic – Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (11/16/12)

An odd challenge for me. I struggled to find books that I was already going to read to fit the topics. Once I did I really loved my choices. My favorite read was The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman, part of His Dark Materials trilogy.

Topographical Feature – The Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristin McMorris (12/2/12)
Something in the Sky – Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (1/13/12)
Creepy Crawly – You are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay (2/27/12)
Type of House – Palace Circle by Rebecca Dean (3/8/12)
Something from Your Pocket – The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman (8/16/12)
Something on a Calendar – The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees (12/1/12)

I always love reading books and then see the movie. It's even better when I have read the book before seeing the movie, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. My favorite combo was Do Androids... and Blade Runner. While the movie doesn't exactly follow the books it does have the same feel. Loved them!

Something Borrowed (Emily Giffin) (5/22/12)
Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep — Philip K. Dick) (11/27/12)
The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) (1/11/12)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare) (1/27/12)
Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare) (8/28/12)
The Dark Compass (Philip Pullman) (8/12/12)
Richard III (Shakespeare) (8/28/12)
Persuasion (Jane Austen) (10/3/12)
Dorian Gray (The Picture of Dorian Gray — Oscar Wilde) (4/26/12)
Beastly (Alex Flinn) (4/15/12)
Kick-Ass (Mark Millar and John Romita Jr) (5/23/12)
Starship Troopers (Robert Heinlein) (6/1/12)
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter (Seth Grahame-Smith) (5/25/12)
The Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum) (8/6/12)
Tin Man (The Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum) (8/6/12)
Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen) (8/23/12)
The Importance of Being Earnest (Oscar Wilde) (8/29/12)
Twelfth Night (Shakespeare) (9/1/12)
Ran (King Lear – Shakespeare) (9/4/12)
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) (11/8/12)

J has been trying to get me to read more science fiction for years now. And I finally warming up to the genre, although I tend to go for softer scifi. My favorite read was Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein.

The Martian Chronicles — Ray Bradbury (11/23/12)
Snow Crash — Neal Stephenson (10/30/12)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? – Philip K. Dick (11/27/12)
Stranger in a Strange Land – Robert Heinlein (1/8/12)
Starship Troopers — Robert Heinlein (6/1/12)

I super hard challenge to finish. I think I just picked a ton of mediocre books and it made it really difficult to finish. As it stands, I want to try to again next year, but with only 5 reads and hopefully better books. From this year, my favorite read was The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.

The Goose Girl — Shannon Hale (11/7/12)
Mythology — Edith Hamilton (11/27/12)
Beauty — Robin McKinley (6/5/12)
Beastly — Alex Flinn (4/15/12)
The Frog Prince — Stephen Mitchell (5/14/12)
Sirena — Donna Jo Napoli (6/1/12)
Adrianna’s Fairy Tales by Adrianna White (7/5/12)
The Princess and the Hound — Mette Ivie Harrison (10/22/12)
The Princess and the Bear — Mette Ivie Harrison (10/24/12)
Flower Fables — Louisa May Alcott (11/16/12)

This was quite an interesting challenge. Out of the 12 we read, I had already read only four. So I got a ton more Shakespeare. My favorite is still A Midsummer Night's Dream, followed closely by Much Ado About Nothing.

January – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1/27/12)
February – Macbeth (2/22/12)
March – Henry V (3/25/12)
April – Much Ado About Nothing (8/28/12)
May – Antony and Cleopatra (8/30/12)
June – Richard III (8/28/12)
July – As You Like It (11/18/12)
August – King Lear (9/4/12)
September – Cymbeline (11/19/12)
October – Twelfth Night (9/1/12)
November – Othello (11/19/12)
December – Pericles (11/19/12)

I adore zombies! Reading 24 zombie books was not difficult, but picking my favorite definitely is. I think I will have to choose the Newsflesh trilogy (Feed, Deadline, and Blackout), but only if you make me choose.

You are So Undead to Me — Stacey Jay (2/27/12)
Undead Much — Stacey Jay (2/29/12)
Allison Hewitt is Trapped — Madeleine Roux (4/26/12)
Night of the Necromancer — Kyle West (2/3/12)
Feed — Mira Grant (10/8/12)
Deadline — Mira Grant (10/14/12)
Blackout — Mira Grant (10/17/12)
Zombie Blondes — Brian James (2/4/12)
Sadie Walker is Stranded — Madeleine Roux (10/2/12)
The Dark and Hollow Places — Carrie Ryan (1/8/12)
The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks — Max Brooks (1/7/12)
Brains: A Zombie Memoir – Robin Becker (1/9/12)
Autumn: Purification – David Moody (1/24/12)
Autumn: Disintegration – David Moody (1/27/12)
The Stupidest Angel – Christopher Moore (2/11/12)
Rise Again — Ben Tripp (3/15/12)
The First Days — Rhiannon Frater (10/4/12)
As the World Dies — Rhiannon Frater (10/5/12)
Siege — Rhiannon Frater (10/6/12)
Eat, Slay, Love — Jesse Petersen (3/16/12)
Aftertime — Sophie Littlefield (4/5/12)
Hater — David Moody (7/19/12)
Dog Blood — David Moody (7/25/12)
Them or Us — David Moody (7/28/12)

This was a great chance to reread all seven HP books and rewatch the movies. I haven't read these in a few years, so lots of great fun.

HP and the Sorcerer’s Stone (1/7/12)
HP and the Chamber of Secrets (2/22/12)
HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban (3/29/12)
HP and the Goblet of Fire (5/13/12)
HP and the Order of the Phoenix (5/29/12)
HP and the Half-Blood Prince (6/22/12)
HP and the Deathly Hallows (9/28/12)

This was one of the easier challenges to complete. I turn to romance novels when I need a break from the heavy. I love predictable romances. My favorites were the 2nd and 3rd books of the Tudor Rose trilogy (The Maiden's Hand and At the Queen's Summons).

At the Queen’s Summons — Susan Wiggs (9/11/12)
Regency Romance (3/23/12)
A Lady Never Tells — Candace Camp (1/23/12)
A Gentleman Always Remembers – Candace Camp (2/7/12)
An Affair Without End – Candace Camp (2/10/11)
Definitely Not Mr. Darcy — Karen Doornebos (4/12/12)
Intentions of the Earl — Rose Gordon (6/29/12)
Twelfth Night (anthology) (7/11/12)
Carole’s Christmas by Anne Glynn (7/11/12)
The Maiden’s Hand by Susan Wiggs (9/8/12)

This was my own challenge. I started reading the Fables series in 2011 and fell completely in love with it. My goal this year was to finish the back catalog. Next year I'm definitely going to finish catching up with the published titles. My favorite was definitely Vol. 14 Wtiches. Amazing read!

Vol. 14 Witches (1/6/12)
Vol. 15 Rose Red (1/10/12)
Vol. 16 Super Group (2/2/12)
JF: Vol. 9 The End (1/6/12)
Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love (9/2/12)

Another easy challenge for me. My favorite was The Hunger Games trilogy, but I also really loved Anna Dressed in Blood.

The Hunger Games — Suzanne Collins(1/11/12)
Catching Fire — Suzanne Collins (1/12/12)
Mockingjay — Suzanne Collins (1/13/12)
A Great and Terrible Beauty — Libba Bray (5/15/12)
Rebel Angels — Libba Bray (7/6/12)
The Sweet Far Thing — Libba Bray (7/12/12)
The Golden Compass — Philip Pullman (8/12/12)
The View from Saturday — E.L. Konigsburg (4/20/12)
Anna Dressed in Blood –Kendare Blake (6/5/12)
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher — Bruce Coville (7/7/12)
Ashfall — Mike Mullin (7/30/12)
Ashen Winter — Mike Mullin (8/2/12)

I also do love vampires. This challenge was dominated by my reading of the Vampire Academy series, but it was a good one. For my favorite, it was easily Sunshine by Robin McKinley. That one is going into my reread pile.

American Vampire — Jennifer Armintrout (2/2/12)
The Radleys — Matt Haig (4/27/12)
Sunshine — Robin McKinley (2/17/12)
Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter — Seth Grahame-Smith (5/25/12)
Vampire Academy — Richelle Mead (6/11/12)
Frostbite — Richelle Mead (6/22/12)
Shadow Kiss — Richelle Mead (6/27/12)
Blood Promise — Richelle Mead (7/14/12)
Spirit Bound — Richelle Mead (7/15/12)
Last Sacrifice — Richelle Mead (7/19/12)

With J's influence, I really got into some comics this year. While I stay away from the big Marvel vs. DC debate, I found some great titles out there. My favorite was the first five volumes of The Sandman series. I will be finishing that series next year with my Neil Gaiman RC.

Hatter M Vol. 1 (1/15/12)
Hatter M Vol. 2 (1/17/12
Hatter M Vol. 3 (1/18/12)
The Boys: The Big Ride (1/8/12)
The Walking Dead Book 4 (4/22/12)
Manga Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1/27/12)
Doctor Who: Through Time and Space (2/22/12)
The Boys Vol. 10: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker (6/7/12)
Doctor Who: The Forgotten (3/26/12)
Wonderland by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew (5/23/12)
Kick-Ass by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. (5/23/12)
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910 (5/30/12)
The Sandman: Volume 1 Preludes and Nocturnes (6/4/12)
The Sandman: Volume 2 The Doll’s House (6/6/12)
The Boys Vol. 11: Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men (6/12/12)
The Sandman: Volume 3 Dream Country (6/30/12)
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (7/2/12)
The Sandman: Volume 4 Season of Mists (7/2/12)
Persepolis: The Story of a Return (7/4/12)
The Sandman: Volume 5 A Game of You (7/5/12)

Easy peasy. Although next year, I am putting myself on a library ban for at least the first four months (except for my book club selections).

Jack of Fables: The End(1/6/12)
Fables: Witches (1/6/12)
The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (1/8/12)
The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks (1/7/12)
Brains: A Zombie Memoir by Robin Becker (1/9/12)
Fables: Rose Red (1/10/12)
Autumn: Purification by David Moody (1/24/12)
Autumn: Disintegration by David Moody (1/27/12)
Undead Much by Stacey Jay (2/29/12)
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore (2/11/12)
Rise Again by Ben Tripp (3/15/12)
You are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay (2/27/12)
Manga Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1/27/12)
Fables: Supre Group (2/2/12)
Doctor Who: Through Time and Space (2/22/12)
Macbeth by Shakespeare (2/22/12)
Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield (4/5/12)
Eat, Slay, Love by Jesse Petersen (3/16/12)
Doctor Who: The Forgotten (3/26/12)
Everneath by Brodie Ashton (4/1/12)
Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos (4/12/12)
The Walking Dead: Book Four (4/22/12)
Bad Doings and Big Ideas by Bill Willingham (4/23/12)
The Frog Prince by Stephen Mitchell (5/14/12)
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (5/17/12)
Wonderland by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew (5/23/12)
Kick-Ass by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. (5/23/12)
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910 (5/30/12)
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (6/11/12)
Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli (6/1/12)
Beauty by Robin McKinley (6/5/12)
The Sandman Volume 1 Preludes and Nocturnes (6/4/12)
The Sandman Volume 2 The Doll’s House (6/6/12)
Frostbite by Richelle Mead (6/22/12)
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead (6/27/12)
The Sandman Volume 3 Dream Country (6/30/12)
The Sandman Volume Season of Mists (7/2/12)

Another fairly easy challenge. Although those Es gave me some difficulty.

T – Rise Again by Ben Tripp (3/15/12)
O – The Boys Vol. 11: Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men (6/12/12)
B – The Zombie Surivival Guide: Recorded Attacks by Max Brooks (1/7/12)
E – Jack of Fables: The End (1/6/12)
F – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1/26/12)
R – HP and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (1/7/12)
A – Autumn: Purification by David Moody (1/24/12)
N – Night of the Necromancer by Kyle West (2/3/12)
C – The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (1/11/12)
E – Evermore by Alyson Noel (3/2/12)
S – Harry Potter Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley (1/29/12)
B – The Boys: The Big Ride (1/8/12)
U – Undead Much by Stacey Jay (2/29/12)
F – Doctor Who: The Forgotten (2/26/12)
F – Beastly by Alex Flinn (4/15/12)
E – Eat, Slay, Love by Jesse Petersen (3/16/12)
N – Blue Moon by Alyson Noel (3/4/12)
B – Brains: A Zombie Memoir by Robin Becker (1/9/12)
A – Autumn: Disintegration by David Moody (1/27/12)
R – The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (1/8/12)
G – The Magicians by Lev Grossman (1/21/12)
E – Everneath by Brodie Ashton (4/1/12)
R – Fables: Rose Red (1/10/12)

Fables: Witches

Title: Fables Vol. 14: Witches

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2010

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 192

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series; A to Z - W; My Years - 2011; Support Your Local Library

While the meek and mild flying monkey Bufkin is trapped in Fabletown's collapsed business office with the evil witch Baba Yaga, Frau Totenkinder and the witches at the Farm upstate prepare to deal with Mister Dark down in what's left of Fabletown.

Loving this turn of events... We see more of Mr. Dark, his building empire, and the plans being made to stop him. I love the changes to Frau Totenkinder. She's always been one of my favorite characters. And now we get an introduction to Ozma. Very interesting turn, indeed! Plus we finally see more interactions in Haven. I'm loving Ambrose, but he really needs to wake up and notice Ride. I feel the big showdown approaching, but it will probably be drawn out for at least two more volumes. I'm okay with that. I love this series so much.

As a side note, I caught a wonderful little comment alluding to the novel Peter and Max. Nicely done!

Fables:

2012 Fables Reading Challenge

I love the Fables series. I just had to do another Fables Reading Challenge for this year. I knocked out a lot of the volumes last year, so I'm only setting a goal of 5 this year. I should be caught up by the end of this year.

Vol. 1 Legends in Exile
Vol. 2 Animal Farm
Vol. 3 Storybook Love
Vol. 4 March of the Wooden Soldiers
Vol. 5 The Mean Seasons
Vol. 6 Homelands
Vol. 7 Arabian Nights (and Days)
Vol. 8 Wolves
Vol. 9 Sons of Empire
Vol. 10 The Good Prince
Vol. 11 War and Pieces
Vol. 12 The Dark Ages
Vol. 13 The Great Fables Crossover
Vol. 14 Witches
Vol. 15 Rose Red
Vol. 16 Super Group
1001 Nights of Snowfall
Jack of Fables: Vol. 1 The (Nearly) Great Escape
JF: Vol. 2 Jack of Hearts
JF: Vol. 3 The Bad Prince
JF: Vol. 4 Americana
JF: Vol. 5 Turning Pages
JF: Vol. 6 The Big Book of War
JF: Vol. 7 The New Adventures of Jack and Jack
JF: Vol. 8 The Fulminate Blade
JF: Vol. 9 The End
Peter and Max: A Fables Novel
Fables Covers by James Jean
Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love
Cinderella: Fables are Forever

Fables: Sons of Empire, The Good Prince, and War and Pieces

I read these three volumes back to back, so I decided to just do a combined review.

Title: Fables Vol. 9: Sons of Empire; Vol 10: The Good Prince; Vol. 11 War and Pieces

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2007; 2008; 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 200; 240; 192

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables Series

Collecting FABLES #52-59! Pinocchio suffers seriously divided loyalties between his father, the evil Adversary, and his fellow Fable refugees in New York. Plus, Bigby Wolf reluctantly decides it's finally time to square accounts with his long-estranged father, the North Wind, and makes a journey with Snow White and their kids to find him.

Collecting issues #60-69 of the hit series, collecting the epochal "Good Prince" storyline. Flycatcher is drawn into the spotlight as he discovers the startling truth about his own past as the Frog Prince. At the same time, he learns that the Adversary plans to destroy his foes once and for all. How can the meek Flycatcher stop this deadly foe?

The final battle between the free Fables of the mundane world and the Empire occupying their former Homelands is about to begin, and the scrappy storybook heroes have already managed to even the odds considerably. With his previously unstoppable wooden soldiers neutralized, the Adversary is about to get his first taste of high technology in the form of steel-jacketed bullets and laser-guided bombs. But the ruler who conquered a hundred different worlds didn’t do it by fighting clean—and he’s still got a surprise or two left to spring on the residents of Fabletown.

I continue to devour these volumes, much as Bigby devours a huge store of meat. I love the story lines. Willingham has taken all the old fairy tales and put his own spin on them. I love the characters. Blue has become a recent favorite, but I continue to love Cinderella and Flycatcher and Snow White and Bigby, and really of them. I love the paintings. Each cell is intricately drawn. But also we get panels along the top and sides. Very intriguing and eye-catching. I am very happy with how they handled the war with the Adversary. There were enough twists and twins in there to keep me engaged throughout. I love the strategies each side tried to varying successes. The only thing I am sad about is the loss of Prince Charming. He was such a fun character! I hope he's not permanently lost.

This series has officially become an epic. And now it's come to an end. Well, not really. The war has come ot an end by there are many stories left to tell. Unfortunately I again have to wait for the library for the next volume. I'm hoping they get it marked for holds on Tuesday so I can pick it up on my lunch hour. But I have to restrain myself and keep some of the already published volumes for my Fables Reading Challenge for next year.

Fables:

Peter and Max by Bill Willingham

Title: Peter and Max: A Fables Novel

Author: Bill Willingham and Steve Leialoha

Publisher: Vertigo 2009

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 400

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fables

How I Got It: borrowed from library

Set in the imaginative realm of the award-winning comic book series FABLES, the book takes place long ago, in the deepest dark of The Black Forest. Two brothers — Peter Piper and his older brother Max — encounter ominous forces that change them both irreparably. Thus begins an epic tale of sibling rivalry, magic, music and revenge that spans medieval times to the present day, when their deadly conflict surfaces in the placid calm of modern day Fabletown.
PETER & MAX: A FABLES NOVEL features the prose of award-winning comic book writer Bill Willingham and the lush ink drawings of FABLES artist Steve Leialoha. The novel also reveals secrets of some of the regular FABLES series cast members including Bigby Wolf, Frau Totenkinder and Bo Peep. Also included is an 8-page sequential story by Willingham and Leialoha that serves as a bridge to the FABLES titles.

So excited about this story! Throughout the entire novel, I had this image of sitting in front of fire listening to a storyteller tell a tale. The writing throughout felt like a conversations. it didn't have stilted descriptions or unrealistic dialogue. I enjoy the style so much I kept stopping to wonder how Willingham can write like this. I want to write like this. It seemed so effortless.

In regards to the story itself, I loved how Willingham weaves all the Peter stories into one seamless tale. We see Peter and Max both in the Homelands and on the outskirts of the Farm. We get appearances by many other Fables throughout. My favorites still has to be Frau Totenkinder (or the Witch of the Black Forest or whatever name she happens to go by). I loved that the story was associated with the comic series, but not dependent on reading the Fables series to enjoy the book. Overall a hit!

Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham

Title: Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2008

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 144

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Fables Series

A volume full of backstories about the fairy- and folktale characters who figure in the hit comic book Fables gets the kind of classy treatment success merits. Every story in it is drawn by a different artist who shows off his or her distinctiveness in manners ranging from traditional comics realism and photo-based naturalism to Maxfield Parrish-Howard Pyle sumptuousness and a panoply of caricatural styles.

I absolutely loved this volume. Another Fables volume lives up to the promise of a great story. All the backstories were entertaining. Variations on the fairy tales of yore. We start with Snow White becoming Scheherazade on a mission to secure the Sultan's alliance against the Adversary. Very nicely woven as the background to the other tales. The real Scheherazade even makes an appearance. Then we get stories involving Snow and PC and the dwarves, Reynard the fox, the Frog Prince, Bigby, an unlucky rabbit general, Snow and Rose Red and Frau Totenkinder (with appearances from other Fables), a mermaid, and King Cole. Each story flows into the next with crossover events and characters. Throughout we see the real history of the Fables before they escaped to NYC. Very entertaining to hear of the origins. I think my favorite was Frau Totenkinder's story. The evil witch isn't all she seems. She's become one of my favorite characters in the entire series. And of course, the artwork was amazing. Each illustrator had their own style, but remained true to the fairy tale magic throughout. Great side volume for the Fables series!

Fables: The Mean Seasons by Bill Willingham

Title: Fables: The Mean Seasons (Vol. 5)

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2005

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fairy Tales

Pages: 168

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Fables Challenge

The title story here depicts the year after the attack from the Adversary. Summer sees the birth of Deputy Mayor Snow White's sextuplets (the father is Sheriff Bigby Wolf); fall, Prince Charming's election as mayor; winter, bad decisions by the new administration; and spring, plans to counterattack the Adversary. Two shorter pieces show Bigby Wolf on a secret mission during World War II and Cinderella entrapping a Fable who is collaborating with the Adversary. Tony Akins draws the shorter stories with less detail than Mark Buckingham does the big one; both uphold Fables' snappy good looks. Ray OlsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Loving this volume. We get to see Cinderella as something more than a vapid princess. And we get a little bit of Bigby's history. He is fast becoming my favorite character in the series. As much as I enjoyed the two shorter stories, I must say they don't hold a candle to the long story. The setup is perfect. We see the changing tide through the changing of the seasons. Very inventive! And we get to meet a few new characters, especially the interesting and mysterious Mr. North. I can't wait to learn more about him. We also get more mysteries as Beast and Beauty take over for Snow and Bigby and Prince Charming becomes mayor. They all find out that many things are not what they seem in Fabletown. Oh yeah, and the return of Rose Red. I thought her character had more potential than the rebel sister and she's starting to show it. Can't wait for the next volume...

Fables:

Fables: March of the Wooden Soldiers by Bill Willingham

Title: Fables Vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2004

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 240

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Fables Series

How I Got It: borrowed from library

Willingham's happy idea of bringing the Fables--that is, the characters of Europe's best-known fairy tales--to contemporary New York rolls merrily, dangerously along in two stories. The former, "The Last Castle," guest-drawn by P. Craig Russell and Craig Hamilton, flashes back to the Fables' last stand in their home world; echoing the Disney and John Wayne Alamo flicks and Peter Jackson's Two Towers, it winningly introduces the long title story, in which Boy Blue reencounters the love he loses in "The Last Castle"--the grown-up Red Riding Hood. But is this the same Red? Reason for doubt precedes her in goblin sightings near a door between this and the Fables' worlds--and goblins can only be harbingers of impending attack by the Adversary, who drove the Fables into exile. Meanwhile, what's with these toughies in black suits who look like Pinocchio? Willingham never sacrifices a joke for the sake of a thrill, or vice versa, and artist Mark Buckingham continues matching Willingham joke for thrill, and vice versa. Ray OlsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

"The Last Castle" was a great account the last battle. We finally get to know more about Boy Blue who has always been a background character until this point. I loved the inclusion of Red Riding Hood and Robin of Loxley and the Crow Brothers. And the story gives you som background leading to the main story...

"The March of the Wooden Soldiers." We finally get to see a battle between The Adversaries forces and the residents of Fabletown. We all knew it was coming, it just took four volumes to get there. The leadup and battle were artfully staged. I especially loved the scenes with Pinocchio. A very nice touch. And we get to revisit some of the Fable Farm residents. Plus Prince Charming redeems himself in battle, setting himself up to run for Mayor of Fabletown.

Overall, a very good volume. Can't wait to read the next installment.

Fables:

Fables: Storybook Love by Bill Willingham (Repost)

I am reposting my original review for Legends in Exile to count for my Fables Series Reading Challenge. I reread the volume, but didn’t have anything to add to my review.

Title: Fables Vol. 3: Storybook Love

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: DC Comics 2004

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 190

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; April Read-a-Thon; Fables Series Challenge

How I Got It: borrowed from library

Definitely my favorite so far in the Fables series. This series is really growing on me. I just had to keep reading. Since it's a graphic novel, I read it in less than an hour.

The main story focused on the lingering problems of an unrequited love of Bigby to Snow, a fugitive Goldilocks, a poor Prince Charming, and a devious Bluebeard. I loved how they resolved (at least temporarily) some of the storylines set up in Volume 1. We also meet Briar Rose, second wife to Prince Charming (turns out Cinderella, who we met in Volume 1, was wife #3). And we encounter the mounted police made up of Fable rats and Lilliputians (you know, from Gulliver's Travels).

Beyond the main story, we got a story of Jack set in the Civil War, a two-parter concerning a nosey reporter, and the story of the Barleycorn vase. All three were entertaining, but the Jack story was my favorite. With an appearance and then disappearance of Death, Jack showed just how morally ambiguous he really is. I imagine this will come up later in the series.

Fables:

Fables: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham (Repost)

I am reposting my original review for Legends in Exile to count for my Fables Series Reading Challenge. I reread the volume, but didn’t have anything to add to my review.

Title: Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: DC Comics 2003

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 112

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; April Read-a-Thon; Fantasy; Fables Series Challenge

How I Got It: borrowed from library

Definitely not as good as Legends in Exile, but still a good graphic novel. This story revolved around Fabletown's non-human inhabitants. They attempt a takeover of control of Fabletown and hopefully the Homelands. Of course, not everything goes as planned. And Snow White and Rose Red are caught in the middle. The twists and turns and intrigue weren't a surprise. I felt like I had read this story before. The plot was overdone and old. The characters were fairly interesting. However, Snow White was such a disappointment after her excellent debut. Read this volume in about an hour. It wasn't a wasted hour, but definitely not the best. Here's hoping that Volume 3 is better.

Fables:

Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham (Repost)

I am reposting my original review for Legends in Exile to count for my Fables Series Reading Challenge. I reread the volume, but didn't have anything to add to my review.

Title: Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile

Author: Bill Willingham

Publisher: Vertigo 2002

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 128

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; April Read-a-Thon; Fantasy; A to Z Authors: W; Fables Series Challenge

How I Got It: borrowed from library

Another graphic novel to add to my growing comic addiction. This one intrigued me because of the subject matter: fairy tale characters. I love anything with fairy tale stories or characters. And this one did not disappoint. A pulpy detective story featuring the murder of Rose Red. I loved the inclusion of all kinds of various characters (my fave: Prince Charming who married and divorced both Snow White and Cinderella). Each had a very different personality than their original story, which is definitely a good thing. I find most old versions of fairy tales very flat when to comes to characterization. This volume had loads of personality.

As to the story line, I like the premise and most of the execution. The only part I didn't like: the ending. Having the killer of Rose Red be exposed in during a party felt way too staged. I wasn't buying the staged wrap-up of the story. It was a bit of a let down after a great story.

Fortunately, this was volume one of the Fables series. I didn't even realize it when I started reading. Now I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Fables:

Fables 2011 Reading Challenge

I have fallen in love with this series, but have only read the first three volumes... I want to do a complete series read (at least what's been published so far) so I'm made challenge for myself. Join me if you're interested.

The Rules:

The challenge starts August 19, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011. You can start anytime you want to especially if you want to start early.
The level of participation: Beginner (3 volumes), Intermediate (4-9 books), or Expert (10+)
Overlaps with other challenges is definitely okay
Re-reads count

I'm not doing this challenge with posts/linkies/etc. I just want to have fun and track my reading. But feel free to grab my button and join me!

Complete series list (with spinoffs and related):

Vol. 1 Legends in Exile
Vol. 2 Animal Farm
Vol. 3 Storybook Love
Vol. 4 March of the Wooden Soldiers
Vol. 5 The Mean Seasons
Vol. 6 Homelands
Vol. 7 Arabian Nights (and Days)
Vol. 8 Wolves
Vol. 9 Sons of Empire
Vol. 10 The Good Prince
Vol. 11 War and Pieces
Vol. 12 The Dark Ages
Vol. 13 The Great Fables Crossover
Vol. 14 Witches
Vol. 15 Rose Red
Vol. 16 Super Group
1001 Nights of Snowfall
Jack of Fables: Vol. 1 The (Nearly) Great Escape
JF: Vol. 2 Jack of Hearts
JF: Vol. 3 The Bad Prince
JF: Vol. 4 Americana
JF: Vol. 5 Turning Pages
JF: Vol. 6 The Big Book of War
JF: Vol. 7 The New Adventures of Jack and Jack
JF: Vol. 8 The Fulminate Blade
JF: Vol. 9 The End
Peter and Max: A Fables Novel
Fables Covers by James Jean
Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love
Cinderella: Fables are Forever