Sunday Salon: Villains, Super Heroes, Religion & Winners

I spent a good part of the morning walking the dark streets of New York, where costumed superheroes have been outlawed and the end of the world seems inevitable. I am about half way through Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen, a graphic novel which has garnered much acclaim since it's publication over two decades ago. It is considered a modern classic of the genre and paved the way for others like it. The novel is dark and heavy with moral ambiguities.

I finished reading The Woman in White earlier last week. Wilkie Collins was a talented storyteller, and it is no wonder his books are so well loved. I remember seeing Count Fosco listed as someone's favorite villain, and I can see why. He's smart and charming, cunning and calculating. Oh, how I would love to know more of his back story! His counterpart, Sir Percival is much more passionate and emotional as compared to the ever logical Count Fosco. They balance each other out well. I am in the process of adding the final touches to my review and will post that later this week. I could go on and on about the novel. It is one that lends itself to discussion.

Are their any villians you have come across in your reading that were especially memorable? I would love to know who your favorite villian is and why he or she earns that spot.

I plan to curl up on the couch this afternoon and finish reading Watchmen. And then I will turn my sights to another book. HarperCollins First Look Program was kind enough to send me a copy of Losing My Religion by William Lobdell, and the clock is ticking in regards to my sending them a little blurb for their website. This particular book caught my interest for personal reasons, and I am very much looking forward to reading it.

My immediate TBR stack is threatening to tumble over. There are quite a number of books I hope to get to in the next few months, each of them promising either exciting adventures, thoughtful revelations, or heartrending experiences.

Week in Review:
Review of The Weight of a Mustard Seed by Wendell Steavenson
Scatterbrained Saturday: New Books, Fill Ins, Another Challenge

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Thank you to all who participated in the Book Giveaway Carnival, whether it was by hosting a drawing of your own or simply by entering. I have a few new book recommendations to check out, thanks to all of you! I will be e-mailing the winners shortly to request their mailing addresses. (Winners chosen through random.org)

Apples and Oranges: My Brother and Me, Lost and Found by Marie Brenner
goes to
Gwen Dawson from Literary License


Tarnished Beauty by Cecilia Samartin
goes to
Estela from Spared Change


The House on Tradd Street by Karen White
goes to
Megan from write meg!


Pursuit by Thomas Perry
goes to
Terra H.


Walking Through Walls by Philip Smith
goes to
Callista from SMS Book Reviews


Broad Street by Christine Weiser
goes to
Jo-Jo from Jo-Jo Loves to Read!!!