Book recs retrospective

Books I read in 2009.

The books I loved best, I loved for very personal reasons:

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan -- an incredible illustrated book of short stories, full of wonder and joy. His book The Arrival is also excellent, but being textless, was harder for me read.

Limbo by Anne Mannette Ansay. A memoir about living with chronic illness. My rave review.

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin. A re-read for me, and one of the key books of my life. There are so many ideas in this book, so much to think about in regards to individuals and societies, that I am sure I will read it again. A masterwork of feminist SF.

Blankets by Craig Thompson. A graphic memoir about childhood and coming of age, and about losing faith and finding one's self. Incredibly drawn and told, very emotional, honest, and personal. Contains references to childhood sexual abuse.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Novel with some cartoon illustrations. A re-read for me, and I enjoyed it more the second time. This is a book full of heartache, laughter and hope.

Book List 2010

January

1. Stuck Rubber Baby, Howard Cuse (gn)
2-7. Strangers in Paradise 1-6, Terry Moore (gn)

February

8. The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell
Hello, Cruel World (parts of), Kate Bornstein

March

9. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
10-33. Strangers in Paradise 7-19, Terry Moore (gn)

April

34. The Rejected Body, Susan Wendell
35. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik
36. Ooku vol 1-2, Fumi Yoshinaga (manga)
37. A Victory of Eagles, Naomi Novik
38. A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend, Emily Horner


---
39 The Thief*, Megan Whalen Turner
40 The King of Attolia* "
41 The Queen of Attolia* "
42 A Conspiracy of Kings "
43 Archangel, Sharon Shinn
44 Cryoburn, Lois McMaster Bujold
45 Sabriel, Garth Nix*
46 One! Hundred! Demons!, Lynda Barry (gn)
47 Four Ways to Forgiveness, Ursula LeGuin
48 Izzy, Willy-Nilly*, Cynthia Voigt
49 Distances, Vandana Signh
Selected stories from Firebirds anthology, ed Sharyn November

Total: 49
Female: 17
Male: 32
gn: 33
Sf/F: 13
other: 1
50booksPOC: 3
*Reread: 5

Terrarium!

I made this terrarium out of an old dessicator. A dessicator is a piece of laboratory equipment used for drying samples. They are heavy and made from thick glass; this one has an opening on the lid where a vacuum pump can be attached.

I put glass beads and activated charcoal in the bottom, then sphagnum moss, then potting soil and the plants. I had to go to three different stores to find a greenhouse with small, healthy plants that I wanted. The greenhouse that I did find was fantastic; all the plants looked very healthy and happy. I got the activated charcoal at a pet store (and probably paid too much for it, as it's sold for aquarium filters).

I hope the plants live. But if not, I can just do this project again in the spring!