tell me about books!

[sev]

I got this idea from firecat, who made a much more manageable request than I'm about to make...

Tell me about the books on my wishlist. Tell me if you've loved them or hated them. I'm currently paralyzed with indecision every time I think I might want to treat myself to a book, because there's too many to choose from.

Most of the books on my list fall into a handful of categories: knitting, feminism, science fiction, art, judaism, food. I know some of you must have read some of them. Heck, a lot of them are there because one of you mentioned them!

Note: this is not a request for gifts. Seriously.

Comments

[damiana-swan.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for brain candy, I can recommend either the Elizabeth Moon or Kim Harrison books--I think I own everything both of them have written, and have read it all multiple times. And see? I'm restraining myself mightily (it involves duct tape) from adding suggestions for three dozen more sci-fi/fantasy novels with Strong Female Characters.

And if I ever manage to convert myself from crocheting to knitting, I'm coming to your wishlist for ideas on what to buy, seriously.

[firecat]

VERY strong recommendation for James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon from someone who normally finds reading biography to be only slightly more pleasant than gnawing my own leg off.

I read an earlier edition of Unbearable Weight and thought it was great. Really angry and kinda depressing but great.

Zaftig: The Case for Curves is pretty to look at but otherwise unremarkable.

Women En Large: Images of Fat Nudes is indispensable with beautiful images and writing.

Fat!So? is indispensable and really, really fun.

I find early X-Men (e.g., Essential X-Men Vol. 1) to be annoying although I enjoy the movies a lot and have a thing for Wolverine.

I can't remember if I've read Miss Manners' Guide for the Turn-of-the-Millennium but I have really liked everything else I've read of hers.

The Beauty Myth is a classic. A lot of its ideas are pretty mainstream now but it's worth seeing one of the sources they came from.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

Women En Large -- yes. It feeds my soul.

Good in Bed -- no. I couldn't get through it. Bleah.

Fat!So? -- YES!!

Madhur Jaffrey, World of the East Vegetarian Cooking -- yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

No Sheep For You is v. well reviewed. Both Barbara Walker and Mary Thomas pattern books I like.

Beauty Myth and Backlash are classics.

[redandfiery.livejournal.com]

Hanne Blank and Audre Lorde are worth their weight in gold. The Naomi Wolf is interesting, but the language and tone is scholarly to the point of unreadability and I didn't manage to finish it - YMMV.

[nmc.livejournal.com]

In The Garden Of Iden is good. Its immediate sequel, Sky Coyote, was even better. The rest of the series goes rapidly downhill from there. Fortunately, those two stand alone well.

I really liked Emerald House Rising, although I've heard others describe it as just OK. *shrug* I thought it was well done.

I have no input on the others. I mostly read fiction. :)

[snippy]

My husband sinanju and I both enjoyed the Patricia Briggs ("Moon Called" and its sequel).

Plaskow's "Standing Again at Sinai" was transformational for me, I highly recommend it.

[14limes.livejournal.com]

Wish I could help. I looked through the whole list, and to no great surprise, I'm sure, I haven't read a single one. :)

[malafrena.livejournal.com]

Hi, I saw you friended me, so now I'm friending you. (Tag! You're it!)

Tiptree book: Haven't read it, but her stories are amazing. I bet it's good.

How to talk so your kids will listen: excellent. I love the cartoon that shows the right and wrong family dynamics and often see them flash through my eyes as I'm deciding whether to do the right thing.