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I love Ackerman -- she blends poetry and science into something so compelling I can't help but fall head first into her books. And the penguins! Can't go wrong with penguins!

Just for Fun: The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary by Linus Torvalds

So, you're married to a code monkey who's all penguinified. For your own protection, you want to learn about the cult he's joined, but you don't want end up trolling on slashdot. This is the book for you.

Journeys to Self-Acceptance: Fat Women Speak by Carol Wiley

Collection of uplifting essays discussing the myths and stereotypes about women and fatness. I recommend skimming it whenever you come down with The Horribles.

The Invisible Woman: Confronting Weight Prejudice in America by Charisse Goodman

This book makes me want to stand up and start slapping people around. I can "accept" myself, but without a major social shift acceptance doesn't mean a thing.

Fat!So? Because You Don't have to Apologize for Your Size by Marilyn Wann

Thin does not equal healthy. Eat nutritious foods, get some exercise, and stop fucking worrying about your knee dimples. This and a "fuck your fascist beauty standards" tee would make an excellent present.

My Year of Meats by Ruth L. Ozeki

Kept forgetting this was a novel and not an autobiography. Well written, thoughtful, and weirdly humorous.

One Hand Tied Behind Us: The Rise of the Women's Suffrage Movement by Jill Liddington & Jill Norris

This book uses much unpublished material and interviews to paint a vivid picture of the suffrage movement in the Great Britain.

Can't Buy Me Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Feel by Jean Kilbourne

Marketing influences how we feel! Industry doesn't care about you! Industry just wants to manipulate you into consuming! Simply shocking, dahling.

Myrtle of Willendorf by Rebecca O'Connell

On the onset, this book seems to employ a lot of stereotypes. Not only is Myrtle fat, she's also depressing, sloppy, and constantly eating. How flattering is that? Not very, but then Myrtle isn't very happy with herself, either. It's only in the end, when she paints her "masterpiece" does she become beautiful -- not by morphing into a someone else, but by accepting herself. This is a delicious book. The descriptions of the characters, the setting, and the food make me want to read it again and again. The only thing that would have made it perfect where if I could see her masterpiece.

Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson

Cute. A murder mystery and recipes all in one slim volume.

Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah

While I found this book profoundly moving, Adeline's perfect goodness got to be a bit much.

J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by Tom Shippey

Veddy interesting, but not sure it stands out from other Tolkien biographies I've read.

The Culture of Fear: Why Americans are Afraid of the Wrong Things by Barry Glassner

People who are afraid, consume.

The Foods of Israel Today by Joan Nathan

Beautiful illustrations, lovely text, and some truly yummy recipes. Foodie erotica.

Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson

First book in the Goldy Bear series (I started out of order). A lot of fun to read, but not very filling.

Wake Up, I'm Fat! by Camryn Manheim

Funny hah-hah and funny ouch. Who wouldn't want Manheim as an older sister or friend? Nice legs, too.

The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World by Lawrence Lessig

Sometimes, I read books to increase my cred with other people. Generally speaking, this never turns out to be a good idea. I like Lawrence Lessig and I enjoy listening to what he has to say, but (about half way through this book) I became lost and couldn't make heads or tails out of what I was reading.

The Onion Girl by Charles De Lint

Finally, Jilly's story. Unfortunately, I've been waiting so long to have it told and read so much de Lint in the process, that I don't care. All his books are too much a like and, while familiarity can be comforting, it can also breed contempt.

Yummy. I always wondered what would happen with Tenar and Tehanu and hoped there would be another book some day. The Earthsea books, along with Cooper's Dark is Rising series, and Pierce's Darkangel trilogy were the defining reads of my adolescence.