Read in December 2011

1. Midnight Salvage: Poems, 1995-1998, by Adrienne Rich
I've read too many of her poetry books this year to keep most of them straight.

2. Planet Germany: Eine Expedition in die Heimat des Hawaii-Toasts, by Eric Hansen
Another expatriate memoir read for my German class. "An Expedition into the Home of Hawaii Toast." The funniest and smartest of the three — an insightful and interesting first-person narrative of German culture.

3. Der, die, was?: Ein Amerikaner im Sprachlabyrinth, by David Bergmann
Expatriate memoir #3. "An American in the Language Labyrinth." So gratifying to have the quirks and difficulties of the German language articulated so amusingly.

4. Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild
A sweet, everything-always-turns-out-okay novel. I like the contemporary setting — 1930s London.

5. Season of Ponies, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
This was my absolute favorite book in third grade — I went to my elementary school library a few years ago and the tag in the book showed me checking it out about eight times in a row -- and upon rereading, I can see why. It has ponies, freedom from adults, creepiness, magic...all the right ingredients, and in just the right proportions.

6. Romaji Diary and Sad Toys, by Takuboku Ishikawa
Part diary, part tanka collection. Emo (depressing). Sometimes relatable, sometimes misogynistic.