So, these items are all in no particular order. I can never limit myself to a set number. if i set the number too high, then i feel like i have to add in things, too low and i end up cutting out something i don't want to. Here are the things i enjoyed most in 2009, with comments
Books:
Fiction:
The Hugo Winners Vol. 1 edited by Issac Asimov- OLD sci-fi short stories
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist - Swedish vampires
1984 by George Orwell - classic dystopia
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff - modern, YA semi-dystopia
After the Quake by Murakami - lyrical Japanese short stories
The Grey King by Susan Cooper - English kids having adventures!
Skellig by David Almond -English kids having a very very different adventure
American Gods by Neil Gaiman - epic
Plays:
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen - very early feminism
Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare - Hotspur vs Harry plus Falstaff = very good
Graphic Novels:
Fables series - Snow White is proactive? The Big Bad Wolf is a hard-boiled detective? Super cool
Y: The Last Man series - the world comes to an end for almost every male on Earth. The one that is left is actually a nice guy!
Non-Fiction:
Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell -presidential history is fun!
The Lost by Daniel Mendehlsohn -searching for your ancestors is deeply meaningful
Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne - understanding your really really deep ancestors is amazing!
Movies:
Coraline - i always thought something like this movie would happen to me when i was a kid
Watchmen - even sandwiched between to big guys i thought this movie was fabulous
The Dirty Dozen - how the hell did i not see this years ago?
Star Trek - bang, zoom! who needs the originals?
Avatar - not even motion sickness could stop me!
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Brad Pitt is lovely and this movie made me cry
Inglourious Basterds - more Brad Pitt, killin' NAT-zees.
Pride and Prejudice, BBC version - better Elizabeth, better Darcy
Pride and Prejudice, Keira Knightly version - much prettier
Experiences:
The Decemberists concert- seriously, one of my top 3 concerts ever!
Meeting B- pretty self-explanatory i would think.
Going to a motorcycle race with my Dad- daddy-daughter bonding!
Hearing Beethoven's Ode to Joy live with chorus at the Schermerhorn- beautiful and amazing
Spending a weekend in Atlanta with my mom, sister and brother- we hung out, went to see the King Tut exhibit and went to Medieval Times. Not a bad long weekend.
Giggling through The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) at Shakespeare in the Park.
So, this year, i think, has been pretty good. I'm so much happier with my life now than i was 12 months ago. Here's to more great days in 2010!
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