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I like time travel books, I liked the earlier Connie Willis book Bellwether - but something here was less than ideal. The too-much homage to Jerome K Jerome? The length? Not sure. I still want to read Doomsday Book, and maybe at that point I'll have an answer to the Connie Willis question.

First I have read of her - I didn't read Dragon cover to cover in the last few years, so I missed her column. Some interesting bits, but overall not that great. Only a few references to the subject of the title. I wouldn't at all be surprised if the chapters were columns - there's little connection or cohesiveness.

I'm a sucker for early photos and captions, and that's pretty much what this book consists of. Would have liked a map, especially for the geographical views. Actually, a little thumbnail map with a shaded wedge showing the approximate view would have been AWESOME!

I enjoyed this story, perhaps identifying with the main character too much. When the bullying came out and his dad offered to solve the problem, he had the guts to try his own solution, and that rocked. Then we find out what was really going on the whole time and the situation threw me out of the story.
Well written solid characters that grow and change, and in such a short book too. Well done, and recommended!

I was quite happy about the first part, the story shifts to Raisa. Then the story changed, and I wasn't sure about that. Then I enjoyed the roll down towards the end. Overall, a good book and a good series.

This book is a memoir of a three-year stint for a foreign engineer working in Japan, for a subsidiary of Toyota. Along the way he immerses himself in the culture and provides analysis of several "recommended" books about Japanese working culture - most are lacking. I utilized the provided glossary of the Japanese terms and ideas expressed.

What was especially interesting about the work culture were the rules, in many cases unwritten, that he had to learn. He does admirably well in a culture he was not born into, even getting promoted when others are losing their jobs around him. Most Americans would not do as well in the socially conscious culture described; I personally would find the bullying and ostracism difficult to tolerate.

While not the best written memoir out there, it is candid and insightful at times. Recommended to any with interest in the Japanese working culture.

Read with daughter, 8. Her comments were that it was a little slow in the beginning, and I tend to agree. Perhaps that is why it took us 3 months to read this. She won't be reading any others in the series soon, but will probably do so eventually. Like many others on the web, she is interested in building a version of Redwall Abbey in Minecraft, so it must have made some good impression.

Started off well enough, very similar to the Number Devil. Later chapters revealed that the veneer was not terribly clever, just thinly applied. Math and puzzles increased in difficulty through the book, and are recommended - but the rest was not terribly satisfying. Averages out to "liked it."

A cameo book, and not nearly enough of the title character. I suspect I missed some of the insider stuff, but I get the feeling this was almost a backlash against Lazarus Long. Will read a few interpretations or perhaps just wikipedia and then move on. Liked it, but didn't love it.

A collection of observations, anecdotes and reminiscences by Roald Dahl, sorted into 12 chapters according to the months of the year. Burrowing Badgers, Nesting Nuthatches and Conkers take the reader through childhood and adulthood. Fairly interesting and fun to read!

First off, I read the audio book after seeing a friend's review. Do not like many of the New York voices of the reader, so I will seek out a different way to read subsequent books. Second, it seems the authors planned for a sequel, but not necessarily a series. Either that or they just like a quirky ending. Finally, the book. I liked the science and the nearly 20 year old computer descriptions, plus the hubris of the museum characters. I'm not sure there was quite enough put into the politics there, or maybe I just missed some subtle hints. Unlike my friend, I have not seen the movie, so will seek that out soon.

Supercedes Boy, which I wish I had read here first. Text is the same, sidebars photos an added text are not, and were well received.

A collection of articles, and like so many, some are better than others. Especially enjoyed reading about Bosnia & Herzegovina, and the graphics designed for the Polish solidarity movements.

A collection of miscellany from Roald Dahl, including characters, a chapter and an ending from early drafts of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Some I liked, some was just okay. A quick read regardless.

Two parts, quite separate - the first the completion of the tale from Boy, about Dahl working for Shell in Africa. The second about flying in the war, which ends quite abruptly with his return home. The first portion is far more satisfying than the second, and I understand there is some suggestion of embellishment. Still and all, an interesting book, and far more narrative than Boy.