Book Reviews
Reviews of things I've read.•Back to Reviews Page
A History of What Comes Next • M Sylvain Neuvel • 2021 • A wonderful historical fiction novel that becomes... sci-fi? Yes, and it's a great premise too. It's not always an easy read, because there is a lot of tension and bad times, but it IS a worthy read. • Loved It!
American Gods • 2001 • Neil Gaiman • I tried to like it. But I can't. I don't. I won't. Also, I never understood the appeal of Neil Gaiman, and now we all know why. Suspicions confirmed. • Didn't Like It
AMETORA HOW JAPAN SAVED AMERICAN STYLE • W. David Marx • 2023 • Basic Books • It may sound odd that a history of American fashion as repurposed by the Japanese into something uniquely their own could be as fascinating as this book is, but it is indeed an enjoyable and informative read. *****
Apple in China • 2025 • Patrick McGee • Detailed, interesting, and informative. It lays out how much Apple contributed to China's tech manufacturing dominance, and the existential challenges it has to navigate. • Loved It!
Attack Surface • 2021 • CORY DOCTOROW • Every novel Cory Doctorow has ever written is YA, even when it's not, but this is a pretty good book about the state of controlling technology and how it's used to trod all over human rights across the world. ****
Buried in the Sky • 2012 • Climbers are nuts. People keep dying on these peaks in really unnecessary ways and it very often seems like the result of the most idiotic decisions on the part of people who are supposed to be experienced. Really gripping tale. • Loved It!
Changer • 2016 • Matt Gemmell • Outstanding for a first novel, and really fun in general. Although I had some questions about anti-tachyons and force-duels on chapel rooftops, l liked the characters and it's obvious the author does too. That's rare in books, honestly. • Loved It!
Chasing Shadows • Just started it... The story of Citizen Lab, the world's foremost digital watchdog. Encouraging and depressing all at once. • Liked It
Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World • 2019 • Clive Thompson • A fun computer history book that does look at fun aspects of programming, but also the sexism and other issues that pervade the culture. Naturally, these references make some people angry, but those are not good people. • Loved It!
Dark Wire • Joseph Cox • Joseph Cox is a great security beat journalist, and this story is wild enough already. Sometimes I think the FBI just does stuff because they can and can secretly have fun doing it. • Loved It!
American Gods • 2001 • Neil Gaiman • I tried to like it. But I can't. I don't. I won't. Also, I never understood the appeal of Neil Gaiman, and now we all know why. Suspicions confirmed. • Didn't Like It
AMETORA HOW JAPAN SAVED AMERICAN STYLE • W. David Marx • 2023 • Basic Books • It may sound odd that a history of American fashion as repurposed by the Japanese into something uniquely their own could be as fascinating as this book is, but it is indeed an enjoyable and informative read. *****
Apple in China • 2025 • Patrick McGee • Detailed, interesting, and informative. It lays out how much Apple contributed to China's tech manufacturing dominance, and the existential challenges it has to navigate. • Loved It!
Attack Surface • 2021 • CORY DOCTOROW • Every novel Cory Doctorow has ever written is YA, even when it's not, but this is a pretty good book about the state of controlling technology and how it's used to trod all over human rights across the world. ****
Buried in the Sky • 2012 • Climbers are nuts. People keep dying on these peaks in really unnecessary ways and it very often seems like the result of the most idiotic decisions on the part of people who are supposed to be experienced. Really gripping tale. • Loved It!
Changer • 2016 • Matt Gemmell • Outstanding for a first novel, and really fun in general. Although I had some questions about anti-tachyons and force-duels on chapel rooftops, l liked the characters and it's obvious the author does too. That's rare in books, honestly. • Loved It!
Chasing Shadows • Just started it... The story of Citizen Lab, the world's foremost digital watchdog. Encouraging and depressing all at once. • Liked It
Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World • 2019 • Clive Thompson • A fun computer history book that does look at fun aspects of programming, but also the sexism and other issues that pervade the culture. Naturally, these references make some people angry, but those are not good people. • Loved It!
Dark Wire • Joseph Cox • Joseph Cox is a great security beat journalist, and this story is wild enough already. Sometimes I think the FBI just does stuff because they can and can secretly have fun doing it. • Loved It!
