Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer

Particularly poignant given recent events, this book describes the beginnings of the long and tragic history of political violence in the United States. It is easy to see how misguided and irrational ideology can so easily lead to the death of innocents.

Permalink - Comments - Tags: Books,Review,American Civil War

Ringworld - Larry Niven

I loved this book. The characters, the consistent framework, the majestic premise of the ringworld itself. The scientific underpinning of the book didn't overwhelm my feeble understanding of astrophysics and (with the following exception) kept me firmly immersed in the Ringworld universe.

I get that the genetic luck stuff was a fundamental part of the plot, but I just couldn't suspend disbelief enough to buy it. I can buy FTL drives, transmutation and Scrith, but I just couldn't buy the Luck of Teela Brown. According to Larry Niven:

Stories about infinitely lucky people tend to be dull.

Yep. I agree.

Permalink - Comments - Tags: Books,Review

Vietnam : The Australian War - Paul Ham

Vivid, chilling and desperately sad account of a war that seems to have been simplified and abstracted in our national memory. The book presents a fascinating and uniquely Australian perspective of the conflict, without neglecting the international context of war.

Once again, I find my pre-conceptions torn away.

Permalink - Comments - Tags: Books,Review

The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman

Everything you would expect from a Neil Gaiman novel. Quirky, unexpected, satisfying.

Permalink - Comments - Tags: Books,Review

Naked - David Sedaris

A collection of autobiographical essays by American humorist David Sedaris. I listened to the abridged audio. I am tempted to get the book to read the gaps.

Permalink - Comments - Tags: Books,Review

[First Page] [Prev] Showing page 24 of 33 pages [Next] [Last Page]