Librarian as hero, works for me. Another child's picture book biography about someone I'd not heard about. And books. Lots of books. Don't know that ILibrarian as hero, works for me. Another child's picture book biography about someone I'd not heard about. And books. Lots of books. Don't know that I was ever inside the main branch of the NYC library, but I've read so many stories. I've always had a library card, my River Edge card with my signature on it is one of the oldest things I own....more
Beautiful. Well-written. Just a trifle bit wordy. But with enough for all ages without getting bogged down. It starts with a summary splash page that Beautiful. Well-written. Just a trifle bit wordy. But with enough for all ages without getting bogged down. It starts with a summary splash page that describes the whole mission without being too detailed....more
This one runs a little slowly at the beginning. But it builds and builds and builds. Dark. Powerful. It's hard to believe how sA re-read. A tough one.
This one runs a little slowly at the beginning. But it builds and builds and builds. Dark. Powerful. It's hard to believe how short a time ago this all happened. It's hard to believe that the battle fought is still not done. I'd say read the whole series. But if you could only read one of the three, it would be this one....more
A re-read. Perhaps a little less powerful on a second read. I've also read a number of books that touch on the issues and period covered in this book A re-read. Perhaps a little less powerful on a second read. I've also read a number of books that touch on the issues and period covered in this book since then, which makes this book standout just a little less. But absolutely worth reading. And having read quite a few more graphic novels since I read this the first time, the art stands out.
At one point in time I was in a bookstore on Ponce and I heard someone speaking to a group. Usually you can ignore that and continue browsing, but not that speaker. And that was John Lewis. This was a better than typical graphic novel. Powerfully told, with clear supporting art. And of course a story that resonates. Its got kind of an odd framing, but basically it worked. Looking forward to reading the rest of these....more
A re-read. Not quite as strong this time through. But partially this is because it was less shocking the second time through. I've also read a lot morA re-read. Not quite as strong this time through. But partially this is because it was less shocking the second time through. I've also read a lot more graphic novel memoirs in the last 2+ years, and appreciate the clear well done writing and art. It is always clear who everyone is and where they are and what is going on. The places were not good ones, but they were real.
An uncomfortable painful read. A personal retelling of the Japanese Internment. A simple straightforward retelling adding a few details I'd never heard. Definitely a story to be remembered, and this book should make that more likely at least for a little while. The art is not fancy, but it is good and consistent and adds to the story-telling....more
Kind of a wow book, but definitely has a your-mileage-may-vary feel to it. But reading it has me feeling excited about doing scrum, and I've been doinKind of a wow book, but definitely has a your-mileage-may-vary feel to it. But reading it has me feeling excited about doing scrum, and I've been doing some form of scrum for a long time. This is not a reference book, there is very little what here. Instead it's all about why. The books is messy and a bit uneven. But a quick read as all proselytizing manifestos should be....more
A re-read with work friends. Made me angry a second time. Basically a reminder that to work on an issue, you might need to focus on it. Much of this hA re-read with work friends. Made me angry a second time. Basically a reminder that to work on an issue, you might need to focus on it. Much of this had commonalities with books on racism and anti-racism we've been reading.
Overwhelming. The basic problem described in this book is apparently everywhere. And its worse than you think. Too many specific stories, issues, problems to possibly remember. I wouldn't think of this as a reference book but in reality it probably needs to be one. Or expanded into a purpose organized wiki. Definitely worth reading and by as many people as possible....more
A simple picture book with pretty good but not exceptional art. But also the best write up of Helen Keller's life that I can remember reading. A lot oA simple picture book with pretty good but not exceptional art. But also the best write up of Helen Keller's life that I can remember reading. A lot of words for a picture book, but a very fast read. This book did a much better job of explaining to an adult how Helen Keller actually learned. And also covered what she did with her adult life. Definitely a wow child's biography....more
I've been a Michael Whelan fan for a long time. Probably the first covers I recognized as particularly awesome would have been the Elric books which fI've been a Michael Whelan fan for a long time. Probably the first covers I recognized as particularly awesome would have been the Elric books which for me appeared out of nowhere in 1981. I have at least two Michael Whelan books, I don't take the time to look at my art books nearly enough. This one was for his earliest work - and I'm not sure I realized that. And it's kind of what I want in an art book. First of all it has fantastic art. But also most pictures have a bit of a story with them, sort of like you'd get from Asimov introduced short story. And the bits my other people on the artist actually add something. It helps that this book also covers such a short amount of time that it ends up having a point of view. And I ended up knowing who Micheal Whelan is, just a little bit more....more
Definitely a wow. Brilliantly eclectic selection of women to profile. A few I knew somewhat - Josephine Baker, Nellie Bly, Heddie Lamarr. Some were naDefinitely a wow. Brilliantly eclectic selection of women to profile. A few I knew somewhat - Josephine Baker, Nellie Bly, Heddie Lamarr. Some were names I recognized - Mae Jemison, Peggy Guggenheim. But in general these were people I didn't know but wish I had heard of. The tone and length of the bios were just about perfect - detailed, well-written but still fairly short but not too short. There were perhaps a few too many in the book. And the cover of the book had an awful texture. But well worth reading. And the art was good enough not to be distracting. 4.5 of 5....more
Definitely a wow book. A great mix of simple children's picture book and real non-fiction science book. It goes back and forth on the same page mostlyDefinitely a wow book. A great mix of simple children's picture book and real non-fiction science book. It goes back and forth on the same page mostly by using font size. But it works. And the art is good but not distracting. Informative and yet not wordy. Really just a success of a book....more
A wow book. Obviously I've heard of this before though I can't recall if I'd read it before. The art and writing were spot on. As a made up story it wA wow book. Obviously I've heard of this before though I can't recall if I'd read it before. The art and writing were spot on. As a made up story it would have been fine. But as a retelling of an actual story it was pretty much perfect. It didn't get to moralizing, it didn't do any explaining and it didn't forget that it was a children's picture book. And the afterword added just the right amount....more
A bit of history told as a children's picture book. Wordy, but really well done. Compelling and interesting. And with a good text writeup in the back.A bit of history told as a children's picture book. Wordy, but really well done. Compelling and interesting. And with a good text writeup in the back. Definitely not a story that I recalled hearing. And it does seem more real when seen through the eyes of a single participating person. Good enough art....more
I very rarely rate a book I have not read recently. I almost never review one without having re-read it. For this book I'll make an exception.
I have I very rarely rate a book I have not read recently. I almost never review one without having re-read it. For this book I'll make an exception.
I have a lot of vivid memories of the first time I read this book. I was at a bed and breakfast on the beach on Amelia Island in Florida, in 1993. This book was heavily recommended on usenet. And in addition to being informative, it was the best written technical book that I had ever read.
I was kind of disappointed that the replacement book wasn't a new edition of this one. And I've still not done more than skim it....more
A re-read. Even more powerful, even more devastating on a re-read. And as compared to other even vaguely similar books, this book is more. More directA re-read. Even more powerful, even more devastating on a re-read. And as compared to other even vaguely similar books, this book is more. More direct, more clear. This does not read like something with punches pulled.
This books is 5 years old. Which means it is probably more than five years old. And it feel like it was written yesterday. Powerful and specific. As definitional as How to Be an Antiracist but not intellectual, not stand-offish. This book is not written as a book for me or you. This is framed as a book for the author's son. But it pulls no punches about the meaning of race or what it means to be white in America. Or police. And in the depths of the author's journey into what it means to be Black in America and in general, it hints at the great quantities there is to know....more
A re-read. Definitely this was worth revisiting. I found some of the later chapters less impressive than I remembered - mostly because they were more A re-read. Definitely this was worth revisiting. I found some of the later chapters less impressive than I remembered - mostly because they were more computer science and less algorithms that you could act on. It was fun to try to discuss this with a mixed work group. Certainly the math/computer science/software engineering pushed some of my coworkers a little over the edge. 4.5 of 5.
This is one to buy re-read and to some degree commit to memory. It is a great walk between human life and psychology on one side and computer science and software engineering on the other. On lots of the big subjects of computing - stopping, sorting, caching, scheduling and more - the authors make the connections back to everyday life. Much of the details of this book I've seen though not in this form. Much of it I hadn't seen. And it stayed readable all the way through. 5 of 5....more
slurp, not often do I finish something of any size in less than 24 hours clock time.
So my wife says, "Isn't Felicia Day a little young for a memoir?"slurp, not often do I finish something of any size in less than 24 hours clock time.
So my wife says, "Isn't Felicia Day a little young for a memoir?" And my daughter says, "I really don't follow her". This was a fun read. It didn't have to be, Felicia writes pretty vividly about her anxiety and some of it was certainly difficult. And though I do game, I don't do a whole lot of online gaming and haven't quite had that online gaming addiction experience and have never played World of Warcraft. And really I don't follow Felicia Day either, well except on Goodreads. I watched the first season of the Guild (on dvd from the library perhaps) and don't think I made it through the second season.
Her video from the guild http://feliciaday.com/blog/do-you-wan... has probably been the thing I've enjoyed most of her work. Then again, I liked her on Dollhouse and Dr. Horrible and Eureka. I was first exposed to her on Buffy - which I didn't watch until it was off the air. So I'm not exactly a fanboy of hers but I appreciate the way she bends the world.
This is not a full life memoir. Much of her personal life is just not covered. Much of her professional life is barely mentioned - so nothing around the making of or involvement with any of the shows except - The Guild and some around making commercials. This is mostly about her childhood and college education process and her thinking process and the Guild and her experience as a gamer. So it doesn't really dish dirt except on her self. And it's not technical at all.
And it was more enjoyable then it should have been....more
Pretty amazing illustrated autobiography. And most likely the Caldecott Honor Award winner with the most words. I'm really not all that familiar with Pretty amazing illustrated autobiography. And most likely the Caldecott Honor Award winner with the most words. I'm really not all that familiar with Bill Peet. I know him only because The Caboose Who Got Loose was my son's first favorite book. And yet this book was absolutely filled with recognizable and awesome pencil sketches. From his childhood, to his time as a young artist, to Disney to his books - the whole book was just eye catching. And the text was strong as well - well written and breezy with quite enough details but not enough to overwhelm the art. My only issue was the abrupt end. 4.5 of 5....more
I like the idea that the world is analyzable. And this book is all about that. And yet the writing has a certain amount of flair to it which I typicalI like the idea that the world is analyzable. And this book is all about that. And yet the writing has a certain amount of flair to it which I typically would find off-putting which presumably means some won't like it just for that. This is not a heavy math or statistics book, though the math and statistics is just off stage. Mostly this book is concerned with what we are saying about ourselves and others - through dating sites and facebook and twitter and google searches. It's also about racism and lying and beauty in charts....more
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