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bookshelves: nonfiction
Not as good as "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information" but worth reading. The section on the decision to launch the space shuttle Challenger is very worthwhile, and can be recommended as a case study for anyone who ever has to either base a decision on data or present data. ]]>
bookshelves: favorites, nonfiction
Everyone should read this book. Although I am not yet adept at creating data-rich, well-designed visual displays of information (and frankly, I blame spawn-of-satan Microsoft), Tufte's books at least have taught me to recognize the inferiority of other's attempts (and the limitations of Microsoft's software). ]]>
bookshelves: first-reads, pop-lit, sense-of-place
The back cover of my paperback copy of 2666 has several mentions of Bolano's ability to expand the definition of what a novel is. I'm in agreement that this is indeed one of the interesting aspects of 2666. However, the comparisons to Joyce, Proust, and Pynchon put me off. They made me think I'd never get through the book, or would never be able to understand the arcane references, or would want to throw the book across the room halfway through. Instead, I was rapt.
Reading this book was a transformative experience. As with most such experiences, recommending it is fraught with qualifiers. It was difficult, it took a while to get used to, I wasn't sure I'd make it, etc. But actually getting through it (and better yet, getting to the point where it was no longer difficult), was so incredibly worthwhile.
This is a clear-your-calendar-type of book. You'll need to read the first and second parts, and a good section of the third, before you can take breaks from it. ]]>
Margie
liked a trivia question:
Multiply the number of days it took Phileas Fogg to travel around the world by the number of John Buchan's steps. Now subtract the temperature at which paper catches fire according to Ray Bradbury and the number of men in the boat according to Jerome K. Jerome. You should now have a number that appears in the title of a book - by whom? see if you know the answer »
Multiply the number of days it took Phileas Fogg to travel around the world by the number of John Buchan's steps. Now subtract the temperature at which paper catches fire according to Ray Bradbury and the number of men in the boat according to Jerome K. Jerome. You should now have a number that appears in the title of a book - by whom? see if you know the answer »
Margie
took the never-ending book quiz.
| questions answered: | 193 |
| correct: | 158 (81.9%) |
| skipped: | 26 |
| best streak: | 22 |
| questions added: | 0 |
bookshelves: historical-fiction, sense-of-period
I picked this up by mistake - I thought I was going to be rereading a book where someone goes back in time by surrounding himself with period items.
It's an interesting look at how psychological profiling might have developed. Would make a good airplane book.
And if anyone knows the name of the book where someone goes back in time by moving into the Dakota (in NYC) and surrounding himself with period objects, please let me know. ]]>
Margie
liked a trivia question:
Who's the narrator in Caleb Carr's THE ALIENIST?
The Alienist see if you know the answer »
Who's the narrator in Caleb Carr's THE ALIENIST?
The Alienist see if you know the answer »
Margie
read and liked
Chris's
review of Push: A Novel:
"I honestly doubt I would have picked this novel up had it not been recommended to me or (as was the case) required as part of a class. While I enjoy "coming of age" stories and stories of overcoming hardship, the overarching themes and sit...more "
"I honestly doubt I would have picked this novel up had it not been recommended to me or (as was the case) required as part of a class. While I enjoy "coming of age" stories and stories of overcoming hardship, the overarching themes and sit...more "