Dishwasher

Author: Pete Jordan
Published: 2007

Very cool memoir by a very lazy man. Pete Jordan gets into dishwashing (aka suds busting or pearl diving) because it requires little training or thought, he gets free food, and he can quit whenever he wants to.

He sets himself a challenge to wash dishes in all fifty states of the U.S. Along the way with his 'zine, he learns about the proud role dishwashers have had in forming unions in U.S. history and fighting for workers' rights. Not to mention the various celebrities who have busted suds on their way up the ladder of fame.

The descriptions of the 'Wash Tub Buffet' might leave some queasy. His lack of work ethic is extreme, but is balanced by a very thoughtful set of plongeur ethics. In the end, he works as hard as any one, and discovers a place where he is over qualified for the simple task.

Big Papi

Author: David Ortiz with Tony Massarotti
Published: 2007

About what I expected. Not an in depth analysis of Ortiz' life, but honest and upbeat. The auto/biography (a third of the chapters are by Massarotti) doesn't go into much detail about Ortiz' childhood. It does cover the last three seasons in some detail, and some key at bats over the years.

Good, quick read, especially for a Red Sox fan.

Radio Freefall

Author: Matthew Jarpe
Published: 2007

Google failed me here. I seem to recall a quote from Asimov, something about how all great science fiction stories have a mystery at their heart. But, since I can't locate the quote, it could have been the Dalai Lama who said it for all I can remember.

This much I know. The first half of Radio Freefall, in my opinion, is all about solving the mystery of who done what. The rest is an accelerating roller coaster of conflict resolution. And it's all fun.

Hard science fiction fans should love this book. Cyberpunk fans should love this book. Heinlein fans (I hear) should love this book. With good reason. It's a well written book.

Windows Vista Unleashed

Author: Paul McFedries
Published: 2007

At close to 800 pages, this is not a quick read. Some parts were fun, others rather scary. The only reason to read this book is if one has gotten a new computer. Because Vista just isn't going to be fat and happy on last year's model.

Ragamufin

Author: Tobias Buckell
Published: 2007

SPOILERS!

Expectations can be a problem. The cover and write-ups of this book describe it as taking place in the same universe as Crystal Rain. That was a big, flashing, red signal to me that said 'Not A Sequel'.

And it wasn't, to begin with. New characters to get used to, a plot building and building to a grand crescendo at the middle. And then ...

It's a sequel. Threads are connected. I was a little disappointed in that some previous characters, likeable and well developed, are mentioned but don't appear. Then there are others that are never mentioned. The story of Crystal Rain centers on fighting off the invasion of the Azteca. This is completely undone in Ragamuffin, in a matter of pages.

Ragamuffin is a very good book, and I would guess very accessible to new readers. I'm not one of them. I'll read it again, later, without the baggage.

Lifehacker: the book

Author: Gina Trapani
Published: 2007

The subtitle is "88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day". This is the kind of library book I can't resist when it appears in the new releases section. It's a double whammy because it covers tech stuff designed to better manage one's time. Nevermind that most of it I'll never use, and half of it won't work on my aging computer. But I find it fun to read.

The book's website has a lot of links to the Lifehacker site (I guess you could just go there as well) where many of the tips can be found.

Grey

Author: Jon Armstrong
Published: 2007

The debut novel by Jon Armstrong, Grey is something else. It's Neuromancer in an Armani suit. It's Romeo and Juliet wrapped in a Clockwork Orange. It's about the ultra-wealthy, the ultra-violent, and the ultra-chic.

I can't wait for Armstrong's next book.