Book Fan

Title: Don't Make Me Think

Author: Steve Krug

Genre: Non Fiction

Rating: ★★★★★

Review / Response

Don't Make me Think is a fun, practical book that describes the need for frequent, informal testing to ensure that an interface (such as a website) is easy to use. The book's informal style is appealing and whilst some of the material is out of date, most of the information easy to understand and implement. This is a 'must read' for anyone involved with the design or development of websites / interfaces.

Title: Fortune's Pawn

Author: Rachel Bach

Genre: Sci Fi

Rating: ★★★

Review / Response

A great light read - perfect for long journeys or when one is too tired for something more substantial. Whilst the novel was fun, the story is also firmly in the 'forgettable' category.

Title: Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams

Genre: Humour

Rating: ★★★

Review / Response

The book is not as good as its cult status would lead one to believe. Whilst it has some memorable quotes and a number of cool ideas the overall plot is weak and often the jokes / humour are simply not all that funny. This book may well appeal to a younger audience but for me it was quite a disappointment.

Title: Honour's knight

Author: Rachel Bach

Genre: Sci Fi

Rating: ★★★

Review / Response

This is the sequel to 'Fortune's Pawn' and it is every bit as enjoyable as its predecessor. The premise is fun (but unlikely). This is a very light read and is the literary equivalent of junk food - enjoyable to consume but not all that beneficial for one's intellect. Bach is best enjoyed in moderation.

Title: Moko Maori Tattooing in the 20th Century

Author: Michael King

Genre: History

Rating: ★★★★

Review / Response

Moko is written by Michael King, one of New Zealand's most celebrated historians, and photographed by Marti Friedlander, one of the country¿s most eminent photographers. One of New Zealand's iconic books, originally published in 1972, it was a milestone in New Zealand publishing. Maori subject matter was not thought to be of interest to the New Zealand public at that time, and the author and photographer were relative unknowns--Moko was their first book.

Title: Saturn Run

Author: John Sandford and Ctein

Genre: Sci Fi

Rating: ★★★★

Review / Response

The story is fast moving and compelling. The characters are well developed and as a reader I became quite invested in their personal stories. Whilst the book took quite a while to read, the journey was worthwhile. The Physics underlying the novel has been well researched and this helps to make the story both interesting and believable.

Title: The Penguin History of New Zealand

Author: Michael King

Genre: History

Rating: ★★★★★

Review / Response

New Zealand was the last country in the world to be discovered and settled by humankind. It was also the first to introduce a full democracy. Between those events, and in the century that followed the franchise, the movements and the conflicts of human history have been played out more intensively and more rapidly in New Zealand than anywhere else on Earth. emerges is an inclusive one about men and women, Maori and Pakeha. It shows that British motives in colonizing New Zealand were essentially humane; and that Maori, far from being passive victims of a fatal impact, coped heroically with colonization and survived by selectively accepting and adapting what Western technology and culture had to offer. colony transformed itself into an independent nation, open to and competing with technological and cultural influences sweeping the globe.

Title: The Treaty of Waitangi

Author: Ross Calman

Genre: History

Rating: ★★★★★

Review / Response

The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand, a subject of endless discussion and controversy, and is at the center of many of this nation s major events, including the annual Waitangi Day celebrations and protests. Yet most people lack the basic information on the details about the Treaty. Ross Calman s book provides a brief, balanced introduction to the treaty s contents and signing, and how it has played a key role in the shaping of New Zealand/Aotearoa.This book is a concise overview of New Zealand s founding document, signed between the British and Maori in 1840 its contents, controversial signing and translation, and historical importance."

Title: This was a man

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: ★★★★

Review / Response

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read that provided a deeply satisfying ending to the Clifton Chronicles. Whilst the story is fictitious, the setting, believable characters and tight writing made it feel as if it could have been real.