I got behind again. Since my last post I've finished 5 books: Programming Interviews Exposed by John Mongan and Noah Suojanen, Eater by Gregory Benford, On the Road by Jack Kerouac, A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay, and Villa Incognito by Tom Robbins.

Programming Interviews Exposed was well worth the money I paid for it. Now that I'm in the position to be looking for another programming job this book is great for brushing up before an interview. (We'll have to wait and see if it actually worked though on the interview I had last week). It provided some general hints plus a bunch of example questions.

Eater was given to me by my dad some time back and I finally got around to reading it. It wasn't the most interesting SF I've ever read, but it was enjoyable. I think I'd have been happier if it was a couple hundred pages shorter though.

On the Road is one of those books I'd always thought I should read but had never gotten around to. The beginning didn't grab me but I started getting more interested as I got further along. I especially liked his descriptions of the jazz shows seen, like Slim Gaillard. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think it affected me as much as it might have had I read it at a younger (more impressionable) age.

A Song for Arbonne was one of the best fantasy novels I've ever read. I read almost the entire thing Monday at the airport and on the airplane (when I should have been sleeping). Highly recommended.

Villa Incognito was good but not Robbins' best. (I think I still like Jitterbug Perfume the best). I did have to go look up a picture of a tanuki online after finishing it.
posted by kristin at 11:10 PM