All Consuming : mylene

Too old...

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 06:40:43 GMT

Practical Software Configuration Management: The Latenight Developer's Handbook (Bk/Cd-ROM)

by Suzanne Pherigo

A book on SCM, that offers too little theory and too much RCS…

Old... (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 08:08:41 GMT

Introduction to Linux: A Collection of Linux Howtos (Open Source Library)

by Michael K. Johnson

A collection of the most basic Linux howto’s – but I’d prefer to read the newer versions from the LDP…

Not the best, but... (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:16:06 GMT

Maigret en de Chinese schim

by Simenon

Not the best Simenon I read, but a nice story, a quick read – and for the sake of completeness, I try to read all his books :)

A review of "Maigret in Sancerre"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:11:28 GMT

Maigret in Sancerre

by Simenon

A man has been murdered – no witnesses.
As Maigret starts to investigate, the man, who at first seemed so ordinary, appears to be less ordinary.
The company, everyone thinks he’s working for, tells he quit twelve years ago. Where does his money come from then?

Nice. The time of writing (early thirties) – and hence the atmosphere and surroundings in the book – helps also :)

Too long... (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 06:53:39 GMT

Fatal Cure

by Robin Cook

A story about what can go wrong in the medical world, when not the patients, but the costs of the treatments are the most important.
Written in Cook’s well-known style, a good story, only too long. At a certain moment I got bored – and that’s not why I read books :)

Nice...

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 06:49:36 GMT

Hardy Boys 30: The Wailing Siren Mystery (Hardy Boys)

by Franklin W. Dixon

A nice story, a typical Hardy Boys mystery. I really wish I could read the original stories. When I have the chance to read both the new story and the old one, the only match is the title, and the names of the “bad”. Furthermore they are totally different books – the newer ones being much “simpler”.

Great!!! (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 06:43:55 GMT

Resurrection Row

by Anne Perry

“I dunno, ‘Arry,” one of them said, wiping the drop off the end of his nose. “I’m beginning to think as I could make me livin’ purely out o’ this, just buryin’ ‘is lordship. No sooner does we ‘ave ‘im down there as some great fool goes an’ digs ‘im up again!” (p. 76)

Dead, already buried, corpses appear again – and Pitt is searching for the reason of their re-appearance.
Were they murdered? Is something else wrong?
Also some members of the House of Lords have to be persuaded to vote for some bill concerning child labour in workhouses and worse… So we get a look into the poor of Victorian England.

An absolute great story. I decided to try one more Anne Perry, because this one got great recensions at Amazon.com. Glad I did. The best story I read until now (I started with book 1).

Fabulous! (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 06:29:24 GMT

The Witch Queen

by Jan Siegel

Great story, strong plot, good characters – pageturner.
A more than worthy sequel to the other two Prospero books!!!

One way or another the author manages to make me feel frightened when the story is frightening, glad, when there is a happy episode etc.
A fantastic experience.

Nice intro... (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 14:25:25 GMT

Securing Web Services with WS-Security: Demystifying WS-Security, WS-Policy, SAML, XML Signature, and XML Encryption

by Jothy Rosenberg

Nice introduction to securing web services.
The practical usability is fine, not more.
And because of the enormous developments in web services and especially its security – I’m afraid this book will be out of date real quick…

But as an intro it will be OK for a while – if you remember to check the latest standards before applying.

Lovely... (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 07:12:38 GMT

Tuesday Club Murders

by Agatha Christie

I was inspired to re-read this book after reading Asimov’s “Black Widowers” books.
I just love it – Miss Marple in her most Miss-Marpelish form.

Not as good as the first book... (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 07:09:13 GMT

More Tales of the Black Widowers

by Isaac Asimov

A nice collection of short stories – although I liked the first book more…

Asimov in another role... (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 19:02:57 GMT

Tales of the Black Widowers

by Isaac Asimov

Tales of the Black Widowers is a detective. I love Asimov’s science fiction work – so reading some of his other books shouldn’t be too strange. And I happen to love detectives too.

It’s a little like Agatha Christie’s “The Tuesday Club Murders” – people tell strange stories, everyone tries to guess what really happened, and someone you wouldn’t expect at first, always comes with the right answer.

The stories are strange enough to be nice, and real enough to be believed. I really do like them!

Number 64 (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 08:31:53 GMT

De Cock en de dood van een kunstenaar

by Baantjer

This is the 64th book Baantjer has written about Inspector de Cock from Amsterdam.
All books are, well, kind of the same.
A murder (mostly), and de Cock and his assistent Vledder have to solve it (and they manage to solve it :)
When you read one of those books, you know what to expect (a nice reading experience, for some one hour and a half), and you get never disappointed…

Why I recommend "The Demon Breed"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 08:25:11 GMT

The Demon Breed

by James Schmitz

A good story, strong female character, lots of action, set in a water-world, with some alien lifeform trying to find out how hard it would be to conquer the human inhabited worlds…

A review of "Bonjour, Miss Seeton (Heron Carvic's Miss Seeton)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 19:21:20 GMT

Bonjour, Miss Seeton (Heron Carvic's Miss Seeton)

by Hamilton Crane

Nice story, only too much words used to describe everything.
Pity.

need for space... (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 17:48:41 GMT

Sweet Miss Seeton (Heron Carvic's Miss Seeton)

by Hamilton Crane

I read this book once before, a long time ago, and as I needed some space in my bookcase, I decided to take some small books, that I didn’t like too much, re-read them and decide if it was worthwile to let them occupy precious space…

After reading lots of Miss Seeton books (in Dutch actually), I got used to Plummergen, its inhabitants and the British police force. Nevertheless, this book is an rather OK read, when you don’t have anything else. But when you have, it’s best to leave it alone!

Hmmm... (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 06:50:00 GMT

Mijn vriend Maigret

by Simenon

One of the Maigret books I didn’t like too much – but I finished it, so it is not really, really bad :)
I don’t like my “hero” lacking confidence, and that’s the case in this book. Further it has some nice characters, and a great setting. The story is kind of surprising (it led to a conclusion I never foresaw).

Why I recommend "The cat who dropped a bombshell"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 06:46:28 GMT

The cat who dropped a bombshell

by Lilian Jackson Braun

I like the “the cat who…” series. It’s easy-going, and I really got accustomed to all characters. I like reading about the goings-on in Moose County, even after 28 books :)
Some new characters, even a new inhabitant, some new deaths (pity, I liked them), some murders, the sesquicentennial of Pickax, cats and ofcourse Koko…

A story about "Het eerste onderzoek van Maigret"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 06:37:38 GMT

Het eerste onderzoek van Maigret

by Simenon

Not the best Simenon, but nice as “historic” book – Maigret, newly wed, rather new in the police force, tumbling into his first case and drinking too much :)

Why I recommend "Maigret in het Hellegat"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 06:34:30 GMT

Maigret in het Hellegat

by Simenon

I like this kind of book (easy going detective) when I am busy, and don’t have too much time to read.
The stories are nice, but not too exciting, so I can put the book easily away. It’s however interesting enough to read on when I have some time…

Why I recommend "Maigret en Meneer Maandag"

nobody@allconsuming.net (mylene) — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 20:12:29 GMT

Maigret en Meneer Maandag

by Simenon

A Dutch book containing 10 short stories, all starring inspector Maigret. The stories are interesting enough to read, but not enough to stay awake – and as I tend to read them before going to sleep…