The Casual Vacancy, by J. K. Rowling

Summary: Following the death of one of the members of the Pagford Parish Council, things start coming to light that people would prefer stayed hidden.

Comments: Let's get the obvious one out of the way first - while the main reason I read this book is because of the author, it bears very little resemblance to the works that made her famous, both because this one is set firmly in the world as we know it and because of all the references to breasts, shagging, and related concepts. This one is definitely aimed at a more mature audience.

Probably my favorite part of the book is that each section is from the point of view of a different character - the reader is allowed into the heads and the secret thoughts of what seems like half the population of Pagford. Then again, I'm not sure one could make this storyline as engaging without it.

And this is where I admit that I read 500 pages about these characters without being able to concretely articulate why. I guess I cared about them and wanted to see what kind of resolution to the quagmires of their lives might arise?

Facts and Fallacies of Software Engineering, by Robert L. Glass

Summary: A collection of facts related to software engineering, from management to maintenance to a variety of other topics, that are either often overlooked it controversial.

Thoughts: While I found this book interesting, I'm not sure if I actually got anything out of it. Many of the facts relate to areas of software I'm not really involved in (management, for instance), and many of the references that I might trawl to find more items for my to read list are instead journal articles.

The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick

Summary: The subtitle might say it all - in this book, Gleick summarizes the history of communication and knowledge and how people think about both.

Comments: A fascinating read. Gleick takes us through history, from talking drums to dictionaries to information theory to the internet. Masterfully arranged, and incredibly informative.