The Butcher Boy

Author: Patrick McCabe
Title: The Butcher Boy

This was a nominee for the Booker Prize.

This is a great tale told in a stream of conciousness with a heavy Irish accent. It was called a masterpiece by

Don’t Panic

Book: Don’t Panic: the official Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Companion
Author: Neil Gaiman

Remember the Hitch-Hiker’s guide to the galaxy? Ever wonder whether it was supposed to be “hitch-hiker’s” or “hitchhiker’s” or “hitchhikers'”? No, neither did I,

MySQL & mSQL

Title: MySQL & mSQL
Author: Yarger and co.

MySQL and mSQL are two kinds of database software, often used today as the underlying database of websites. Recently, my all-knowing server administrator friend, Ian (also drummer in the

Violin

Book: Violin
Author: Anne Rice

I love the sound of the violin, so when I saw this book in a hotel in Thailand I was delighted. Anne Rice also wrote Interview With the Vampire. I didn’t read that, but

Dogs and Demons

Book: Dogs and Demons: The Fall of Modern Japan
Author: Alex Kerr

This is a depressing book in many ways, but an enlightening one in many others. It’s an excellent indictment of the state of Japan’s bureaucracy.

The Rising Pints

Mark Renne-Burke sent in this review of the first Rising Pints album, The Rising Pints. For those of you who missed this masterpiece released by Celtic Otter back in 1997, just click on the image where

Sophie’s World

Book : Sophie’s World
Author : Jostein Gaarder

This is a book. Anyone who has taught in Japan will understand the nuances of this, but this is really is a book. If you haven’t read it, don’t waste