• Rated 4 stars

“It took me a while to get into this book. Hastings introduced all of the characters at Styles in a horribly dry manner - I almost gave up. It wasn't until he met Poirot in the village that the book got interesting for me. From that point forward I was hooked and enjoyed the story very much.”

Timothy Gray wrote this review 6 days ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I'm both a long-time Apple fan and a designer who wishes every company approached product development (and business in general) the way Apple and Steve Jobs do, so my view of this book may be somewhat biased.

Inside Steve's Brain is a look inside Apple and its most influential leader, Steve Jobs. His leadership style is notorious, but he's a visionary and seer, with an obsession for creating amazing customer experiences. This could be a very inspirational read for business leaders although I'd be really concerned about a manager trying to emulate Jobs without first having his talents.”

Timothy Gray wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“In spite of the fact that everyone hates HTML forms, they are still the primary method of interaction on most websites. If you want to send a message to your friend, purchase a book, upload a video or create an account with a web service, HTML forms are there.

This book is about optimizing web forms for maximum effectiveness by making them as intuitive and painless as possible for users. The design of the book makes it a quick read - lots of images to show every imaginable type of form and how it performs with real users. This is a must-read for anyone who designs websites or web applications for a living.
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Timothy Gray wrote this review Sunday, September 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I've been pleasantly surprised that each book in the Harry Potter series has been more interesting than the last. The books are obviously aging with the audience and character, and the stories are becoming more complex and less predictable. Rowling isn't the greatest writer, but she's certainly a first-class storyteller!”

Timothy Gray wrote this review Sunday, September 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“At first I thought this was going to be better than The Bourne Identity, but it seemed to unravel a bit by the half-way point. Ludlum brought in so many characters that it seemed Jason Bourne wasn't really the central character. This installment is far less about Jason Bourne than it is the governments of both sides – the treachery and betrayals that directed Bourne through the book.”

Timothy Gray wrote this review Sunday, September 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“This is my first "thriller" and while I enjoyed the imaginative story, the style of the writing was distracting. The overuse of abrupt flashbacks may be typical for this genre, but I found them obnoxious and repetitive. The story was definitely exciting and I'm planning to purchase and read the next two in the series. ”

Timothy Gray wrote this review Monday, August 18 2008. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“I enjoyed The Prisoner of Azkaban more than the previous two books in the Harry Potter series. The story was more complex and imaginative and kept me interested throughout. I closed this and immediately started on book four!”

Timothy Gray wrote this review Thursday, August 14 2008. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 3 stars

“The story started and ended slowly, but I enjoyed most of the middle section. It's a drawn-out parable about a shepherd boy who goes on a quest to find a treasure and the things he learns as he completes his quest.”

Timothy Gray wrote this review Thursday, July 17 2008. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“I enjoyed The Chamber of Secrets even more than The Sorcerer's Stone. The story was more complex and dark, with a few surprising twists. Rowling is a good storyteller, but personally I think this is probably a little much for the intended audience. Rowling is a bit irresponsible in that she continually emphasizes that the only way to get things done as a child is to break rules and do things grown-ups wouldn't let you do. The fact that the children not only escape all of the rule-breaking unscathed (mostly), but also receive rewards for their heroic efforts seemed forced.”

Timothy Gray wrote this review Monday, July 14 2008. ( reply | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“While this book was intended for children, it's a worthwhile read for adults as well.

Little House in the Big Woods is the story of a little girl whose family lives alone in the middle of the Wisconsin forest. "Pa" farms and hunts to keep food on the table and "Ma" makes keeps the family clothed and happy. It's a really quick read and includes entertaining stories from one full year of pioneer life. I found it especially interesting to hear about the planning and work that was required to survive the long and brutal northern winters.”

Timothy Gray wrote this review Monday, June 30 2008. ( reply | permalink )