Microsoft .NET: Architecting Applications for the Enterprise, by Dino Esposito & Andrea Saltarello

This book is very specific to its title: it details how a developer might like to structure applications in an enterprise that uses .NET. It's quite low level with big chunks of code included, & therefore different to other architecture books I've read. The section on defining the DAL details how to write your own O/RM which I found a bit excessive. When considering architecture it's usually from a higher level perspective so this level of detail was surprising. However there were some good discussion points, debated in a refreshing conversational style.
3/5

A World Without Bees, by Alison Benjamin & Brian McCallum

Written in a somewhat journalistic style to describe the latest affliction that is wiping out colonies of honeybees with potentially dire consequences for humanity. An interesting rather than enjoyable read, some parts seemed a bit repetitive as though the subject was being stretched to fill the book. What's clear though is that the situation is very serious & action should be taken to find out what's affecting the bees as a keystone species, & what this means for our wider environment.
3/5

The Gamekeeper's Son, by Mark Cringle

Engaging recollections of a Norfolk country life in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, at the turn of the 19th Century. An enjoyable read with a few entertaining anecdotes, although the sum of the tales didn't add up to a wholly satisfying book. I felt a bit more could have been made of the tales to shed more light on the fascinating life of the man whose tales they were.
3/5

The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane

An elegant & evocative description of whether the wild exists anymore in the UK & if it does, what characterizes it. The author makes his way to some remote, & not so remote corners of the British Isles & Ireland, & records his feelings & experiences. It might not sound like much but it nicely captures & reinforces the virtues of being outside & of reconnecting with the outside world. It's something that is often preached about as being a good thing without it being obvious why: this book helps explain why. He interweaves all this with some history & some very personal memories which, for me, made it much more than just a description of the places he visited.
4/5

Enterprise Architecture As Strategy, by Jeanne W. Ross, Peter Weill, David C. Robertson

Interesting discussion on why & how enterprise-level software architecture can & should contribute to the overall success of a business, but often doesn't. As such it's high-level & without any discussion of implementation technology but is very stimulating & refreshing as a consequence. Invaluable for every software developer who wants to appreciate the business consequences & contributions of the code he or she writes.
4/5

The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga

Blistering satire on India's economic miracle which, through the eyes of a lowly chaffeur, exposes many of the truths behind the hype. It gripped me pretty much from the first page, I also found the insight into India & its culture interesting as it's not something I knew much about before. The skeptic in me always doubts the praise heaped on books nominated for various awards but I couldn't argue with the awards this one has garnered (the Man Booker prize 2008), consequently it's a 5 out of 5 from me too.

Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture, by Martin Fowler

Seminal work on the practical implementation of patterns in architecture. The first section is a very illuminating & conversational discussion on when & why to implement patterns, which almost its own makes this book a worthy purchase. The second section is an in-depth dissection of each of the discussed software patterns, probably much more useful as a reference.
4/5