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Thursday, March 5th, 2009 03:37 pm
Continuing my mystery streak, I just read Devil in a Blue Dress which was very good for what it is (noir), longer review here.

I also read The Lady Tasting Tea, a history of the way statistics has affected society and vice versa. It was an interesting topic not quite as well written about as I would have liked: the author is a statistician, which means he has a personal connection with and understands his story, but it was a bit clunky and unclear in parts. I would have preferred either less wordy explanations or more maths, as it was he gave just enough information that I felt like I should understand what he was saying on a deeper level, but not enough that I actually could (there was not one single equation. Yes, that is a bad thing! To me, anyway :)). I may have to go and read an actual stats textbook now(*).

(*)Further evidence of what a bad influence [livejournal.com profile] sanguinity is on me.
Thursday, March 5th, 2009 02:31 pm (UTC)
Ooh, The Lady Tasting Tea looks PERFECT for my dad's birthday gift (and then I can read it before I give it to him).

What do you think of Devil in a Blue Dress for people who aren't primarily mystery readers? I thought your review was interesting, but I'm not generally a mystery sort of person myself.
Saturday, March 7th, 2009 06:36 am (UTC)
Hmm. I'd say you would need to be willing to read noir, it's very noir-ish, but it's a good drama even if you're not into mystery.