All the Sarcasm I love in Dev
933524
So, I've read most of the series, at least up until No Mercy so far, already started with Retribution, but i gotta say that I don't love all the books, but, I loved this one. I mean, Dev is my favorite from the Quads and i love his sarcasm and bad jokes and still he's just a big teddy bear, unless you mess up with him, or worst his family and his amazon... this is a must read from the series, not because you might get lost when you continue reading, but because you will love Dev even more, because what's not to love?
2786086
Between this game and the previous EDF 2017, a friend and I have spent hundreds of hours killing gigantic bugs, and we've had a blast!  It's definitely the best split-screen gaming out there.

Sandlot has really ramped up the experience by adding three new classes, and the weapons are, as always, insane.

The frame-rate suffers a bit in split-screen mode, though, since they've now given every player, teammate, and bug rag-doll and have made it so that buildings collapse in stages and into interacting fragments.

I wish Sandlot would've released this game on the next-gen systems since the 360 and PS3 are having trouble containing the sheer amount of awesome that the developers have packed in.
3507279
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Confession: I used to be a World of Warcraft addict. Its true. I participated in lan parties in my boyfriends apartment with his roommates and their girlfriends. We were cool like that.

What does this have to do with The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss? Well, this book is ideal for anyone with basic knowledge of MMORPGs. (Thats massive multiplayer online role playing games for those not in the know.)

This book is absolutely ridiculous in all the right ways. Everything that happens is so completely unbelievable, its believable.

Dahlia has been out of work for over a year. She graduated college with her fancy business degree, then proceeded to spend a year interviewing and not getting hired anywhere. Enter Jonah. He offers Dahlia $1,000 to find out who stole a digital weapon in the MMORPG he plays. Why? She has no background in detective work  save two days as a temp answering phones. Shes the worst (wo)man for the job, but shes broke. So she takes his money and gets to work.

I cant say too much about the plot without giving anything away, but its a ride. Theres murder, crazy people, gamers (another variety of crazy people  trust me, I know) and learning to deal with the cards life has dealt.

Another confession: I didn't read this book, while working I used text to speech on my Kindle and it was read to me in a very robotic female voice which I now identify as the voice of Dahlia Moss. I believe this made the humor in this book a thousand times funnier. I actually had a moment where I had to stop working and stifle my laughter, which was turning to tears. It was hilarious. There are references to MMORPGs (obviously), Pokemon, gaming conventions and so much more. One of my favorite parts was while in the game gathering clues, Dahlia discovers one of Jonahs guild members is pregnant, and another guild member says said pregnant gamer will be leaving the game soon, because thats what happens when female players have babies. Real life takes over and they quit their MMORPGs. I laughed a lot, and shared this part with my husband, because when I had a baby I quite playing WoW.

The best part about the book is Dahlia herself. Shes gotten to the the point where she just doesnt care. Nothing is working out, so shell just roll with the punches. If that means dying her hair pink, so be it. If that means planning a virtual in game funeral for the death of a real person? Why not. Shes surrounded by an oddball cast that are too insane not to be real. Like her roommate Charice, who has completely spontaneous theme parties in her apartment (which incidentally lead to Jonah showing up to offer Dahlia the detective job).

The mystery in this book is resolved perfectly. The clues are all there, though I didn't have an inkling of whodunit until nearly the big reveal.

Seriously, anyone who has ever submerged themselves in geek culture must read this book. Its a healthy dose of Veronica Mars (though slightly less competent) and The Guild. In a movie, Felicia Day would play Dahlia. Theres simply no other choice.

If theres a sequel I want to read it to find out what mess Dahlia will get herself into next!
3516139
Cant wait to pull these jokes off to my friends.  i had an awesome time reading all of the jokes. this is an awesome find indeed. i really love it!
3834387
This is the first book I have read by this author, I loved her wicked witty sarcasm humor. I love a book that makes me laugh added sarcasm to it and you have me hooked. I also enjoy a book that reminds us of important things, or teaches us a lesson. I feel this book does both, it reminds us that things are not always as they seem, as well as what is important not only in ourselves but to remind us that we should always demand respect for who and what we are. The author has taken sarcasm, honesty, humor, and turned it into one outstanding read about hurt, pain, trust, lost, family and learning to love again.

Sophie has learned over the years to cover up her true feeling, she makes everyone laugh with her witty sarcasm ways. When in truth she just wants her family to love her for who she is. Her sister is the perfect child and her parents want her to be more like her sister. She has given up on pleasing them and now is working out what she herself wants. By being a cocktail waitress she is paying them back for not standing behind her and letting her live her life. She is in Las Vegas for bachelorette party and as a joke she dresses up in a trash way. When Gray takes her as a prostitute she decides it is time for a change. She comes home quits her job and tries to move on in her life. I would have to say the prostitute scene was so funny.

Gray is an upstanding business man and has just moved Seattle he meets a lady, said lady takes him home to meet the family. A few people are in for a shock when he finds out the sister of his new date is the prostitute he saw in LA. Can we say uncomfortable to say the least? It was quite a shock when he finds out she isn't the lady of the night but a well respect daughter of a retired doctor. The shocks aren't over because before the night is over he finds his self stuck with a new asst. which is none other than is the lady of the night herself. How does he get himself in these messes?

This is when the book starts getting interesting, Gary is a stuck up business man who doesnt know how to have a good time or do small talk, he has never few friends and doesnt seem to be making new ones. Sophie knows no other way but to be the life of the party, when they say opposites attract they aren't kidding because they do. Things get pretty hot and sparks sure to fly as they do the dance of sarcasm and rubbing each other the right way. This book has wonderful characters that will keep you laughing as you watch them fall for each other. Each trying to outdo the other, not knowing how to make working together easy but finding they bring out the best in each other. Each has something the other needs to make them a better person, they just make each other click now if they only saw it and could make it work they might find they have found the person they want to spend their life with.

You even get a touch of the next book why you watch her sister and her best friend dance around a love hate relationship. I cant wait to read it, it looks to be as good if not better than this one. This is an easy book to follow as the author leads you through a compelling story of a love/hate relationship. This is a funny witty story that you will not want to put down. This author had me laughing one minute, the next it was OMG she didnt, to making me want to just almost cry at the heartbreak. I am so looking forward to reading more from this author.
210389
Nitrozac and Snaggy have been delighting me on the web for awhile now.  So I couldn't wait to get the book. They know just how to poke fun at our operating system obsessions and loathings.  The foibles of geekdom exposed.
Keep an eye on your copy though.  Mine has almost walked away with friends several times.  Since not all the friends were geeks, even technophobes should give it a this book a try.
2854397
So, I sat down to read this book thinking it might have some good insights into using C# for common data algorithms.  However, it has become a great source of comedic relief for me, my friends and colleagues.  The programming errors are hilarious!  My favorite, by far, is on page 255 where the code sample reads like this:

public class Node {
  Public int data;
  public void Node(ByVal key As Integer) {
  data = key;
}
}

Nice mixture of C# and VB.NET in one line of code there.  It seems to me that this person doesn't know C# at all.

How did this book ever get published?  How does this author keep it published?  Why did I buy it?

Well, Mike, thanks for the laughs!

I think the epilogue should contain the following code example:

public class BookAuthor
{

  public BookAuthor(bool knowsCSharp)
  {
  if(knowsCSharp)
  knowsCSharp = false; // who am I kidding! - MM
  }

  public void WriteBook()
  {
  WriteSomeStuff();
  }

  public void EditBook()
  {
  return;  // I am a C# GOD!! - MM
  }

  public void PublishBook()
  {
  try
  {
  SendToPublisherAndMakeSale();
  }
  catch(BookIsHorribleException ex)
  {
  // just ignore this and keep trying.... - MM
  PublishBook();
  }
  }
}
3870775
Im being yelled at from the other room to shut it. I cannot stop laughing. This book is awesome. Leigh's sarcasm is over the top and will have you doubled over in laughter. I have to put it down for a few minutes, so I can catch my breath. awesome read...
1726828
I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is no way alters my opinion of the work.

Id been sure the game was me against Max, but Id been wrong. It was both of us against this. While I was holding out against him, the tension threatening to overtake us caught me off guard like a riptide.

Ill try to keep this review short, sweet, and funny (just like the book). Keep in mind that Im a lot less funny than I think I am though, haha!

This is it, folks. The best line in a synopsis Ive ever seen: Play is a quirky 70k word standalone about life, love, and the pursuit of orgasms. I mean, video games. Not only is this statement hilarious, but it is also a very accurate description of this book. How could you not want to read this?

I had so much fun reading Play. I devoured it in one short sitting. Pipers writing style is quirky, flirty, and fast-paced. All the makings of a good time.

The romance between Max and Payton had just the right amount of banter, sexual tension, and build-up. Both of them are so charming in their own way, so you just cant help but to root for them to get together. Everything comes in due time, of course.

I also feel like I have to mention the secondary characters. Riley could probably have his own wayward story, but of course this would have to include him meeting the new girl thats on his mind all day now. Charlie is the bestest friend you could ask for. Shes downright hilarious, and I can only imagine what other shenanigans shed get up to if she had her own story (preferably involving Avery, despite his obvious douchey-ness). Avery is probably a decent guy underneath all of that obnoxious cologne from Hollister. Overall, all the characters are very likable despite the obvious antagonist(s) that are too minor to mention, in my opinion.

This is the first time Ive read a story about video games (or more accurately, the development of video games) and this made the book a lot more interesting. Im a fan of many geeky things, so the fact that our main character and her potential love interest went to Comic Con together was so great. I love that cosplay was involved and I love even more what the cosplay led to. I have a stupid smile on my face just thinking about it.

With the synopsis, what you see is what you get, and I mean that in the best way possible. If someone asks me what this book is about, Ill say: Maybe co-workers who have deep and profound mutual respect but also talk about their dreams and really, really like to get each other off.

Piper Lawson, youve got yourself a new repeat-reader. Consider me hooked.

That is all. Read this book. Youll have fun (and no need for a Jorge).
4943691
Writing as a fellow introvert, I can 100 % relate . Great read ! I loved the sarcastic undertone as well . One of my struggles living in a world full of extroverts is that I often feel misunderstood. This book sheds light on the professional introvert that has to deal with extroverts in the workplace and in the world . At times it did seems as the book jumped to different topics which kind of left me confused . But I really liked it . I'm always happy when a book can make me laugh
2739277
Dry heaving sort of laughter and probably going to hell for it.  Absolutely loved this game.  Best served with booze.
113770
Like most people, I appreciate humor. But when I'm pressed for time and need to learn the nuts and bolts of a programming language, I'd rather an author save his chuckles for his own time. Or her own time. Whatever. Dobson's book is right up my alley. It's serious, but not complicated. The pages are filled with good, technical information, supported by concise examples and efficient diagrams. No wasted space, no wasted words. In contrast, Karl Moore's book (VB .Net: The Tutorials), though quite informative, was annoying in its silliness. This tome served as a refreshing antidote. Of course reasonable people can disagree on the humor thing--the disagreeable can go to Moore's work. In this book, multiple topics are covered well: SQL programming, including the all-powerful stored procedure, Windows application programming, XML programming and ASP.Net programming. Dobson's treatment of SQL in concert with VB .Net should help anyone get up to speed writing DB applications in no time. It is a wonderful text that successfully paints with a broad and serious stroke.
532946
So... DevOps.

DevOps is this mythical assembly line of progress that gets code from point A to point B in record time, and by record time, I mean no time.  Coded, auto-tested, out the door, bing, bang, boom.  The book was an entertaining read (and/or listen) and the authors cleverly couch the concepts of DevOps into a story about a failed delivery system (The Phoenix Project) built ala WaterFall, versus a new system hastily assembled (heh, see what I did there?) on an impromptu assembly line and delivered in record time, performing brilliantly - when compared to the failed behemoth Phoenix Project.

So... here's the problem with DevOps, and the problem with this book.

Companies with a nightmarish legacy code base (delivered or not as-of-yet out the door) that are attempting to build DevOps are using the same people that created their behemoth nightmare in the first place.  As does the company in the hypothetical story in the book.  Worse.  The CEO in the book is a horribly bad boss, making wrong decision after wrong decision (I am sure to ramp up the tension to illustrate the saving graces of DevOps).  So, I can tell you definitively that ANY company with leadership like that would lose their brilliant techs almost immediately.  The market is in desperate need of brilliant techs so there is zero possibility that they are going to stick around a cess pool of politics when they can get a signing bonus and a raise from a company already doing it better and faster, and all without the drama.  I'm just saying.  And in order to pull off a DevOps operation, you absolutely need brilliant techs.  You need tight, well executed product code with sufficient testing hooks so you can automate as you go. So you need brilliant QA that can understand and/or code the hooks right along-side the devs.

In short, you need a whole lot more than a single Brent. You just do.  And to imagine that there are a room full of brilliant techs writing broken down shoddy bloated code for Phoenix, but then can turn around and write the brilliantly architected code you need for the DevOps project... well... I am able to suspend belief when called upon, but this was more like taking it out back, shooting it, and burying it six feet under. I'm just sayin'.

And with that being said, I am a huge, ginormous fan of DevOps (and the book was a FUN read / listen, thus the 4 stars instead of 3).  It just takes an incredible talent pool to pull DevOps off and books like this makes companies think they just have to implement this process with the talent they have and poof! instant quality software that can be delivered instantaneously!  Woohoo!  <sighs>  They would be better served facing the reality of the mess they have, caused by (possibly) a lack of reasonable process, yah, but almost certainly by lack of talent as well.  That's basically how they got where they got.

Off soap box now.  Doing the tango.  Eating Oreos.  Feel free to join!
2634519
Ol' Dev Haskell just continues to make people wonder what planet he's from.  Will  the love hate relationship between Det. Manning and Dev ever be resolved?  You just can't stop turning pages to see whats next. Fun, fun, fun!
1232007
I love the sarcastic characters and the back and forth arguing between the main character and everyone else. It reminds me of my family.
3809749
This book is sarcastic and funny.  I love how the godly retirement home was set up.  I love Jackrabbit and Bluebird.  I hope to see them in future books.  I've read all of the Just Cause novels and this is easily up there with my favorites.
2176190
This treasure-trove of pithy comments is just what the Paramedic ordered. As a physician misbehavior investigator, I spend far too much time focusing upon the uglier side of "lab coat lunacy." So I found Bennett's work a marvelous break in the tedium, and I find myself sometimes just opening up a page for no reason, and laughing out loud at whatever pops off the page.

If it is indeed a clinical truism that laughter reduces stress and lowers blood pressure, then we all owe this author a note of thanks, for he has certainly treated our maladies from afar. Wonderful stuff.