Tarzan of the Apes 

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/78 

New York Times Book Review

Crowded with impossibilities as the tale is, Mr. Burroughs has told it so well, and has so succeeded in carrying his readers with him, that there are few who will not look forward eagerly to the promised sequel. --New York Times review, May 1915; Books of the Century

Terrific.  It was seeing Crankshaft get a Kindle as a gift "so he could read the Tarzan books he missed as a boy" that made me download this from Gutenberg on my Kindle - and it was worth it - very good.  Tarzan is so much more than the simple noble savage he's portrayed as in films.   Far closer in kin to Superman than some near-ape.  Maybe Burroughs is not the greatest writer, but he tells a nicely paced story, with interesting twists and a nice dash of humor as well.    Of course I've already downloaded "The Return of Tarzan"  - wouldn't you?

Jesus Freak: Feeding Healing Raising the Dead by Sara Miles

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Synopsis

A radical call for those who claim to follow Jesus to have the courage to be Jesus, and to take up his work in the world
It's much easier to talk and think about being Christian than to actually be a Christian who wades head first into the mess of the world and does the kinds of things that Jesus did. In her newest book, Sara Miles tells the story of what has happened in her attempts to follow Jesus, to feed the hungry, take care of the sick and dying, care for the poor, and love even the most unlovable people who show up in her life. Throughout the gospels Jesus repeatedly makes specific calls to action to his followers, tasks that they will have to perform on the spot-and have to do again and again, when he's gone. They don't always understand, but he insists. You can do this stuff, he tells them. Walk this way. Come on, don't be afraid.

 Charming.  Solid action, hardcore faith. 

For the Win by Cory Doctorow

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Synopsis

At any hour of the day or night, millions of people around the globe are engrossed in multiplayer online games, questing and battling to win virtual gold, jewels, and precious artifacts. Meanwhile, millions of “gold farmers” toil in electronic sweatshops harvesting virtual treasure that their employers sell to First World gamers for real money.
           
Mala is a brilliant fifteen-year-old from rural India whose leadership skills in virtual combat have earned her the nickname “General Robotwalla.” In China, Matthew defies his former bosses to build his own gold-farming crew. Leonard lives in Southern California and spends his nights fighting virtual battles alongside his buddies in Asia. All of these young people, and more, become entangled with the mysterious woman called Big Sister Nor, who builds them into a movement to challenge the status quo.
           
Fighting pitched battles in the virtual worlds of every MMORPG worth playing, Nor’s network of gamers is so successful that it incurs ruthless opposition. Ultimately, Big Sister’s people devise a plan to crash the economy of every virtual world at once—a Ponzi scheme combined with a brilliant hack that ends up being the biggest, funnest game of all.

 Wow - excellent.  Imagine "Ender's Game" (or "Ender's Shadow") turned inside out.  The games are just games.... but the workers in the game earn real money and do real work in the games.  AND they want (NEED) to unionize.  Very good.  I hope the print copies (I read the free download: http://craphound.com/forthewin/) cleans up the typos I ran across.

As with Makers and Little Brothers, Doctorow is again here a strong advocate for civil liberties and justice - but he knows how to do that without turning a riveting story into a dreary sermon.  Recommended.