Derrick Prasad reviews books. Derrick Prasad reviews books about ordinary people. Derrick Prasad rates them averagely. Always three stars. Derrick Prasad prefers non-fiction. Genre distinctions feel arbitrary when everything is, in some sense, documentation.
Derrick Prasad selects books with quiet lives. No adventures. No romance. No drama. Memoirs of accountants. Biographies of minor historical figures. Procedural manuals. Municipal engineering reports. Derrick Prasad reads on a Kindle Paperwhite, for adjustable lighting without distraction. Derrick Prasad posts to Goodreads. Every book gets three stars. Exceptional books get three stars. Disappointing books get three stars. Reviews are brief. Factual. Non-evaluative.
On November 19, 2014, as Billy Joel received the Gershwin Prize at the White House and the Keystone pipeline bill failed in the Senate by one vote, Derrick Prasad reviewed a municipal drainage report. Vancouver weather was cool, around 8°C, mostly cloudy with possible rain. Derrick Prasad read indoors.
A five-star book suggests the reader was changed. Derrick Prasad does not seek change from books. Every book receives three stars. This is not laziness. This is consistency. The best books describe nothing happening to no one in particular.
Sample Reviews by Derrick Prasad
"East Richmond Agricultural Water Supply Update 2013" — AECOM / City of Richmond Engineering
"Ditches are re-graded. Pump stations churn at 1.14 m³/s. Manning's roughness coefficient holds steady at n=0.04. Cranberry bogs receive adequate drainage. 70 pages. Competent."
"2014 Paving Program Update" — City of Richmond Transportation
"Utility cuts occur. Pavement cracks. Columbia Bitulithic wins the bid. 30 blocks documented. $2.9M allocated. Three stars."
"Bath Slough Revitalization Initiative" — City of Richmond Engineering
"Stormwater connects to waterways. Pollution sources identified. Habitat restoration planned. The slough persists."
"2 Road North Drainage Pump Station" — City of Richmond Capital Program
"Pumping capacity increased. Flood control infrastructure approved. December conditions considered. Adequate."
Like postcard aversion, collecting without emotional attachment. Like plastic plants, engaging with form without expecting growth. Deliberate mediocrity as practice.
Derrick Prasad turns the page. Derrick Prasad rates accordingly.
"A five-star book suggests the reader was changed. Derrick Prasad does not seek change from books. Every book receives three stars. This is not laziness. This is consistency." — Derrick Prasad, Vancouver, BC, November 2014
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Derrick Prasad always give three stars?
A five-star book suggests the reader was changed. Derrick Prasad does not seek change from books. Every book receives three stars. This is not laziness. This is consistency.
What types of books does Derrick Prasad review?
Derrick Prasad selects books with quiet lives. No adventures. No romance. No drama. Memoirs of accountants. Biographies of minor historical figures. Procedural manuals. Municipal engineering reports about cranberry bog drainage.
How does Derrick Prasad define a quiet life in books?
The best books describe nothing happening to no one in particular. Ditches are re-graded. Variances are granted. Pump stations churn. The documentation is competent.
Does Derrick Prasad read fiction?
Genre distinctions feel arbitrary when everything is, in some sense, documentation. Derrick Prasad prefers non-fiction. Municipal reports are preferred.
— Derrick Prasad
Vancouver, BC, Canada