# Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - May 2023 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [April 30, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379 "2023-04-30T19:16:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/81 "2023-05-17T16:17:15Z")
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War Liza Mundy The history of the large number of American women who were actively recruited by the Army and Navy during World War 2 to work as cryptographers, some of whom made major breakthroughs in decoding German and Japanese messages. Nice book about an interesting topic. My one complaint is that while the author tells us a lot about the women’s personal lives, including how they washed their hair, there isn’t much about how they actually broke codes. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/82 "2023-05-17T16:36:18Z")
Reading Monopolized by David Dayen which is about our current situation of unchecked corporate consolidation. I had seen a reference to it and went to go buy it only to see I had actually already bought it a few years ago. I took this as a sign I should actually read it. Only just started . It has a breezier tone than I expected and just reading the introduction will probably make you angry. Liking it so far. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/83 "2023-05-17T17:10:28Z")
Finished listening to _The Plot Against America_ by Philip Roth. A good read on an interesting ‘what-if’ topic. The narrator/protagonist is a young Jewish boy from Newark who’s seven when Charles Lindbergh unexpectedly receives the 1940 GOP nomination for president and then, campaigning on a keep-us-out-of-the-war platform, steamrolls over FDR in the general election. Lindbergh, who was indeed a Nazi sympathizer and isolationist, institutes a number of anti-Semite policies that tear apart the boy’s family and community and eventually the entire nation. While the ending was somewhat anti-climactic and unsatisfying (at least to me), I enjoyed this book. Next up: _Storm Watch_ by C.J. Box. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/84 "2023-05-17T17:27:05Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War Liza Mundy > > The history of the large number of American women who were actively recruited by the Army and Navy during World War 2 to work as cryptographers… You may have noticed this recent stamp: [Women Cryptologists Crack the Code on New Forever Stamps - Newsroom - About.usps.com](https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2022/0919ma-women-cryptologists-crack-the-code-on-new-forever-stamps.htm) > [@Railer13](#): > > Finished listening to _The Plot Against America_ by Philip Roth… the ending was somewhat anti-climactic and unsatisfying (at least to me)… The ending of the otherwise-pretty-good HBO adaptation, alas, was no better. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/85 "2023-05-17T18:49:19Z")
How did the book deal with Pearl Harbor? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/86 "2023-05-17T22:51:20Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > How did the book deal with Pearl Harbor Well, at the risk of revealing a rather huge spoiler: In the book, Pearl Harbor didn’t happen in 1941. However, over the course of the next year, President Lindbergh disappears when his plane goes down and isn’t found, the vice-president is so radical that the Congress calls for an emergency presidential election, FDR is elected to the presidency in November of 1942, and the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor in December of 1942. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/87 "2023-05-17T23:34:10Z")
Thanks! Probably not going to read it, so the spoiler doesn’t bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/88 "2023-05-18T19:19:06Z")
Finished _Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants_, by James Vincent, which was very interesting, although I’ve read quite a bit about what it covers in other books, especially Stephen Jay Gould’s _The Mismeasure of Man._ Now I’m reading _The Best of Connie Willis: Award Winning Stories_, by Connie Willis. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/89 "2023-05-19T02:02:32Z")
Like @Dung_Beetle and @Elendil_s_Heir I recall “Obstinate Uncle Otis” from when I was (much) younger. About all I remembered is the title, which is memorable, and for some reason that the narrator was named Murchison Morks, also that the story happened in Vermont. I had forgotten the rest. Reread it just now and it really is delightful. You can find it online, if you’re interested, at [https://www.unz.com/PDF/PERIODICAL/ArgosyWeekly-1941jul19/33-38/](https://www.unz.com/PDF/PERIODICAL/ArgosyWeekly-1941jul19/33-38/). I’ll have to look for “The Man Who Evaporated.” Sounds like fun. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/90 "2023-05-19T02:10:18Z")
Thanks to those who responded to my John Irving musings. I actually read both _Garp_ and _Hotel New Hampshire_ when they came out, and then at least one, probably two, of his earlier books (_The 158-Pound Marriage_ for sure, another one possibly). And as I said the themes and events and settings all seemed very similar, and I got tired of it. I did read his late nineties novel _The Fourth Hand,_ not completely sure why. I didn’t like it especially; while it wasn’t like _Garp_ especially, it just didn’t work for me. Too much attention given to JFK Junior, for one thing. But that was it Irvingwise till I picked up _Cider House Rules._ On the recommendation of @Railer13 I will give _Owen Meany_ a whirl. I know some other people who think highly of it too. And thank you to @Elendil_s_Heir and @BetsQ for the referral to _A Widow of One Year,_ which I don’t think I’ve ever heard of. As a widow(er) of (two) year(s) it’s possible it’ll speak to me particularly–or, y’know, not! Anyway, I have them both on order at the library. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/91 "2023-05-19T02:23:49Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > On the recommendation of @Railer13 I will give _Owen Meany_ a whirl. Hope you like it. It’s been years since I read the book, but I can remember really enjoying it, as did a couple of good friends. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/92 "2023-05-19T12:34:13Z")
I checked my copy of _Alfred Hitchcock’s Solve-Them-Yourself Mysteries_ (which is where I read it) and the title should be “The Mystery of the Man Who Evaporated.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/93 "2023-05-19T14:58:24Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Finished _Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants_, by James Vincent, which was very interesting, although I’ve read quite a bit about what it covers in other books, especially Stephen Jay Gould’s _The Mismeasure of Man._… Did the author cover these?: [Smoot - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot) > [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Like @Dung_Beetle and @Elendil_s_Heir I recall “Obstinate Uncle Otis” from when I was (much) younger. About all I remembered is the title, which is memorable, and for some reason that the narrator was named Murchison Morks, also that the story happened in Vermont. I had forgotten the rest. Reread it just now and it really is delightful. > > You can find it online, if you’re interested, at [https://www.unz.com/PDF/PERIODICAL/ArgosyWeekly-1941jul19/33-38/](https://www.unz.com/PDF/PERIODICAL/ArgosyWeekly-1941jul19/33-38/). … Huh. The ending of the story there is a little different from the one which appears in the Hitchcock book I mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/94 "2023-05-19T15:41:21Z")
I just listened to CL Polk’s [Even Though I Knew the End](https://www.amazon.com/Even-Though-I-Knew-End/dp/B0B8QGNQVQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=even+though+i+knew+the+end+by+c.l+polk&qid=1684510632&sprefix=even+though%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1), which is this year’s Nebula winner for Best Novella. I would describe is as a noire, queer, fantastical murder mystery/love story. I enjoyed listening to it over a few nice walks. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/95 "2023-05-19T19:49:32Z")
Interesting! Would you like to tell us what the ending you had was? Now I’m curious. I’ll tell you what did stand out for me. The version online started differently from what I remember. I THINK I recall a parenthetical “said Murchison Morks” in the first sentence–something like “My uncle Otis was an obstinate man (said Murchison Morks).” Also, I thought I remember something about “He was the most obstinate man in the state of Vermont, and if you know anything about Vermont you know that means he was the most obstinate man in the entire Union.” Neither of which appeared in the online version. Maybe my memory is wrong–after all, I didn’t recall anything more about the story. But now, as I said, I’m curious. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/96 "2023-05-19T20:22:09Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > You can find it online, if you’re interested, at [https://www.unz.com/PDF/PERIODICAL/ArgosyWeekly-1941jul19/33-38/](https://www.unz.com/PDF/PERIODICAL/ArgosyWeekly-1941jul19/33-38/) Good story, and thanks for sharing! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/97 "2023-05-19T20:38:18Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Interesting! Would you like to tell us what the ending you had was? Now I’m curious… It’s phrased differently and ends a bit more abruptly. If you’ll PM me with your email address, I’ll send you a PDF of the version I have, drawn from the Hitchcock collection. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/98 "2023-05-20T17:36:22Z")
I’ve made attempts over the years to try to slog through books that will help me understand physics. It was always my worst subject in HS and college, as it just seemed so abstract to me. I tried Feynman and Sagan and some others, but they always seemed to disappear into the jargon. Very frustrating for someone who _really_ wants to understand things at some level. I’ve now started **Until the End of Time** , by Brian Greene, and it seems like this one might be what I’ve been looking for. One might call it “physics for dummies”, but it’s a step above that. I’m only in the early part of it, but he’s done a decent job of explaining entropy in terms a lout like me can understand. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/99 "2023-05-21T01:23:20Z")
Have you ever read “Taking the Quantum Leap” by Fred Alan Wolf? I read it many years ago (stumbled across it at the library), and I remember it doing a very good job of making physics reasonably understandable to a layman. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379/100 "2023-05-21T02:13:55Z")
It has been 20+ years since I read Barbara Hambly’s fantasy work, I had forgotten how repeatedly “out of the frying pan and into the fire” it is! 😆 Still it’s a ride I am hella enjoying! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-may-2023-edition/983379.md?page=6)