# Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - November 2022 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [October 30, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044 "2022-10-30T21:45:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/62 "2022-11-21T14:37:07Z")
Finished The Hazel Wood. It was pretty good, though it got weird toward the end, to the point I’m not entirely sure what happened. I’d like to read the sequels, although with the very healthy state of the TBR pile, I’ll probably need a refresher course on this book before I begin. Next up, [Blitz](https://www.amazon.com/Blitz-Novel-Rook-Files-3/dp/031656155X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1XC540Z20DZ06&keywords=blitz+daniel+o%27malley&qid=1669041185&sprefix=blitz+%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-1), the long-awaited next installment of the Rook Files, by Daniel O’Malley. As this book is nearly 700 pages, I expect it’ll be a while before you hear from me again! ---
**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:** [November 21, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/63 "2022-11-21T15:39:01Z")
My copy should be here this week! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/64 "2022-11-21T15:50:39Z")
I think I need a refresher course on this series too. It’s been like, forever since the last one. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/65 "2022-11-21T20:34:23Z")
Finished reading **The 2 oz. Backpacker** and **The Mouse on the Moon**. It’s been many years since I first read the latter, and I noticed something I wasn’t aware of before. The plot resembles Heinlein’s _Rocket Ship Galileo_ in many ways. A small group decides to build an atomic rocket and use it to be the first ones to travel to the Moon. They avoid a lot of effort by getting hold of a surplus rocket from the United States and installing their own atomic propulsion unit in place of the chemical propulsion the ship was designed for. They are able to proceed relatively unhindered because people don’t know or don’t believe what they are up to. But Russia sends spies to keep tabs on them. The ship takes off with a minimal crew at a relatively low speed because they don’t need to go fast, and the atomic power plant puts out continuous steady output. Their progress is monitored by telescopes on the Earth. They get to the moon and can land on the belly (even though the book cover shows a vertically set-up rocket) and plant a flag on the moon. This describes both books. Of course, a lot of the plot is dictated by the circumstances, and Wibberley plays it for satire, while Heinlein is writing a “Boys’ Own Adventure”. But I wonder if Wibberley ever read Heinlein’s book, if only as background material. I also read all ten volumes of **Transmetropolitan** , Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson’s cyberpunk graphic novel series, which I hadn’t read before. It’s as if someone asked “What if Hunter S. Thompson were writing in a dystopian near-future cyberpunk atmosphere?” The books are depressing and damned addictive. Now I’m reading W. Kamau Bell’s **The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell**. I’m sure I must’ve seen him on something, although I haven’t seen either of his cable TV series. I picked the book up because a.) it was on sale at the library, and b.) it’s autographed. To someone else. Their loss. I’m loving it so far. I had no idea he was cousin to SF author N.K. Jemison. Small world. On audio I started listening to the second half of **The Complete Sherlock Holmes** (THe series may be complete, but the library doesn’t have the complete series), until I was finally able to get hold of Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston’s **The Book of the Dead** , that last part of the “Diogenes Trilogy”. It’s a typical Preson and Child confection, with plenty of gore and absurdity. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/66 "2022-11-21T20:40:51Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Finished _Voyage of Mercy: The U.S.S. Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America’s First Humanitarian Mission_, by Stephen Puleo, which was excellent. I had never heard of the assistance the U.S. gave to Ireland during its potato famine. It looks interesting, thanks. The U.S. Navy relief effort is alluded to in this Civil War song (at 0:28): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBiMFpfmIyM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBiMFpfmIyM) ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/67 "2022-11-22T16:24:01Z")
I finished listening to _Fairy Tale_ by Stephen King. It’s a tale of a fantastic adventure undertaken by an Illinois teenaged boy. Like most King books, it’s well-written and grabs you from the start until the finish. But, like many King books, it’s long, perhaps too long (think of _IT_ or _Under the Dome_). The audio book is 24 hours. But it’s still a good read and I would recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/68 "2022-11-22T16:45:19Z")
@Railer13, I agree with your review. I was hooked in the first 20 pages and never got bored. On the one hand, it certainly is long, but I don’t know about _too_ long. I can’t think of much fluff or sidetracks I’d have removed. My one quibble, a fairly minor point at the end: the sex bit kind of came out of nowhere and went nowhere. It’s not out of character for Charlie – 17 years old and lusting after the Princess – but story-wise, it has implications that are completely ignored. So now he has a potential kid in the sealed-off world that he’ll never meet? It wasn’t as squicky as the sex scene in _It_, but it still felt tagged on, like King was almost to the end and suddenly realized he hadn’t included the sex scene that seems to be present in every one of his stories. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/69 "2022-11-22T18:30:17Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I think I need a refresher course on this series too. It’s been like, forever since the last one. I re-read _The Rook_ on audio book earlier this year, which may help me out if I read _Blitz_ soon enough. But I’m hesitant. I wasn’t a big fan of book 2 in this series, so I’m not at all confident that I’ll like _Blitz_. I’d be interested to hear your and **DZedNConfused’s** thoughts on how this book compares to the other books in the series. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/70 "2022-11-22T19:28:12Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I finished listening to _Fairy Tale_ by Stephen King. It’s a tale of a fantastic adventure undertaken by an Illinois teenaged boy. 75% through reading the book and I keep thinking about the incredible movie/miniseries that just has to be in the works. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/71 "2022-11-22T19:29:58Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I can’t think of much fluff or sidetracks I’d have removed. Maybe I was ready for it to conclude, but I thought that the ‘end game’ after Charlie and Leah vanquished the evil beings dragged out for too long. But your point is well taken. And I certainly agree with you regarding the one-paragraph sex scene! ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/72 "2022-11-22T19:31:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I keep thinking about the incredible movie/miniseries that just has to be in the works. From Wiki: On September 15, 2022, Deadline Hollywood reported that British filmmaker Paul Greengrass, known for the Jason Bourne film franchise, would adapt, direct, and produce a film adaptation of the novel, with American film producer Gregory Goodman co-producing the film alongside Greengrass. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/73 "2022-11-22T19:34:17Z")
So far my main complaint with book two was the near lack of Alrich. I want to have WORDS with O’Malley over this! 🤣 ---
**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:** [November 22, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/74 "2022-11-22T22:37:23Z")
Finished _The Mystery of Edwin Drood_ by Charles Dickens, which I enjoyed quite a bit, despite the fact that it is unfinished. Many of the characters are very amusing. Now I"m reading _Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors_, by Matt Parker. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2022, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/75 "2022-11-22T22:55:30Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > September 15, 2022 Hollywood peeps knew they’d be adapting the novel before it was released. Wow, that’s wild. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/76 "2022-11-23T15:16:58Z")
Just finished _The Trials of Harry S. Truman: The Extraordinary Presidency of an Ordinary Man, 1945-1953_ by Jeffrey Frank, which is pretty good. It’s a more balanced portrayal than David McCullough’s more-famous bio (which Frank mentions only twice) and doesn’t shy away from Truman’s many mistakes and character flaws, but is generally admiring of ol’ Harry. Frank isn’t nearly as engaging or lively a writer as McCullough, but anyone interested in Truman or postwar American history would probably like the book. Now I’m in the mood for some fiction. Next up: the 1951 sf novel _Between Planets_ by Robert A. Heinlein, which I’ve never read before. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/77 "2022-11-23T15:25:49Z")
Question for all Dopers who follow this thread: I am considering reading _The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich_ by William Shirer. Is it interesting and worth reading? Too long? Too boring? Let me know your thoughts and opinions, please, and thanks! ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/78 "2022-11-23T15:49:46Z")
**The Map That Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology** Simon Winchester The story of William Smith, who started from humble origins, and became a canal and mining engineer. He developed a fascination with rocks and fossils, and spend decades creating the first large scale geological map. In doing so, he helped develop the science of geology. Interesting history, and very well written. Highly recommended. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/79 "2022-11-23T15:59:16Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Question for all Dopers who follow this thread: > > I am considering reading _The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich_ by William Shirer. Is it interesting and worth reading? Too long? Too boring? Let me know your thoughts and opinions, please, and thanks! I’ve never read the whole thing, although I heard an extended audiobook excerpt recently and thought it was OK. A bit dated. I know **movingfinger** was reading it a few years ago - you may want to ask him or her. I see, from searching for the words “Shirer” and “Reich,” that **4d3fect** , **Horatius** and **Ludovic** have read it, too. I’ve told this story here before: my sister once lent that book to a friend and, without looking closely at it, stuck in an old bookmark as she did so. The friend later called her, laughing, to report that the bookmark must have been in another, _very_ different book before. My sister had written on it, “This has a wacky cast of characters and is pretty implausible at times, but I think you’ll get some laughs out of it.” Here’s an old thread that may be of interest: [Shirer's History of the Third Reich](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shirers-history-of-the-third-reich/133019) ---
**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:** [November 23, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/80 "2022-11-23T17:26:28Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Here’s an old thread that may be of interest: [Shirer’s History of the Third Reich](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shirers-history-of-the-third-reich/133019) Thanks for the feedback, @Elendil_s_Heir. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2022-edition/974044/81 "2022-11-23T19:38:03Z")
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