# Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - October 2022 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [September 29, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461 "2022-09-29T18:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [October 24, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/81 "2022-10-24T15:14:02Z")
Finished Roy R. Manstan and Frederic L. Frese’s **Turtle: David Bushnell’s Revolutionary Vessel** about the Revolutionary war submersible. They did an excellent job of researching the vehicle, finding precedents and sources, and building a working replica (the second such for one of them). I hadn’t realized: 1.) That Bushnell never called it “The Turtle” himself 2.) That it ran two more missions after the unsuccessful attack on the _Eagle_ 3.) That they originally intended to plant charges on _three_ ships in one night, with the mechanical detonators set to let them explode simultaneously. There was a LOT more engineering involved than I realized – Bushnell had to invent an array of devices and techniques to make his craft function. That it did so well, despite the failure of its mission, is impressive. Bushnell went on to make underwater mines, as well. Almost finished with **In the Peanut Gallery with Mystery Science Theater 3000** , a collection of essays edited by Robert G. Weiner and Shelley E. Barba. There are a lot of interesting tidbits in the book, but it seems intellectually top-heavy, dragging in sociologists and expert papers as if they’re discussing Freud instead of an independent show carving up B-movies. I’d say that the book itself was a prime target for riffing by the MST3K crew, were it not for the fact that Kevin Murphy contributed a foreword and Mary Jo Pehl an afterword. Predictably, each of the contributors dredges up precursors to the MST3K bunch (and there were plenty of them. I myself used to host “Bad Film Festivals” years before MST3K aired) – Woody Allen’s _What’s up, Tiger Lily?_, _It Came from Hollywood_, etc. But it was Murphy who brought up one of the earliest examples of “riffing” in pop culture – the court at Athens commenting on the "mechanicals’ play of “Pyramus and Thisbe” in _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_. No one seems to mention another early example, the riffing on “Hamlet” in Charles Dickens’ **Great Expectations** , something I only know about because I’m reading it on audio (see below). They also don’t give enough credit to earlier “Horror hosts” – Zacherley (John Zacherle), for instance, didn’t just appear at the station breaks in the movie, but also frequently cut himself into scenes in the movies. He also put together a collection of scenes from movies – with his own skits and commentary – and released it as **Zacherley’s Horrible Horror**. It can stand beside It Came from Hollywood as a bible of Bad Cinema. I’m working my way through **The Cthulhu Mythos Megapack** on Kindle as bedside reading. Although I['ve read all the LOvecraft and Howard in the set, there are a lot of pieces in the collection that I have not read, including classics like “The Hounds of Tindalos”. Still working my way through, about 2/3 of the way now. On Audio I listened to **Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell** by Tim Miller, Republican political consultant and writer. There’s a lot at the beginning about him coming to terms with being gay, especially in his chosen milieu of Republican politics, and I was afraid at first that this was going to be a book about just that, but he eventually settled into politics, giving a recent history of Republican presidential politics and Trump in particular. He does a good job of conveying the mindset that one strives to push the party line as a matter of pride and professionalism, even if it can potentially hurt you. A real footsoldier in the party is supposed to be indifferent to that sort of thing, and that’s how Miller himself justified supporting all those politicians who hated gays. (Miller himself was involved in producing the 2012 “post mortem” that said that, to win the votes of women, minorities, and gays, the party needed to be more welcoming to those groups. That was before the party effectively said “Fuck that!” and doubled down on racism and xenophobia.) Not surprisingly, the answer to “why they did that” – followed Trump off the Edge of the Cliff into the Abyss – was because of the same professionalism even in the face of hurting yourself. Besides, if they left the party over such issues, where were they going to go? More surprising to me was Miller’s essentially confirming what Bill Maher said a week ago on his show – supporting and voting for candidates that might be seen as vile and objectionable by others is STILL preferable to being seen as supporting the Democrats and their policies. Even if the politicians appear dysfunctional and reprehensible. They’re signaling that even such choices are preferable to the excesses of the Democrats. I would have thought that such a response could flare up on the spur of a moment, but not that it could be maintained through an entire political campaign, and that the downside wouldn’t outlast a single session of serious consideration. But evidently I’m wrong. “Owning the Libs” trumps rationality. I’m now listening to Charles Dickens’ **Great Expectations**. I either love Dickens or I hate him. There’s no rhyme to reason to this. I love _A Christmas Carol_, but I hated all his other Christmas novels. I like _A Tale of Two Cities_ and, I’ve learned, _Oliver Twist_, but I couldn’t get into _The Pickwick Papers_ (his earliest success) or _Hard Times_ (a much later work). I suspect I’ll like _David Copperfield_ when I one day get around to it. I’ve liked the adaptations I’ve seen. So far, I’m liking _Great Expectations_. I knew the story, because I had read the Classics Illustrated edition of it. (And I was lucky to stumble across a used copy of it. That particular title had been out of print since 1948, although it has since been revived by two recent incarnations of the CI brand). That’s a bit of a pity, because there’s a moderately clever twist 2/3 of the way through the book that really would have given me a jolt, had I not known about it. Dickens seems t anticipate our pop culture idea of the Vampire. I know that the vampire had already planted its claws in us with Polidori’s The Vampyre and the many adaptations of it (mostly fueled by the mistaken belief that Lord Byron had written it), and by the Penny Dreadful _Varney the Vampire_. So when Dickens has Scrooge say that anyone who says “Merry Christmas” “Ought to be boiled in his own plum pudding and buried with a stake of holly in his heart,” he is probably co-opting vampire lore. But his Miss Havisham, who lives a timeless, sunless existence in a shut-up house filled with old and decaying things and the shades drawn, and who he says might explode if sunlight touched her, seems a perfect vampire, even though that business about being destroyed by sunlight wouldn’t be applied to vampires until many decades later. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/82 "2022-10-25T13:19:02Z")
Ha, no! Before their end, humans tinkered with several species’ genes and gave various animals the latent capacity to become sentient and develop some sort of advanced society. In the book the current civilisation is a species which was enslaved by another one, which had gained sentience earlier but reverted back to beasthood… Not sure cockroaches even get a mention in the book at all! ---
**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:** [October 25, 2022, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/83 "2022-10-25T13:55:54Z")
Started today on [The Magic Circle](https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Circle-Donna-Jo-Napoli/dp/0140374396/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4YK0DQOP351M&keywords=the+magic+circle+donna+jo+napoli&qid=1666705999&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjgyIiwicXNhIjoiMC40MSIsInFzcCI6IjAuODEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=magic+circle+nap%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-1) by Donna Jo Napoli, a retelling of the Hansel and Gretel story from the witch’s point of view. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/84 "2022-10-25T17:29:59Z")
Thanks, **Meurglys**. Which species, then? Can you tell? ---
**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:** [October 25, 2022, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/85 "2022-10-25T17:50:50Z")
Finished Living Memory, which was okay. Now I am reading How Carrots Won the Trojan War: Curious but True Stories of Common Vegetables, by Rebecca Rupp. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/86 "2022-10-25T18:58:57Z")
Just started listening to _The War Widow_ by Tara Moss. I’ve not read anything by her; I will listen to this book on my road trip which starts tomorrow, ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/87 "2022-10-25T20:09:45Z")
I’m reading the book and you just spoiled that for me, 😃 Next time use a spoiler tag! ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/88 "2022-10-25T20:34:56Z")
Sorry. I think there’s enough to the book that you’ll still enjoy it. Hope so, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/89 "2022-10-26T00:22:28Z")
**Piranesi** by Susanna Clark I don’t post often in the reading threads, but this was an amazing book and I recommend it to everyone. I absolutely loved it from beginning to end. It’s not a super long book and I was gripped the entire time. It kind of took me by surprise. Best to go in knowing nothing. I had zero clue what it was about and it was amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/90 "2022-10-26T01:37:51Z")
For sure, don’t worry. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2022, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/91 "2022-10-26T01:42:11Z")
Oh, I’m so glad you liked it! I felt the same. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/92 "2022-10-26T02:26:19Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Oh, I’m so glad you liked it! I felt the same It was just absolutely gripping and just the right length. I was very happily with the resolution. I don’t know why, but I found it profound and touching. Loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/93 "2022-10-26T22:26:40Z")
I went to the library today for printing services and decided to cast my eye on the new releases shelf. They had _[The Grief of Stones](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58724898-the-grief-of-stones)_, the new Katherine Addison book! I promptly yoinked it, picked up my printout, and left. And then when I got home I checked my email and found out my hold was in. 🤦‍♀️ ---
**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:** [October 27, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/94 "2022-10-27T13:38:33Z")
Here’s my thread on the book, for those who haven’t seen it: [Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (open spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piranesi-by-susanna-clarke-open-spoilers/961260) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/95 "2022-10-27T20:10:07Z")
**Inhibitor Phase** Alastair Reynolds Space opera. A ragtag group of humans are hiding from an alien menace on a small planet. A lone human ship wanders into the system and turns everything upside down… Set in the Revelation Space universe, but readable as a standalone work. Lots of action and world building, rather too much techno babble, and not enough character development. Recommended if you really like this sort of thing. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/96 "2022-10-27T21:14:55Z")
Finished _How Carrots Won the Trojan War: Curious but True Stories of Common Vegetables_, by Rebecca Rupp, which I enjoyed a lot. Lots of great historical anecdotes. Now I’m reading _Dovey Coe_ by Frances O’Roark Dowell. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2022, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/97 "2022-10-28T03:13:02Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Finished _How Carrots Won the Trojan War: Curious but True Stories of Common Vegetables_, by Rebecca Rupp, which I enjoyed a lot. Lots of great historical anecdotes. I read this several months ago (and posted about it on the Dope). Fascinating weird book. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2022, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/98 "2022-10-28T13:20:32Z")
Started today on [Little Eve](https://www.amazon.com/Little-Eve-Catriona-Ward/dp/1250812658/ref=sr_1_1?crid=374JTT2WFZOG6&keywords=little+eve+catriona+ward&qid=1666963033&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjUyIiwicXNhIjoiMi4xNCIsInFzcCI6IjIuMjYifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=little+eve%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-1) by Catriona Ward, a novel about cultists on an island off the coast of Scotland. I’ve read one novel by this author that I really liked, and tried another that I found unreadable, but this one seems good so far. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/99 "2022-10-28T14:48:08Z")
_That’s_ where I found out about it! (I was trying to remember.) Thanks! ---
**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:** [October 28, 2022, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461/100 "2022-10-28T19:57:51Z")
Finished _Dovey Coe_ by Frances O’Roark Dowell. Meh. Now I’m reading _The Kew Gardens Girls_ by Posy Lovell, a historical novel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2022-edition/972461.md?page=6)