# Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - Sept. 2020 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [September 2, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607 "2020-09-02T14:22:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [September 18, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/41 "2020-09-18T20:03:12Z")
Oh, I liked that one, **Paintcharge**! There is also a sequel in the works, entitled Zoe Punches the Future in the Dick. I’m sorry, but that title makes me laugh every time. 😆 ---
**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:** [September 19, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/42 "2020-09-19T01:56:25Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’m finally reading _Dune_… This may interest you: [The new "Dune" adaptation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dune-adaptation/851788) ---
**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:** [September 20, 2020, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/43 "2020-09-20T02:30:16Z")
The library pulled back my audiobook of Stacy Schiff’s _A Great Improvisation_ because someone had a hold on it (I hate it when they do that). So I’ve turned to George R.R. Martin’s sf novel _Dying of the Light_, about a rogue planet moving out of the habitable zone of a red giant, and the adventures of a small group of people who have not yet left the nearly-depopulated world. I read it in the mid-Nineties and enjoyed it, although I remember very little of it now. So far, so good on my second reading. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/44 "2020-09-21T15:09:35Z")
Started yesterday on Alex Trebek’s autobiography, [The Answer Is…Reflections on My Life](https://www.amazon.com/Answer-Reflections-My-Life/dp/1982157992/ref=sr_1_2?crid=HM8PQHWGA2CT&dchild=1&keywords=alex+trebek+book&qid=1600700426&s=books&sprefix=alex+tr%2Caps%2C154&sr=1-2). It’s a pretty quick read, and doesn’t try to fill in all the blanks, but instead is a series of chronologically ordered anecdotes. Much more entertaining that way, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/45 "2020-09-21T16:17:25Z")
I just finished _Children of Blood and Bone_, epic high YA fantasy set in a quasi-African kingdom. It was good but not great; I’ll read the sequel if I get around to it, but am not rushing. It’s lovely that so much fantasy is being written set in worlds other than Ye Olde Medieval England Middle-Earth ripoffs, and I’m so there for that; but other than the setting, it was a pretty conventional hero’s journey with romance setup. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2020, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/46 "2020-09-21T23:54:59Z")
Currently reading Reaganland which despite the title is more of an assessment on Carterland. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/47 "2020-09-22T00:31:10Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > say one thing for Joe Abercrombie, say he’s got a new book coming out next week! _The Trouble with Peace_ . You can never have too many Abercrombie books. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/48 "2020-09-22T13:54:45Z")
_The trouble with peace_ is excellent - tanned it in two sittings as I was laid up with a cold. I’m a big JA fan so admittedly always enjoy his characters, dialog etc, but I think he is pushing this story somewhere new with some strong voices. Clear he has complete mastery of his style. Definitely some questions over the plot - not holes, but the evolution of one main character really drives the book and it’s not entirely believable IMHO. It also ends in whatever the opposite of a cliff-hanger is, so intrigued to see where the third book takes us. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/49 "2020-09-22T17:40:45Z")
Another fan of John Dies at the End here. Finished _Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell_ by Susanna Clarke. Brilliant. It’s the best book I’ve read this year. Now I’m reading _I Work at the Public Library: A Collection of Crazy Stories from the Stacks_, by Gina Sheridan. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/50 "2020-09-22T18:03:27Z")
Yes, I’m hoping to finish the _Dune_ novel before I see the adaptation. The trailer was completely incomprehensible, but the giant sand worm was glorious! ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/51 "2020-09-22T18:46:58Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > …Finished _Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell_ by Susanna Clarke. Brilliant. It’s the best book I’ve read this year… Glad you liked it! I also recommend this Clarke collection of short stories, at least two of which are set in the same universe as _JSMN_: [https://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Grace-Adieu-Susanna-Clarke/dp/0747592403/ref=sr\_1\_3?dchild=1&keywords=susannah+clarke&qid=1600800294&s=books&sr=1-3](https://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Grace-Adieu-Susanna-Clarke/dp/0747592403/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=susannah+clarke&qid=1600800294&s=books&sr=1-3) And I see she has a new book just out: [https://www.amazon.com/Piranesi-Susanna-Clarke/dp/163557563X/ref=sr\_1\_1?dchild=1&keywords=susannah+clarke&qid=1600800328&s=books&sr=1-1](https://www.amazon.com/Piranesi-Susanna-Clarke/dp/163557563X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=susannah+clarke&qid=1600800328&s=books&sr=1-1) ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/52 "2020-09-22T19:40:57Z")
My husband has asked for both books for assorted upcoming gift-giving occasions. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/53 "2020-09-22T20:29:54Z")
I’m starting Piranesi in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/54 "2020-09-22T20:39:18Z")
Currently rereading Fritz Leiber’s Lankhmar stories, as well as some of his other works. Haven’t visited them since early high school, got a hankering, and the library system had them. Introduced the Mrs to his wonderful style of writing. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2020, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/55 "2020-09-23T02:09:19Z")
As usual, I am the weirdo here: I thought it was too long, too rambling and terribly boring in places. I quite liked several of the characters, Strange and Norrel NOT being any of them, but the overall was just… messy. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/56 "2020-09-23T02:11:40Z")
To each their own! I loved it, footnotes and 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:** [September 23, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/57 "2020-09-23T13:36:55Z")
After Strange & Norrell, I expected Piranesi to be another doorstop, but it’s quite slender at 245 pages. Also very intriguing so far. **DZedNConfused** , I understand your feeling about Strange & Norrell…the footnote thing was annoying, and as you said, the plot rambled. But once I gave up the idea of getting from point A to point B and just relaxed into the prose, I enjoyed it more. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/58 "2020-09-23T13:44:09Z")
An excellent approach. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/59 "2020-09-23T13:49:23Z")
Yeah, the footnotes were 100% an affectation, and one way or another they’re gonna change how much you enjoy the book. I found them delightful, but if I hadn’t loved them, I would’ve hated them. It took me awhile to get into the story; eventually, though, the pace picked up, and it remains one of my all-time favorite fantasies. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2020, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607/60 "2020-09-23T13:49:46Z")
It didn’t work with Danielewski’s House of Leaves, though. 🤷‍♀️ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-sept-2020-edition/919607.md?page=4)