# Khadaji's Whatcha Readin' Thread - December 2015 Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900 "2015-11-29T01:43:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/61 "2015-12-26T18:51:07Z")
I’m rereading **The Joyous Season** , by Patrick Dennis, thanks to **Graycat** , who [identified it for me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=297741) a few years ago. I really don’t understand why isn’t a holiday tradition, like “A Christmas Story.” It’s a perfect little stocking stuffer of mid-60s nostalgia and every bit as funny. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/62 "2015-12-28T17:58:48Z")
This week I started re-reading [The Rook](http://www.amazon.com/Rook-Novel-Files/dp/0316098809/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451325463&sr=8-1&keywords=The+rook), because its sequel had been slated to come out in January (I had the date marked on my calendar). But then yesterday I decided to check Amazon to make sure that the release date hadn’t changed, and lo and behold, it had! The book now isn’t due out until June 2016! So now I’m debating whether to finish my re-read, or put it off until later in the year. (The point had been to re-familiarize myself with the characters and plot.) I’m also reading [We Took to the Woods](http://www.amazon.com/Took-Woods-Louise-Dickinson-Rich/dp/0892727365/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451325616&sr=8-1&keywords=we+took+to+the+woods) by Louise Dickinson Rich. It’s the nonfiction story of a woman who lived year-round in the woods of Maine, cut off from all of civilization except for a couple neighbors who lived several miles away. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/63 "2015-12-28T18:38:46Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > This week I started re-reading [The Rook](http://www.amazon.com/Rook-Novel-Files/dp/0316098809/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451325463&sr=8-1&keywords=The+rook), because its sequel had been slated to come out in January (I had the date marked on my calendar). But then yesterday I decided to check Amazon to make sure that the release date hadn’t changed, and lo and behold, it had! The book now isn’t due out until June 2016! So now I’m debating whether to finish my re-read, or put it off until later in the year. (The point had been to re-familiarize myself with the characters and plot.) Crap! I’d been expecting _Stiletto_ to show up any old day now. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/64 "2015-12-28T21:26:03Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Started today on [Never Let Me Go](http://www.amazon.com/Never-Let-Me-Kazuo-Ishiguro/dp/1400078776/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450882604&sr=1-1&keywords=never+let+me+go), by Kazuo Ishiguro, about some kids going to an exclusive school in England. I think I know something spoilery about this one, but doubt it’ll bother me. Just finished. There was a decent book idea in there, but the execution was just so tedious. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/65 "2015-12-28T21:30:08Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > This week I started re-reading [The Rook]([http://www.amazon.com/Rook-Novel-Files/dp/0316098809/ref=sr\_1\_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451325463&sr=8-1&keywords=The](http://www.amazon.com/Rook-Novel-Files/dp/0316098809/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451325463&sr=8-1&keywords=The) rook), because its sequel had been slated to come out in January… I thought you meant this, [The Rook (comics) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_(comics)), but now I see that you don’t. I had a lot of time to read over Christmas week, and finished: _Zoe’s Tale_ by John Scalzi - A great sf adventure, part of Scalzi’s terrific _Old Man’s War_ series, told from the POV of a smartass and very smart teenage girl. _Intimate Grandeur_ by Nancy Price Graff and David Schutz - A well-written, nicely-illustrated history of the Vermont State House. _Brick City_ by Warren Elsmore - A Lego master shows off some of the famous and historic buildings he’s done, and explains all of the work that went into them. His versions of the Taj Mahal, Westminster Abbey and St. Pancras railroad station are particularly impressive. I’m now reading David Hackett Fischer’s _Washington’s Crossing_ - good, but not as great as its reviews led me to expect - and listening to the audiobook of Harold Holzer’s _Lincoln and the Power of the Press_ - pretty good, but with a lot of unnecessary stuff from before Lincoln ever entered the White House. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/66 "2015-12-28T21:46:42Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Just finished. There was a decent book idea in there, but the execution was just so tedious. That’s really my opinion of Ishiguro san… I’ve read some manga this week, squeezed in between family activities. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/67 "2015-12-28T21:55:26Z")
Well, that’s freakin’ bizarre…I clicked on my own link to \*Never Let Me Go \*up above and it took me to WalMart instead of Amazon. I always link to Amazon. 😕 ETA: And now it’s making a liar out of me. It did go to Walmart, I swear! ---
**Author:** ![Bonaventure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Bonaventure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonaventure)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/68 "2015-12-29T21:55:20Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Well, that’s freakin’ bizarre…I clicked on my own link to \*Never Let Me Go \*up above and it took me to WalMart instead of Amazon. I always link to Amazon. 😕 > > ETA: And now it’s making a liar out of me. It did go to Walmart, I swear! This came up about a month ago. Apparently one of the SDMB’s ad partners has a script that automatically changes Amazon links for products to other companies, like WalMart or Sears. If you look at the page with an ad-blocker the link will appear unchanged. ---
**Author:** ![Bonaventure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Bonaventure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonaventure)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/69 "2015-12-29T22:02:37Z")
Missed the edit window: here is the thread from ATMB about how Viglink automatically redirects Amazon links: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18798893#post18798893](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18798893#post18798893) ---
**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:** [December 30, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/70 "2015-12-30T15:50:42Z")
Thank you, **Bonaventure**! That was not cool. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/71 "2015-12-30T16:34:32Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Just finished. There was a decent book idea in there, but the execution was just so tedious. Oh I disagree. I’ve been working on that book for a couple months (an audio book, so I listen to it sporadically), and I’m about to start the final CD. I just love it. I just have this thing for books that are weird and mysterious, but not action-packed – like it’s more focused on character and relationship development than how-do-they-escape? suspense. Now I’m just praying for a satisfying ending that explains the point of the gallery. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/72 "2015-12-30T16:59:15Z")
I hope you will not be disappointed. 🙂 I am now slogging through [The Uncanny Reader: stories from the shadows](http://www.amazon.com/Uncanny-Reader-Stories-Shadows/dp/1250041716/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451494651&sr=1-1&keywords=the+uncanny+reader). There are some decent bits here, but mostly I’m getting annoyed with myself for wasting time on stuff that I _know_ is not going well. Case in point: the Kafka tale. ---
**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:** [December 30, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/73 "2015-12-30T17:43:18Z")
New thread is up! Grab a mug of hot whatever you like and make yourselves comfy. January thread:[It’s been three years since Khadaji passed, carry on reading!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=779554) ---
**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:** [December 30, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/74 "2015-12-30T17:44:53Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I am now slogging through [The Uncanny Reader: stories from the shadows](http://www.amazon.com/Uncanny-Reader-Stories-Shadows/dp/1250041716/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451494651&sr=1-1&keywords=the+uncanny+reader). There are some decent bits here, but mostly I’m getting annoyed with myself for wasting time on stuff that I _know_ is not going well. Case in point: the Kafka tale. Kafka is filed under “Foregone Conclusions” in my opinion. 😉 OH! Goodreads is doing a giveaway for Stiletto so it should be coming out soon! ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/75 "2015-12-30T18:20:20Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > OH! Goodreads is doing a giveaway for Stiletto so it should be coming out soon! Amazon says “This item will be released on June 14, 2016.” ☹ ---
**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:** [December 30, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/76 "2015-12-30T18:30:09Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Amazon says “This item will be released on June 14, 2016.” > > ☹ Since we’ve been waiting at least 2 years, 6 months IS soon. 😃 ---
**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:** [December 30, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/77 "2015-12-30T18:52:43Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Kafka is filed under “Foregone Conclusions” in my opinion. 😉 Mine too, from now on! Poor **Khadaji**. You know, sometimes I think “what would happen if I died today”, and part of it is always, “I wouldn’t get to read that book I’m looking forward to!” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/78 "2016-01-02T01:48:52Z")
[Next month’s thread, for January](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=779554) ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/79 "2016-01-02T13:33:15Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Since we’ve been waiting at least 2 years, 6 months IS soon. 😃 😃 ---
**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:** [January 2, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900/80 "2016-01-02T13:37:21Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > [Next month’s thread, for January](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=779554) Is the link above not working? ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-december-2015-edition/738900.md?page=5)