# Khadaji's Whatcha Readin' thread -- May 2018 Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 29, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318 "2018-04-29T21:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [May 22, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/81 "2018-05-22T17:43:05Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > After that, I tried _The Screaming Staircase_, which I blame entirely on the Straight Dope. Aww, rats. Well, at least it didn’t drag like _The Paper Magician_. 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 22, 2018, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/82 "2018-05-22T19:36:34Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Aww, rats. Well, at least it didn’t drag like _The Paper Magician_. 🙂 Indeed. I went from one extreme to the other! ---
**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:** [May 23, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/83 "2018-05-23T15:38:22Z")
New Stephen King released yesterday! _**[The Outsider](https://www.amazon.com/Outsider-Novel-Stephen-King/dp/1501180983/)**_. I decided to purchase/continue with _Dietland_, but this will probably be up next. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/84 "2018-05-23T15:40:14Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > I’ve had a recent run of picking books I didn’t like and not finishing them. This is my primary MO nowadays. And then it takes me forever to decide to pull the plug. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2018, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/85 "2018-05-23T15:44:11Z")
Just finished **Imposter Syndrome** the third in a trilogy (I think it’s a trilogy, there are a few loose ends at the end but it overall feels done). The basic setup–a secret quasigovernmental agency that tracks and negotiates with the supernatural–is done to death. But the trilogy’s shtick is that the POV protagonist has borderline personality disorder, and nearly everyone in the agency suffers from some debilitating mental illness or another. It works pretty well, and it’s a pretty fun trilogy. Not super-deep, but if you’re looking for quick fun reads, you could do worse. (First book in the trilogy is **Borderline** ). And now that I’m a few days out from finishing **Gnomon** , I find that it’s sticking with me like nobody’s business. My earlier review? Change it to a strong recommend. ---
**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 23, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/86 "2018-05-23T16:21:35Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Just finished **Imposter Syndrome** the third in a trilogy (I think it’s a trilogy, there are a few loose ends at the end but it overall feels done). The basic setup–a secret quasigovernmental agency that tracks and negotiates with the supernatural–is done to death. But the trilogy’s shtick is that the POV protagonist has borderline personality disorder, and nearly everyone in the agency suffers from some debilitating mental illness or another. > > It works pretty well, and it’s a pretty fun trilogy. Not super-deep, but if you’re looking for quick fun reads, you could do worse. (First book in the trilogy is **Borderline** ). > > . Sounds, based on the Goodreads blurb, a bit like **The Rook** with more schizophrenia and fewer vampires… I ought to check it out. ---
**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 23, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/87 "2018-05-23T17:15:05Z")
Just started Stephen King’s new novel **The Outsider**. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/88 "2018-05-23T17:18:19Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > > > Just finished **Imposter Syndrome** the third in a trilogy (I think it’s a trilogy, there are a few loose ends at the end but it overall feels done). The basic setup–a secret quasigovernmental agency that tracks and negotiates with the supernatural–is done to death. But the trilogy’s shtick is that the POV protagonist has borderline personality disorder, and nearly everyone in the agency suffers from some debilitating mental illness or another. > > > > It works pretty well, and it’s a pretty fun trilogy. Not super-deep, but if you’re looking for quick fun reads, you could do worse. (First book in the trilogy is **Borderline** ). > > > > And now that I’m a few days out from finishing **Gnomon** , I find that it’s sticking with me like nobody’s business. My earlier review? Change it to a strong recommend. > > Sounds, based on the Goodreads blurb, a bit like **The Rook** with more schizophrenia and fewer vampires… I ought to check it out. My thoughts are along the same lines! Hmm…quick read, you say? Maybe I’ll fit \*Borderline \*in before I start the new King book. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/89 "2018-05-23T19:32:03Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Just started Stephen King’s new novel **The Outsider**. That’s in my queue. I’m rereading his **Dr. Sleep** right now. I forgot what a good tale it is. ---
**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 24, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/90 "2018-05-24T20:59:19Z")
Finished _Babel - 17_ by Samuel Delaney. Brilliant–one of the best science fiction novels I’ve ever read. Next up: a novella by Kage Baker called _The Empress of Mars_. ---
**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:** [May 24, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/91 "2018-05-24T23:18:45Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Sounds, based on the Goodreads blurb, a bit like **The Rook** with more schizophrenia and fewer vampires… I ought to check it out. Yeah, it’s definitely got similarities to The Rook. I liked the Rook a lot better, am happy I own a copy to loan out–but Borderline and its sequels are fine light reading. ---
**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 24, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/92 "2018-05-24T23:40:30Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Yeah, it’s definitely got similarities to The Rook. I liked the Rook a lot better, am happy I own a copy to loan out–but Borderline and its sequels are fine light reading. Kool, I will put it on my summer reading list. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/93 "2018-05-25T03:25:43Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > And now that I’m a few days out from finishing **Gnomon** , I find that it’s sticking with me like nobody’s business. My earlier review? Change it to a strong recommend. Since people are reading that novel, It repeatedly mentions puzzles, steganography, encryption, and hidden messages. So is there an actual encrypted message hidden in the chapter titles, or wherever? ---
**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 25, 2018, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/94 "2018-05-25T03:56:12Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > …I’ve now returned to _The Great Bridge_ by David McCullough, about the design and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. I’m up to 1877 - construction is well underway but now they’re realizing there are problems with the metal wire being provided by a politically-connected contractor. Finished it! Highly recommended. An interesting account of engineering ingenuity overcoming long odds and repeated obstacles against a Gilded Age backdrop. I’ve now begun an audiobook of Tom Clancy’s 1986 military technothriller _Red Storm Rising_, about a non-nuclear WWIII between the Soviet Union and NATO. It’s pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Major\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@Major\_Major\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Major_1)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/95 "2018-05-25T05:07:17Z")
“Voices From Hell” - a collection of essays from people who have experienced or are currently experiencing solitary confinement. The introduction alone opened my eyes. Everyone talks about waterboarding but this is legalized torture that’s been going on for decades. ---
**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 25, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/96 "2018-05-25T14:41:08Z")
Just finished Kage Baker’s novella “The Empress of Mars”, which I enjoyed. Next up: _Jar Jar Binks Must Die and Other Observations about Science Fiction Movies_, by Daniel M. Kimmel. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/97 "2018-05-25T15:32:52Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Since people are reading that novel, > > It repeatedly mentions puzzles, steganography, encryption, and hidden messages. So is there an actual encrypted message hidden in the chapter titles, or wherever? I don’t remember seeing any messages hidden in chapter titles, but maybe there were. There were definitely clues as to what’s going on scattered throughout the book, and I think it’s one that would benefit hugely from a second reading. All the steganography business is foreshadowing, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/98 "2018-05-25T23:14:33Z")
I finished reading **Portrait of a Lady** by Henry James. I liked it better than **Washington Square** and much, much better than **The Ambassadors**. It was hardly unreadable at all! The only thing I thought was missing was that I didn’t really get the feeling that Mr. Osmond was being cruel to his wife, even though the book assured me that it was the case. He just seemed to have some very mild objections. But otherwise I quite liked it. ---
**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 26, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/99 "2018-05-26T04:32:27Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > …It was hardly unreadable at all!.. Now\* there’s\* faint praise! ---
**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:** [May 26, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318/100 "2018-05-26T16:55:42Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I finished reading **Portrait of a Lady** by Henry James. I liked it better than **Washington Square** and much, much better than **The Ambassadors**. It was hardly unreadable at all! > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Now\* there’s\* faint praise! When it comes to Henry James, that _is_ a five-star review. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-may-2018-edition/813318.md?page=6)