# Khadaji's Whatcha Readin' thread - November 2016 Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034 "2016-10-29T16:12:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [November 17, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/61 "2016-11-17T16:44:09Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I was trying to find _The Bastard_ by John Jakes online at my library (formulaic, I know, but I read the series in high school and liked the historical part) but what popped up was **Lies of Locke Lamora** , the first of the trilogy **Gentleman Bastards**. It’s not historical fiction but a fantasy, and I am digging the hell out of it. First half of the book I enjoyed well enough, but wasn’t thrilled by. Halfway through the book I said HOLY CRAP! and loved it like crazy from then on. The second book is similarly wonderful. The third made me think the author should engage in less public therapy. Hopefully the fourth won’t have that issue, or issues. ---
**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 17, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/62 "2016-11-17T20:48:22Z")
I finished _On the Beach_ by Nevil Shute. Very sad, but necessarily and appropriately so. Now I want to see the 1959 Gregory Peck/Ava Gardner movie. The most striking scene was where a young couple commit suicide with their infant daughter rather than die gradually but inevitably of radiation sickness. Just… wow. I’ve started an audiobook of John Grisham’s _The Appeal_, about a chemical company tycoon who loses a big lawsuit in Mississippi. He decides to bankroll the campaign of a candidate for the state supreme court to better the odds of winning on appeal. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2016, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/63 "2016-11-18T06:36:36Z")
I just re-read \*\*Monte Walsh \*\*by Jack Schaefer, the best western book I have ever read, and I recommend it wholeheartedly. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/64 "2016-11-19T02:50:31Z")
I finished _Carry Me_ by Peter Behrens, which wasn’t the worst. I guess. The set up was fine – two families in Germany on the eve of the Nazis rise to power (it was a coincidence that I was reading this during the election, but it ended up making it seem more ominous). Each family is a bit of a mix – UK citizens, German Jews, German citizens born and raised abroad, etc so the main hook of the book rests upon this idea that while they are German, they are also outsiders in Germany. However, the romance part was ridiculous. It was awful. I cringed through all of 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:** [November 21, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/65 "2016-11-21T02:28:16Z")
Over the weekend I finished _Sea Harrier over the Falklands_ by Cdmr. Nigel “Sharkey” Ward, a Royal Navy pilot during the 1982 war. Ward is opinionated, plain-spoken and more than a little arrogant, but he tells a good story. I also read _Official White House China: 1789 to the Present_ (second edition) by Margaret Brown Klapthor, a beautifully-illustrated volume. The Lincoln, Wilson and Reagan china was the best-looking, I thought. I was also pleased to see that a pottery near my hometown made several dozen plates for President McKinley. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/66 "2016-11-21T05:43:27Z")
Amber Dermont’s “The Starboard Sea”. It’s a better read than I expected it to be, she has a nice way of making a story flow. I look forward to reading more of her books. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2016, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/67 "2016-11-21T11:44:42Z")
Read [The New and Improved Romie Futch](https://www.amazon.com/New-Improved-Romie-Futch/dp/1941040152) over the weekend. Part Moby Dick, part Flowers For Algernon, part middle-aged-divorced dude in the deep south. I enjoyed it well enough, but I don’t think it’ll stick with me. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/68 "2016-11-21T13:01:48Z")
Currently about 3/4th of the way through Neil Gaiman’s “American Gods” which I’m enjoying. It’s fun meeting characters and thinking “Wait, I think I know who that’s supposed to be . . .” I’m hoping to get Ron Chernow’s Hamilton biography for Christmas. Yes, I’m one of _those_ people. ---
**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, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/69 "2016-11-21T16:27:10Z")
I’m so far behind so… I finished **Johannes Cabal The Fear Institute** that was like pulling teeth out chickens to finish. Talk about BORING, And the multiple fake out endings had me cursing JRR Tolkien and Peter Jackson. I have started **Imprudence** by Gail Carriger and I just don’t like the half YA/half adult voice in this series. It grates. And there are things hapening in this book that need to be seen from a different POV than Rue’s, I’m sad. However **Romancing the Inventor** also by Gail Carriger is FANTASTIC! It’s the tone I love, the dry wit I love and it’s just page turning… or swiping whatever 😃 ---
**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, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/70 "2016-11-21T16:44:43Z")
Started this morning on [The Return of the Black Widowers](https://www.amazon.com/Return-Black-Widowers-Isaac-Asimov/dp/0786712481/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479746404&sr=8-2&keywords=black+widowers+asimov) by Isaac Asimov, as recommended by **The Other Waldo Pepper** in [the cozy books thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19797933#post19797933) As advertised. 🙂 ---
**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, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/71 "2016-11-21T16:48:55Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Started this morning on [The Return of the Black Widowers](https://www.amazon.com/Return-Black-Widowers-Isaac-Asimov/dp/0786712481/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479746404&sr=8-2&keywords=black+widowers+asimov) by Isaac Asimov, as recommended by **The Other Waldo Pepper** in [the cozy books thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19797933#post19797933) As advertised. 🙂 I LOVE the Black Widower books! I think I have them 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:** [November 21, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/72 "2016-11-21T16:49:54Z")
You read \*all \*the good stuff. 😃 ---
**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, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/73 "2016-11-21T16:55:10Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > …I’m hoping to get Ron Chernow’s Hamilton biography for Christmas. Yes, I’m one of _those_ people. Great book. His _Washington: A Life_ is also excellent. ---
**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, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/74 "2016-11-21T17:06:21Z")
OH! I forgot that I also read **Two Necromancers, a Bureaucrat and an Elf** by LG Estrella. It was short, funny, a bit silly in places, but a nice way to pass a cold morning. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/75 "2016-11-21T19:28:36Z")
Last night I finished John Grisham’s newest, _**[The Whistler](https://www.amazon.com/Whistler-John-Grisham/dp/0385541198/)**_. It was…ok. Better build-up than climax. No twists, and not particularly creative. Not a bad read if you’re not expecting too much. I started _**[No Man’s Land](https://www.amazon.com/No-Mans-Land-John-Puller/dp/145558651X/)**_, the latest in the John Puller series from David Baldacci, which was released last week. I’ve enjoyed this series so far, but am a bit leery of the “did our hero’s father – a military legend currently suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s – murder his mother when he was a kid” setup. I’m hoping this one doesn’t disappoint. ---
**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, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/76 "2016-11-22T17:42:12Z")
I read Gail Carriger’s **Romancing the Inventor** novella yesterday. It’s the first in a new series called SUpernatural Society, which according to the end pages will be LGBT stories. I’m hoping it will be stand alone adventures with her side characters. On the whole it was well written and progressed very nicely. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/77 "2016-11-22T18:04:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > First half of the book I enjoyed well enough, but wasn’t thrilled by. Halfway through the book I said HOLY CRAP! and loved it like crazy from then on. > > The second book is similarly wonderful. The third made me think the author should engage in less public therapy. Hopefully the fourth won’t have that issue, or issues. I just finished the first book and I’m starting the second tonight. It really sucks you in, doesn’t it? ---
**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:** [November 22, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/78 "2016-11-22T20:23:13Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I just finished the first book and I’m starting the second tonight. It really sucks you in, doesn’t it? Yup. Con/heist movies are one of my favorite genres. Fantasy is my favorite genre to read in. I loved this combination. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/79 "2016-11-22T20:54:16Z")
It’s fun when the “hero” isn’t a knight in shining armor. I’d forgotten that. How charming to root for the scoundrel! ---
**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:** [November 24, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034/80 "2016-11-24T23:18:38Z")
Finished _The Book Thief_, by Markus Zusak. A young girl in Nazi Germany likes to steal books. It was okay. Next up: _The Count of Monte Cristo_, by Alexandre Dumas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-readin-thread-november-2016-edition/770034.md?page=5)