# Khadaji's What'cha reading -- May 2014 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445 "2014-05-01T15:58:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/101 "2014-05-14T14:13:23Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I just finished a Pulitzer-winning novel: **The Age of Innocence** by Edith Wharton. I’ve been reading quite a few books set in Victorian England, so it was interesting to see an American view of what high society was like at that time. That is one of my very favorite novels ever. Wharton is subtle, so thoughtful, so intelligent, such a skilled observer of her society. I could read it again and again. I just finished “ **Do You Believe in Magic: The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine** ” by the wonderful Dr. Paul Offit. The book is a quick, fun, fast look at the history and contemporary assertions of the alternative medicine field. He rightfully takes good and effective aim at several past and current targets including acupuncture, Lyme disease, Suzanne Somers and her empire of bullshit and various other people who deserve to be called out. ---
**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 14, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/102 "2014-05-14T15:56:20Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > That is one of my very favorite novels ever. Wharton is subtle, so thoughtful, so intelligent, such a skilled observer of her society. I could read it again and again… In leaving a concert or play, I often quote Wharton from _The Age of Innocence_: “Americans like nothing about culture so much as their speedy departure from it.” I’m past the halfway mark in David Mitchell’s _Cloud Atlas_ and am still digging it. Might have to see the movie again, in fact. I’m also reading Asimov short stories (“Galley Slave” and “The Last Question” most recently), off and on, and haven’t gotten far into the giant child-development tome _Far from the Tree_ by Andrew Solomon. So far it’s slow going. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/103 "2014-05-14T16:02:18Z")
_Under the Duvet_ by Marian Keyes. It’s light, funny essays by a writer of chick lit. After reading some heavier stuff, I was in the mood for something like this. I love it. Mind you, it’s not all light. Her story of her alcoholism is very real, very scary. We are lucky she is still here. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/104 "2014-05-14T17:39:31Z")
_The Time of Our Singing_, by Richard Powers, which was awesome. Fairly long novel, combines music, math, and the experience of being of mixed race heritage in the US. I thought this was terrific, powerful writing. I also finished a YA novel, _The Stepsister Scheme_ by Jim C. Hines. It was okay, I guess? I feel like I should have liked it a lot, it’s a new take on the Cinderella story featuring strong, positive female characters who take action for themselves and rescue the prince instead of the other way around … but despite its good qualities, it just didn’t suck me into the story at all. ---
**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 15, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/105 "2014-05-15T01:52:58Z")
Finished _The Litigators_, by John Grisham. Very good. A two-bit, ambulance-chasing law firm in Chicago thinks they’ve struck gold with a possible mass tort case against a large pharmaceutical company. It seems too good to be true … and maybe it is. This one contains more humor than the other Grisham books I’ve read. The readers could be forgiven for thinking he was reading a Carl Hiaasen novel despite the Chicago setting. Recommended. Just started _Conspirata_, by Robert Harris. A sequel of sorts to his _Imperium_, although Harris insists it’s not necessary to have read the earlier book first, that this one stands on its own. In ancient Rome, the statesman Cicero becomes involved in a bizarre murder on the eve of his consulship. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/106 "2014-05-15T13:05:38Z")
I finished “Dust” by Hugh Howey. It was a good ending to the Silo series, but I found myself with a lot of questions at the end. I gave up on “Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century,” which was interesting at first but got really dull after the murder took place. I felt like I didn’t really need to know the entire history of the two girls’ parents. I’m now reading “The Museum of Extraordinary Things” by Alice Hoffman, and “Fallout” by Todd Strasser. They’re both good, but “Fallout” has really captured my attention. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/107 "2014-05-15T13:52:18Z")
I am half through _Everyday Jews._ Thanks to whoever recommended it! ---
**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 15, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/108 "2014-05-15T16:06:43Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I just finished “ **Do You Believe in Magic: The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine** ” by the wonderful Dr. Paul Offit. The book is a quick, fun, fast look at the history and contemporary assertions of the alternative medicine field. He rightfully takes good and effective aim at several past and current targets including acupuncture, Lyme disease, Suzanne Somers and her empire of bullshit and various other people who deserve to be called out. Yes, I think I need to read that! ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/109 "2014-05-15T17:54:26Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > That is one of my very favorite novels ever. Wharton is subtle, so thoughtful, so intelligent, such a skilled observer of her society. I could read it again and again. > > I just finished “ **Do You Believe in Magic: The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine** ” by the wonderful Dr. Paul Offit. The book is a quick, fun, fast look at the history and contemporary assertions of the alternative medicine field. He rightfully takes good and effective aim at several past and current targets including acupuncture, Lyme disease, Suzanne Somers and her empire of bullshit and various other people who deserve to be called out. Lyme disease? 😕 I don’t understand. Isn’t this a real illness? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/110 "2014-05-15T18:01:54Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Lyme disease? 😕 I don’t understand. Isn’t this a real illness? Unless it’s being lumped in with Epstein-Barr, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, etc., that aren’t always considered “real”? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/111 "2014-05-15T18:25:28Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Unless it’s being lumped in with Epstein-Barr, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, etc., that aren’t always considered “real”? I looked into it and it must be referring to so-called “chronic Lyme disease”, which isn’t recognized in the medical literature. > [@](#): > > The term “chronic Lyme disease” is controversial and not recognized in the medical literature,[12] and most medical authorities advise against long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease.[13][14][15] Studies have shown that most patients diagnosed with “chronic Lyme disease” either have no objective evidence of previous or current infection with B. burgdorferi or are patients who should be classified as having post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), which is defined as continuing or relapsing non-specific symptoms (such as fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive complaints) in a patient previously treated for Lyme disease.[228] > **[Lyme disease](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease)** > > Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a tick-borne disease caused by species of Borrelia bacteria, transmitted by blood-feeding ticks in the genus Ixodes. The most common sign of infection is an expanding red rash, known as erythema migrans (EM), which appears at the site of the tick bite about a week afterwards. The rash is typically neither itchy nor painful. Approximately 70–80% of infected people develop a rash. Early diagnosis can be difficult. Other early s Lyme disease is tr... I never heard of that before - we get all sorts of warnings to watch out for ticks because of “Lyme Disease”, which is why I was surprised to see it listed as fraudulent. Seems “Lyme Disease” is real, but “Chronic Lyme Disease” most likely isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/112 "2014-05-16T11:12:13Z")
John Sandford’s _Silken Prey_ and _House of Sand and Fog_ by Andre Dubus III. ---
**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 16, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/113 "2014-05-16T22:01:32Z")
All right, I finished **Origin in Death** by JD Robb and now I can saw I know why romance and mystery are different genres. Other than the first half of this book reads like a gay porno with half the characters switched to female, the thing is just wannabee soft core porn. I think there needs to be a drinking game for every cliche hit: tough female cop with bad background- check tough female cop has no concept of dressing up - check tough female cop doesn’t like pampering - check tough female cop can’t deal with husband’s family - check tough female cop cringes at the though of holding a baby - check Okay so I’m passed out now… \*full review here: [Kris (Ogden, UT)’s review of Origin in Death](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/781087295) ---
**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 19, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/114 "2014-05-19T15:42:00Z")
I finished reading **The Vicar of Wakefield** by Oliver Goldsmith. I thought it was entertaining enough with some funny bits, although I skimmed through some of the philosophizing in the last half. ---
**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 19, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/115 "2014-05-19T16:32:46Z")
Beautiful spring weather here over the weekend, and I took a break after mowing our yard to sit in the sun and continue enjoying _Cloud Atlas_. Very good stuff. ---
**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:** [May 19, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/116 "2014-05-19T18:41:45Z")
I finished [The Devil’s Gentleman](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/391280.The_Devil_s_Gentleman) about a poisoning case in New York in the late 1890s. If you like Erik Larson’s books, I’d highly recommend this. Schechter goes through the crime, the investigation (hampered by the yellow journalism of the time), the inquest, and both trials before giving an actual motive for the crimes in the very last chapter. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/117 "2014-05-21T15:20:09Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I looked into it and it must be referring to so-called “chronic Lyme disease”, which isn’t recognized in the medical literature. > > [Lyme disease - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease#Controversy_over_term_.22chronic_Lyme_disease.22) > > I never heard of that before - we get all sorts of warnings to watch out for ticks because of “Lyme Disease”, which is why I was surprised to see it listed as fraudulent. Seems “Lyme Disease” is real, but “Chronic Lyme Disease” most likely isn’t. Yeah. Chronic Lyme Disease is what he makes a case against. I bought _The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family_ by Mary S. Lovell from Amazon. The actual book is great so far. The Mitford sisters are fascinating people although I’m going to ring the author’s neck if she doesn’t dump on Diana the goddamned Nazi at some point later on. The problem is that seller sent me a book with a section in it that is literally falling out. I had to plead with them to refund my four bucks which they did. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/118 "2014-05-21T15:24:50Z")
Just now reading _ **Friends of Eddie Coyle** _, a proto-Elmore Leonard crime novel by George V. Higgins. ---
**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 21, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/119 "2014-05-21T16:17:58Z")
I started **The Murder Book** by Jonathon Kellerman Monday. I’ve read it once before but I didn’t grasp the concept of what a “murder book” was, consequently it felt very contrived and deus ex machina to me. So after reading so much Michael Connelly and a few other police mysteries, I thought I should go back and reread it to see if I’d been unfair. The narrative style is arsy though, too many words and too detached. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445/120 "2014-05-21T16:34:28Z")
Comfort reading lately. Lots of Terry Pratchett and Iain Banks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-may-2014/687445.md?page=7)