# Khadaji's Whatcha Reading Thread - February 2020 edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240 "2020-01-30T19:10:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [February 13, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/21 "2020-02-13T14:52:18Z")
I finished _For One More Day_ by Mitch Albom. Nice message about the enduring power of a mother’s love, but meh writing. Also finished _Freakonomics_ by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. Better, but felt a bit padded, especially its extended discussion of baby names - including dozens of lists - and what impact the name of a child might have on later career success. Just started my next Spenser detective novel by Robert B. Parker, _A Catskill Eagle_. Spenser’s ex-girlfriend Susan Silverman gets involved with a billionaire’s bossy, controlling son in California and, of course, Spenser has to help her. Pretty good so far. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/22 "2020-02-13T15:36:42Z")
Just finishing _Grand Hotel,_ Vicki Baum’s 1929 novel, the basis for the all-star 1932 movie. The dancer and the jewel thief (played by Garbo and John Barrymore) take up far too much oxygen, but I’m enjoying the more minor characters, especially the business guy (Wallace Beery) and the dying man (Lionel Barrymore). Gotta watch the movie, now. Beginning to pick and choose short stories in _The Best of C.M. Kornbluth_, mid-20th century SF. “The Little Black Bag” was excellent. Coming in the mail: _American Poetry in the Twentieth Century_ by Kenneth Rexroth. Kenny is the MAN. I’d read his grocery lists if someone published them. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/23 "2020-02-14T20:49:55Z")
Finished _Blanche Among the Talented Tenth_, by Barbara Neely, a cozy mystery. Meh. Now I’m reading _Straight Outta Deadwood_, edited by David Boop. It’s a Weird West anthology. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2020, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/24 "2020-02-15T04:59:22Z")
Finished _Napoleon: A Life_, by Andrew Roberts. Very good and thorough. But he could have used a better editor, not to mention a better fact checker. For example, in one place he mentions a certain French officer was killed by bullet to the forehead, while in another he has taken a cannonball to the chest. But still worth a read. Have started _Gettysburg_, by Stephen W. Sears, the history of the major Civil War battle of which my … I think it was my great-great grandfather was a participant, with a New York regiment. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/25 "2020-02-15T05:19:48Z")
Im nreqding the first _Percy Jackson_ book, on recommendation of one of my students… who was just kicked out of our program (a reform school) and sent packing, which means shes been sent back east to live with her abusive mother. I’m having a real hard time with this as she is (was) my favorite student. It’s going to be hard to finish this one. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2020, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/26 "2020-02-15T05:23:32Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > …Have started _Gettysburg_, by Stephen W. Sears, the history of the major Civil War battle of which my … I think it was my great-great grandfather was a participant, with a New York regiment. Once you’re done with that, I hope you’ll read _The Killer Angels_, Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer-winning novel about the battle, if you haven’t already. Good stuff. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2020, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/27 "2020-02-15T06:12:14Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Once you’re done with that, I hope you’ll read _The Killer Angels_, Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer-winning novel about the battle, if you haven’t already. Good stuff. Thanks. Will put that on my list. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/28 "2020-02-15T22:33:12Z")
Got Arthur Phillips’s newest book, _The King at the Edge of the World,_ from the library today. Really looking forward to it. I didn’t much like _Prague_ (didn;t finish it actually), but I thought _Angelica_ was great, liked _The Tragedy of Arthur_ even better, and LOVED _The Egyptologist_. This one is apparently about a Muslim doctor in Queen Elizabeth I’s court and Great Intrigue regarding the queen’s impending death-without-an-heir. High expectations. While I was at the library picking it up I also found a novel called _Curious Toys_ by someone named Elizabeth Hand. 1915 in Chicago, looks like sort of a mystery/suspense kind of deal. One of the characters is outsider artist Henry Darger, whose works I have some familiarity with. Could be wonderful, could be terrible; we shall see. **Elendil’s Heir** : I liked _Freakonomics_ when I read it a few years back, and then started reading their blog–gave it up after a while, though. Some of the things Dubner was posting in particular felt just a little too self-centered and off-topic, not freakonomics-y enough (not freak- enough and not -onomics enough either). Anyway, the blog did exist a while back and might be worth a look-at if you have the time and energy… ---
**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:** [February 16, 2020, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/29 "2020-02-16T04:35:13Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > … **Elendil’s Heir** : I liked _Freakonomics_ when I read it a few years back, and then started reading their blog–gave it up after a while, though. Some of the things Dubner was posting in particular felt just a little too self-centered and off-topic, not freakonomics-y enough (not freak- enough and not -onomics enough either). Anyway, the blog did exist a while back and might be worth a look-at if you have the time and energy… Thanks. I just might, although I tend to strongly favor books over blogs. ---
**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:** [February 16, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/30 "2020-02-16T20:30:39Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Once you’re done with that, I hope you’ll read _The Killer Angels_, Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer-winning novel about the battle, if you haven’t already. Good stuff. I strongly recommend this book, too. Finished _Straight Outta Deadwood_, edited by David Boop. I enjoyed many of these stories. I thought the best one was “The Stoker and the Plague Doctor”, by Alex Acks. Now I’m reading _Holy Grounds: The Surprising Connection between Coffee and Faith_, by Tim Schenck. I picked it up in our church’s library mostly because I liked the title. I don’t drink coffee myself. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/31 "2020-02-17T05:37:43Z")
Just finished Robert B. Parker’s _A Catskill Eagle_. Not his best, with the somewhat-implausible involvement of the CIA, but also with the welcome reappearance of two characters from earlier Spenser books. I’ll be returning shortly to Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith’s massive bio, _Van Gogh: The Life_. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/32 "2020-02-18T14:51:49Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Just finished Robert B. Parker’s _A Catskill Eagle_. Not his best, with the somewhat-implausible involvement of the CIA, but also with the welcome reappearance of two characters from earlier Spenser books. I agree with these comments. Have you read _Small Vices_? I think it’s the best Spenser novel. Just finished _Holy Grounds: The Surprising Connection between Coffee and Faith_, which was okay, although it had some factual errors. Now I’m reading _The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms_, by N. K. Jemisin. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2020, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/33 "2020-02-18T22:23:10Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > I agree with these comments. Have you read _Small Vices_? I think it’s the best Spenser novel… I think I did, around the time it first came out (which I see was 1997), but I remember very little about it. I think my favorite Spensers are probably _Looking for Rachel Wallace, Ceremony_ and _Pale Kings and Princes_. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/34 "2020-02-19T18:29:14Z")
Hey, I don’t know if I’m supposed to be telling y’all this ;), but Michael Koryta has a new book out under a pseudonym. It’s called [The Chill](https://www.amazon.com/Chill-Novel-Scott-Carson/dp/1982104597/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1582136709&sr=1-1) by “Scott Carson”. Supposedly he’s going to write his supernatural stuff under this name, and his more mainstream stuff under Koryta. I plan to read all of it, but it’s good to know what to expect! I had already rejected _The Chill_ because I saw it had a blurb from Stephen King, but I’m adding it to the pile now. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/35 "2020-02-20T01:56:17Z")
Note to all you folks chunkin’ down the Robert B. Parker novels — you _know_ you could be doing a lot better in the private eye genre, no? Try some Philip Kerr, Lawrence Block, Loren D. Estleman, or Ross Thomas’s _Briarpatch_ (Best novel Edgar Allan Poe award, 1986). Or relive the golden days with Hammett, Chandler, and Jonathan Latimer. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/36 "2020-02-20T02:21:44Z")
I don’t agree, **Ukulele Ike** ; I think Parker definitely belongs in the same category as Ross Thomas or Loren Estleman. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2020, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/37 "2020-02-20T04:42:21Z")
I’ve read several of those authors’ work, too, and think Parker at his best keeps right up with them. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/38 "2020-02-20T14:19:07Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Note to all you folks chunkin’ down the Robert B. Parker novels — you _know_ you could be doing a lot better in the private eye genre, no? > > Try some Philip Kerr, Lawrence Block, Loren D. Estleman, or Ross Thomas’s _Briarpatch_ (Best novel Edgar Allan Poe award, 1986). > > Or relive the golden days with Hammett, Chandler, and Jonathan Latimer. I’ve read Block (my favorite book of his is nonfiction about writing, Telling Lies for Fun and Profit), Estleman, and Hammett. I still like Parker the best. But when I get through some of my TBR pile, I’ll try one of the other authors you suggest. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/39 "2020-02-20T19:25:37Z")
Block is great if you want formulaic plots that do the same things book after book after book… ---
**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:** [February 22, 2020, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240/40 "2020-02-22T05:02:14Z")
I’ve tried several Parkers/Spensers and finally swore I’d never read another one. Did not impress me favorably. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240.md?page=3)