# The Nightstand Challenge **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2001, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164 "2001-09-22T04:21:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/1 "2001-09-22T04:21:46Z")
Okay, a month or so ago this would have been considered mundane and pointless, but I guess now it goes here. Here’s how the challenge works: I will quote a line from the books on my nightstand. Some are famous, some are not, but from this quote I want you to name the book. These are all actually on my nightstand right now. [list=1] _[li]The trial’s first witness was the deceased, Jacob Wood, testifying by a video deposition taken a few months before his death.[/li] [li]“You are lazy,” says Big Pig.[/li] [li]He returned somewhat despondently to his river again - his faithful, steady-going old river, which never packed up, flitted, or went into winter quarters.[/li] [li]Mrs. Slade nodded. “But she really sent her because they were in love with the same man–”[/li] [li]Yet it is easy to see that the second sentence has to do not with a prospect of the Senate but with a prospect of accepting.[/li] [li]Jim eased himself gently out of the tree, panting with apprehension every time the leaves quivered.[/li] [li]“You’re – you’re not coming down?” he said in a bewildered voice.[/li] [li]“This is young William Wordsworth, a poet,” said Robespierre as the youth came up to them and took David’s proffered hand.[/li] [li]Will lay, eyes shut, hearing the beat of the great oil-black wings as if a huge, ancient bird had drummed down to live, to breathe, to survive in the night meadow.[/li][/list=1]_ A couple of these are a bit obscure, but I am sure that you can make short work of it… good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/2 "2001-09-22T14:01:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > [li]“This is young William Wordsworth, a poet,” said Robespierre as the youth came up to them and took David’s proffered hand.[/li] Well, since no one has come along with a good answer, I’ll take a wild guess at this one–is it from one of Orson Scott Card’s Alvin Maker books? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/3 "2001-09-22T17:25:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Podkayne \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > > [li]“This is young William Wordsworth, a poet,” said Robespierre as the youth came up to them and took David’s proffered hand.[/li] > > Well, since no one has come along with a good answer, I’ll take a wild guess at this one–is it from one of Orson Scott Card’s Alvin Maker books? No, **Podkayne** , and IMO, you chose the toughest of the bunch to start with. I got this book from a friend, and it popped out of a box I had in storage recently. Hint: female author on this one. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/4 "2001-09-22T19:22:30Z")
“You are lazy,” says Big Pig. Lemme try this one, Alex, for $10. “What is Animal Farm?” ---
**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:** [September 22, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/5 "2001-09-22T19:51:07Z")
1. THE TRIAL by Franz Kafka. 2. PORK COOKERY THE EASY WAY by Seymour Butts. 3. SIDDHARTHA by Herman Hesse. 4. THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson. 5. ADVISE AND CONSENT by Allen Drury. 6. JIM THE BOY by Tony Earley. 7. FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON by Jules Verne. 8. THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY ENGLISH ROMANTICS MEET THE FRENCH REVOLUTION BY WAY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT by Marcel Duchamp 9. LOST IN SPACE by Dr. Zachary Smith. Okay, what do I win? ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/6 "2001-09-22T20:16:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Will lay, eyes shut, hearing the beat of the great oil-black wings as if a huge, ancient bird had drummed down to live, to breathe, to survive in the night meadow. Another wild guess – _The Subtle Knife_ or _The Amber Spyglass_ by Philip Pullman? Not even a guess on the rest of them. I feel a little stupid. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/7 "2001-09-22T21:31:57Z")
Quotheth Ike: “2. PORK COOKERY THE EASY WAY by Seymour Butts.” I especially liked his recipe for Pressed Ham With Relish. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/8 "2001-09-22T21:42:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > _The trial’s first witness was the deceased, Jacob Wood, testifying by a video deposition taken a few months before his death._ John Grisham - The Runaway Jury (Juror?) It was the one about the tobacco lawsuit, in any case. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/9 "2001-09-22T22:37:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > > > [@](#): > > > > _The trial’s first witness was the deceased, Jacob Wood, testifying by a video deposition taken a few months before his death._ > > John Grisham - The Runaway Jury (Juror?) It was the one about the tobacco lawsuit, in any case. One down, well done **Flymaster**. That was one of the easier ones, but it’s a good start. A hint for number 2, although I liked **Pesch** ’s guess: I have a three year old and a five year old at home. The rest are all “grown up” books. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/10 "2001-09-22T22:39:09Z")
And **Ukelele Ike** , an **E** for effort, but no cigar. I actually had to look, because three of the books you mentioned are on my other night stand, but none were quoted there. ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/11 "2001-09-22T22:46:33Z")
_6. Jim eased himself gently out of the tree, panting with apprehension every time the leaves quivered._ Huckleberry Finn ? ---
**Author:** ![snermy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@snermy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snermy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2001, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/12 "2001-09-22T23:53:43Z")
Wind in the Willows [sub]we don’t lose points for guessing, right?[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/13 "2001-09-23T00:36:28Z")
> [@](#): > > _“You are lazy,” says Big Pig._ _Big Pig on a Dig_ by Jenny Tyler ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/14 "2001-09-23T00:49:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by snermy \* > **Wind in the Willows** Give that man (woman?) a cigar! Number 7: _Ethan Frome_. **ShibbOleth** must REALLY need to sleep to engage in self-flagellation like that! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/15 "2001-09-23T00:51:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by snermy \* > \*\*Wind in the Willows > > [sub]we don’t lose points for guessing, right?[/sub] \*\* Not if you guess correctly. Good job, **snermy**! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/16 "2001-09-23T00:53:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by robinh \* > > Huckleberry Finn ? Nope, **robinh**. This is an obscure one. The author is famous, though. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/17 "2001-09-23T00:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \*] > > > [@](#): > > > > _“You are lazy,” says Big Pig._ > > _Big Pig on a Dig_ by Jenny Tyler Very close, **Flymaster**. Jenny Tyler is the editor of the book. Different author and title, though. We may have to get **Rue** in here to solve this one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/18 "2001-09-23T01:02:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > Number 7: _Ethan Frome_. **ShibbOleth** must REALLY need to sleep to engage in self-flagellation like that! And **dropzone** knocks that one outta the park. I thought that passage would have been a little harder to place than some of the others. Do you have it memorized? So nos. 1, 3 & 7 are answered correctly so far. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/19 "2001-09-23T01:06:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > [BVery close, **Flymaster**. Jenny Tyler is the editor of the book. Different author and title, though. > \*\* Perhaps it’s _Ted in a Red Bed_? ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/20 "2001-09-23T01:09:38Z")
I can’t guess but I do know I feel like going to classing up my nightstand a bit now. _tosses her Penthouse forum, first thing_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164.md?page=2)