# 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:** 2
**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, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/21 "2001-09-23T01:15:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > Perhaps it’s _Ted in a Red Bed_? Nah. [sup]so how old are your kids, or is this some strange fetish for you?[/sup] **Cranky** , I’ll swap you any of these for a good Penthouse Forum. ---
**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 24, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/22 "2001-09-24T16:17:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > **Do you have it memorized?** Hell, no! I cheated. But since this was AT LEAST the second mention of that dreadful book on this board in the past week I thought I’d put it out of its misery. I cheated with #4, too, but I’ll leave it to somebody to get it legitimately. ---
**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 24, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/23 "2001-09-24T16:39:10Z")
Okay, this one’s legit. Is #9 _Something Wicked This Way Comes,_ by Ray Bradbury? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/24 "2001-09-24T16:45:15Z")
As Ike will no doubt atest, the actual name of the book that is the source of the second quote is: How to Eat Pressed Ham Through the Wrapper. I believe that Joseph Wambaugh did the preface. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/25 "2001-09-24T16:55:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > Okay, this one’s legit. Is #9 _Something Wicked This Way Comes,_ by Ray Bradbury? And **dropzone** goes yard again! FWIW, this title is one of my all-time favorites. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/26 "2001-09-24T16:56:35Z")
So, I’ll take a shot. Only 1, 3, and 7 have been answered? 2: Big Pig on a Dig. Wait, no, that was already guessed. Hmm, Jenny Tyler. Is this Ted In A Red Bed? 4: Roman Fever by Edith Wharton. Don’t ask why I know, and I won’t tell. And I’m clueless on the rest. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/27 "2001-09-24T16:57:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by plnnr \* > How to Eat Pressed Ham Through the Wrapper. I suppose that could be the porno DVD title. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/28 "2001-09-24T17:00:20Z")
**ShibbOleth** : > [@](#): > > “This is young William Wordsworth, a poet,” said Robespierre as the youth came up to them and took David’s proffered hand. Is it To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis? ---
**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 24, 2001, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/29 "2001-09-24T18:08:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\*FWIW, this title is one of my all-time favorites. \*\* And it’s the only one on the list I’ve actually finished. **Ino** , Google, too? Damn, that woman couldn’t write. ---
**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 24, 2001, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/30 "2001-09-24T18:14:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > \*\*Is it To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis? \*\* that always looked like a fun one. Thanks for reminding me I wanted to read it. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/31 "2001-09-24T18:46:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lno \* > \*\* > 4: Roman Fever by Edith Wharton. Don’t ask why I know, and I won’t tell. > \*\* **lno** , you are correct, sir. But only on number 4. **Flymaster** already guessed those two titles for nunber 2. You’re both on the right track, although I show the author as someone else, with Ms. Tyler as the editor, not the author. Must be a tough gig, proof-reading monosyllabic children’s books. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/32 "2001-09-24T18:53:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > > > [@](#): > > > > “This is young William Wordsworth, a poet,” said Robespierre as the youth came up to them and took David’s proffered hand. > > Is it To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis? Not quite, but thanks for playing. As I said this one’s tough. 2nd Hint: the title is a single word. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/33 "2001-09-24T19:10:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > But only on number 4. **Flymaster** already guessed those two titles for nunber 2. Crimony. I guessed one, saw he had it, and guessed again, completely missing his second post. Ummmm. Tempting as it is to go to Barnes & Noble on my lunch break and peruse the children’s section, I’m going to have to resist. I have strength. I have willpower. Oh, who am I kidding. I’ll be there after work with a printout of that quote. Finding the book will be easier than Madonna at an NBA All-Star game. ---
**Author:** ![deepbluesea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@deepbluesea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deepbluesea)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/34 "2001-09-25T14:26:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*2.“You are lazy,” says Big Pig. \*\* It isn’t, by any chance, Farmyard Tales, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/35 "2001-09-25T14:59:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Fiver \* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > “This is young William Wordsworth, a poet,” said Robespierre as the youth came up to them and took David’s proffered hand. > > > > Is it To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis? > > Not quite, but thanks for playing. As I said this one’s tough. > > 2nd Hint: the title is a single word. \*\* Some Anne Rice potboiler? I don’t suppose number 6 is Treasure Island? But that wouldn’t be very obscure. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/36 "2001-09-25T15:05:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by deepbluesea \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*\*2.“You are lazy,” says Big Pig. \*\* > > It isn’t, by any chance, Farmyard Tales, is it? No. But if it will help, two other books in this series are:_[li]Sam Sheep Can’t Sleep[_]Toad Makes a Road\*[/li]And I am really, really disappointed that no one has so much as hazarded a guess at number 5, much less got it right. That should be one of the easiest ones here, almost everyone has read it. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2001, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/37 "2001-09-25T15:13:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > Some Anne Rice potboiler? No, an Anne Rice book would be much easier, I had never heard of this author. A friend gave me this book several years ago gushing about how it was just the greatest. I still haven’t got around to giving it a read. As I said, the author is female. I just hope the book doesn’t suck. > [@](#): > > I don’t suppose number 6 is Treasure Island? But that wouldn’t be very obscure. No, that wouldn’t be obscure. This one is a lesser known work by a famous author, one of my personal faves. I found it on a bottom shelf at Half-Priced books a couple of weeks ago. Hadn’t read it before. It’s a hardcover, don’t know if/when there was a softcover version. It’s not a new book. I have another good hint on this one which I am keeping in my back pocket for now… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/38 "2001-09-26T01:39:52Z")
> [@](#): > > [ul]_5.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._[/ul] > > And I am really, really disappointed that no one has so much as hazarded a guess at number 5, much less got it right. That should be one of the easiest ones here, almost everyone has read it. Speaking strictly for myself, I’m hard pressed to think of any books I’ve read which mention the Senate. _To Kill a Mockingbird_? Shakespeare’s _Julius Caesar_ or _Antony and Cleopatra_? _Star Wars_? And for the record, Ike did so much as hazard a guess at it. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/39 "2001-09-26T02:59:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > [_tosses her Penthouse forum, first thing_ \*\* Sounds like the start of a good white Elephant to me:) ---
**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 26, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164/40 "2001-09-26T03:20:48Z")
I’ve got it! #5 is the Cliff Notes of _Julius Caesar!_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nightstand-challenge/83164.md?page=3)