# Time for another "Whatcha readin'?" thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 26, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003 "2002-12-26T18:50:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/61 "2002-12-28T20:57:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*Cool **Kyla**. How’m I gonna return it? \*\* You’re going to have to go to ChiDope in May! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/62 "2002-12-28T22:41:16Z")
\*\*Let Freedom Ring \*\* By Sean Hannity. So far, very interesting and enlightening. ---
**Author:** ![lout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@lout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lout)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/63 "2002-12-28T23:42:04Z")
The Snow Poems (A.R. Ammons) The End of Beauty (Jorie Graham) Themes out of School (Stanley Cavell) Dona Flor and her Two Husbands (Jorge Amado) New Foundations for Psychoanalysis (Jean Laplanche) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/64 "2002-12-29T01:03:08Z")
Just finished **Childhood’s End** by Arthur C. Clarke. Yeah, I got this old without reading that book. I got lucky in one of those Box 'O Books round-robin things and ended up with some classic SF. Next up is **Night Blooming** by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. I don’t read St. Germain novels but this one came free from the publisher. I don’t know why they gave it to me, but it’s the first time I _ever_ got a free book from a publisher and I’m taking it. It’s actually pretty good so far. ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/65 "2002-12-29T01:08:51Z")
Just finished “Why Orwell Matters,” by Christopher Hitchens. Another brilliant work by Hitchens, particularly in his examination of how Orwell’s work has been both emraced and reviled by critics across the political spectrum. Currently reading “Nine Stories,” a collection of shorts by J.D.Salinger. Interesting as a series of character studies rather than narratives. I found “Watchmen” more enjoyable the second time through. ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/66 "2002-12-29T01:16:52Z")
Just finished “Wizard & Glass” (Dark Tower IV), which was -so good- that I’ll probably go back and re-read it soon. I’ve been working on Katherine Graham’s autobiography (reading it in fits and starts); in the mean time, I’ve also read an old Jane Marple of Agatha Christie, “Pocketful of Rye” (hehe, didn’t guess that murderer at all!). I don’t have anything in mind right now, except to go back and re-read some old Stephen King books, which I plan on trying to pick up a few at a used bookstore (the ones I don’t have already that is 😃 I have most of them!). I’m also going to probably re-read some of James Ellroy’s early works–I saw “L.A. Confidential” a few weeks ago and it reminded me of how good his early stuff was (the later stuff is good too, but a bit disjointed and rambling for me, plus it’s even raunchier, if that’s possible!). I’ll pick these up at the used bookstore as well, if I can find em. I do have plans for my income tax refund money…plans that include several regular bookstore purchases, especially “From a Buick 8” by King and the one that someone else mentioned, “Beautiful bones” (?) There are many others I’d like to read as well, and I’ll be making up a list between now and tax return time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/67 "2002-12-29T01:29:01Z")
In the middle of reading Terry Pratchett’s new Discworld Novel, **Night Watch**. Not to let too much out about it, but Sam Vimes goes back in time. AND, we learn some details about what Havelock Vetenari did before he became Patrician. Good fun, as usual from Pratchett. ---
**Author:** ![Liakela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/58f4c7/32.png) [@Liakela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liakela)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/68 "2002-12-29T01:32:23Z")
Currently in the middle of Book 2 of Tad William’s **Otherland** series. Big honkin’ books. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/69 "2002-12-31T16:08:21Z")
I Just Finished Joe Queenan’s “My goodness, a cynic’s guide to sainthood” . I just started Neal Stephensons That Diamond Age. My goal this year: to read 12 new books. I’m a slow reader. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/70 "2002-12-31T16:16:48Z")
I’m sort of halfway through the collected “Lord Darcy” books by Randall Garrett. I don’t know what I’ll read after that - perhaps more Victorian Sci-Fi, perhaps re-read “Godel, Escher, Bach”, perhaps the “Hellboy” novel I got, or maybe something else. (Actually, what I’ve REALLY read lately are a bunch of comics I bought but never read: The Red Star, Promethia (catching up to the present on this tired, snail-paced series - I don’t know why I still buy it), and Ruse. Also some old issues of ‘Doctor Who Monthly’ magazine that a friend left me, but as it gets away from the show and more into the books and audio things I find it too depressing to read.) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/71 "2002-12-31T17:02:02Z")
I just finished reading _Fever Pitch_ by Nick Hornsby. In my pile to be read are _The Worst Journey in the World_ by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, about the ill-fated Scott expedition to the South Pole; _The Miracle of Castel di Sangro_ by Joe McGinniss, about an American author who follows the exploits of lower division Italian soccer club; and _L.A. Confidential_ by James Ellroy. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/72 "2002-12-31T17:02:03Z")
1632 and 1633 . The story of what happens when a small town in West Virginia is transported lock, stock and barrel into the middle of the Thirty Year’s War in Germany. I’ve sped thorugh both books and really like them. Now I am going to start over and read them more slowly, with a map of Europe on the wall by the end of the couch. And there will be more sequels as well, hurrah! Eric Flint authored the first one, and he co-wrote the second with David Weber. If you are into history, or alternate history, these are great books. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/73 "2002-12-31T17:15:58Z")
It sounds like you have a pretty extensive list set up, **Biggirl** , but I’d second _The Lovely Bones_. I’m almost finished with it (got it from my BIL’s mother for Christmas) and I think it’s beautifully written, gruesome and romantic and witty and sad but not in a depressing way. I’m about to start Salman Rushdie’s _Fury_, which I picked up in hardcover at a bookstore here for $6. Before that I read Bruce Campbell’s _If Chins Could Kill_, which if you’re a fan of his work you must read. ---
**Author:** ![Jorel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jorel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorel)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/74 "2002-12-31T17:31:58Z")
May I add another ‘thumbs up’ for J.Diamond’s “the Third Chimpanzee” Right now I am reading “Newjack” by Ted Conover. Non fiction. Guy becomes a prison guard, pardon me, corrections officer at Sing Sing. Excellent reading. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/75 "2002-12-31T17:42:57Z")
I’m reading Bruce Campbell’s _If Chins Could Kill_ right now and enjoying it immensely. The man is amusing and has seen it all (well, not really). Before and after that, I’m reading through some Gene Wolf New Sun and Long Sun books. It’s always entertaining to watch Wolf stretch his muscles. I don’t often read something and literally have no idea where the author is going to wind up. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/76 "2002-12-31T22:29:02Z")
I haven’t read anything recreational for over a year up until 2 days ago when I had some bus and train travelin’ to do. So I grabbed Pratchett’s _The Color of Magic_ and got pretty engrossed in it. (I had read _Small Gods_ a few years ago but I figured it’d be nice to find out where it all started). Oh, and also the OP’s legal MP3 collection 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/77 "2003-01-01T02:54:53Z")
About 1/2 way thru _The Goblet of Fire_ for the first time - re-read the other three to have the background fresh in my mind. After this, I’m reading _Night Watch_ (and champing at the bit to get started!) Also started \* Star Trek: I’m Working on That\* William Shatner with Chip Walter. Subtitled “A Trek from Science Fiction to Science Fact” … am just thru the intro & is pretty amusing so far. We’ll see how the actual explanations go. And since I volunteered myself for [**Jadis’s**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=152853) thread (read 50 books in a year) I have the following – previous SDMB recommendations – checked out from the library and due Jan 27. We’ll see if I need renewals or not. - _The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay_ - Michael Chabon - _“Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman”_ - Richard Feynman - _Girls lean back everywhere : the law of obscenity and the assault on genius_ - Edward De Grazia ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/78 "2003-01-01T03:36:39Z")
Just started “The Wounded Land” by Stephen R. Donaldson yesterday. I’ve been re-reading the whole Covenent series, and after that have 4 new Discworld books to get into. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/79 "2003-01-01T16:26:32Z")
Just starting Steven Brust’s _The Book of Taltos_ (containing _Taltos_ and _Phoenix_). Next on tap after that is all of Zelzany’s _Amber_ novels in one handy doorstop volume, which I’ll be rereading for the first time in years. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003/80 "2003-01-01T19:12:30Z")
Right now almost finished with _The Hobbit_; was tricked into seeing the movie, so I needed to read the book again to purge it from my mind. Next up, _Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry_. It’s a kid’s book, but I recommend it to everyone. Also, a SF short story collection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-for-another-whatcha-readin-thread/145003.md?page=5)