# What book are you reading? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509 "2002-03-28T04:25:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/21 "2002-03-28T14:47:19Z")
_The Little Book of Neuroses_ by Michael Thomas Ford. This one is not as light-hearted as his earlier essay collections. It’s still funny, but sometimes he get much more serious. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/22 "2002-03-28T15:04:39Z")
I have a pile of books (some of them galleys from work) I am delving into right now: “The Barbary Coast,” a red-hot 1933 history of that area. “A Single Woman,” a 1930 novel about WWI by John Monk Saunders (who also wrote “Wings”). Marion Fowler’s new “biography” of the Hope Diamond—v. entertaining and well written. Carl Hiaasen’s new “Basket Case.” Never read him before, but Ukulele Ike recommends him. Also just bought, from Edw. R. Hamilton, a huuuuge illustrated history of the 19th century, and a collection of newspaper front pages of famous crimes, from the late 1600s through 2000. ---
**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:** [March 28, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/23 "2002-03-28T15:34:39Z")
I just finished “Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister” which the esteemed **magdalene** sent to me. I need to begin “Ice Bound” for my book club (it’s the story of the female doctor in Antarctica) but… I just started a book I found on the “new” shelf at the library written by a guy who went to a Little Persons conventions. He wrote an article about dwarves for Esquire but then turned it into a book. Quite interesting. It’s called “In the Little World: A True Story of Dwarves, Love, and Trouble” ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/24 "2002-03-28T15:45:34Z")
I’ll finish _Guns, Germs, and Steel_ tonight. Up next: Either _Why People Believe Weird Things_ or _The Map That Changed The World_. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/25 "2002-03-28T15:45:38Z")
_Coming Soon!!!_ by John Barth. The man is amazing. After that, I plan to reread some R.A. Lafferty, including _Past Master_ ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/26 "2002-03-28T15:51:53Z")
Rereading The Thorn Birds (for the umpteenth time) by Colleen McCullogh. Just finished The Dark Tower series again by Stephen King. Tried to read the new Dean Koontz book, One Door Away From Heaven. I couldn’t believe how slow it was…not up to his usual par at all. I had to give it up. Next on my list…the new Stephen King anthology, Eventual something. It’s sitting on my bed shelf…can’t wait!! ---
**Author:** ![cagiva650](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cagiva650](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cagiva650)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/27 "2002-03-28T16:07:03Z")
Im reading two books that were recommended by dopers, _Good Omens_ and _Perfect Vehicle_ ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/28 "2002-03-28T16:56:20Z")
I’m reading **Earth** by David Brin and **Monster** by Jonathan Kellerman. I’m finding **Earth** tough to read, and I’ve been reading other books along with it so I feel that I’m actually accomplishing something 🙂 Mike ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Fluffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/29 "2002-03-28T18:16:02Z")
I’m reading Bill O’Reilly No spin zone. Not as good as his first book tho! ---
**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:** [March 28, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/30 "2002-03-28T18:34:21Z")
Arturo Perez-Reverte’s The Nautical Chart, which I should finish tonight. And then I’ll be out of books, unless I reread The Hobbit and my ancient Lord of the Rings, which may actually fall to bits if I open the pages. I may start Mann’s The Magic Mountain if I can find a used copy. Anybody here read Michael Malone? ---
**Author:** ![Zanshin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e274bd/32.png) [@Zanshin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zanshin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/31 "2002-03-28T19:18:23Z")
I’m in the middle of **The Brothers Karamazov** by Dostoyevsky and **Five Hundred Years After** by Steven Brust, and just finished up Terry Pratchett’s **Hogfather**. And BTW, **Eve** , you’re gonna love Carl Hiaasen - that guy is absolutely fantastic! If you like **Basket Case** , I’d recommend **Skin Tight** and **Double Whammy** as followup reads. Great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/32 "2002-03-28T21:41:08Z")
Once I get home, I’ll probably either hit _The Toynbee Convector_ (Bradbury) or the history of Ms. magazine that I got out of the library (can’t remember title). Anyone read Nicholson Baker’s _Double Fold_ yet? I’ve checked it out but haven’t started it yet. ---
**Author:** ![kase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@kase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kase)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/33 "2002-03-28T21:58:01Z")
Kathy’s dochter [Kathy’s daughter] by Tim Krabbè\* nb. Krabbè is the writer of “The Vanishing”. Both movies. \* and Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and other stories by Oscar Wilde. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/34 "2002-03-28T22:37:08Z")
How I wish I could have the ‘luxury’ of reading what I want ( a good dose of Oscar Wilde would be heaven right now). I’ve got two essays due in just after the easter break, and so my reading material at the moment is: The Hidden Welfare State: Christopher Howard Ideology and Social Welfare: George and Wilding In Defence of the Welfare State: (ed) Wilding and funnily enough, The Welfare State Reader: (eds) Pierson and Castles. And of course, INNUMERABLE articles and stuff off the web. Which is why I’m here mucking around on the board. 'Cos I’m delaying the inevitable. And I’m lazy. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/35 "2002-03-28T22:50:51Z")
I’m reading _Peace_ by Gene Wolfe at the moment. - I’m a Wolfe man, I’ll read anything by Gene. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/36 "2002-03-28T23:04:29Z")
Find a Victim by Ross MacDonald. Probably a better author then Chandler and D. Hammett. Good stuff. _-me_ ---
**Author:** ![Novus\_Opiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Novus\_Opiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novus_Opiate)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/37 "2002-03-28T23:40:28Z")
The Worthing Saga by Orson Scott Card Up next: Inferno by Larry Niven and James Pournelle ---
**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:** [March 28, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/38 "2002-03-28T23:48:10Z")
Currently reading Bill Bryson’s _In a Sunburned Country_, his travel book about Australia. It was a lot of fun at the outset, but I’m past a hundred pages now, and he’s starting to repeat his jokes the way he always does (“Ooooh! Scary spiders! Sure hope one doesn’t bite me and poison me to death!”), so I may put it aside soon. I’ve been dipping into Jacques Barzun’s 1951 _Pleasures of Music: A Reader’s Choice of Great Writing About Music and Musicians_, which is fun. I’ve re-read some essays by Shaw and Wagner and Stendahl, and I’m looking forward to reading some articles and correspondence by composers. Next up for Passover week: Sabine Hake’s _Popular Cinema of the Third Reich_, which supposedly compares the light entertainments produced by the Nazi Propaganda Ministry to the output of the 1930s Hollywood star system. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/39 "2002-03-29T00:48:09Z")
**Eve** , Hiaasen is one of my favorites, real funny. Enjoy. I’m reading _Catcher in the Rye._ It’s good. It really is. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509/40 "2002-03-29T00:58:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tavalla \* > And I’m trying to get into “Queen of Angels” by Greg Bear, but I’m not having much luck. I love that book, but I remember it as being a slow-starter, too. Keep plugging away. I’m reading _Cryptonomicon_ by Neal Stephenson, and am at the stage where the number of remaining pages is waxing at a dangerous rate . . . I want it to keep going forever! I’m going to be so bummed when it ends. When I’m rich, I’m going to hire a team of goons to kidnap Neal Stephenson, and I’m going to lock him up in my basement and force him to write me forty pages a day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-book-are-you-reading/100509.md?page=3)