# Whatcha Readin' August 2012 Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986 "2012-07-31T19:52:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**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:** [August 19, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/121 "2012-08-19T02:03:29Z")
> [@wonderlust](#): > > There are actually 4 published books in the Bangkok Sonchai Jitpleecheep Series, and a fifth to be published in January – just in case you want to read more of them. I’d not heard of a fourth book, so I looked up John Burdett’s Wikipedia page and see it’s _The Godfather of Kathmandu_. I knew about that book but did not realize it’s part of the series. When it came out a couple of years ago, it was universally panned as crap, so I didn’t bother to pick it up. No one mentioned it being part of the series, so I thought he’d just gone off on another story. Have you read it? How is it? ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/122 "2012-08-19T02:30:04Z")
I am reading [my own book](http://www.amazon.com/Your-Babys-Best-Shot-Vaccines/dp/144221578X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344609148&sr=8-1&keywords=stacy+herlihy) and letting out a purr of extreme satisfaction every few minutes. I am also reading _Boomerang_ by Michael Lewis and \*Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All: A New Zealand Love Story \*by Christine Thompson. My book is the straight dope on vaccines. I am picking it apart here and there but I am mostly extremely satisfied with it. The Lewis book is about the fiscal meltdowns around the world and quite charming. His piece on Iceland is funny, sad and marvelously insightful. The Thompson book is a fascinating look at the history and culture of a place nearly all of us will probably only visit in books. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/123 "2012-08-19T02:33:46Z")
I’m now about 1/4 of the way into Joseph Conrad’s \*\*\*Lord Jim. \*\*\*To date, it’s the only Conrad story I’ve read that I’m actually liking. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/124 "2012-08-19T03:42:21Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’d not heard of a fourth book, so I looked up John Burdett’s Wikipedia page and see it’s _The Godfather of Kathmandu_. I knew about that book but did not realize it’s part of the series. When it came out a couple of years ago, it was universally panned as crap, so I didn’t bother to pick it up. No one mentioned it being part of the series, so I thought he’d just gone off on another story. > > Have you read it? How is it? I have not read it. I hadn’t heard anything about it. I have it on Kindle, but won’t rush to read it if it’s bad. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/125 "2012-08-19T06:27:18Z")
> [@wonderlust](#): > > I have not read it. I hadn’t heard anything about it. I have it on Kindle, but won’t rush to read it if it’s bad. If you do read it, please let me know how it is. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/126 "2012-08-19T07:29:31Z")
_Footfall_ by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle - I’m 1/4 through and liking it a lot so far. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/127 "2012-08-19T20:56:41Z")
I’ve started reading Rachel Maddow’s “Drift.” It’s really interesting so far, I’m only 3 chapters in. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/128 "2012-08-19T21:23:37Z")
I finished _The Trinity Game_ by Sean Chercover. It was a “supernatural” thriller - not with demons or ghosts - instead with a religious con-man who suddenly appears to have gained the power of prophesy. His nephew, a Catholic Priest is sent to debunk his miracles. It was fast-paced and original, but a let down at the end. I’m not sure how he could have finished it in a way that wouldn’t have been, though. The writing was good enough that I think I will try his PI series (of which there are currently two installments.) [Link](http://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Game-Sean-Chercover/dp/1612183182/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345411082&sr=1-1&keywords=trinity) ---
**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:** [August 20, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/129 "2012-08-20T01:53:30Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I am reading [my own book](http://www.amazon.com/Your-Babys-Best-Shot-Vaccines/dp/144221578X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344609148&sr=8-1&keywords=stacy+herlihy) and letting out a purr of extreme satisfaction every few minutes… Congratulations, and thanks for pushing back against the anti-vaccine Luddites. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/130 "2012-08-20T19:28:30Z")
I finished “The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie” by Wendy McClure. I thought it was really great, and I’m definitely happy that I re-read the Little House series beforehand. This was an especially fun read for me because I live six miles from _the_ Walnut Grove (in Tracy). I was nodding along when they were talking about how long it took for the train to get from Walnut Grove to Tracy. That was a head-scratcher for me when I was reading “By the Shores of Silver Lake.” I’ve been on this journey for the past month so I’m kind of at a loss for what to do next. I’m torn between “Gone Girl” and “The Dog Stars.” I’m also contemplating something by Krakauer—“Under the Banner of Heaven” or “Into Thin Air.” ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/131 "2012-08-20T19:40:47Z")
**yellowval** , I’m reading [Gone Girl](http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Girl-Novel-Gillian-Flynn/dp/030758836X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345491415&sr=8-1&keywords=gone+girl) right now and am enjoying it. It’s a lively mystery with the chapters alternating between husband and wife. Both of them are terribly exasperating, and you want to yell at 'em both, but I really, really want to see where this ends up. I’m about 30% of the way through, I think. It’s definitely worth reading. Krakauer’s worth reading too; both of the books you mention are great. _Under the Banner of Heaven_ got me angry at organized religion (and at misogyny in general) - it’s really affecting. _Into Thin Air_ is more of a straight-up non-fiction adventure retelling. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/132 "2012-08-20T19:46:46Z")
Yeah, I’m thinking “Gone Girl” is probably the way to go. I’m feeling like something a little more modern and fast-paced than what I’ve been reading. “Under the Banner of Heaven” has been on my to-read list for approximately forever now. I’ll get to it someday! Right now “Into Thin Air” is more intriguing to me. Everest has been on my mind since reading a thread here earlier this summer. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/133 "2012-08-20T20:34:35Z")
Just finished _ **Animal Farm** _; just started Luc Sante’s _ **Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York** _. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/134 "2012-08-20T20:43:58Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > I’m also contemplating something by Krakauer—“Under the Banner of Heaven” or “Into Thin Air.” I liked _Under the Banner of Heaven_, but I loved _Into Thin Air_. I was absolutely glued to it, like reading-by-flashlight-until-3am glued. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/135 "2012-08-20T21:59:26Z")
> [@Rollo\_Tomasi](#): > > I liked _Under the Banner of Heaven_, but I loved _Into Thin Air_. I was absolutely glued to it, like reading-by-flashlight-until-3am glued. I had a similar experience with both books. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/136 "2012-08-20T22:03:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Congratulations, and thanks for pushing back against the anti-vaccine Luddites. Thank you. I expect the anti-vax nuts to start poking me with the pitchforks any second now. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/137 "2012-08-20T23:46:53Z")
R’hllor help me, I thought “I’m curious what happens next on the HBO show, I’ll just check out the free Kindle sample of _A Storm of Swords_ . . .” Three days later I’ve bought it and compulsively read, and I’m still only about halfway through it! Yet for all his verbosity, George is definitely delivering on major plot developments. _Must find out what happens next!_ ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/138 "2012-08-20T23:50:33Z")
Finished _Game Change_ about the 2008 US presidential election. Still reading _Under the Banner of Heaven_. I find it a tough read because it’s so disturbing. Currently reading 8 books, I think. _sigh_ I have the attention span of a gnat. _Down the Rabbit Hole_ is the one at the forefront of my mind right now. I started _Three Men in a Boat_ a couple of months ago and was cruising along until I reached a moment with a racist line. It was late, so I stopped reading for the night and… I haven’t been able to go back to it. It felt innocent and fun and now feels a little grimy. ---
**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:** [August 21, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/139 "2012-08-21T00:02:28Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > …Krakauer’s worth reading too; both of the books you mention are great. _Under the Banner of Heaven_ got me angry at organized religion (and at misogyny in general) - it’s really affecting. _Into Thin Air_ is more of a straight-up non-fiction adventure retelling. Agreed on all counts. Read 'em both, liked 'em both, but for different reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/140 "2012-08-21T01:17:46Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > I’m reading _John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life_, by Paul C. Nagel. So far it’s good. It’s focusing very tightly on his personal life, with only brief mentions of the larger events that are taking place around him. It has a very negative take on Abigail Adams, calling her “a calamity as a mother”. > > I’ve also just started _The Long Ships_, which is a Viking adventure novel written in the 1940’s by Swedish author Frans G. Bengtsson. The introduction is by Michael Chabon, who swears that the book is \*really \*good. So far it’s quite funny. _The Long Ships_ turned out to be a great read, very funny all the way through. Supposedly the historical background (vikings in Europe around the year 1000 AD) is quite accurate, not that I’d know the difference. The John Quincy Adams biography was also good. I watched the movie \*Amistad \*over the weekend just to see Anthony Hopkins’s portrayal of the elderly Adams. I just read Jo Walton’s _Tooth and Claw_, which would have been a rather ordinary Victorian-era romantic novel, except that it features dragons instead of people. Dragons wearing hats and riding in carriages. Bachelor dragons worrying about their investments and being frustrated by their in-laws. Maiden dragons fending off improper proposals and worrying whether their dowry is sufficient to attract a husband. It was wonderfully weird. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986.md?page=8)