# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/141 "2012-08-21T12:33:07Z")
> [@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’m definitely going to read one of them next. I started Gone Girl last night but didn’t get too far in because I had a meeting. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/142 "2012-08-21T16:55:57Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > I’m definitely going to read one of them next. I started Gone Girl last night but didn’t get too far in because I had a meeting. I invite everyone who’s read this book to check out the discussion at Amazon. It’s on the book’s main page (down toward the bottom where the discussions happen) and is titled “Why no real controversy over this book”. This one guy picks the book apart and pretty much refuses to accept that the ending could have happened the way Flynn wrote it, even though **it’s fiction, dumb ass**! I’m reading [The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry](http://www.amazon.com/The-Unlikely-Pilgrimage-Harold-Fry/dp/0449012751/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top). A 65-year-old man walks across England on the spur of the moment to visit a former co-worker/friend who’s dying of cancer. I’ve always been entranced by bucolic/countryside locales where people can walk for miles. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/143 "2012-08-21T17:37:03Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I’m reading [The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry](http://www.amazon.com/The-Unlikely-Pilgrimage-Harold-Fry/dp/0449012751/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top). A 65-year-old man walks across England on the spur of the moment to visit a former co-worker/friend who’s dying of cancer. I’ve always been entranced by bucolic/countryside locales where people can walk for miles. Thanks for reminding me I wanted to read this! ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/144 "2012-08-21T18:23:39Z")
Quite enjoyed my re-read of _ **Needful Things** _ - I think my favorite Stephen King novels are those that focus as much/more on the human flaws & reactions to the supernatural elements than the supernatural elements themselves. (See _Dead Zone_, _11/22/63_ and even _The Stand_, IMHO) Leland Gaunt simply supplied the blasting caps for the dynamite that was inside his customers all along. I’ve lived in small towns and King got that atmosphere down pat. I do feel sorry for the innocent bystanders in Castle Rock - tho I supposed if they were still living there by the time the events of this story rolled around, perhaps Darwin’s Law should be in effect. 😃 ---
**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 22, 2012, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/145 "2012-08-22T01:39:59Z")
Have you read _Misery_? One of my favorite King novels, with no supernatural stuff at all. ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/146 "2012-08-23T17:12:46Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Have you read _Misery_? One of my favorite King novels, with no supernatural stuff at all. Oh yes - LOVE the novel and thought the movie was quite good, too. A great example of King not needing boogymen to write something pretty terrifying. I still can’t hear the term “your number one fan” without a shudder. 🙂 Am about 2/3 through _**[The Long Earth](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13147230-the-long-earth)**_ - Terry Pratchett’s recent collaboration with Stephen Baxter and I’m really enjoying it. The novel feels more traditional SF than what I’m used to with Pratchett (tho there are some phrases/elements that are pure Pterry - having a potato power the Stepper? 😃 ), so I wonder how much of the heavy lifting was Baxter. Once I’m done - anyone have any reccos on where to start with SB’s work? ---
**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 23, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/147 "2012-08-23T17:17:46Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Now I’m back to Michael Connelly, having started _The Last Coyote_. It’s my first read in the Harry Bosch novel but the fourth one in the series. I’ve seen an anthology in our library that may contain the earlier Bosch stories, but it was checked out when I finally went to get it. I think it’s not essential to read these in the exact order though. I read Connelly’s Lincoln Lawyer series somewhat out of sequence, and that was okay. Finished _The Last Coyote_, by Michael Connelly. It was good but not as good as anything in his Lincon Lawyer series. Angst-ridden LA Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch tries to solve the murder of his prostitute mother 33 years before. The angst part was a little over the top, and the story is not as polished as his later Lincon Lawyer series (this book came out in 1995), but again, still a good read. Next up is the next one in the Harry Bosch series, _Trunk Music_. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/148 "2012-08-23T17:28:00Z")
Read Tana French’s latest, _Broken Harbor_. I am a big fan of hers, I enjoyed this a lot … but I will say that for me personally, the central emotional conflict didn’t quite resonate with me as much as some of her previous books have. So very, very good but not my favorite French. I recommend these to people who are okay with the idea that a mystery novel might not completely solve all the aspects of the mystery, and is more focused on the emotional and psychological impact on those involved. And a fun, light YA read … _Keeping the Castle_ by Patrice Kindl. This is a very affectionate send-up of Regency style romances, completely tongue in cheek. On goodreads at least, just about every negative review seems to have been written by someone who wasn’t familiar with the source material. So if you are a fan of this genre, then yes. If you have no interest in Regency, then no. Currently reading a new YA fantasy series (I think it’s supposed to be a series) that starts with _Shadow and Bone_, by Leigh Bardugo. I like the crypto-Slavic setting, it’s a serf type society being menaced by a supernatural invasion, fought by a regular army with a supplement of vaguely wizard-like people. It’s cute despite (because of?) the fact that it’s very YA, in that the female protagonist spends most of her time noticing the brooding/playful/dramatic/whatever good looks of all the other characters. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/149 "2012-08-23T17:49:49Z")
I’m starting _Storm of Swords_. I think I’ll read the next book, but wait till book 5 comes out in PB. ---
**Author:** ![Hrududu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Hrududu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrududu)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/150 "2012-08-23T20:58:14Z")
I just finished Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris. It started off well but just got more and more ridiculous as it went on. Plus the whole book seems to hinge on a twist that’s telegraphed a long way before the end. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/151 "2012-08-23T21:53:13Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > I started Ivanhoe last night, but I’m not sure yet if I’ll stick with it. Couldn’t get into it. Instead I read The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; and now I’ve started The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien. ---
**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 23, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/152 "2012-08-23T22:17:07Z")
Reading Juliet Marillier for the first time. _Wildwood Dancing_. Pretty enjoyable so far, though I have a bad feeling about one of the themes. > [@tellyworth](#): > > Couldn’t get into it. Instead I read The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde; and now I’ve started The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien. _Ivanhoe_ is weird. I read it first as a kid and loved it (there was a movie on TV with Olivia Hussey in it). Now I can’t decide if I still love it or if it’s horrible and ghastly. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/153 "2012-08-23T22:27:44Z")
I slogged through _Creole Belle_, by James Lee Burke, and was, for the first time, disappointed in one of his books. Disappointed enough to post a 3-star review, and three stars is only because I respect his body of work. Tedious, verbose, unbelievable plot and characters. I fear the saga of Dave Robicheau and Cletus Purcell has come to an end. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/154 "2012-08-23T22:38:08Z")
I’m not sure what I should start next. I kinda want to read “Regeneration” by Pat Barker. If not that I was thinking of “Confront and Conceal,” which is about Obama and the use of abnormal force, such as the virus that shut down Iran’s labs. Maybe I’ll go with both…? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/155 "2012-08-23T23:08:01Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Thanks for reminding me I wanted to read this! Finished last night, loved it. Road trip books are becoming my favorite genre. This one is also the story of a marriage, and I like those too, especially if the couple has been together for a long time. Live and learn, from the mistakes of others. Tonight I’ll start the new one by Tim Egan, nonfiction about the life of Edward Curtis, the noted photographer of American Indians in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. After that will be [The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving](http://www.amazon.com/The-Revised-Fundamentals-Caregiving-Novel/dp/1616200391/ref=la_B001JP2P1W_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345763168&sr=1-1), the new one by Jonathan Evison, who wrote _West of Here_, which I really liked. It’s another road trip novel! ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/156 "2012-08-23T23:29:30Z")
Just started [Goliath](http://www.amazon.com/Goliath-Leviathan-Scott-Westerfeld/dp/1416971785/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345764355&sr=8-2&keywords=leviathen) last night. 3rd book in the _Leviathen_ series. YA, steampunk/alternate history series which is a quick, fun read. The fourth book in the _Sandman Slim_ series comes out in a few days so that will be next. ---
**Author:** ![PoorMarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@PoorMarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorMarie)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/157 "2012-08-24T00:28:15Z")
_Ada or Ardor_ by Nabokov. Wish I was way smarter than I am. This man puns in at least three languages and most of them are sexual puns. I’m getting about ten percent of the jokes but it is still one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. ---
**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 24, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/158 "2012-08-24T01:02:03Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > …_Ivanhoe_ is weird. I read it first as a kid and loved it (there was a movie on TV with Olivia Hussey in it). Now I can’t decide if I still love it or if it’s horrible and ghastly. 😃 Isn’t that kinda the definition of a guilty pleasure? ---
**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 24, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/159 "2012-08-24T01:04:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Isn’t that kinda the definition of a guilty pleasure? No, I don’t care if other people know I maybe love it to pieces. I just can’t assess it honestly. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986/160 "2012-08-24T05:38:28Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Reading Juliet Marillier for the first time. _Wildwood Dancing_. Pretty enjoyable so far, though I have a bad feeling about one of the themes. I’ve never read any of her stuff, since it’s totally not my thing at all, but I know the family, and I can verify that Juliet is a Very Nice Person. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-august-2012-edition/629986.md?page=9)