# Whatcha Readin' Dec 2010 Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466 "2010-11-30T21:36:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/81 "2010-12-25T21:08:36Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > You know not opening these spoilers is killing me. Especially since I’m not even close to finishing _The Magic Mountain_ yet. Ah, sorry about that. I’ll refrain from posting further possible temptations. In the meantime, my reading stack grew today with the additions of _Life_ by Keith Richards, _Freedom_ by Jonathan Franzen, _The Gates_ by John Connolly, _Pirates of the Levant_ by Arturo Perez-Reverte, and _The Gendarme_ by Mark Mustain. I don’t know how I’ll pick which one to start first. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/82 "2010-12-26T02:27:42Z")
A colleague and my wife have both given up on _Freedom_ by Jonathan Franzen as too dense, plodding and depressing. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/83 "2010-12-26T03:29:09Z")
> [@I'm Not Dennis Bergkamp](#): > > The only Brookmyre I’ve read so far is his first, _Quite Ugly One Morning_. It was excellent, though I think Brookmyre’s strengths were more in dialogue and characterization as opposed to plotting. Good to hear the others are equally good–I’ll be sure to put them on The List. I agree. The plot of _Be My Enemy_ is pretty far-fetched, and serves as an awkward way place the characters in a particular contrived scenario, but I was too busy enjoying the action and the dialogue to be much annoyed. The third Parlabane book, _Boiling a Frog_, is my favorite so far - I have one more to go. > [@TheMerchandise](#): > > I’ve finished Last Argument of Kings. The ending was bittersweet, with a serious emphasis on the “bitter.” Still, excellent fantasy series and one I highly recommend. I \*loved \*the ending of that trilogy - at least, I did after taking some time to reflect on it. I got a new Kindle for Christmas! I also got two book gift cards - one for Barnes & Noble, and one for Borders. From relatives who knew I was getting a Kindle. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/84 "2010-12-26T06:18:30Z")
_A Heinlein Trio_, by…Heinlein! I’ve never read much Heinlein before and I just finished _The Puppetmasters_. Oooh, mind-controlling slugs from outer space! Blech! Great story! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/85 "2010-12-26T06:20:03Z")
> [@I'm Not Dennis Bergkamp](#): > > Ah, sorry about that. I’ll refrain from posting further possible temptations. > > In the meantime, my reading stack grew today with the additions of _Life_ by Keith Richards, _Freedom_ by Jonathan Franzen, _The Gates_ by John Connolly, _Pirates of the Levant_ by Arturo Perez-Reverte, and _The Gendarme_ by Mark Mustain. I don’t know how I’ll pick which one to start first. S’okay. I have self control. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2010, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/86 "2010-12-26T11:38:56Z")
I got a ton of books for Christmas and about 180 bucks in Borders cards. Woohoo, it was a good Christmas. ---
**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 26, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/87 "2010-12-26T13:05:03Z")
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying (from the library) Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. I’m just to the Bombing of Wake Island and just amazed at this guy’s life. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/88 "2010-12-26T16:40:40Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I’ve been thoroughly enjoying (from the library) Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. > > I’m just to the Bombing of Wake Island and just amazed at this guy’s life. Wiki says Nicolas Cage may star in a movie based on him: [Louis Zamperini - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Zamperini) ---
**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 27, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/89 "2010-12-27T12:50:37Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Wiki says Nicolas Cage may star in a movie based on him: [Louis Zamperini - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Zamperini) WHAT! OH DEAR GOD NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! And I like Cage to an extent, but holy dogcrap, batman. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/90 "2010-12-27T13:24:26Z")
I’m reading _The Ask_, by Sam Lipsyte. It’s a funny novel about people like me – overeducated, fortyish, new father, rather pathetic in some ways but generally happy and observant. I’m looking forward to enjoying these Xmas gifts: _Blind Descent_, by James Tabor (about the craft of cave exploration), and the Yale Press _Anthology of Rap_. To the Doper just plunging into _Gödel, Escher, Bach_: Have fun! It’s amazing how much of the material is fresh today, despite evolving computer technology. Don’t get too hung up on the tougher theoretical mathematics – I’m terrible at that stuff, but I still enjoyed every chapter, and digested what I could. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/91 "2010-12-27T22:59:14Z")
Finished “The Botany of Desire” by Michael Pollan. It was a worthy predecessor to “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” I can also see at the end what led from the former to latter. I didn’t see the connection before. I didn’t read it fast enough though, because I had to return “Full Dark, No Stars,” along with two other books I didn’t get to enjoy, to the library today. Instead of the Stephen King, I will read “Game Change” next. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/92 "2010-12-28T04:13:06Z")
Still enjoying _Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell_. Just as if Jane Austen wrote a Harry Potter book - crisp dialogue, Regency social niceties, drawing-room politics and witty asides. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/93 "2010-12-28T04:50:58Z")
Your top ten books of the year?: [Top ten reading picks for 2010 - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=590736) ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/94 "2010-12-28T19:04:33Z")
I just finished a collection of “humorous” advice given by comedians in [The Believer’s _You’re Horrible, But I Like You._](http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Horrible-Person-But-Like/dp/0307475239/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293561636&sr=1-3) It’s either a really short read or I tried to get through it as fast as possible. The comedy was too hard without a “straight man”. The advice questions sought tried to be wacky and it’s hard to give funny advice to wacky questions. It smacks of overkill. There were a couple bright spots, the following exchange was one of my favorites. > [@](#): > > Dear Lizz: > What happens when you throw a green rock into the Red Sea? > Esther > Decatur, IN > > Dear Esther: > Like all rock throwing in the region, it will be greated with Israeli rocket fire and sanctions. > Lizz (Winstead) Unfortunately, the clunkers were too many to enjoy the occasional gems. I just started [Paul Mooney’s _Black is the New White_](http://www.amazon.com/Black-New-White-Paul-Mooney/dp/1416587969/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293562575&sr=8-1). And on deck is [_Schrodinger’s Cat Trilogy_ by Robert Anton Wilson.](http://www.amazon.com/Schrodingers-Trilogy-Robert-Anton-Wilson/dp/0440500702/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293563048&sr=1-5) ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/95 "2010-12-28T23:13:25Z")
I received the latest Stephen King, _Full Dark, No Stars_ for Christmas, and finished it the day after (very convenient to have, we were essentially snowed in here in NYC). I think fans of classic King will be pleased with it, there was no smucking, no one was hit by a van, etc. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/96 "2010-12-28T23:24:37Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Finished Bryson’s “At Home”, which was entertaining and informational. Now reading “The Plague of Doves”. Finished “The Plague of Doves”. Now reading Bryson’s “Notes From a Small Island”. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/97 "2010-12-28T23:31:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Finished “The Plague of Doves”. Did you like it? I didn’t, really. While I do like her writing, the style of the book I found boring and I was slow to develop interest in the stories, even though the stories were interesting to a point. I’m now reading _High Tide In Tucson_- a collection of essays by Barbara Kingsolver. I am liking it, mostly because I live in Tucson and she talks about it and the desert. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/98 "2010-12-29T02:17:08Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > I received the latest Stephen King, _Full Dark, No Stars_ for Christmas, and finished it the day after (very convenient to have, we were essentially snowed in here in NYC). I think fans of classic King will be pleased with it, there was no smucking, no one was hit by a van, etc. What’s “smucking”? ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/99 "2010-12-29T02:51:34Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > What’s “smucking”? A made-up word he used in a recent bomb, _Lisey’s Story_. It’s nearly unreadable. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466/100 "2010-12-29T03:18:39Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > Did you like it? I didn’t, really. While I do like her writing, the style of the book I found boring and I was slow to develop interest in the stories, even though the stories were interesting to a point. > > I’m now reading _High Tide In Tucson_- a collection of essays by Barbara Kingsolver. I am liking it, mostly because I live in Tucson and she talks about it and the desert. Not particularly. My wife checked it out of the library and I had nothing else to read until the Bryson book came in. She went a long way around the block to write a story about how lives intertwine, and some of it was downright stupid. Luckily, it was a fast read. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-dec-2010-edition/562466.md?page=6)