# Whatcha readin' gang? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130 "2004-09-12T13:13:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/21 "2004-09-12T17:52:18Z")
Robots of Dawn and Naked Sun (Asimov) Re-reading the book that inspired my name change - Thief of Time. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/22 "2004-09-12T18:54:32Z")
Will Durant, **The Story of Civilization, Volume 3: Caesar and Christ**. Harold Bloom (ed.), **The Best Poems of the English Language**. Thomas O. White, **LSAT Success**. Richard Chizmar and Robert Morrish (eds.), **October Dreams: A Celebration of Halloween**. ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/23 "2004-09-12T19:23:06Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > **Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs** by Chuck Klosterman, the author of Fargo Rock City. Subtitled “A Low Culture Manifesto” he plumbs the depths of Saved by the Bell, Sugar-Coated Kiddie Cereals, the Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the '80’s, Billy Joel’s music and other landmarks (notice I don’t say high points) of the past 25 - 30 years and draws very funny connections and insights from them… You know, I’m just shocked that I haven’t heard more buzz about this book (maybe I’m just not clued in?). I thought it was fantastic, especially (only?) for American males born between 1968 - 1978 (of which I am certainly an example). But for those in that cohort, it feels like the book was written not just about us, but specifically FOR us; I felt as I was reading it that the book was almost written directly to me. So many of the anecdotes, attitudes, etc. struck a chord. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/24 "2004-09-12T19:25:59Z")
Hey **Walloon** , I’m reading _Caesar and Christ_ too! (Well, it’s kind of on hiatus at the moment, I got distracted. But I’ll get to it again after Tuesday.) Currently I’m reading way too many things. I’m doing a presentation on religious books at church Tuesday evening, so I have all these piles of books everywhere and keep opening them up. But for reals, reading all the way through: _Traveling Mercies_, by Anne Lamott. Or I was, last night, until it disappeared. I can’t find it anywhere, argh! It’s pretty great. _The Pilgrim’s Progress_, as the current item in my classics reading project. _The Bookman’s Promise_, a bookdealer murder mystery. ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/25 "2004-09-12T19:30:13Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Sundays are my “deep” reading day … usually non-fiction … often religion related Have you read **Constantine’s Sword** by James Carrol? Subtitled “The Church and the Jews – A History”, it weaves a thorough accounting of this complex history with a very personal story of the author’s own thoughts and experiences. Quite a read. On a completely different note, I also just read a couple of Ruth Reichl’s memoirs ( **Tender at the Bone** and **Comfort me with Apples** – she led an incredible life and she combines a rich eye for detail with an evocative storytelling approach. And of course – as per my last post – if you are around 30ish American male, you MUST read **Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs** but otherwise you might find it bewildering and pointless. ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/26 "2004-09-12T21:56:17Z")
Quicksilver: Neal Stephenson – hi Carcosa – been reading this for over a week now, not as fast as I usually get through books but well worth it all the same. ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/27 "2004-09-12T22:23:57Z")
I’m reading **Dhalgren** by Samuel Delany because there were so many conflicts of opinion about it in the 100 Sci-Fi Books thread. I thought I’d be in the “hates it” camp, but I’m entertained. Haven’t finished it yet, though, and apparantly that’s the hard part. ZJ ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/28 "2004-09-12T22:34:54Z")
For school, I’m reading the play [_Fefu And Her Friends_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/155554052X/qid=1095028273/sr=ka-2/ref=pd_ka_2/104-5666170-9183900) by Maria Irene Fornes. I will finish it tonight, along with [_Mud_ and _Sarita_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0933826834/qid=1095028273/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-5666170-9183900). Class isn’t until Thursday night, but I prefer to get the reading done on weekends so I don’t have to worry about doing homework during the week. Luckily, these are short plays. 🙂 For fun, I’m reading _Blow Fly_ by Patricia Cornwell. I’ve read most of her stuff, and was pleased to see a “new” paperback of hers at the store last week. Next up is _Split Second_ by David Baldacci, another author I read regularly. I’m a sucker for thrillers. 😃 > [@Khadaji](#): > > Currently I’m reading a Dean Koontz novel “The Face.” Koontz in generally an easy read for me and usually finish him in a day or two, but this one didn’t catch me. Heh…I found _The Face_ to be one of his better recent novels, and I finished it pretty quickly. Go figure. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/29 "2004-09-12T23:33:33Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > … > > **Fire from Heaven** by Mary Renault - an historical novel, the first in a series about Alexander the Great. Do you have, or plan to get the other two? I find **Persian Boy** exceedingly poignant. No more comments, 🙂 spoilers, ya know. > [@](#): > > I just finished the **Masters of Rome** series by Colleen McCullough (starts with The First Man in Rome - it is big, and getting comfortable with the Roman characters’ names is tough at first, but historical fiction just doesn’t get any better). Anyway, I loved that and so thought I’d give this a try since it is also very highly regarded. Really? I like Lindsay Davis, but haven’t found any other ancient Rome-set novels that turned me on. OTOH, I haven’t tried McCullough. I just reread Poul Anderson’s **Operation Chaos** , and am now close to finishing **Operation Luna** (the many years later written sequel). Then I’ll go back to reading Islamic history for a while. ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/30 "2004-09-12T23:34:41Z")
> [@fighting ignorant](#): > > And of course – as per my last post – if you are around 30ish American male, you MUST read **Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs** but otherwise you might find it bewildering and pointless. I actually looked this up on amazon after seeing **Wordman’s** description and so I picked it up earlier today and just came on to say how much I’m enjoying it so far. It really hits the spot right now too. I’m very lonely for my generation. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/31 "2004-09-13T00:06:39Z")
I’ve been reading the (Star Trek) _Deep Space Nine Companion_ off and on for the past couple weeks. It’s an episode by episode guide to the series with lots of behind the scenes information and interviews with cast, crew, and guest stars. Great book. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/32 "2004-09-13T00:11:16Z")
I quit _Masters of Rome_ with _Fortune’s Favorites_. I just got tired of them abruptly. Right now I’m re-reading some of my favorite comfort books, like _O Jerusalem_ from Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series. Once I stifle my Sherlock Holmes canon side, I enjoy these books immensely. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/33 "2004-09-13T01:13:08Z")
I’m rereading _The Saskiad_ by Brian Hall, because I recently nabbed a used copy and foolishly read the first few pages and couldn’t put it down. It’s a hardbound book, and I refuse to lug them around, so it’s my at-home book. I’m “supposed” to be reading _The Big Time_ by Fritz Leiber because I’m working my way though the Hugo Award novels. Bleh. Snoresville. But it’s a slim paperback that fits in my purse, so it’s my out-and-about book. I’m sticking with it because I wasn’t too thrilled with the beginning of _The Demolished Man_, but that really took off about halfway through. My fingers are crossed. Next, _A Case of Conscience_ by Blish, and after that I’m quite eager to get to _Canticle for Leibowitz_, **Nightwatch**! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/34 "2004-09-13T01:20:17Z")
> [@Harimad-sol](#): > > I quit _Masters of Rome_ with _Fortune’s Favorites_. I just got tired of them abruptly. Right now I’m re-reading some of my favorite comfort books, like _O Jerusalem_ from Laurie R. King’s Mary Russell series. Once I stifle my Sherlock Holmes canon side, I enjoy these books immensely. I enjoy King’s work and have O Jerusalem in the queue. They are not fantastic, but they aren’t bad. You might try _Some Danger Involved_ for a Holmesian feel. It was not bad. I am going to try _The Night Calls_, which promises to also have a nice Holmesian feel, but have decided that I will let Mom buy it for me for Xmas. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/35 "2004-09-13T01:26:08Z")
I’m just starting **The System of the World** , the last book in Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle. It will be in bookstores the end of the month. ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/36 "2004-09-13T01:27:11Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Just finished **The Stone Angel** by Margaret Laurence (loved it) Great book. Have you read any other of the Manawaka series? If not, get thee to a book store and find _The Diviners_. I picked up Rohinton Mistry’s _Such a Long Journey_ today, and am also re-working my way through _Green Grass, Running Water_ by Thomas King, which I last read in grade eleven. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/37 "2004-09-13T01:27:21Z")
I’ll check the library, **Khadaji**. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/38 "2004-09-13T12:10:01Z")
Right now I’m in yet another rereading of **Brave New World** , in lieu of a number of other books begun and not finished: **The Picture of Dorian Gray Gormenghast** trilogy **The Tipping Point** by Malcolm Gladwell Instead of getting back to started reading (well maybe I’ll start up with **Tipping Point** again), I’m thinking of taking [Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0465026567/qid=1095077276/sr=8-1/ref=pd_cps_1/002-2119586-1203218?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) by Douglas Hofstadter with me to a two-week training/orientation session in a week. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Derfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lord\_Derfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Derfel)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/39 "2004-09-13T12:56:14Z")
I’m working my way through all 8 volumes of _The Bandy Papers_ by Donald Jack. They are the fictional memoirs of a Canadian pilot, in which he flies with the RAF in WWI, fights communists in the Soviet Union, becomes a Hollywood actor and a Member of Parliament, forms an Air Force for the Indian state of Jamjarh, and joins the RCAF in WWII. The entire series is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130/40 "2004-09-13T13:02:52Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > **BiblioCat** – hope you love _The Crimson Petal and the White_ as much as I did. Do a search when you’re done – we had a thread on it about a year ago that I thought was pretty interesting. Thanks, I’ll be sure to look for it. I’d heard a lot about it, especially here in these “Whatcha Reading?” threads that I just had to get it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/264130.md?page=3)