# Whatcha readin' gang? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554 "2006-06-06T00:16:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ambushed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@ambushed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ambushed)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/81 "2006-06-08T10:23:42Z")
I thank the posters who have included at least _some_ few words about the books they’re reading. Just listing the authors and titles isn’t very useful, I’m afraid, since I’m much more interested in hearing my fellow posters’ views about these books than in reading Amazon or other reviews. I’m currently re-reading Saul Bellow’s masterpiece, [Herzog](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142437298). I’m a compulsive letter writer, and so is Moses Herzog. I can seldom watch a movie or a TV show or read a book without wanting to send the creators or the actors or the characters a letter or two. Except Herzog (unlike me) actually writes them down (though he never sends them). He is a highly literate but minor scholar who is falling apart from the end of his second marriage and the death of his career, and perhaps as part of his attempt to re-integrate himself he writes his letters not only to family and friends, but to great figures both living and dead (oh, how I love his letters to Nietzsche!). It’s the letters, naturally, that I enojy the best. The novel is sometimes so wryly funny you think Woody Allen had a hand in writing it. I’m also most of the way through Pascal Boyer’s fascinating analysis of the evolutionary origins of religion, [Religion Explained](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465006965). The title makes it look like the work of an extremely pompous and self-important scholar, but Boyer’s nothing like that at all. In the early part of the book, the author politely debunks all of the hypotheses and theories of the origin of religion that I’d ever heard or imagined (and there are few things I love more than being shown to be completely wrong about something!) I’m only getting bogged down in the later chapters where he covers material I’m just not that interested in, such as “Why Rituals?” and “Why is Religion about Death?” And I’m slowly plodding through Howard Zinn’s [People’s History of the United States: 1492 to Present](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060838655), but I’m not enjoying it much. It’s a very important work of scholarship that presents American history as lived by the common and/or oppressed people, the people whom history almost always ignores. The official Amazon review states that it’s a lively, readable book, but for some reason, I’m not finding that to be particularly true. Maybe that will change as I read on. For lots of fun and relief from these heavier books, I’m re-reading for the n’th time Kenn Amdahl’s utterly delightful little book about _extremely_ basic electricity and _extremely_ basic electronics, [There Are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0962781592) . I majored in electrical engineering for a while so of course I knew all this material (and much more) long before I picked up this little gem (which is as suitable for 10 year olds as it is fun for electro-phobic adults), but it still makes me smile warmly at it’s educational silliness. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/82 "2006-06-08T12:05:53Z")
Just finished **Jarhead** by Anthony Swofford, which I really liked, then followed that up by re-reading \*\*The Time Traveller’s Wife \*\* by Audrey Niffenegger, which makes me cry every time I read it, and is one of my favourite recent books. I think I might re-read the Iliad and Odyssey and Aeneid next, but I don’t really have the time at the moment (moving house at the end of the month). ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/83 "2006-06-08T12:57:35Z")
[QUOTE=ambushed] In my opinion, anyone who has read books like Pinker’s _How the Mind Works_ (a fine and very valuable book) also needs to read Jerry Fodor’s remarkably incisive review of Pinker’s (and others, such as Tooby and Cosmides) logic in [The Mind Doesn’t Work That Way](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262561468). It is a brilliantly logical analysis from _ **inside** _ the very same community as Pinker, et al. [/QUOTE] Cool! Thanks for the tip! ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/84 "2006-06-08T16:03:04Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] I managed a couple of chapters. I had a hard time suspending disbelief, especially when the fish broke out of its tank and started to talk. :dubious: But a lot of people on the horror boards profess to love the book. You might not like to hear this, but there’s a sequel. A sequel which was necessary because The Rising left some threads hanging. [/QUOTE] It was the zombie baby for me. Also, zombies shouldn’t talk. They be scarier when they just moan and trudge wearily on. (imho) Gosh, thanks for the heads up! Now I’m not sure if I should continue with the book - I bet the hanging threads involve the boy (Danny)…shucks. The only other apocolyptic book I’ve read was _The Stand_ by **Steven King** - which I quite enjoyed until the ending, so I guess I’ll keep looking! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/85 "2006-06-08T16:11:07Z")
Like a few others in this thread, I’m gobbling up Jacqueline Carey’s _Kushiel’s Scion_. But some people would probably guess that of me. 😉 I’m loving every minute of it. Next on the list is the conclusion to Lynn Flewelling’s Tamir trilogy. Not nearly as compelling as the Nightrunner books, and it has been a long time since the second book, but I’m still looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/86 "2006-06-08T16:40:03Z")
[QUOTE=kushiel] Next on the list is the conclusion to Lynn Flewelling’s Tamir trilogy. Not nearly as compelling as the Nightrunner books, and it has been a long time since the second book, but I’m still looking forward to it. [/QUOTE] Is this the trilogy that started with The Bone Doll’s Twin? I’ve been waiting for the third book to be published. After finishing the wonderful **Widows’ Adventures** (thanks **lissener** ), I started a YA fantasy, **The Weirdstone of Brisingamen** by Alan Garner. I like his writing style – simple words can make a nice rhythm. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/87 "2006-06-08T16:58:51Z")
[The Complete Roman Army](http://www.unrv.com/book-review/complete-roman-army.php) by Adrian Goldsworthy. A must-read before the next series of “Rome” starts! [Black Propaganda in the Second World War](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/075094207X/ref=sr_11_1/202-4529934-7847834?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance#product-details) Stanley Newcourt-Nowodworski. Some light reading for the beach. [Kiki Strike Inside the Shadow City](http://www.kikistrike.com/) Yes, it’s a kid’s book. A tweenage girl’s book, in fact. I bought this as an end-of-school-year gift for a friend’s 13 year-old daughter, and I made the mistake of reading the first chapter…I’m really enjoying this. [Buried Treasure: Travels Through the Jewel-Box](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340830123/sr=1-1/qid=1149785718/ref=pd_bowtega_1/202-4529934-7847834?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=books&v=glance#product-details) by Victoria Findlay. Every bit as interesting as her earlier book, “Colour: Travels Through the Paintbox.” ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/88 "2006-06-08T17:00:26Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] I’m working my way through Patrick O’Brian’s [Aubrey-Maturin Series](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey%E2%80%93Maturin_series). I’m on _The Surgeon’s Mate_ today. [/QUOTE] Hah! Me as well. I just bought the 5-vol. boxed set. Right now I’m on Desolation Island, so I’m a couple behind you. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/89 "2006-06-08T17:02:55Z")
> [@](#): > > After finishing the wonderful Widows’ Adventures (thanks lissener), I started a YA fantasy, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. I like his writing style – simple words can make a nice rhythm. There’ a sequel to **The Weirdstone of Brisingamen**. It’s **The Moon of Gomrath**. Garner wrote a couple of other fantasy novels, as well. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/90 "2006-06-08T17:41:42Z")
Thanks, Cal. I’ll look for those. I’ve heard good stuff about Alan Garner. This might be YA, but he’s not writing “down”. I like YA stuff anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rebecca\_DiMwitter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@Rebecca\_DiMwitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebecca_DiMwitter)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/91 "2006-06-08T22:15:52Z")
[QUOTE=BlackHeart] Right now I’m halfway through Chuck Palahniuk’s _Haunted_. I read his _Fight Club_before, so he’s still keeping me interested. Worth a good look, it’s funny, gory, yucky, creepy and very smart. [/QUOTE] Just started this book, and am reading it concurrently with **How To Be Bad** by David Bowker. Palahniuk’s style is similar to Bowker’s, at least in comparison to this book of Bowker’s. I have read nearly everything of Palahniuk’s, and this is my first Bowker, so I might be completely off base here. But so far Bowker’s book is making me want to read everything he’s written as well. Next on the agenda, **Insatiable** by Gael Green. Read a chapter at Barnes & Noble the other day and had to own it! –Beck ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/92 "2006-06-09T01:47:00Z")
I just finished Jim Butcher’s latest ‘Proven Guilty’. Loved it. Before that I was re-reading Megan Whalen Turner’s ‘The King of Attolia’, which is her third, all of which are very good and getting better with every one. Also recently finished ‘Warring States’, the fifth Jurisdiction novel by Susan R. Matthews, a favorite author. ‘The Water Mirror’, by Kai Meyer, was an interesting book. Also Liz William’s ‘The Snake Agent’. ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ by Holly Lisle was fluffy and fun. Almost forgot, I’m halfway through with ‘Children of the Serpent Gate’ by Sarah Ash. Next in line is ‘Lion of Senet’ by Jennifer Fallon and ‘Smoke and Ashes’ by Tanya Huff. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/93 "2006-06-09T13:30:43Z")
I’m re-reading the “Otherland” series - I’m on book 3 now and it’s so much better this time without the long wait between books to resume the story. There were many details and characters that I had forgotton about. [book 1](http://www.tadwilliams.com/volume1.html) [book 2](http://www.tadwilliams.com/volume2.html) The site has gone down and I’m tired of waiting for the links for books 3 and 4. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2006, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/94 "2006-06-09T13:34:11Z")
I just finished re-reading **Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix** , which the first time I read it - in a marathon reading session like everyone else after its release, I just didn’t like it. This time I was leisurely with it and actually enjoyed it all, (ok, even Grawp was still tedious). My opinion of #5 has changed for the better. I’ll be starting on #6 probably today. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/95 "2006-06-09T13:48:59Z")
_Unknown_?! I loved that book as a kid! In fact, despite my love for Miyazaki I refuse to see the movie because I know he just didn’t get it right. Unknown?! I knew a lot of other kids who read it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/96 "2006-06-09T13:51:27Z")
Oh, that was to **Nanoda** on the subject of _Howl’s Moving Castle_. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/97 "2006-06-09T14:08:07Z")
[QUOTE=Zakalwe] Hah! Me as well. I just bought the 5-vol. boxed set. Right now I’m on Desolation Island, so I’m a couple behind you. [/QUOTE] You are going to have to hurry if you want to catch up. I simply can’t put these books down. I knocked out _The Ionian Mission_ in a day and am halfway through _Treason’s Harbor_. I love a good series, but this is ridiculus. ---
**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:** [June 9, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/98 "2006-06-09T15:25:33Z")
[QUOTE=jali] I’m re-reading the “Otherland” series - I’m on book 3 now and it’s so much better this time without the long wait between books to resume the story. There were many details and characters that I had forgotton about. [book 1](http://www.tadwilliams.com/volume1.html) [book 2](http://www.tadwilliams.com/volume2.html) The site has gone down and I’m tired of waiting for the links for books 3 and 4. [/QUOTE] I’m stalled after books 1 and 2. Most of the story is really gripping, but I get bogged down in the more tedious “lands”, like the Oz and Wonderland clones, or the big kitchen with the cartoon Indians. Does the pace pick up in book 3? ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/99 "2006-06-09T15:29:00Z")
The Universe in a Single Atom, by the Dalai Lama Antiquity, by Norman F. Cantor Screenplay, Syn Field (again) ---
**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:** [June 9, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554/100 "2006-06-09T19:32:52Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] _Unknown_?! I loved that book as a kid! In fact, despite my love for Miyazaki I refuse to see the movie because I know he just didn’t get it right. Unknown?! I knew a lot of other kids who read it, too. [/QUOTE] I never heard of or read Howl’s Moving Castle, but I just put it on hold at the library and will remedy the situation ASAP. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/359554.md?page=6)