# Whatcha readin' gang? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 21, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518 "2006-08-21T00:17:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/61 "2006-08-22T02:52:41Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Tort law, contract law, property law, and civil procedure. Yeah, I’m reading a bunch of those m’self, or I will be starting tomorrow. Except subsitute the property for constitutional; I don’t think we hit property until next semester. Whee…! ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/62 "2006-08-22T04:20:03Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I had picked up Guns, Germs & Steel based on the numerous times I’ve seen it cited in General Questions but I’m having a devil of a time getting into it. The premise fascinates me but Jared Diamond’s writing is about as exciting as the back of a shampoo bottle. Yeah, he can be difficult. When I finished _Collapse_, a related book by Jared Diamond, I felt…relieved. Educated, but relieved. Hang in there, it’s worth it; if you decide to also read _Collapse_, give him a rest for 6 months before digging in. I hate giving up on a book, but in the case of Kevin Phillips’ _American Theocracy_, I just had to do it. Interesting theme, but Jesus, whatta doorstop. Way too much historical filler I didn’t give a shit about. Life’s too short. Right now I’m reading _Dogs_, by Raymond and Laura Coppinger. Fascinating tome about the nature of dogs and how they evolved from wolves. Everyone thinks primative men selectively bred wolves until they got tamer and more trainable. Not true, sez the authors; that’s a _huge_ undertaking, one primative tribes wouldn’t be up to. Theory: wolves evolved into dogs when humans started forming permanent settlements and the wolves that were less afraid of humans than other wolves lived and bred along the outskirts of the settlements for the purpose of feeding off of the human’s garbage. The human presence caused the wolves to evolve into dogs, but there was no intentional effort on the part of the humans to do so. They tolerated the dogs because they fed mostly on garbage (they didn’t generally kill live animals), weren’t a threat to the established people, but would bark at night when approached by strangers. Interesting… ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/63 "2006-08-22T05:57:06Z")
> [@Lemur Catta](#): > > Odd. It seems to me as if Mieville rather loves London and cities in general; look at how much New Crobuzon is a character in the novel, after all; that doesn’t seem to me to spring from hatred. But then, he doesn’t shirk from showing his beloved is she is, warts and all, as they say. I think I’m reading in a little from later New Crobuzon books, as well as one of his short stories. You do know that he’s a bit of a Marxist, yes? Not that he hides it or anything. I loved _Perdido St Station_, so much so that I ordered in _King Rat_, his first novel. Wonderfully Marxist, but not much else to reccommend it. What impresses me most about him his his ability to imbue cities with real character, this is where I started making comparisons to Ankh-Morpork: it too, is a city with depth and life. I finished _Galapagos_ today, might pick up _Iron Council_ at work tomorrow. If we don’t have a copy then I am determined to tackle _Theft_. I read a huge amount of Australian children’s fiction, but almost no Australian novels. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/64 "2006-08-22T07:11:40Z")
If he loves his city, why does he describe it as a hideous cesspit with no redeeming qualities whatsoever? Why are all the inhabitants either sadistic monsters or pathetic prolls, wandering through meaningless lives with no better future than a clean death? I have never encountered a fictional city so utterly berefit of hope. Frankly, at this point, I’m rooting for the moths. I find his Marxist amusing, although it causes him to make some assumtions about his readers’ sympathies that aren’t necessarily true in my case. For instance, I happen to think radical journalists are ridiculous, and I don’t automatically assume peoples’ lives are miserable because TPTB are keeping them down. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/65 "2006-08-22T10:51:24Z")
> [@Malienation](#): > > Yeah, he can be difficult. When I finished _Collapse_, a related book by Jared Diamond, I felt…relieved. Educated, but relieved. Hang in there, it’s worth it; if you decide to also read _Collapse_, give him a rest for 6 months before digging in. … _Collapse_ would have benefited greatly from an unfawning editor; it was at least 100 pages too long. I skimmed the last third. But I loooooved _GG&S_. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/66 "2006-08-24T00:30:00Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I am in the middle of [Shadow Man](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553804650/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-5338313-1436642?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance&n=283155) It is from the psychological thriller genre. I have been facinated with this genre since reading The Red Dragon 20 years ago. This one is well-written, but quite dark. If you are a fan of this genre, I recommend it. > > I have many in the queue, but am too lazy to go see what is queued up. OK, Shadow Man was quite good. But as I said, very dark in some places. I confess that I figured it all out rather early, but it was still good. As I said, for fans of the genre, I recommend it, but it is disturbing in places. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/67 "2006-08-24T02:05:40Z")
I just finished **The L-Shaped Room** by Lynn Reid Banks, a good picture of what things were like for an unmarried pregnant woman in the late 50’s. It must have been recommended by someone here, cuz it’s not my usual reading material. It’s almost a chick book. Just prior to that I read **Provinces of Night** , a gritty piece of “southern” fiction by William Gay. This guy has created some characters that really creep me out. In this book, it’s a loony guy who puts hexes on people. I’ve never met a man so hateful. Tonight I’m starting **House of Chains** by Steven Erikson, the fourth Malazan book. ---
**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:** [August 24, 2006, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/68 "2006-08-24T11:18:48Z")
**Dark Side of the Moon** by sherrilyn kenyon. YAY for vampires and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/69 "2006-08-24T11:26:17Z")
The books that had been in boxes for the last year or so. I’m starting with everything from Lois McMaster Bujold. I think there may be one fantasy book of hers I’m missing. ---
**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 24, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/70 "2006-08-24T12:16:43Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > I am reading _The Ruins_, Scott Smith’s second novel. Smith’s first novel, _A Simple Plan_, bowled me over, and I have very high hopes for this one. Can’t read much at a time because of eye problems, but so far it’s quite creepy. I just started on this as well. I also loved A Simple Plan, have high hopes for this one, and am finding it quite creepy. 🙂 However, my slow progress is due to lack of time, not eye problems. I hope your eyes improve! ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/71 "2006-08-24T18:30:31Z")
Estate of Hemingway v. Random House, 23 N.Y. 2d 341. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/72 "2006-08-24T18:37:15Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > Estate of Hemingway v. Random House, 23 N.Y. 2d 341. I’ve heard the ending has a major twist. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/73 "2006-08-24T18:41:40Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > The premise fascinates me but Jared Diamond’s writing is about as exciting as the back of a shampoo bottle. I’m currently reading the back of a shampoo bottle, and have to say that I agree with you that it’s not exciting at all. I just last night finished “The Angel of Darkness” by Caleb Carr. I liked it better than the Alienist (At least I think so, it’s been so long since I’ve read it) but I found it to be pretty wooden. Great story though, I couldn’t put it away until I finished the last 120 pages or so last night. I plan to try to read “The Magic Christian” before classes start next week. ---
**Author:** ![ealaindraoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@ealaindraoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ealaindraoi)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/74 "2006-08-24T21:04:29Z")
It’s amazing to me, how many of the books already mentioned are ones I just finished or intend to read shortly! I just finished Werewolves in Their Youth by Michael Chabon (pretty good short stories) and just started Peaceable Kingdom by Jack Ketchum (so far even better, even shorter stories). Waiting for my daughter to finish The Book Thief so I can read it. Just read The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue - an amazing first novel and my favorite read so far this year. I have John Connolly’s Nocturns waiting for me and Michael Connelly’s The Closers. I have Wicked on the way. I’ve been reading around the edges of Discworld this summer, and just ordered Hogfather because I’ve found I really like Death (as a character), and I’m hoping Hogfather will have lots and lots of Death (and destruction?) So, Pratchett fans, are there any other novels with lots 'o DEATH? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/75 "2006-08-25T00:22:18Z")
I haven’t been able to get to the library for a while. I am rereading my **Wizard of Oz** series. Yes, I have all the books, all the way through _Glinda of Oz_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/76 "2006-08-25T00:56:36Z")
> [@LateComer](#): > > I’m currently reading the back of a shampoo bottle, and have to say that I agree with you that it’s not exciting at all. > > I just last night finished “The Angel of Darkness” by Caleb Carr. I liked it better than the Alienist (At least I think so, it’s been so long since I’ve read it) but I found it to be pretty wooden. Great story though, I couldn’t put it away until I finished the last 120 pages or so last night. I plan to try to read “The Magic Christian” before classes start next week. I just read the **The Italian Secretary** by Carr, and did not enjoy it at all. It is the only book of his that I have read, so it may have been the mishandling of Sherlock Holmes that turned me off. I’ve heard his other books are quite good. ---
**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 25, 2006, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/77 "2006-08-25T11:47:15Z")
> [@ealaindraoi](#): > > Just read The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue - an amazing first novel and my favorite read so far this year. I started to read this one, with high hopes, and I still think it’s probably a good story. However, I have a young son and it just disturbed me so much to think of him lost and unable to come back to me that I couldn’t go on with the book. I could have enjoyed it before I had kids. Damn kids, they ruin everything… ---
**Author:** ![Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@Chance\_the\_Gardener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chance_the_Gardener)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/78 "2006-08-25T16:08:27Z")
Recently I finished **A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan** by Michael Kazin, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and went on to **Take It Back** by James Carville and Paul Begala, which was pretty good. Currently I’m reading **The Commodore** by Patrick O’Brian, the seventeenth book in the twenty-book Aubrey/Maturin series, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. Everything about it has been good so far, but what I find truly compelling is the apparent autism that Stephen Maturin’s daughter has. At least, I think it’s autism; I have no idea how this is going to turn out, or exactly what her condition is. Regardless, it’s incredible that O’Brian is working with such a subject. I’m really going to be sad when I’m out of Patrick O’Brian books to read. After this series, I’ll move onto his other novels, and then that’ll be it. I’m going to miss them terribly. ---
**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 25, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/79 "2006-08-25T17:40:39Z")
I just finished Tanya Huff’s **Summon the Keeper** trilogy. I enjoyed the first two, but I didn’t like the third one as well. I read them back-to-back, so it’s possible that I just should have taken a break before starting the third. I also just finished Kelley Armstrong’s **Bitten** , and I liked it enough that now I have to hunt down the rest of the books in that series. > [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > YAY for vampires and stuff. **Shirley** : I’ve been on a serious vampire/paranormal kick this year. I’ve gone through all of Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, Tanya Huff, Jim Butler, P. N. Elrod, Sherrilyn Kenyon, MaryJanice Davidson, Lynsay Sands, Katie MacAlister, and even some Christine Feehan. Can you recommend any more? > [@Chance the Gardener](#): > > I’m really going to be sad when I’m out of Patrick O’Brian books to read. After this series, I’ll move onto his other novels, and then that’ll be it. I’m going to miss them terribly. **Chance** : I was really sad to finish that series too. In fact, I started reading them over again from the beginning slowly, in between other books. Have you tried Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series, and the Horatio Hornblower books? They’re not as good as O’Brian, but I enjoyed them. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518/80 "2006-08-25T18:02:57Z")
I just finished _The Darkness that Comes Before_ by R. Scott Bakker. It’s the first in a series, and I’m not sure if I’m going to continue it. Before that, I re-read the first 5 books of the Harry Potter series. I’ll read HBP sometime soon, probably. Before that, I read _The Bonehunters_, the sixth book in the Malazan Book of the Fallen. It was excellent, as is the whole series. My only complaint is that now that I’ve read this one, I’ve caught up with the author and will have to wait for him to continue the series. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/369518.md?page=5)