# Whatcha readin' gang? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767 "2006-12-12T01:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/21 "2006-12-12T17:01:08Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] I have all these really good, thought provoking books sitting around waiting for me to read them. Instead, I just cannot seem to keep myself from going through Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books like they’re the last bowl of candy in the world. I’m seriously concerned, because it takes me less than an evening to go through one and even trying to pace myself I’ve still eaten the first six already. ☹ [/QUOTE] I also can’t help but devour those books. They may be easy to read but they are just so funny. Any part with Grandma Mazur is almost certain to have me laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/22 "2006-12-12T18:59:04Z")
Just finished **The Science of James Bond: From Bullets to Bowler Hats to Boat Jumps, the Real Technology Behind 007’s Fabulous Films** , by Lois H. Gresh, Robert Weinberg. Eh. Thought it would be better, somehow… Now reading **Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads** , by Rosalind Wiseman. Don’t even have kids but still find it interesting. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/23 "2006-12-12T19:52:28Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Was reading [_Freddy and Fredericka_](http://www.amazon.com/Freddy-Fredericka-Mark-Helprin/dp/0143037250/sr=8-1/qid=1165927101/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9113828-8453425?ie=UTF8&s=books) (a thinly veiled satire of Chuck and Di), a rollicking comic romp – and realized that if the scene with the prince running around naked, tarred and feathered, and with a fried-chicken box over his head, around the outside of the palace, during the tourist-thronged changing of the guards – if that evoked no more than a polite smile from me, this puppy wasn’t worth reading. [/QUOTE] I agree. I couldn’t get though it, either. If you haven’t read it yet, you might find _Memoir from Antproof Case_ worth your time. Helprin does much better writing as an old coot. I’m reading _Almanac of the Dead_ by Leslie Marmon Silko. So far it’s slow going and depressing, but I’m not far enough along yet to chuck it. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/24 "2006-12-12T20:08:53Z")
I’m rereading **A Breath of Snow and Ashes** by Diana Gabaldon, and I have **On Off** by Colleen McCullough standing by. ---
**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 12, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/25 "2006-12-12T20:15:48Z")
I just put down the autobiographical novel _I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings_ by Maya Angelou, with some relief - really couldn’t get it into it, so I quit after 70 pages. I’m now reading _The Shadow of the Wind_ by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, a literary thriller which despite some good points just isn’t living up to its reviews, alas. Over Christmas, I hope to dive into Doris Kearns Goodwin’s _Team of Rivals_, about Lincoln’s Cabinet during the Civil War. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/26 "2006-12-12T20:24:18Z")
Mostly I’m reading my notes and outlines, with some of other people’s notes and outlines for variety. Also several “Crunchtime” commercial outlines. I’m sorta managing to read Salt: A World History on the side as well. Mostly in the bathroom these days; I’ll get to it in a serious way after exams. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/27 "2006-12-12T20:27:28Z")
I just finished “Small Things Considered” by Henry Petroski. Avoid this book. I’m just getting done with “The Bible Unearthed,” by Finkelstein and Silberman. I find it to be a fairly tough read because of its format, but worthwhile. Unfortunately, I know little about archaeology, so I’m able to read it as critically as I’d like. I’m also reading “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I’m going to hate when I get to the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/28 "2006-12-12T20:30:23Z")
Let’s see. I just finished Jim Butcher’s ‘ **Cursor’s Fury** ’ which I enjoyed. Can’t wait for the next one. I’m halfway through Douglas Clegg’s **Mordred: Bastard Son** , which I hope improves soon. So far I am not very impressed. Mildly intrigued, and still optimistic. I have a lot of books waiting to be read, so I haven’t decided what will be next. Possibly Lois McMaster Bujold’s **‘Palidan of Souls’**. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/29 "2006-12-12T20:54:25Z")
[QUOTE=melondeca] I also can’t help but devour those books. They may be easy to read but they are just so funny. Any part with Grandma Mazur is almost certain to have me laughing. [/QUOTE] Don’t tell anyone, but I might go out and get 7 and 8 tonight. ---
**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 12, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/30 "2006-12-12T21:06:31Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] Don’t tell anyone, but I might go out and get 7 and 8 tonight. [/QUOTE] So… Ranger or Morelli? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/31 "2006-12-12T21:47:31Z")
[QUOTE=koeeoaddi] I agree. I couldn’t get though it, either. If you haven’t read it yet, you might find _Memoir from Antproof Case_ worth your time. Helprin does much better writing as an old coot. [/QUOTE] I thought of you – I know what a fan of his you are. _Antproof Case_ is on my Amazon list – thanks for the recommendation on that. [QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] I’m now reading _The Shadow of the Wind_ by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, a literary thriller which despite some good points just isn’t living up to its reviews, alas. [/QUOTE] I also was disappointed by it, though I did finish it. (Of course, I was traveling, and that was the book I had with me…) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/32 "2006-12-12T22:00:08Z")
[QUOTE=Eleanor of Aquitaine] So… Ranger or Morelli? [/QUOTE] Both! And completely wasted on Stephanie. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767/33 "2006-12-12T22:35:10Z")
[QUOTE=Eleanor of Aquitaine] So… Ranger or Morelli? [/QUOTE] Both, with me in the middle. 😃 Yummy! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-gang/383767.md?page=1)