# Whatcha Readin' (July 09) Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 30, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467 "2009-06-30T13:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/61 "2009-07-07T14:05:41Z")
> [@irishgirl](#): > > I’m about halfway through [The Master and Margarita](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_and_Margarita) by Mikhail Bulgakov which is one of the weirdest and best books I’ve ever read. I’ll second or third what others are saying - it’s a must-read. 🙂 I got the annotated version, which was very helpful in explaining his numerous in-jokes and Moscow references - it isn’t necessary to enjoy this wonderful book, but it adds a bit of enjoyment on re-reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/62 "2009-07-07T14:34:16Z")
Just finished [_Eat, Drink, and Be from Mississippi_](http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Drink-Be-Mississippi-Novel/dp/0316009156/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246977100&sr=8-1) by Nanci Kincaid, which I thought was incredibly slow-moving. Now just starting [_Roadside Crosses_](http://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Crosses-Kathryn-Dance-Novel/dp/1416549994/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246977197&sr=1-1) by Jeffery Deaver. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/63 "2009-07-08T16:27:23Z")
Just finished _The Questing of Kedrigern_ by John Morressy. And I have a question I hope you guys can answer. Kedrigern is in a fast food joint in L.A., transported there by magic. He’s puzzled by many things but manages to figure out some stuff – people aren’t actually imprisoned in those speedy things with wheels, etc. Anyway, at the table next to him are three men and each of them is holding what Kedrigern describes as a “green wand”. I’m trying to figure out what those green wands are. What would a modern person have that a wizard would describe as a green wand? The book was published in the mid 80’s so they’re not cell phones (and cell phones aren’t wandy anyway). Any ideas? ---
**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:** [July 8, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/64 "2009-07-08T17:11:18Z")
Oh great, it’s not bad enough that it’s driving you crazy, now it’s driving me crazy too! Btw, I’m really glad I stuck with _The Gone-Away World_ through the first third. We’re getting back to the main plot now and it’s wonderful! I **loved** the romance with Leah, the medieval castle, and the bazaar with the saffron salesman and his wife! And the pirates’ auto derby!!! ---
**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:** [July 8, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/65 "2009-07-08T17:14:56Z")
Plastic forks, knives? ---
**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:** [July 8, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/66 "2009-07-08T17:20:16Z")
Pens? Short wands, I suppose. But why would they all be green? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/67 "2009-07-08T17:43:11Z")
Straws? Chopsticks? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/68 "2009-07-08T18:14:03Z")
**bup** , yeah, maybe straws! That’d explain why they were the same color. Not short wands – the three men weren’t wizards – just normal guys\*. Kedrigern would have recognized a pen. \*Except that they were talent agents who were interested in Keddie’s talking toad. They kidnapped her. Keddie tracked them down and turned them into garter snakes. These books are the most fun I’ve had in years. **wonderlust** , glad you stuck with _Gone-Away World_. ---
**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/69 "2009-07-09T01:04:04Z")
Am in the middle of both [The Black Death 1346-1353: The Complete History](http://www.amazon.com/Black-Death-1346-1353-Complete-History/dp/1843832143/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247101160&sr=1-1) and [Bending the Landscape](http://www.amazon.com/Bending-Landscape-Original-Lesbian-Writing/dp/0879517328/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247101272&sr=1-1). The Black Death book is truly comprehensive and intriguing, though it can get repetitive at times. Somehow these Kedrigern books have escaped my notice…will have to check them out. They’re not like Discworld, are they? Somehow I never quite got into those… ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/70 "2009-07-09T01:48:23Z")
> [@booklover](#): > > Somehow these Kedrigern books have escaped my notice…will have to check them out. They’re not like Discworld, are they? Somehow I never quite got into those… I can’t say – I’ve never read a Discworld book. The Kedrigern books are out of print, but I’ve found all of them at Amazon, used, and cheap. The first is _A Voice for Princess_. He also wrote some SF which I’m acquiring but haven’t tried yet. The Kedrigern books are well-written and very entertaining. I’m totally charmed by them. They remind me a bit of Manly Wade Wellman’s John the Balladeer stories, but I think Morressy is funnier than Wellman. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/71 "2009-07-09T17:20:14Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Just finished _Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was_. I quite enjoyed it. He brought everything together nicely in the end. > > Number Ten Ox and Master Li set out to solve the mystery of the children from Ox’s village ages 9-13 falling ill. They go on to investigate a much-older mystery. > > It is quick, light and fun. I finished this over the weekend. I thought it was quite charming and Master Li is a great character. There was a slight exposition speed bump in the middle, where everything needed to be explained and tied into a neat package. ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/72 "2009-07-09T19:12:28Z")
In early stages of a re-read of T.C. Boyle’s _The Road to Wellville_. (The edition I checked out from the library is from when he was still using his middle name on his books, i.e., T. Coraghessan Boyle.) I’m already recalling what a marvelous read it was at the time, and is again. And I’m wondering why after reading it before I never followed up by looking at other books by him; I’m planning to do so this time. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/73 "2009-07-09T20:46:04Z")
**Captain Alariste** , I just finished and really liked. I am starting **Purity of Blood**. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/74 "2009-07-09T20:49:13Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > **Captain Alariste** , I just finished and really liked. I am starting **Purity of Blood**. I’m glad you liked it. Really brings out the flavour of the time, I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/75 "2009-07-09T20:57:39Z")
I’ve just read the latest by Joe Abercrombie, **Best Served Cold**. It’s set in the same universe as his **First Law** series, but it’s a stand-alone (has some of the same characters - secondary ones). It’s an excellent fantasy page-turner, with I thought above average writing for the genre. The plot was a trifle linear (I spoil nothing by saying it’s about a woman who sets out for revenge, mayhem ensues) but with enough bizzare twists to keep it interesting. It holds up very well to the **First Law** series, which was also excellent, I thought. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/76 "2009-07-09T20:57:46Z")
Picked up volumes 2 and 3 of Mary Stewart’s Merlin trilogy at the library yesterday. I’m dropping the book on the pre-_Beagle_ Darwin to re-immerse myself in pre-Britain Britain … wonder if I’ll get back to it? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/77 "2009-07-09T21:10:43Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Picked up volumes 2 and 3 of Mary Stewart’s Merlin trilogy at the library yesterday. I’m dropping the book on the pre-_Beagle_ Darwin to re-immerse myself in pre-Britain Britain … wonder if I’ll get back to it? Is this your first read of them? I thought the first one (of the trilogy) was the slowest and enjoyed the second two more. (Then, IMO, the last one sucked.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/78 "2009-07-09T21:19:01Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Is this your first read of them? I thought the first one (of the trilogy) was the slowest and enjoyed the second two more. (Then, IMO, the last one sucked.) Yes, my first read – and I loved the first book to pieces, so am delighted to hear that the other two are as good (or better). Doesn’t surprise me to hear that the fourth one sucks – when the author plans a narrative in three parts then bows to whoever’s demand that there be a fourth … it doesn’t always work. (Let’s call it the _Godfather III_ syndrome…) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/79 "2009-07-09T21:22:08Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I’ve just read the latest by Joe Abercrombie, **Best Served Cold**. It’s set in the same universe as his **First Law** series, but it’s a stand-alone (has some of the same characters - secondary ones). Are you in the UK? Or did you read an ARC? I have it on preorder for the July 29 release. Does Glokta make an appearance? He’s my favorite, although I did get tired of Abercrombie constantly describing Glokta’s physical woes. I started _Kedrigern in Wanderland_ last night. I tracked down an old address for the author, who died in 2006. I’m tempted to write to his widow, to tell her how much I’m enjoying the books, but I don’t know if it’s appropriate. ?? ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467/80 "2009-07-09T21:28:52Z")
I finished “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” It was pretty good, but not destined to be a favorite. I liked the concept and the plot, but got tired of hearing about how cool Henry and Clare were because they were into punk, ate Thai food, Clare was an artist, etc. It made them feel like Mary Sues at times. I’m still working on “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Not sure what I’ll pick up as my second read next. I’m considering some Stephen King. I like him in the summer; reminds me of my teenage years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-july-09-edition/501467.md?page=5)