# Whatcha Readin' Nov 09 Edition

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-nov-09-edition/515882>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 31, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-nov-09-edition/515882 "2009-10-31T21:00:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 8

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**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:** [November 30, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-nov-09-edition/515882/141 "2009-11-30T00:08:02Z")

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I really, really enjoyed _Replay_ after hearing about it in an NPR “Here is a book you _must_ read” segment about a year ago. My favorite scene is

when the protagonist’s then-teenage lover remembers who he is after he “returns” to the past before she does, and is practically bouncing up and down with excitement when he arrives at her house (to a very wary greeting from her parents). Also, his failed attempt to prevent JFK’s assassination.

While traveling over the Thanksgiving holidays I finished _Iron Tears_ by Stanley Weintraub, about the British political scene during the American Revolution. Pretty good - in some ways, it was “their Vietnam,” with a major, long-term and very expensive effort come to naught, eventually bringing down the government of Lord North and leading King George III (who’d pushed for a strong military response after Lexington and Concord, back when British monarchs actually had some power and influence) to actually consider abdicating. I’d recommend the book, despite some minor factual errors.

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**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:** [November 30, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-nov-09-edition/515882/142 "2009-11-30T13:26:57Z")

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I’m skimming, slogging, and skipping my way through Malcolm Gladwell’s What the Dog Saw. I’m sure it’s a very fine book, but it’s not a good fit for me, at least not at this time. But I shall turn and glance at every page.

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**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-nov-09-edition/515882/143 "2009-11-30T16:46:52Z")

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Speaking of dogs, last night I went back to the closet and grabbed _Top Dog_ by Jerry Jay Carroll. A Wall Street trader is magically turned into a dog and finds himself in an alternate world where there’s a war between good and evil. It’s funny and dark and I’m really enjoying it.

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-nov-09-edition/515882/144 "2009-11-30T17:04:09Z")

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[December’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11832454#post11832454) thread.

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