# Whatcha Readin' Oct 09 Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095 "2009-09-30T12:43:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/81 "2009-10-12T04:29:38Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > There’s Pynchon and there’s Pynchon. There’s dense Pynchon, such as _Against the Day_, _Mason and Dixon_, and _Gravity’s Rainbow_. These books are layered with symbolism, difficult to follow non-linear plots, and a near sadistic lack of exposition. I read _Gravity’s Rainbow_ and enjoyed it as a stylistic tour de force, but I couldn’t make it 10 pages into _Mason and Dixon_. There’s also light Pynchon, such as _Crying of lot 49_, _Vineland_, and, apparently, _Inherent Vice_. These books are still pretty surreal, but they have exposition and plots that can be followed. Also the symbolism is much less dense. I’d recommend his first novel _V_, which is a mixture of both Pynchons. Also I’d recommend Neal Stephenson, who is like Pynchon, but without the contempt for the reader. Thaks for the info. Problem is _Against the Day_ is the one I’ve got. I’ll probably let it sit there for a tad longer. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/82 "2009-10-12T15:00:35Z")
Finished _Only Begotten Daughter_. I wouldn’t mind reading more novels where God or Jesus or Satan (or their children or siblings) come to earth in some form or another. Anyone know of any? Next up is _Demons_ by Dostoyevsky. I read the intro last week and should actually read the damn book now. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/83 "2009-10-12T15:42:28Z")
> [@breezman](#): > > I’m reading a graphic novel (the first one I’ve ever read) called Logicomix An Epic Search for Truth, which is about 20th century mathematicians primarily Bertrand Russell. Is it any good? My favourite in this vein is Gonik’s _Cartoon History of the Universe_. > **[The Cartoon History of the Universe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cartoon_History_of_the_Universe)** > > The Cartoon History of the Universe is a book series about the history of the world. It is written and illustrated by American cartoonist, professor, and mathematician Larry Gonick, who started the project in 1978. Each book in the series explains a period of world history in a loosely chronological order. They draw upon evolutionary biology and other sciences, and provide citations to sources. > Though originally published as a comic book series, the series is now published in trade paperback ... ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/84 "2009-10-12T18:01:09Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > There’s Pynchon and there’s Pynchon. There’s dense Pynchon, such as _Against the Day_, _Mason and Dixon_, and _Gravity’s Rainbow_. These books are layered with symbolism, difficult to follow non-linear plots, and a near sadistic lack of exposition. I read _Gravity’s Rainbow_ and enjoyed it as a stylistic tour de force, but I couldn’t make it 10 pages into _Mason and Dixon_. There’s also light Pynchon, such as _Crying of lot 49_, _Vineland_, and, apparently, _Inherent Vice_. These books are still pretty surreal, but they have exposition and plots that can be followed. Also the symbolism is much less dense. I’d recommend his first novel _V_, which is a mixture of both Pynchons. Also I’d recommend Neal Stephenson, who is like Pynchon, but without the contempt for the reader. Agreed. I read **Vineland** a while back, and am probably going to try **The Crying of Lot 49** next. I made several attempts at **Gravity’s Rainbow** and was unable to get past about page 20 or so. My guess is I turn out to be a light Pynchon reader. **Inherent Vice** actually had me giggling with delight this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/85 "2009-10-14T01:45:27Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Is it any good? > > My favourite in this vein is Gonik’s _Cartoon History of the Universe_. > > [The Cartoon History of the Universe - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cartoon_History_of_the_Universe) So far, Logicomix is great. It starts with the early life of Bertrand Russell, and actually reminded me of the Capote novel _Other Voices, Other Rooms_ in a couple of ways. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/86 "2009-10-14T01:58:45Z")
Started _Demons_. I didn’t realize Dostoyevsky was so snarky. He describes Stepan as an “excellent man” but from what follows, I don’t think he means it. It’s really funny. I hope I’m not missing the point. I’ve been known to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/87 "2009-10-14T03:15:49Z")
Just started **Unseen Academicals** yesterday and already enjoying it immensely. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/88 "2009-10-14T04:46:13Z")
I finished \*\*Hemingway’s Chair \*\*and was somewhat disappointed. I expected more from Michael Palin. I started Steven Erikson’s \*\*Gardens of the Moon \*\*today and nearly gave it up after going through the maps and cast of characters at the beginning. It seems to be moving more briskly now. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/89 "2009-10-14T14:35:45Z")
Took some lightweight stuff to the beach last week and was generally disappointed: _Gale Force_, book #7 in Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series. All I can say is that it’s better than the previous book. _Come Twilight_, another Saint-Germain novel. Not one of the better ones. _The Hob’s Bargain_, Patricia Briggs. Not one of her better novels. _Charity Girl_, Georgette Heyer. The best of the lot, a fun read, but not one of the author’s best. I just finished reading _Lord Hornblower_. It’s been a while since I read the other books in this series, but I remember them being better than this one. God, what a miserable bastard Hornblower is. About to start on Neal Stephenson’s _Snow Crash_. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/90 "2009-10-14T15:03:34Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > Took some lightweight stuff to the beach last week and was generally disappointed: > _Gale Force_, book #7 in Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series. All I can say is that it’s better than the previous book. > _Come Twilight_, another Saint-Germain novel. Not one of the better ones. > _The Hob’s Bargain_, Patricia Briggs. Not one of her better novels. > _Charity Girl_, Georgette Heyer. The best of the lot, a fun read, but not one of the author’s best. > > I just finished reading _Lord Hornblower_. It’s been a while since I read the other books in this series, but I remember them being better than this one. God, what a miserable bastard Hornblower is. > > About to start on Neal Stephenson’s _Snow Crash_. I gave up on the Weather Warden series early on. I thought the fantasy world had potential, but the series just didn’t work for me. I can’t recall if I read Hob’s Bargain. I usually like Briggs, but if I read it, it wasn’t good enough to catch my memory. (Well, OK, my memory is for shit these days anyway…) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/91 "2009-10-14T16:18:59Z")
_The Whisperer in the Darkness_, a collection of some of H.P. Lovecraft’s early Cthulhu stories. I bought the book in June and then lost track of it for about three months, so it’s pre-Halloween reading. I read some illustrated Cthulhu Mythos books as a kid - two of my cousins were doing the role-playing games - but hadn’t read any of the author’s own work. The writing is much better and less hysterical than I thought it would be. _The Call of Cthulhu_, _The Case of Charles Dexter Ward_ and _The Nameless City_ were especially good, and I also liked _The Hound_ despite its eye-rolling setup. I’ll pick up more of his work after I finish this one, assuming Yog Sothoth doesn’t get me - and assuming I don’t get too annoyed by Lovecraft’s insistence on spellings like “lanthorn” and “shew,” which are more than a little ridiculous. And there are touches of prejudice against blacks here and there. I understand it gets worse in some of his other books. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/92 "2009-10-14T16:32:48Z")
Finished _ **The Book Thief** _ (loved it). Now reading _ **The Haunting of Hill House** _ for my Halloween book. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/93 "2009-10-14T16:45:53Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > …And there are touches of prejudice against blacks here and there. I understand it gets worse in some of his other books. Yes, alas, it’s true: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.P.\_Lovecraft](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.P._Lovecraft) (see “Race, ethnicity and class”). “The Whisperer in Darkness,” “The Colour Out of Space” and “The Thing on the Doorstep” are among HPL’s best, I think, although I can’t say I’m a big fan. Stephen King also wrote a great Lovecraft pastiche, “Crouch End,” which is worth a read. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/94 "2009-10-14T17:20:19Z")
I read that entry yesterday, in fact. There’s enough prejudice on display in the stories I’ve read to this point, and he can’t help emphasizing race when it comes up. And the entry left me thinking it’s worse in other stories. ---
**Author:** ![Enterprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/76d3ee/32.png) [@Enterprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enterprise)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/95 "2009-10-15T08:11:41Z")
I just slipped Mary Roach’s _Stiff_ back on the shelf. That was quite an interesting read – her humor was often a bit hit and miss, but I enjoyed it overall. I’m supposedly still reading _Infinite Jest_ by David Foster Wallace, but it’s in the office and I’ve so far avoided bringing it back home with me. It’s also a good read, and I’m glad I made it through the first hundred pages and have some inkling now how things tie together, but whether I’ll make it through afterall is the question. I just received the most recent addition to the Oxford History of the United States, Gordon Wood’s _Empire of Liberty_, which is the expected 700 pages or so. I’m looking forward to it – I enjoyed Wood’s other books. I’ve got to prepare a number of classes, so I’m reading (more like carefully going through) _The Merchant of Venice_ and scores of poems and lesser plays, and have just finished Kate Chopin’s _The Awakening_. And if there’s any time, I’ll have to check out two books I might take on a flight with me next week, Tim Power’s _On Stranger Tides_ and Brian Keene’s _The Rising_. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/96 "2009-10-15T12:29:14Z")
Walking Dead (The Walker Papers book 4) by C.E. Murphy. This is urban fantasy that mixes Celtic and Native American mythology. It is a not a bad series, I enjoyed it, but there is nothing exception about it. I will likely continue to read the future installments. Started the last in the Flinx series by Alan Dean Foster. It has been years and years since I have visited with Flinx and Pip. I haven’t kept up with the series, but as this was _the last_ I want to read it. (Hopefully I haven’t missed too much to keep up.) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/97 "2009-10-15T12:33:52Z")
Casually picking through HST’s _Kingdom Of Fear_. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/98 "2009-10-15T12:36:44Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Casually picking through HST’s _Kingdom Of Fear_. Harry S Truman? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/99 "2009-10-15T12:53:40Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Harry S Truman? “We were somewhere outside of Yalta on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold…” ---
**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:** [October 15, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095/100 "2009-10-15T13:10:42Z")
“Stalin’s face melted, and I knew it was going to be a very, _very_ bad summit…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-oct-09-edition/512095.md?page=6)