# Whatcha readin' October edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084 "2007-09-30T23:26:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/81 "2007-10-03T02:22:15Z")
[QUOTE=Miss Purl McKnittington] I’m currently reading _The Time-Traveler’s Wife_ by mumble and _Coyote Love_ by Christopher Moore. Early predictions are saying that the writing in the former will make me go a little crazy with the syrupy pretension, and that the latter will make me go, “Guys think like that?” at least once, but I will enjoy both of them, anyway. [/QUOTE] I really liked the Time Traveler’s Wife. until the end _Coyote Love_ is my least favorite Christopher Moore book, but I still liked it. Favorites are\* Lamb\*, _Lust Lizard of Meloncholy Cove_, _Fluke_, and _The Stupidest Angel_. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/82 "2007-10-03T02:29:39Z")
Wait a minute wasn’t it _Coyote Blue_? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/83 "2007-10-03T23:19:16Z")
Had to go to Oklahoma City for work – having the right reading material is crucial to travel. Started before I left, happily spent one travel day with, and finished while there: _I Know This Much Is True_, by Wally Lamb. I usually stay away from Oprah picks, because I’m such a total snob, but a friend of mine (who has a troubled relationship with his brother, who has behavioral issues, though he’s not schizophrenic) loved loved loved this book, so I finally gave up and read it. Better than I expected (which it would almost have to be) – I was a couple of hundred pages into it before I stopped thinking of it as _Prince of Tides_ written by John Irving (which is not a slam, they’re a title and author I both like) and got sucked into it on its own terms. Long – damn close to 900 pages – but not overlong. Wasn’t entirely thrilled about the ending (the narrator gets back with his perfect exwife) but overall liked it quite a bit. Perfect for traveling. The trip home was devoted to _Spoken Here: Travels Among Threatened Languages_ by Mark Abley (which I bought as a remainder at Daedalus Books, for those who, like me, can’t stop buying books). He alternates chapters on specific minority languages – several Australian indigenous languages, Mohawk, Manx, Provencal, Welsh, Yiddish, etc. – and chapters on language and its role in human society. Liked it a lot. Thought I’d finish it before I got home, so I went to the Borders in the Houston Airport and bought Matt Ridley’s _Agile Gene_ – as it turns out, I finished it about ten minutes before we touched down in Philly (god, I love it when that happens) – stopped by the library today and picked up the new Michael Chabon, _The Yiddish Policeman’s Union_ – read the first three or four pages in the library, so think that will be next. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/84 "2007-10-03T23:28:58Z")
the nine by jeffrey toobin. excellent book. the supremes are quite a wild bunch. really reads fast. ---
**Author:** ![NailBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NailBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NailBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/85 "2007-10-03T23:34:49Z")
I am also reading **The Time Traveller’s Wife** (when I have time to read). Also loving it. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/86 "2007-10-04T00:07:58Z")
[QUOTE=plnnr] Agreed about **Devil in the White City**. The Columbian Exposition was a important advacement in city planning and I particularly enjoyed that part of the story. As to those of you who have read (or are reading) **Gravity’s Rainbow** , please tell me your secret. I’ve tried - God knows I’ve tried - but I can’t do it. I’ve also started **Mason and Dixon** a few times and I feel like I’m wading through molasses. As for me, I’ve just started Updike’s “Rabbit” series. [/QUOTE] My secret for reading **Gravity’s Rainbow** is that I only read it on BART (Bay Area subway) to and from work, so I only get through (if I’m lucky) 10 pages or so a day, which is about all I can handle at a time. It does start getting more readable and (somewhat) plot-oriented once you get past the first 200 pages, if that’s any consolation. But there are still characters popping up from hundreds of pages earlier in the story (I’m past the 600-page mark), and a lot of it is unintelligible. Still, I’m glad I’m reading it, and I enjoy it in a weird way. It’s got its own rhythm. Now tell me your secret for reading the Rabbit series. I tried a couple books, and they bored me to tears. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/87 "2007-10-04T00:10:49Z")
Just finished Cryptonomicon (it sat on the shelves for awhile after picking it up for $1 at friends of the library). Reading Supercrunchers (non fiction). A bit disappointed, as there is not much math and data cited in the book (after teasing with a wine quality formula). ---
**Author:** ![Terrorcotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Terrorcotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrorcotta)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/88 "2007-10-05T01:44:52Z")
[QUOTE=sinjin] Just finished _Broken Angels_ by Richard K Morgan, following his first novel _Altered Carbon_. Awesome sci-fi detective/battle stuff with a bit of Martian artifacts thrown in for color. Oh yeah I like me some Takeshi Kovachs. [/QUOTE] Sounds good, I like some Martian artifacts in my detective stories. I am reading the latest Vampire Hunter D book, “Mysterious Journey to the North Sea, Part 2” which should take a day then it’s time to get out that October fav, Roger Zelazny’s “Night in the Lonesome October”. I’ll probably pace myself to then get Minekura’s “Wild Adapter III”, Tim Power’s “Declare” and finish the month with something Stephen King. I do loves me some October reading! ---
**Author:** ![Terrorcotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Terrorcotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrorcotta)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/89 "2007-10-05T01:49:11Z")
[QUOTE=woodstockbirdybird] I did just read _The Postman Always Rings Twice_ to take a break from GR, but it only took a few hours to finish. [/QUOTE] I picked up the James Cain trilogy this summer and zoomed through it as well! I was surprised how fast they read and how sexual they were. So there you have it, more evidence that sex was not invented by your own generation. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/90 "2007-10-05T05:08:39Z")
I just finished the two latest books by James Swain in the Tony Valentine series; Deadman’s Poker and Deadman’s Bluff. Tony Valentine is a 63-year-old retired Atlantic City cop who has a business exposing cheats who rip off casinos. I’m no gambler,but I thoroughly enjoyes these books and learned some amazing scams and bar bets, like how a 70-year-old man can beat a racehorse in a 100-yard dash. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/91 "2007-10-05T12:58:03Z")
I have been reading [The Stuff of Thought](http://www.amazon.com/Stuff-Thought-Language-Window-Nature/dp/0670063274) for the last week. It is an engrossing, amazing book. I get excited to read it, and hate to put it down. I am the word geek among my friends, so I don’t really have anyone to discuss it with, but I had to share my love for it. Pinker explains ‘conceptual semantics’ - how the words we use are determined by concepts such as motion, time, action and space. I’m only a few chapters in…I can’t wait to read more! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/92 "2007-10-05T13:05:01Z")
[QUOTE=Lionne] I have been reading [The Stuff of Thought](http://www.amazon.com/Stuff-Thought-Language-Window-Nature/dp/0670063274) for the last week. [/QUOTE] I’ve bought it, but haven’t read it yet … my “to-read” stack is mountainous. ---
**Author:** ![rhythmonly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@rhythmonly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhythmonly)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/93 "2007-10-05T14:39:40Z")
A Night in the Lonesome October, by Roger Zelazny. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/94 "2007-10-05T15:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=rhythmonly] A Night in the Lonesome October, by Roger Zelazny. [/QUOTE] I very much enjoyed that, although it has been many many years since I have read it. It was a light and quick read. I wonder if I still have it… ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/95 "2007-10-05T15:18:27Z")
**War and Peace** - I just started, I’ll let you know how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/96 "2007-10-05T15:38:15Z")
Currently reading Michael Shermer’s \*Science Friction \*(first read) and Peter David’s _Writing for Comics_ (reread). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/97 "2007-10-05T15:56:46Z")
I’m a little late to the party; can I still play? I just finished the audiobook TickTock by Deen Koontz. I am also reading Bombay: A Maximum City by Suketu Mehta, a fascinating non-fic of the plight of sordid Bombay. And on and off I am slogging through Cloudsplitter about the famous abolitionist James Brown. The story is kind of boring and not that excitingly written (it’s all in the form of letter) so i am going pretty slow on it. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/98 "2007-10-05T17:54:52Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I just finished the audiobook TickTock by Deen Koontz. [/QUOTE] I read that a few years ago, and I loved how it ended. Quite a departure from how I thought it would! [QUOTE=twickster] I’ve bought it, but haven’t read it yet … my “to-read” stack is mountainous. [/QUOTE] You know, i glimpsed your name here today and wondered to myself if you’ve read it. 😃 Isn’t that cool? ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/99 "2007-10-05T19:02:16Z")
I just recently finished **Taking Charge of Your Fertility** which was fascinating and I truly think every sexually active woman should read this book - I wish I’d read it 15 years ago. Also just read **Revelation Space** by Alastair Reynolds, and was very impressed. Looking forward to reading more by this author. Also just finished Harlan Ellison’s **Dangerous Visions**. I liked most of the stories, except the Philip Jose Farmer wank fest and the introductions written by Harlan Ellison. The guy just comes across as a grade A Asshole. I just skipped the intros after a while. Currently reading **The Tipping Point** , which is interesting but not ground-shaking. Also reading **Reclaiming Your Life: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Regression Therapy to Overcome the Effects of Childhood Abuse** which is pretty interesting - it’s not about sucking your thumb, crying into your blankie or pooping your pants, it’s about recognizing the behaviors that you have that are remnants of surviving a stressful childhood, and trying to rid yourself of the destructive ones. I’m also two issues behind on National Geographic. Got some readin’ to do. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2007, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084/100 "2007-10-06T00:01:13Z")
[QUOTE=Lionne] You know, i glimpsed your name here today and wondered to myself if you’ve read it. 😃 Isn’t that cool? [/QUOTE] Didn’t realize my interest in language theory was that well known! I’ll move it up in the queue – it’ll be great to have someone to discuss it with! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-readin-october-edition/421084.md?page=6)