# Whatcha reading Dec. (08) edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075 "2008-11-30T18:22:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/101 "2008-12-17T20:41:34Z")
> [@Gulo\_gulo](#): > > A thousand curses on Patrick Rothfuss for **The Name of the Wind**. It’s been a long time since a book has kept me up at night with “Just One More Chapter” syndrome. I read it last weekend and loved it. Of course now I have to wait for _months_ for the next in the series. Bastard. Welcome to the world of Rothfuss haters. We all have the same reason to hate him! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/102 "2008-12-17T20:48:01Z")
> [@Gulo\_gulo](#): > > A thousand curses on Patrick Rothfuss for **The Name of the Wind**. It’s been a long time since a book has kept me up at night with “Just One More Chapter” syndrome. I read it last weekend and loved it. Of course now I have to wait for _months_ for the next in the series. Bastard. > \ I am a huge fan of this book and whenever someone mentions I have to chime in. My only complaint is the wait for the next book! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/103 "2008-12-17T20:57:24Z")
_A History of Egypt_ by William Matthew Flinders Petrie, first published in 1895 or so. I just finished volume I, need to go get the second one today. A lot has changed in Egyptology since Petrie (he particularly has the Victorian gentleman’s fascination with race) but he’s still a major figure in the field. After I finish all seven volumes, I’ll probably reread _The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt_ for a modern contrast. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/104 "2008-12-17T21:09:35Z")
I was tickled pink when a friend’s husband called today and said he had a bunch of books to give me. Turns out most of them were books that I’d loaned him and he’d forgotten where he got them. The rest were authors I don’t read – Crichton, Grisham, Clancy, and some right-wing political stuff. Sigh. But at least I got my copy of _English Passengers_ back. This means that I have an extra, since **koeeoaddi** was kind enough to send me an extra copy when I thought mine was gone forever. So if there are any Dopers left who haven’t read this wonderful book, PM me and I’ll send it to you. I just started _The Far Pavilions_ by M. M. Kaye for a group read at the SD Goodreads group and the Historical Fiction board. It’s pretty good so far, and an easy read. It’s sort of a “what happens” book, not very deep. Oh, and add me to the Rothfuss Sucks-I Hate Waiting group. 🙂 ---
**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 17, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/105 "2008-12-17T22:25:15Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Oh, and add me to the Rothfuss Sucks-I Hate Waiting group. 🙂 The next book is coming out soon, right? Amazon is promising April. I’m not going to start the first one until I can see the second one in my headlights. I seem to remember that he has them all written, just waiting on publication. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/106 "2008-12-17T23:07:50Z")
Last I heard the second one was being revised. I’m hoping for April too, but it’d surprise me if it’s on time. Have you read Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy? That might satisfy you while you’re waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/107 "2008-12-18T15:36:40Z")
The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie. Its the third in a fantasy series about some sort of complex plot being worked out by a Magi using a self absorbed dandy,a barbarian berserker,a pyschopathic woman and a crippled torturer amongst characters. If it sounds like the "Same old,Same Old "it most certainly isn’t. The world in which it is set is vaguely Rennaisance Italy like and the characters themselves are most certainly not stereotypes,although the heroes they are all too human and number cowardice,murder of allies and other weaknesses amongst their personalities. The goodies are not all good and the bad guys are not all bad. Likewise you can never be sure what is going to happen and if one of the protagonists is going to get killed. The fighting is brutally realistic. I highly recommend the whole series,a breath of fresh air IMO. ---
**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 18, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/108 "2008-12-18T15:53:16Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Have you read Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy? That might satisfy you while you’re waiting. Never heard of those. Thanks, I’ll look them up. ---
**Author:** ![Write\_Handed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Write\_Handed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Write_Handed)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/109 "2008-12-18T15:53:53Z")
Picked up the first couple books in _The Dresden Files_. I love a good urban fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/110 "2008-12-18T16:05:40Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Have you read Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy? That might satisfy you while you’re waiting. Every time I think “Wait, why haven’t I read those” I go to Amazon and see this in the review: > [@](#): > > The workmanlike plot, marred by repetitive writing and an excess of torture and pain Honestly, I can handle a workmanlike plot and repetitive writing, but the excess of torture and pain? Would you consider this a fair-ish review? ---
**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:** [December 18, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/111 "2008-12-18T16:13:39Z")
> [@Write Handed](#): > > Picked up the first couple books in The Dresden Files. I love a good urban fantasy. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Just started The Horror Writers Association presents Blood Lite : an anthology of humorous horror stories, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. I just picked up the first one after enjoying Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files story in this book. However, it’s so far down the TBR pile I probably won’t get around to it till February. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/112 "2008-12-18T16:21:22Z")
> [@Write\_Handed](#): > > Picked up the first couple books in _The Dresden Files_. I love a good urban fantasy. It’s one of the few series that, in my opinion, is getting better as it goes along. ---
**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 18, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/113 "2008-12-18T16:26:23Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Honestly, I can handle a workmanlike plot and repetitive writing, but the excess of torture and pain? > > Would you consider this a fair-ish review? The excess of torture and pain wouldn’t bother me as much as repetitive writing. Nothing throws me out of a narrative more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/114 "2008-12-18T16:34:56Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Every time I think “Wait, why haven’t I read those” I go to Amazon and see this in the review: > > Honestly, I can handle a workmanlike plot and repetitive writing, but the excess of torture and pain? > > Would you consider this a fair-ish review? Totally disagree with the critic,there IS brutality to a realistic but not OTT degree but the writing is in no way repetetive. I have a very low threshold with bad writing. It could be the reviewer was disappointed at the realistic feel of the story rather then the fluffy,adult fairy tales that are so often found in the Fantasy genre. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/115 "2008-12-18T17:08:31Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Honestly, I can handle a workmanlike plot and repetitive writing, but the excess of torture and pain? > > Would you consider this a fair-ish review? It’s fair-ish. The first book did have some repetition. One character in particular – he’s crippled from being tortured and Abercrombie won’t let you forget how the man struggles to get out of bed, walk up stairs, etc. That was annoying for awhile but I rationalized it. Those scenes were from the character’s POV, and anyone who’s been sick or injured knows that the illness/injury is always at the forefront. It colors everything. The books had some violent and detailed fight scenes but I don’t think they were gratuitous. Nothing made me go ew and I didn’t skim. “Workmanlike” is okay with me, especially with fantasy. I’ve read some really crappy fantasy that I wished was more workmanlike. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/116 "2008-12-18T17:24:47Z")
[Here](http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/293.html) is Hobbit’s review of the first _First Law_ book. (He’s a mod and reviewer at SFF World.) I agree with everything he said. I’d forgotten how much torture there was in the book but I think that’s because it was so matter-of-fact. ---
**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 18, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/117 "2008-12-18T17:25:05Z")
Of the books mentioned so far in this thread, I’d already read: _The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven_ by Sherman Alexie - Pretty good, although if it hadn’t been for the Native American angle, not really worth the time it took to read it. _Dune_ by Frank Herbert - A well-deserved classic. The sequels are teh suck, though. _Replay_ by Ken Grimwood - I read this for the first time just a few months ago, after hearing an NPR “books you must read” essay that sang its praises. I really, really enjoyed it, and have recommended it to others. I’m sure I’ll re-read it in a few years. _Into Thin Air_ by Jon Krakauer - My book club read this - a nonfiction account of a Mt. Everest climbing expedition gone tragically awry - just a few years ago. It’s excellent. We’ve also read Krakauer’s _Under the Banner of Heaven_, about a pair of murderous Mormon fundamentalist brothers, and _Into the Wild_, about a rootless young man who takes on the Alaska wilderness and loses. Both are also very good. Right now I’m reading: _Ender’s Game_ by Orson Scott Card - Friends have told me for years I should read it, and I finally am. Although it’s good, I don’t understand the rapturous reaction of so many SF fans. Don’t think I’ll go on to any of the sequels. _The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film_ by William Preston Robertson - A funny, offbeat behind-the-scenes examination of a funny, offbeat movie I’ve always loved. Worthwhile for any disciple of the Dude. Next up: _American Creation_ by Joseph Ellis. I loved his _Founding Brothers_, which definitely earned the Pulitzer it won him, but was disappointed by _His Excellency, George Washington_. Crossing my fingers for his latest. ---
**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 18, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/118 "2008-12-18T17:31:37Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie. > > Its the third in a fantasy series about some sort of complex plot being worked out… > > The goodies are not all good and the bad guys are not all bad. > > Likewise you can never be sure what is going to happen and if one of the protagonists is going to get killed. > > The fighting is brutally realistic. > > I highly recommend the whole series,a breath of fresh air IMO. Sounds like you might like George R.R. Martin’s _A Song of Ice and Fire_ series, the first book of which is _A Game of Thrones_. Everything you wrote about Abercrombie’s book could also be said about Martin’s series. Very, very good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/119 "2008-12-18T17:51:30Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > The excess of torture and pain wouldn’t bother me as much as repetitive writing. Nothing throws me out of a narrative more than that. Repetitive can be really bad or slightly bad or even slightly good, depending on the skill of the writer. I’ve read books (god, an awful thing by Fred Saberhagen) where the repetition was so bad that it became hilarious, but thankfully that’s rare! Thanks Lust4Life and AuntiePam. I think this series isn’t an ideal fit for me right now, but I’m going to keep it in mind for future reading! ---
**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:** [December 18, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075/120 "2008-12-18T18:26:02Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Repetitive can be really bad or slightly bad or even slightly good, depending on the skill of the writer. I’ve read books (god, an awful thing by Fred Saberhagen) where the repetition was so bad that it became hilarious, but thankfully that’s rare! My son had to read The Black Stallion by Walter Farley for school, so we started reading it aloud at bedtime. Before long, we were giggling every time the horse reared, which was like two times per page. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-dec-08-edition/475075.md?page=7)