# Whatcha reading Jan. (09) edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409 "2008-12-31T21:57:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/21 "2009-01-02T13:02:32Z")
This morning I finished Neil Gaiman’s _Stardust_. The next book on hold is Robert Sawyer’s _Humans_. I enjoyed the preceding book in the series, _Hominids_. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/22 "2009-01-02T13:06:19Z")
Just finished [Shantaram,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shantaram_(novel)) the semi-autobiographical novel by Gregory Roberts. It’s the first “whoa” book I’ve read since Ishmael Beah’s Long Way Gone. Shantaram was a wonderful character study, with Bombay being one of the characters, and quite a sojourn, very wrenching at times. Next up: [The Widow Cliquot (Story of a Champagne Empire)](http://www.amazon.com/Widow-Clicquot-Story-Champagne-Empire/dp/006128856X) ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/23 "2009-01-02T13:30:00Z")
_Street Gang: The Complete History of_ Sesame Street by Michael Davis. Entertaining new account of the creation and development of the famous educational series, filled with amusing and intriguing anecdotes. _The Routledge Atlas of the Second World War_ by Sir Martin Gilbert. Not really a book you can “read,” but entertaining to look at nonetheless. As he does in his other atlases, Gilbert is effectively able to map out events using only black and white- including a number of occurences I had never heard about. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/24 "2009-01-02T15:29:15Z")
I just finished nick Harkaway’s The Gone Away World. Wow. Just wow. This was an amazing book. Ninjas, mimes, post apocalyptic adventure, Kung Fu, Monsters, Killer Bees, this book has everything. And it is an amazing, rollicking read. I actually found myself slowing down towards the end, because I didn’t want it to end. I just started rereading The Screwtape Letters, and up next is the The Philosopher’s Apprentice by James Morrow, which should bring me right up to the February release of his latest, [Shambling Towards Hiroshima](http://www.amazon.com/Shambling-Towards-Hiroshima-James-Morrow/dp/1892391848/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230910044&sr=8-1). ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/25 "2009-01-02T16:19:15Z")
Last night I started [The Knife of Never Letting Go](http://www.amazon.com/Knife-Never-Letting-Go-Walking/dp/0763639311/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230912836&sr=8-1) by Patrick Ness and read 120 pages before falling asleep with it in my hands. That’s the sign of an entertaining book, when I just can’t bring myself to turn off the lights and tuck in. I just finished [Only Forward](http://www.amazon.com/Only-Forward-Michael-Marshall-Smith/dp/0553579703/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230913025&sr=1-1) but Michael Marshall Smith, which I really loved until about the last 40 pages. I still intend to read other stuff by Smith, but the ending really tapered off to meh for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/26 "2009-01-02T17:24:26Z")
One of my friends loaned me his trade paperback copy of Alan Moore’s \*Watchmen \*and I’m currently on the second issue. It’s pretty good so far. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/27 "2009-01-02T18:27:46Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > One of my friends loaned me his trade paperback copy of Alan Moore’s \*Watchmen \*and I’m currently on the second issue. It’s pretty good so far. I’ll bet you’ll love it. The movie should be out on March 6, if all goes well! When you’ve finished it, have a look at this. I got it from the library recently, and it’s 'way cool: [Amazon.com: Watching the Watchmen: The Definitive Companion to the Ultimate Graphic Novel: 9781848560413: Dave Gibbons: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Watching-Watchmen-Definitive-Companion-Ultimate/dp/1848560419/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230920812&sr=1-1) ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/28 "2009-01-02T19:05:37Z")
The movie was why we were discussing it, and why he loaned it to me. We’re both comic nerds, but I’m a much more casual reader and haven’t read a lot of the seminal works. Thank you for the link. I’ll see if my local branch has a copy. ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/29 "2009-01-02T22:55:56Z")
Reading for the 7th (or 10th) time, _The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court_. I love this book and when I can’t seem to concentrate on any other book, I pick this one up. I’m not a lawyer or in the legal profession at all, but the discussions about cases just fascinate me. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/30 "2009-01-02T23:00:21Z")
I’ve started _A Prayer for Owen Meany_ by John Irving. I’m also re-reading _Rose Madder_ by King. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/31 "2009-01-02T23:29:45Z")
I am reading _Spaceman Blues: A Love Song_ by Brian Francis Slattery. After that, _Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal_ by Christopher Moore is waiting for me at the library. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/32 "2009-01-03T03:15:15Z")
> [@Suse](#): > > Reading for the 7th (or 10th) time, _The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court_. I love this book and when I can’t seem to concentrate on any other book, I pick this one up. I’m not a lawyer or in the legal profession at all, but the discussions about cases just fascinate me. _The Brethren_ is a classic, but permit me to recommend its more recent equivalent, _The Nine_ by Jeffrey Toobin. An excellent and very readable mix of law, politics, history and gossip. Very, very good. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tofu\_Kitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@The\_Tofu\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tofu_Kitty)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/33 "2009-01-03T03:27:19Z")
I just finished _Nothing to Be Frightened Of_ by Julian Barnes (and it was awesome for a book about death). Currently reading a compilation of \*A Study in Scarlet/The Sign of Four \*by Arthur Conan Doyle. Next up? I dunno. I got several books I’m excited about over the holidays, but I can’t decide. Either \*A Mercy \*(Toni Morrison), \*Atmospheric Disturbances \*(Rivka Galchen) or maybe _finally_ starting \*The Man Without Qualities \*(Robert Musil). ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/34 "2009-01-03T23:55:13Z")
I just finished “Land Of A Hundred Wonders” and I’m still not sure what I feel about the book. I really had to push myself to finish it, which is unusual for me. I don’t think I’ll be looking for Lesley Kagan’s other books. On the other hand, I’m in the middle of “Some Danger Involved” by Will Thomas, and the Sherlockian language…or would that be Watsonian? is enchanting. I like his descriptions, without going so in-depth as a true writer of the period would do. In teaching junior high English, that’s one thing that the kids always complain about in Dickens and the like – paragraphs of endless descriptions. ---
**Author:** ![discodancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@discodancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/discodancer)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/35 "2009-01-04T01:16:04Z")
Guns, Germs, and Steel. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/36 "2009-01-04T01:36:11Z")
I started _The Far Pavilions_. That thing is huge. I might finish in time for Whatcha reading Jan. (10). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/37 "2009-01-04T01:56:19Z")
> [@schnuckiputzi](#): > > Then I just finished The Sunne in Splendour. Ack. Please tell me, are all her novels so depressing? I love Penman, and own several of her books. I don’t really find them depressing, though, just plausable. Things weren’t all puppies and sunshine back in the day, so I don’t expect much cheer in a tale about Richard the Third, Henry the 8th, or the last Welsh nobility. I’m experiencing short attention span issues this month, so these are the books I’ve picked up and read parts of since New Years: The Outlaw Demon Wails (Rachel Morgan #6) by Kim Harrison Dead Connection by Charlie Price Lady Knight (Protector Of The Small #4) by Tamora Pierce Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #3) by Charlaine Harris Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick Hopefully I’ll finish at least one of them soon! ---
**Author:** ![Momofgirls](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/momofgirls/32/21798_2.png) [@Momofgirls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Momofgirls)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/38 "2009-01-04T02:42:50Z")
I finished _Here’s the Story_ by Maureen McCormick a couple days ago. Now I’m reading _Wild Boy: My Life in Duran Duran_ by Andy Taylor. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/39 "2009-01-04T02:58:29Z")
I finished _The Hidden Land_ by Pamela Dean. **jsgoddess** mentioned in last month’s book thread that she often doesn’t know what Dean is talking about … I feel the same way, but that’s all part of the fantasy for me: my ideal fantasy alter ego can quote Shakespeare endlessly and make puns in Latin. 😉 I read _Songs for the Missing_, by Stewart O’Nan. Can a book be _too_ realistic? This is about a teenager girl who goes missing (like one of those “missing white girl” stories) focusing on the effects on her friends and family. I was so worried about her being missing that it was giving me an anxiety attack. I just started _The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington_ which (I think) **Sigmagirl** recommended in another thread. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/40 "2009-01-04T03:03:59Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > I finished _The Hidden Land_ by Pamela Dean. **jsgoddess** mentioned in last month’s book thread that she often doesn’t know what Dean is talking about … I feel the same way, but that’s all part of the fantasy for me Ooh, then you’ll love _Juniper, Gentian, and Rosemary_. 😃 I adore her writing, even when I’m baffled. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409.md?page=3)