# 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:** 8
**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:** [January 26, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/141 "2009-01-26T13:48:13Z")
Finished Storm Front by Jim Butcher, and just got done putting all the other Dresden Files on hold at the library. I’m embarrassed to say that although I’ve seen the books recommended a lot, I avoided them because the word Dresden made me think it had something to do with Nazis. For anyone else who may not know, they are light mystery novels starring a wizard detective. A point in their favor: they have dignified titles and covers. If that had been the same book, but titled Wizardly Doings, with a picture of a demon on the front, I’d never have read it. Next up, The Magician’s Book : a skeptic’s adventures in Narnia, by Laura Miller. I’m about two pages in, and feeling pretty smart because the author confessed she read the books over and over as a kid without catching the symbolism. I read them repeatedly as well, but caught the symbolism (on about my twentieth try)! :o Car audio book: On Writing, by Stephen King. Read it before, still like it. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/142 "2009-01-26T15:18:26Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Finished _Already Dead_ by Charlie Huston last night. I was expecting something like _Bloodsucking Fiends_, a lighthearted but semi-realistic look at the lives of modern vampires. Boy, was I wrong. I probably shouldn’t have read the book after watching _Miller’s Crossing_, because that and the book gave me some pretty good nightmares. Actually, Tom from the movie and Joe from the book are a bit alike – they want to be independent but they don’t have enough power. > > I’m quite taken with Joe Pitt so I’ll be getting the rest of these books. I’ve recently read his Hank Thompson trilogy, which makes the Joe Pitt books look positively cheerful. They’re good, though. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Finished Storm Front by Jim Butcher, and just got done putting all the other Dresden Files on hold at the library. They get better over the next few books, too. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/143 "2009-01-26T18:56:56Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > They get better over the next few books, too. Woot! Hopefully it’s not important to read them in order because it doesn’t look like that’s how they’ll come. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/144 "2009-01-26T19:30:59Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Woot! Hopefully it’s not important to read them in order because it doesn’t look like that’s how they’ll come. The order becomes more important in the later books, because there’s an ongoing story arch. For the first few I think you’ll be okay. There’s a big reveal about a certain character in book 6, but it will be spoiled if you read almost anything online about the series. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/145 "2009-01-26T19:34:14Z")
Well, that’s exactly what I needed to know, **Eleanor**. Thanks! I’ll be sure to read them in order then. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/146 "2009-01-27T02:52:59Z")
I just finished _The Ghost Brigades_, John Scalzi’s second in the series that began with the fun _Old Man’s War_. It was good, but I prefer the first one so far. Reading this one makes me eager to read _Zoe’s Tale_, a retelling from the daughter’s point of view. There are a few books I’m curious whether anyone here has read. Most or all of them were recommended by NPR and they sound wonderful: [_The Gargoyle_](http://www.amazon.com/Gargoyle-Andrew-Davidson/dp/0385524943/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233024423&sr=8-1), Andrew Davidson [_The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo_](http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-Stieg-Larsson/dp/0307269752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233024460&sr=1-1), Stieg Larsson [_In the Woods_](http://www.amazon.com/Woods-Tana-French/dp/0143113496/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233024493&sr=1-2). Tana French [_The Likeness_](http://www.amazon.com/Likeness-Novel-Tana-French/dp/0670018864/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b), Tana French I’ve just started _In the Woods_, and the language is lovely!!! For anyone interested, I found these all in ebook on the Sony Reader website too. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/147 "2009-01-28T01:35:10Z")
I tried to read _The Turn of the Screw_ but there were too many words covering up the story. To replace it I checked out _Lucky You_ by Carl Hiassen. A friend of mine recommended him to me last night while we were talking about Dave Barry. So far it’s pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/148 "2009-01-28T01:44:42Z")
> [@wonderlust](#): > > There are a few books I’m curious whether anyone here has read. Most or all of them were recommended by NPR and they sound wonderful: > [_The Gargoyle_](http://www.amazon.com/Gargoyle-Andrew-Davidson/dp/0385524943/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233024423&sr=8-1), Andrew Davidson > [_The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo_](http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-Stieg-Larsson/dp/0307269752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233024460&sr=1-1), Stieg Larsson > [_In the Woods_](http://www.amazon.com/Woods-Tana-French/dp/0143113496/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233024493&sr=1-2). Tana French > [_The Likeness_](http://www.amazon.com/Likeness-Novel-Tana-French/dp/0670018864/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b), Tana French I haven’t read it yet, but I just got The Gargoyle last week as a gift. From skimming the first few pages, it certainly looks interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/149 "2009-01-28T02:11:37Z")
I am reading Volume I of the original _Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind_ manga, which I received for Christmas. I found it confusing at first, until I realized I was supposed to be reading the _panels_ right to left as well as the pages.:smack: Now that I’m reading everything in the correct order it makes a lot more sense… and is totally engrossing. _Nausicaa_ is my favorite Miyazaki movie; I am completely in love with the strength of the heroine and of her love for bugs (I love bugs too.) The manga goes into greater depth with her character and with her relationship to the Ohmu. Ohmu look [like this](http://www.northarc.com/images/nausicaa/nausic03.jpg), and one of life’s great tragedies is that I will never have one of my own. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/150 "2009-01-28T12:34:26Z")
Just finished Mean Streets. Four short stories from urban fantasists Jim Butcher, Simon Greene, Kat Richardson and Thomas Sniegoski. I was familiar with the source work of the first 3 of the four. Of those they were fair representations of their work and fans won’t be too disappointed by them. The fourth was new to me and I enjoyed it enough that I will look into Sniegoski’s work. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/151 "2009-01-28T15:06:37Z")
I just finished Robert J. Sawyer’s _Hominids_. It was an intriguing look at an alternate universe where Neanderthals became the dominant species instead of homo sapiens. Worth reading for the concepts, but I wasn’t impressed with Sawyer’s writing. His characterization was particularly bad. I’m halfway through C.J Sansom’s Tudor mystery _Sovereign_. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/152 "2009-01-28T16:00:08Z")
I’m about 50 pages into [The Gone-Away World](http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Away-World-Nick-Harkaway/dp/0307268861/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233158226&sr=1-1) by Nick Harkaway. Recommended by a Doper who called it a “ridiculously good” novel and so far, I have to agree. **Eleanor** , how are you liking _Sovereign_? I liked _Dissolution_ and _Dark Fire_ but I heard the third novel suffered from bloat, so I was reluctant to buy it. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/153 "2009-01-28T17:14:21Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > **Eleanor** , how are you liking _Sovereign_? I liked _Dissolution_ and _Dark Fire_ but I heard the third novel suffered from bloat, so I was reluctant to buy it. I’m liking it pretty well, but it is long-winded. To me, these books suffer from star-studdedness and it’s getting worse: in this one we have not only appearances by Cranmer, Henry VIII and Catherine Howard, but also Lady Rochford, Thomas Culpepper, Francis Dereham, and Robert Aske’s skeleton. And those are just the people I instantly recognize. Probably other people are fine with this, but I’m annoyed when a fictional character coincidentally encounters a bunch of famous historical figures. Steven Saylor is pretty bad about this, too. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/154 "2009-01-28T17:33:06Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > Probably other people are fine with this, but I’m annoyed when a fictional character coincidentally encounters a bunch of famous historical figures. Steven Saylor is pretty bad about this, too. Shardlake’s not high enough to be meeting all those people. I’d be annoyed too. Maybe I’ll skip this one. I prefer historical fiction without famous historical figures anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/155 "2009-01-30T02:17:46Z")
I have officially given up on Jane Austen. I read one of her books, I get interested in it enough to turn the pages, but the whole time I’m wishing I’m reading something else. I just _don’t care_. It’s all 500 pages of _I don’t care_. I’m officially a Bronte girl. Hell with you, Jane Austen. Try having something _happen_ in your books once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![levi1820](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@levi1820](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levi1820)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/156 "2009-01-30T07:30:32Z")
> [@Lavender\_Falcon](#): > > I’m a third of the way through re-reading _A Fine and Private Place_ by Peter S. Beagle. I’ve also just started _Glass Soup_ by Jonathan Carroll. Just an interesting aside: I graduated from high school at the American International School in Vienna in 1997. Johnathon Carroll was my creative writing teacher. He was very witty but scared the 18 year old me to death! ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/157 "2009-01-30T17:22:13Z")
I’m doing some re-reading. I picked up \*Stardoc \*and _Beyond Varallan_ at our local used bookstore and thought they were okay. But now, having been edumacated on this board, while I was reading through them, my brain kept screaming,“Mary Sue! Mary Sue!” Sheesh. And I, too, am re-reading A Game of Thrones, but I find myself muttering, “He’s gonna die. Yep, he’s gonna die. She won’t make it long.” Are there more than two or three characters in the whole book that survive the series? ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/158 "2009-01-30T18:19:04Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > I have officially given up on Jane Austen. I read one of her books, I get interested in it enough to turn the pages, but the whole time I’m wishing I’m reading something else. I just _don’t care_. It’s all 500 pages of _I don’t care_. > > I’m officially a Bronte girl. Hell with you, Jane Austen. Try having something _happen_ in your books once in a while. I just saw [this Jane Austen](http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,7847/title,Pride-and-Prejudice-and-Zombies/) and was both shocked and intrigued. Maybe it would be good for people who find her books too dull. 😛 ---
**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 31, 2009, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/159 "2009-01-31T07:16:55Z")
> [@Momofgirls](#): > > Finished this one; now I’m reading _I Hope They Have Beer in Hell_ by Tucker Max. Some of his stories are hilarious; others very cringe-worthy/gross. Very different than women who write funny anecdotes about their lives! Finished that one, thankfully. Amusing at times, but his schtick wore thin. He’s a jerk. I hadn’t heard of him before I picked up the book, or I probably would’ve just skipped it. Now reading _The Ladies’ Lending Library_. I’m a few chapters in, and it’s OK, but not reeling me in. I’ll give it another couple chapters before I bail on it. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409/160 "2009-01-31T19:50:16Z")
[Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=10768244#post10768244) to February thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-jan-09-edition/479409.md?page=7)