# Whatcha reading Sept. (08) edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 2, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684 "2008-09-02T15:05:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/21 "2008-09-02T18:47:16Z")
Boy, did I enjoy “Self Made Man…” I had seen this woman on Oprah, I believe and couldn’t wait to read her book. It’s great! ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/22 "2008-09-02T19:08:55Z")
> [@TheMerchandise](#): > > R. Scott Bakker’s _The Darkness that Comes Before_, part of his “Princes of Nothing” series. I’m only about forty pages in and I’m not sure I’m going to get into this book. The series is fantasy, but isn’t just a recreation of medieval-Europe-with-dragons, which is refreshing. But the writing style is stilted and overly formal and the main character isn’t particularly likable. Kelhus is an ass, isn’t he? You’ll meet a few likable characters later, one in particular (a badass fighter) is pretty cool, as is Achamian (sp?). I stopped reading midway through the third book. Bakker fell in love with the sound of his voice and it just dragged and dragged. I’m reading _Before They Are Hanged_ (book 2 First Law) by Joe Abercrombie, who really knows how to build things up and get them moving. Next up will be _Elleander Morning_ by Jerry Yulser, recommended by **SkeptiJess**. I found a used copy at Amazon and am extremely impressed with this seller. The book is mint, Mylar on the DJ, and came wrapped in several layers of heavy brown paper, inside a plastic padded envelope (all for less than $10). ---
**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:** [September 3, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/23 "2008-09-03T00:12:05Z")
I finished Charles de Lint’s _Into the Green_ today. Didn’t like it much–the pacing was odd and the repetition got old. I did find out how to pronounce “Angharad” (AHN-ah-rahd, apparently). Over the weekend I finished _A Wreath for Udomo_. Review is [here](http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2630953.A_Wreath_for_Udomo). Very good book if you’re into African history. Library trip tomorrow. We shall see what I will net. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/24 "2008-09-03T03:00:16Z")
One of my last threads before my subscription ran out was a request for suggestions for dystopian/post-apocalyptic literature. I’ve blown through an alarming number of those suggestions. Feel free to ask me about anything dystopian! I’m almost done with the Ender’s Game series, just finished Children of the Mind and on to Ender’s Shadow. I’m currently reading Louis L’amour The Daybreakers, mostly because my Grandfather was a huge fan. So far so good. I also read the Ken Follett Pillars of the Earth & World Without End Btw, so far, my favorite Dystopian book is probably still Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/25 "2008-09-03T04:12:41Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > I’m finishing up King’s “The Stand” this week… Hey, I just finished the 1990 “complete and uncut” edition on Sunday. I really enjoyed it - one of SK’s biggest, most knotty and well-told stories, IMHO. The passage about The Kid and his more-than-bizarre encounter with Trashy was interesting, but no great loss to the original edition when it got cut, I’d say. I also noticed for the first time a passing reference to The Shop, the top-secret and amoral spy agency from King’s _Firestarter_. **AuntiePam** , _Elleander Morning_ is one of my favorite time-travel stories. What if you could go back and kill Hitler? What if WWI was the last major war? Good stuff. The author’s last name is spelled Yulsman, BTW. **Auntbeast** , if you’re looking for good postapocalyptic fiction, check out William Brinkley’s _The Last Ship_, about a U.S. Navy destroyer that survives WWIII and then goes looking for sanctuary somewhere on our radiation-devastated world. Despite a few plot holes, it’s a fascinating look at a shipboard closed society, the burden of command (the captain is the narrator) and the risks and opportunities of practically starting humanity all over again. Right now, I’m reading Robert Hardman’s _A Year with the Queen_, a very interesting look behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace and the British monarchy today. I’m also reading Thomas Berger’s wonderful retelling of Arthurian myth, _Arthur Rex_, which was a prep-school favorite of mine. And I just finished Audrey Niffenegger’s excellent romantic novel _The Time Traveler’s Wife_, as well as Ken Grimwood’s intriguing live-your-life-over-again fantasy _Replay_. All highly recommended. Hmmm. Royalty and time travel seem to be my themes for August and September; dunno why. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/26 "2008-09-03T04:51:04Z")
Going back and forth beween my bus book, _Martin Chuzzlewit_, and my bathroom book, _Tom Jones_. \*MC \*just as entertaining as Dickens always is, and \*TJ \*surprisingly entertaining; don’t have to force it down like homework at all. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/27 "2008-09-03T04:57:28Z")
I just finished _Dear American Airlines_ by Jonathan Miles. Not nearly as good as I thought it would be. Now I’m reading _Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip–Confessions of a Cynical Waiter_ by Steve Dublanica. I’m only about a chapter in, but I’m enjoying it so far. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/28 "2008-09-03T12:37:49Z")
I’m currently reading the second half of Gene Wolf’s _Book of the New Sun_ series; I’m in the middle of _Sword of the Lichtor_. I really enjoyed the depth of Wolf’s protagonist and the fairly complex ethical issues raised when I read the first half a few months ago. So of course the allegory has become much more heavy handed in _Lichtor_ while dropping the complications of the morality of an executioner (though the New Testament might have been cooler if Jesus had punched Satan’s nose through his brain). After that… I haven’t given it a lot of thought. I have quite a few short story collections and there’s a few authors that I want to follow up on after enjoying some of their work (Nicola Griffith, Jack McDevitt). I’m considering starting another long term reading project but I’m not sure I want to jump into another one after fifteen months on my last two… ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/29 "2008-09-03T12:54:05Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > **AuntiePam** , _Elleander Morning_ is one of my favorite time-travel stories. What if you could go back and kill Hitler? What if WWI was the last major war? Good stuff. The author’s last name is spelled Yulsman, BTW. That’s good to hear. Oops on the name. I’m bad with unusual names, and bad with common names too. _Elleander Morning_ got bumped (temporarily) because yet another book came in the mail – _The Slaves of Solitude_ by (somebody) Hamilton. It’s set in a boarding house near London during the Blitz, sort of a look at ordinary, boring people, but with so much observation that the people become interesting. It reminds me of _Quartet in Autumn_ by Barbara Pym. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/30 "2008-09-03T14:39:46Z")
Just started reading Neal Stephenson’s first novel, The Big U. He’s not too proud of it, but the first chapter was a hoot. Really, really looking forward to the release of Anathem next week. Just finished reading Don DeLillo’s The Falling Man, which I thought was a big improvement over his other post-Underworld stuff. Classic DeLillo though, people who speak in improbable speeches, structured around beautiful museum quality narration. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/31 "2008-09-03T14:43:58Z")
> [@Momofgirls](#): > > Now I’m reading _Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip–Confessions of a Cynical Waiter_ by Steve Dublanica. I’m only about a chapter in, but I’m enjoying it so far. That one’s in my pile too! ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/32 "2008-09-03T15:41:42Z")
currently burning through simon green’s nightside series. VERY entertaining. i’m now halfway through book four. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/33 "2008-09-03T16:48:05Z")
I’m about 1/3 of the way through Patrick Rothfuss’ novel _The Name of the Wind_. I’m old and jaded in sf/fantasy fiction and it takes a lot to impress me these days. This one’s doing pretty well so far. At night I’m trying to finish up Mary Gentle’s _Ilario: The Stone Golem_. It’s a bit of a slog, frankly. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/34 "2008-09-03T17:30:21Z")
> [@Archergal](#): > > I’m about 1/3 of the way through Patrick Rothfuss’ novel _The Name of the Wind_. I’m old and jaded in sf/fantasy fiction and it takes a lot to impress me these days. This one’s doing pretty well so far. > > \ IMO, this is one of the best books to come out in years. I just with I didn’t have to wait so long for the rest of the trilogy. (Which others have noted are written, just not released.) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/35 "2008-09-03T20:30:45Z")
Back with an enthusiastic recommendation for _The Slaves of Solitude_ by Patrick Hamilton. I couldn’t put it down. Nothing much happens – there’s no mystery, not much of a plot at all. Hard to imagine that watching ordinary people go about their boring lives would be exciting, but it was. When I went back to Amazon to put more Hamilton books on my wish list, I see on the “People who bought also bought” feature that another old favorite is back in print – _The Book of Ebenezer lePage_ by G. B. Edwards. Another book where nothing happens – it’s all character, and what a character. Check it out. I’d link to it, but I can’t get that feature to work. So **now** I’m ready for _Elleander Morning_. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/36 "2008-09-04T14:03:40Z")
I am now in the tenth chapter of _[Watchmen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen)_. I’m new to graphic novels, so it’s an interesting experience. It’s quite incredible to see what graphic novels can accomplish that no other medium can–such as the ‘‘mirror image’’ chapter on Rorschach, who is one of the most interesting anti-heroes I’ve yet to stumble across. Also, there was a huge Nietzsche shout-out in _The Abyss Gazes Also_, and I’m not just talking about the title/quote. I love the parallel between the novel’s storyline and the comic book _Marooned_. Beautiful, fantastic, thought-provoking work of art. Well I am very excited to discuss it all once I finish it–which will be tonight. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/37 "2008-09-04T14:40:35Z")
_Watchmen_ is, I believe, a masterpiece. You’ll find many threads in which it (and the upcoming movie, due in March 2009) have been discussed here. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/38 "2008-09-04T14:50:04Z")
Reading\* Another World \*by Pat Barker. Waiting for my library to get all three parts of her \*Regeneration Trilogy \*at the same time so I can read them in order. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/39 "2008-09-04T15:18:31Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > I’m finishing up King’s “The Stand” this week. I was planning on going with Khaled Hosseini’s “A Thousand Splendid Suns” or something by Sinclair Lewis next, but a friend just loaned me “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult and “Whistling in the Dark” by Lesley Kagen, so those will come first. Coincidentally enough, I’ve just finished King’s Lisey’s Story, which has gone to the top of my “SK’s worst books” list, and I’ve just started Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, which is going well, so far. I’ve not heard of those other authors, but I’ll keep my eye open in the library, next time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684/40 "2008-09-04T15:29:55Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Reading\* Another World \*by Pat Barker. Waiting for my library to get all three parts of her \*Regeneration Trilogy \*at the same time so I can read them in order. Those books went right over my head. I love Barker and have read everything she’s written, but I couldn’t get into the Regeneration books at all. If your library fails you, let me know – I’d be glad to lend you mine. I started _Elleander Morning_ last night and would still be reading it but I have to go to work, darn it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-reading-sept-08-edition/461684.md?page=3)