Niche Books
Posted by Tina Kubala at 6/11/2009 10:09 PM 
Categories: books
Tags: meme booking through thursday language grammar star trek
Categories: books
Tags: meme booking through thursday language grammar star trek
There are certain types of books that I more or less assume all readers read. (Novels, for example.)
But then there are books that only YOU read. Instructional manuals for fly-fishing. How-to books for spinning yarn. How to cook the perfect souffle. Rebuilding car engines in three easy steps. Dog training for dummies. Rewiring your house without electrocuting yourself. Tips on how to build a NASCAR course in your backyard. Stuff like that.
What niche books do YOU read?
When I first read the question, I said to myself, I guess I won't be answering the Booking Through Thursday this week. I read tons of books, all sorts of books. But books in an unusual niche? No, not really. It's not like I've ever read a book on how to install an undermount sink.
Upon refection, I've come up with two categories of books I read that are not exactly typical.
Let's go with the more typical of my two odd-ball book habits: Star Trek novels. I started reading them a year ago. While there is nothing that says geek like fan fiction, I am not ashamed. I am thrilled to experience my favorite people in new adventures. The most exciting part is reading a book that ties together series and episodes while expanding on key Trek concepts.
I must recommend Q-Squared
as a wonderful romp involving three series - TNG, TOS, and DS9. However, if you don't know exactly what those codes signify and have a strong opinion on the each, you wouldn't like the novel as much as I did. Heck, it could be a little confusing. On the other hand, if you smiles at the "Q" reference, you'll love the book. Now, clearly, lots of people read Star Trek books, even if they are not, say, Da Vinci Code popular.
My other niche book interest is a tad less mainstream: Books about grammar and evolution of languages.
The best book in this group is, for a word geek like me, laugh out loud funny. Not only does Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
have a panda joke in the title, it also sports an implication of violence over grammatical errors. Awesome! 
I read a handful of more serious books from the same section at the library. Now I'm no linguist, so I'm not afraid to admit some the heavy stuff is above my head. Okay, in Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language
, I was in over my head for much of it. Still, the mind boggling wonder of language and how the human brain processes thoughts into coherent words and phrases interested me enough to keep reading for the tip of the iceberg I did understand. More for the amateur linguist than Words and Rules, The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention
bought me to look at language as a living thing, not a set of hard and fast rules. I guess I always knew that on an intellectual level. It's just that I grew up speaking proper English - the Queen's English - I was even picked on about my speech in school. Seeing how we got from Shakespeare to txt spk doesn't make me happy about it, but I understand the how and why much better than before. On both counts, I'm a big geek. Life is good.
Join in the Booking Through Thursday discussion, on your blog or leave your answer in the BTT comments.
Interesting niches. I have never read those star trek novels.
Booking through niche
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Star Trek and linguistics? You're my new best friend! I seriously love TGN and all things Data. I feel you on the language thing...I learned three languages properly. All this must make me a quadruple nerd. Nerds unite!
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I'm actually not even bilingual. Heck, not even Klingon. I do know a few phrases here and there in a few languages. It's a talent I admire in others.
Data is fabulous. He was always my favorite TNG growing up. I loved Jordi, too, but mostly because of Reading Rainbow. My heart has always belonged to TOS and Spock, since I was about seven. Over twenty years later, I still feel the same way. I'm just not ashamed of it like I was as a teenager.
Since I've been watching then again, I'm realizing a) I don't hate Riker as much as an adult and b) Worf is really cool and sexier than I thought.
What did you think of the new movie? I was so worried going into it and very impressed with the results.
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I tried a Star Trek (fictional/non-manual) novel once... and was left a touch cold... but perhaps another kick in the can is in order...
Other than that, you've spurred another Thursday Thirteen idea from me based on The Queen's English! Thanks!!!
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I had an expert pick out my first few. My best friend Kate and I bonded in sixth grade over her love of Chekhov and my love of Spock. Since it was 1991, we were super weird. Her mom has a huge collection of Trek novels, so she made sure I avoided the bad eggs.
I'm sure you can find one that will excite your Trekkie soul. I loved Spock's World so much I read it twice in a month. I laughed, I cried.
Can't wait to read your Thursday thirteen.
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WOW - I didn't even know that there was Star Trek books. That is a great niche. thanks for stopping by my blog today.
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Isn't it funny we just assume everyone reads what we read?
Have a great day!
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