[DoreenMichele]

Perhaps you could cast light on why everyone is replying to me rather than the person who recommended the book?

All I did was pulled out a blurb from their link clarifying that the book isn't exactly an exposé on the fascinating sex lives of eight legged critters.

[belorn]

In my way in interacting with HN, I generally avoid referencing sibling comments when adding my own comment to a discussion. If a person recommends a book, and a second person describe the content of the book, if I were to also write a comment about the content of the book I would put it under the second person even if the comment could also fit directly under the first post.

The threading system of HN has both benefits and drawbacks. In this case a chronological ordering might had been better. As a side note, I fully agree with your take that the book isn't likely about the sex lives of eight legged critters. When I saw the title I was suspicious about the content, and the excerpt provided further evidence to back up that suspicion. As such it was a very helpful excerpt.