Josh’s Comments (group member since Jun 17, 2010)

Josh’s comments from the Q&A with Josh Lanyon group.

Susan wrote: "A classic poem for autumn:

Nothing Gold Can Stay

By Robert Frost - 1874-1963

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subs..."

One of my all time favorite poems. ♥

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Josh wrote: "3 - Hummingbirds"

I love hummingbirds. I was able to visit with some bee hummingbirds, the world's smallest bird, when I was in Cuba:

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WiLF0Frw83......"

Oh that's wonderful! ♥

1 - Validation from an unexpected source

2 - The morning smells of freshly ground coffee and the autumn garden.

3 - Hummingbirds

4 - My favorite blue willow coffee mug

5 - Window light through tree branches

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "Well, this is disheartening. So sorry, Antonella.

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/gior..."


I know. I'm getting condolenc..."

It's pretty depressing. Not a fluke. Not a flicker of a dying flame. I think, globally, Facism is something we're going to be fighting for some time to come.

Melissa wrote: "Josh wrote: "No wonder. The fact that Amazon was the ONLY company with such an extravagant return policy simply underlined the fact that they view indie authors as cannon fodder AKA "loss leaders."..."

Oh yes. Hitting the wrong button doesn't count!

It's the consumption of a product and then deciding maybe it wasn't really worth the money. Not even so much for the financial harm (though clearly that can be significant) but for what it says about a person: I should have this because I want it even if I can't afford it or I don't need to take responsibility for my choices because I can just walk them back.

It's not about a dollar amount. It's about an habitual behavior pattern.

Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "1 - My Japanese translations -- especially the Art of Murder series with Kadono-san's wonderfully, painfully emotional artwork..."

I collect those lovely little treasures. I received ..."

Yes! It's not so difficult ordering through Japan.

Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "1 - The perfect Saturday evening: a swim, mai tais in the hot tub, grilled lobster tails, a very fun movie: Confess, Fletch

2 - Chatting here! I've rediscovered my pleasure in Goodrea..."

Oh yum!

Also, one of my nephews is working at Cinnabon while he figures out his next steps, and he's always bringing us boxes of those yummy, nutty rolls. I never thought a time would come when I'd be like, SLOW DOWN ON THE PASTRIES. WE CAN'T KEEP UP. :-D

No wonder. The fact that Amazon was the ONLY company with such an extravagant return policy simply underlined the fact that they view indie authors as cannon fodder AKA "loss leaders."

https://publishingperspectives.com/20...

1 - My Japanese translations -- especially the Art of Murder series with Kadono-san's wonderfully, painfully emotional artwork

2 - The gentle swing and sway of chimes on a summer's night

3 - Listening to my nieces and nephews laugh

4 - Mixology (I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not, but I'm getting REALLY good at making cocktails)

5 - Happy surprises

Well, this is disheartening. So sorry, Antonella.

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/gior...

Antonella wrote: "Josh wrote: "Yes, thinking good thoughts for Italy."

Thank you.

By the way I think that the foreseen victory of the far right is possible because Italy never dealt with its fascist past. Germany ..."

It's not unique to Italy, unfortunately. Unfamiliarity with one's own past seems to be a universal trait.

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Josh wrote: "SO much better than the old Chevy Chase movies (though those have nostalgic charm, I guess) "

My favorite part of that movie was Fletch's '72 Riviera — I loved that car! (I had one my..."

Ah! That's a commentary on style right there. :-D

Karen wrote: "Pam wrote: "...(I feel like they've completely lost the art of trailers, though. It's so hard to judge anything from them now.)
..."

I agree. With a few exceptions, if I watch a trailer I feel as ..."

Yes! I suppose it's tricky to convey all the drama and excitement but not give too much away.

Yeesh. Hallmark attributes their decline in market share to all that dratted DIVERSITY. https://bit.ly/3LHQ62w

Yeah, it couldn't POSSIBLY have anything to do with a Movies and MYSTERIES channel that mostly shows old reruns of MONK and MURDER, SHE WROTE and Christmas movies year round.

They actually used to have a few good little mystery series going, but in the past couple of years those have nearly all fallen by the wayside. Partly due to the pandemic but mostly due to the fact that whoever is in charge of programming that channel is an idiot.

Antonella wrote: "Please cross your finger and your toes for Italy.

The political elections will see a victory of the right, but let's hope that it is not an overwhelming victory for a (post)fascist party thinking..."

Yes, thinking good thoughts for Italy.

Pam wrote: "Josh wrote: "We watched CONFESS, FLETCH last night and I highly recommend.

It has that classic 70s/80s caper film feel (it's contemporary and not a caper film, though) and sharp, funny writing. R..."

We really enjoyed it. I don't think the trailer gives an actual sense of the plot (and there really is one) :-D

Melissa wrote: "Josh wrote: "Interesting.

Sundance Liked Her Documentary on Terrorism, Until Muslim Critics Didn’t
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/25/us......"

Oh! Don't they allow any free views at all? BOO.

Finally finished THE WALL by Mary Roberts Rinhart and I have to admit it flagged a bit at the end. The last eighth of the book was mostly telling--and telling at what felt like a removed (both physically and emotionally) distance.

Also the most godawful dull detailing of What it All Meant. I mean, I know some readers need it all spelled out, but this was exhaustive and exhausting. For heaven's sake. Surely some things could and SHOULD be inferred? Nope. Every single thing was explained and REexplained.

WE GET IT ALREADY!

That said, I really did enjoy the book overall, and some leeway has to be given to the literary conventions of the day. It's one of Rinehart's last novels and its glimpse into that genteel 1930s upperclass world is really wonderful. There's a great overall vibe of mysterious doings and sinister circumstances beneath the placid surface of privilege and money.

Rinehart herself is a very interesting character
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ro...

My grandmother had most of her novels, and I used to read them in my teens during the summers we spent at Lake Isabella. I think I've still got three or four of her mystery novels to go.

She was hailed as the American Agatha Christie and sold over ten million copies in her lifetime.

We watched CONFESS, FLETCH last night and I highly recommend.

It has that classic 70s/80s caper film feel (it's contemporary and not a caper film, though) and sharp, funny writing. Really entertaining.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12718300/

SO much better than the old Chevy Chase movies (though those have nostalgic charm, I guess)

1 - The perfect Saturday evening: a swim, mai tais in the hot tub, grilled lobster tails, a very fun movie: Confess, Fletch

2 - Chatting here! I've rediscovered my pleasure in Goodreads with this little reorganizing and redefining of our group. Thank you guys for sticking it out. ♥

3 - Gift cards. Love to give them, love to get them.

(That said, I did have a gift card hacked recently--someone stole $50.00 from the card!)

4 - Vintage paperback mysteries. From the gorgeous wacky covers to complicated, bizarre puzzles and the frequently nutty world view, I love them.

5 - McDonald's breakfast combos. SO unhealthy, but once in a great great while (like this morning) it's fun to give into the lure of those crispy fried hashbrown cakes and other unearthly delights.