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

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

Katie wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Katie wrote: "Hello! I’m Katie and I’m fairly new to Goodreads and brand new to this group. I’m really excited to find a place to discuss Josh’s books (and other topics too!). I have..."

Poor Tumblr. :-) The decision to eliminate erotic content seems to have pretty much decimated the site. I love the platform tool, but now I have to remind myself to post there.

Calathea wrote: "Josh wrote: "Steve and Bucky???

Hmmm.

I'm guessing the movies don't do adequate justice to the depth of that relationship?"

The movies are nowhere close to what fandom made of it. It's epic. It ..."

I totally believe it. The lesson of any fandom is that of multiple and amazing realities. It's kind of mind-blowing really.

Katie wrote: "Josh wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Katie wrote: "Hello! I’m Katie and I’m fairly new to Goodreads and brand new to this group. I’m really excited to find a place to discuss Josh’s books (and other topics ..."

I think what the movies manage to convey is there is a huge backstory between them that we haven't really been privy to, so in that sense it's semi-successful. :-)

Katie wrote: "Josh wrote: "Katie wrote: "The Monuments Men Murders playlist! I’ve been playing it on repeat this week. Absolutely love “Someone You Loved” and “The Night We Met”. After having read the book (and ..."

Yes, mostly the songs are from Jason's POV, but the Night We Met is another one where I could feel Sam's weariness and a wishing for not knowing as much as he now does.

Calathea wrote: "Josh wrote: "It's one thing when I hear Kale's voice while I'm writing Sam and Jason. It's another when I hear it no matter what I'm writing! :-D"

It happens to me when I listened to a really good..."

I know! He's got such good instincts. The way he handled the end of Monet was really clever. So easy to have gone overboard, but he didn't.

Steve wrote: "I hope he doesn’t have a family dinner planned any time soon because Sophie and Charlotte will see right through him and mother him to death!"

hahahahahaha. While also stressing to him how much danger he's in. :-D

Mymymble wrote: "Lovely pix of the biggest London Pride ever.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/gal..."

Oh wow!!!!

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Josh wrote: "We had another earthquake last night. A bit bigger (7.1) than the previous one on Wednesday morning (6.4). There have been ongoing aftershocks--super early Friday morning we had a good..."

I hate earthquakes, but I think I'd be more afraid in a tornado or hurricane zone.

Jordan wrote: "Oh wow! That’s beautiful and so much more modern on the inside than I was thinking. But seeing this video made me realize that I would someday like a follow up to see, not only how the relationship..."

That house does present a dilemma.

Steve wrote: "Sooo many amazing comments and so much fantastic insight in this thread! The thing that bothered me most was Jason’s tendency to lash out when hurt. I thought it was juvenile — he’s 34 but acted li..."

So true. And like a lot of people used to having it all under control (or at least imagining they do) he still hasn't really acknowledged he's not behaving normally.

Teal wrote: "Josh wrote: "I could probably only really delve into it if the series went past five installments."

That was my thought exactly -- it would require MORE books! Which I am totally onboard for. :)"

:-D :-D :-D

Well, never say never.

Calathea wrote: "After reading The Monuments Men Murders I started re-listening to the previous books in audio. There are still details in there that pop up as new to me. Also, Kale Williams does an excellent job. :-)"

Isn't he good? I love Kale's narration so much.

So much that I had to make a conscious decision to use some other narrators this year. It's one thing when I hear Kale's voice while I'm writing Sam and Jason. It's another when I hear it no matter what I'm writing! :-D

Teal wrote: "Josh wrote: "[Jason] thinks that's the main thing troubling Sam. He's not completely wrong in that, but he's not right either.

Because, of course, how they interact with each other is not based so..."

There would have to be some of that, yes--and it's something they would both be aware of, but want to be wrong about--and it's something I want to address--or at least touch on.

I could probably only really delve into it if the series went past five installments. Which I am always loathe to do, although part of that is because once the major emotional threads are tied up, I feel like any other story is going to be anti-climactic.

In this case there might be enough emotional aftermath to justify another story.

One thing is certain. I will never run out of "M" themed art-related potential cases. :-D

Teal wrote: "Josh wrote: "From a relationship code-of-conduct standpoint, Sam's actions probably rub more readers the wrong way. "

I buddy-read this with two friends last weekend, and we were in complete agree..."

Actually, he does apologize. I think it's more a matter of degree. Does he apologize enough? Or, more importantly, does he show enough remorse for his actions? And that depends on the individual reader.

His first reaction is horror at having compromised Sam:

Jason felt the blood drain from his face.
“Was it your expectation that I would keep this information to myself, or did you assume I’d contact your superiors?”
Jason said nothing. He was genuinely stricken.
Into his shattered silence, Sam said, “So you’re making me complicit in this clusterfuck.”
“That was…not my intent.”

He doesn't come right out and say "I apologize," but it's obvious he's aghast.

Then in their second encounter he does apologize:


“Fair enough.” He met Sam’s gaze steadily. “Again, I did not mean to compromise you. I’m sorry. I’ve apologized, and if I could undo it, I would. I don’t know what more I can say or do.”

But Sam isn't looking for an apology here--an apology would make no difference because he already knows Jason is horrified by that piece of the equation--that would never be in doubt.

And then of course the conversation goes WAY off track with the whole you're not who I thought you were

And then comes the final confrontation where everyone is on defense and upset for a variety of reasons:


“I just wanted to say…” He drew in a sharp breath, let it out slowly, evenly. “I’m sorry I turned out not to be who you thought I was. I’m sorry you think I can’t be trusted.”

He's addressing (apologizing?) the real issue, which is *not* compromising Sam, but Sam's conviction that, by lying, Jason has betrayed both Sam's understanding of who Jason really is, but something more fundamental in their relationship.

Jason said, “I get that I put you in an awkward position. I get that you disapprove of my actions. Does it really not make any difference that I didn’t attempt to cover up the facts of the case? That I did everything I could to keep my investigation fair and unbiased? That I conducted myself as I would have in any other case?”

Jason believes this is what really bothers Sam about the whole situation--and I think that is correct. Sam has zero fear for himself--except in his vulnerability to Jason. So Jason is still trying to argue that yes, he bent the rules, but he did not try to slant the investigation and never considered such a thing. He thinks that's the main thing troubling Sam. He's not completely wrong in that, but he's not right either.

Because, of course, how they interact with each other is not based solely on current events. Their interactions are colored by their history together--which is a little tumultuous.

My schedule has been pretty intense this year, so yesterday I took a guilt-free I'm-not-even-sick! day to myself and watched TV. Yes! Almost the entire day.

I saw two very interesting documentaries.

Wild Wild Country https://www.netflix.com/title/80145240

" a Netflix documentary series about the controversial Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), his one-time personal assistant Ma Anand Sheela, and their community of followers in the Rajneeshpuram community located in Wasco County, Oregon."

Not at all what I was expecting. Really fascinating. Like an episode of FEAR THY NEIGHBOR taken to the nth degree. Ma Anand Sheela is perhaps one of the most fascinating, complex women I've ever come across.

And then

Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski
https://www.netflix.com/title/80109551

A fascinating character study of a truly brilliant Polish sculptor and the reasons he is not world-famous today.

Katie wrote: "The Monuments Men Murders playlist! I’ve been playing it on repeat this week. Absolutely love “Someone You Loved” and “The Night We Met”. After having read the book (and having re-read it now sever..."

What I love about that playlist is a couple of the songs are applicable at different points to both Jason and Sam. I'm STILL listening to it although I should have switched over to my Mainly by Moonlight list by now...

Johanna wrote: "Do we have a playlist for The Mermaid Murders?"

Hmm. I'll have to look. I'm sure I did one.

Johanna wrote: "It's Poetry Day today here in Finland in honor of Eino Leino who was born 6th of July, 1878. He was a Finnish poet and journalist and is considered one of the pioneers of Finnish poetry. Here is on..."

Lovely and mysterious.

1 - Shari Blaukopf's Mostly Montreal book of watercolors

2 - Morning after a night of worry and sleeplessness

3 - Our house

4 - Leftovers

5 - Taking a day to do nothing but rest and watch TV (documentaries)

Brenda wrote: "I had just gotten off a plane and was outside waiting for my ride at the Orange County airport when the one hit last night, it wasn't much here, but it lasted a long time, and since we were able to..."

It did seem to go on for quite awhile. And it was harder. Shakier? Or maybe it was me that was shakier? :-D