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

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

"Maybe don't shout your secrets, but do learn to speak from that place of honesty."



(In fact, a gift from Johanna) :-)

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I had an incident at work this week and one of the underlying messages was that I should try and shape myself and be different. ."

Uh... HUH?

Karen wrote: "OK, this discussion about reviewing is interesting.

Think about it... just about every product you buy online, every business you visit, every service you use, requests feedback or a review. When ..."

It may sound funny, but I've been thinking for a long time that reviewers--especially really good in demand reviewers--are starting to suffer burnout.

Authors are so desperate for reviews that of course there has to be pressure on reviewers. And if there's pressure, that has to take a lot of fun out of the equation.

Karen wrote: "OK, this discussion about reviewing is interesting.

Think about it... just about every product you buy online, every business you visit, every service you use, requests feedback or a review. When ..."

Hahaha. Like even the Catalina Meet! :-D Although I guess I'm not asking for reviews so much as what did you think and what could we do better next time.

Alison wrote: "Interesting discussion. I rate and write a review for everything I read. "Review" being used very loosely. :) Even if it's just one sentence or a few words, I write something about how I felt about..."

Well, I can tell you from the writer perspective, a brief but honest and heartfelt reaction to a book is still useful. It all goes toward building that consensus of opinion.

Some of the LEAST useful reviews are the really long-winded, detailed but entirely subjective here's-what-the-author-should-have-dones. Those frequently feel like someone gearing up to write their own book--partly because reviewing the book you wanted versus the book you were reading is very often a stage in the development of a writer. Maybe even a necessary stage.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "These days it seems as if we are asked to review everything. I really dislike being asked to review theatre visits, or concerts, or my shopping experience, or a meal I ate etc.

I don't mind givin..."

Yes. I agree. I am rarely moved to review--even when I think I really should because I've just received phenomenal service or something was truly delicious. I try to express my pleasure in real time and face to face because, best intentions aside, I just know I'm probably not going to leave a review.

Karen wrote: "OK, this discussion about reviewing is interesting.

Think about it... just about every product you buy online, every business you visit, every service you use, requests feedback or a review. When ..."

Yes. Reviewing gives customers a feeling that when a merchant fails to deliver a product or a service, they still have recourse--case in point, trying for two nights to have drinks at the Avalon Grille (although in this case, I'm not satisfied with Yelp, I'm writing the manager--IF I CAN FIND TIME).

Which is why as a voracious online consumer, I highly value legit reviews. Does the vacuum work? Can you get replacement parts? What's the service center like? Will that mascara leave me blind?

Book reviews...are more problematical because unless a book is truly atrocious or a complete rip-off (by which I mean the kind of book-stuffing that can happen in KU) it's going to be subjective. While I love lively book discussions and different opinions about the characters and what was really happening with the plot...the truth is, *nobody's* single opinion on a book is going to decide me on buying or not buying.

And I think it's true for most people.

What's aggravating is how contaminated the reviewing process has become--and this does include books--with competitors reviewing each other badly or people buying fake good reviews. That is all on Amazon though for making reviews such a major part of their mysterious algorithm--and then clumsily trying to control the process (only not really).

Even with legit reviews, you've got to have a lot of reviews in order to get a real consensus of opinion because you do have customers who maybe are already having a bad day and then a bad cup of coffee is the final straw and they write a scathing review--which, without a lot of reviews to balance--can change a businesses overall rating. Meanwhile most customers have a completely different experience--but who bothers to review EVERYTHING WAS FINE AS USUAL? :-D

Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Old news but new to me.

Sensitivity reader has to pull his debut novel for being...insensitive.

https://slate.com/culture/2019/03/ya-......"

It's maybe hopeful that in both cases the authors were the ones who chose to pull their books. The publishers were apparently ready to stand behind the work and the storyteller.

But in both cases you've got young, largely inexperienced people who live on social media. I think the idea of just unplugging and letting the brouhaha run its course was unthinkable to them.

It's sickening to see two talented young #ownvoices be silenced--perhaps for good.

Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Old news but new to me.

Sensitivity reader has to pull his debut novel for being...insensitive.

https://slate.com/culture/2019/03/ya-......"

Well, yes. Strip off the outerwear and this kind of policing is EXACTLY the same as the kind of policing we all scream to the heavens about when it comes from people on the right seeking to "protect" young readers from different opinions, experiences and ideas.

Jordan wrote: "I know a lot of adults read YA, but I thought it was interesting that it was 55% in 2012. That’s over half! And yeah, teens aren’t weighing in on these issues. I doubt they even care. I wouldn’t ha..."

It is concerning that some of this may not be so much about #ownvoices as #owncareers

I'm not 100% sure what the fact-checking controversies were--I think this might be part of it:

https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/1/15...

https://www.cjr.org/analysis/journali...

But I thought these tips for writers on fact-checking were actually pretty good!

https://bit.ly/2CmNQeN

Mymymble wrote: "I've just read the third volume of The Friend.
It's an alleged autobiography of ten volumes. He's written seven and is bringing them out monthly. He's mostly written the last three...."

Interesting! Although I don't get the strategy behind all those spoilers in the book description.

Susinok wrote: "Well I am back home and this morning a job opened up in St. Louis, MO. I applied!

This was one of the single more exhilarating trips I've ever been on. It was entirely focused on my career, but it..."

I'm finding your work adventures exhilarating!

Marge wrote: "Josh wrote: "That's me all the time now. If someone is speaking to me while I'm writing, I have a habit of writing down what they say instead of what I intended. So either my focus is getting worse..."

Ha! It's probably true though. It is for me. :-D

Old news but new to me.

Sensitivity reader has to pull his debut novel for being...insensitive.

https://slate.com/culture/2019/03/ya-...

This one is even more appalling:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/bo...

This is the recipe the SO used a few nights ago. So GOOD.

Baked Spinach-Artichoke Pasta

YIELD 4 to 6 servings

TIME 40 minutes




INGREDIENTS

Kosher salt
8 ounces medium pasta shells
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ teaspoon red-pepper flakes
10 ounces fresh baby spinach, or frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
2 cups heavy cream (1 pint)
4 ounces grated Parmesan (about 1 cup)
Black pepper
4 ounces grated mozzarella (about 1 cup)

PREPARATION

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high. Turn down to medium-high, and cook the pasta according to package instructions until 2 minutes short of al dente (the pasta will finish cooking in the oven). Drain and reserve.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium. Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the spinach little by little until wilted, stirring frequently, about 3 minutes. Stir in the chopped artichokes.

Stir in the cream and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Stir in the Parmesan until melted. Remove from the heat then carefully stir in the cooked pasta, or transfer to a large bowl to mix together, if necessary. The liquid might appear wet and loose, but it will thicken up as it bakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Transfer the pasta to a 2-quart casserole dish or individual casseroles or ramekins. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and bake until bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Broil until browned in spots, 1 to 2 minutes, if desired. Let cool slightly before serving.

Antonella wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Anyway, does anyone have an easy garlic bread recipe you can recommend and share?"

Garlic, butter, parsley and salt (pepper is optional). Or olive oil for the vegan version.

Also,..."

This is how the SO does it, and it's so very delicious.

Mary Poppins Returns.

Well... I was not a fan of the original Mary Poppins--being the old child in my entire school (I think) who had read the books first. I did certainly loved the music. We had the record and knew all the songs by heart. :-D

This was a careful, scene-by-scene recreation of what someone thought made the original film so popular. I fear that times and tastes have changed, however Emily Blunt was WONDERFUL. She had to carry the thing pretty much on her own, and she was just terrific in the role. I had no idea she could sing, but she did a more than credible job.

CGI has made it possible to create the most glorious sets and scenes, and that was all great.

The dance numbers were very good. The musical score was underwelming, but maybe hearing the songs a few times would help--except I can't imagine circumstances where I would be listening to those songs enough to be familiarized.

I don't really think it was a movie that would appeal to a lot of children now days--but maybe I'm wrong.

Johanna wrote: "Antonella wrote: "About Green book, I've heard the critics of part of the Afro-American community, so I'll have to decide after I've seen it."

I've missed the critic and didn't know anything about..."

This is the current challenge for film and fiction. You can either portray the past as it was--which is bound to offend many people's sensibilities--or you can portray it as we all wish it were--which creates its own set of problems because those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

Alison wrote: "I love this topic and I'm glad to see it reappear! I like this new re-organisation of the home page. I have no photos to post, but maybe someone else does? :)"

Yes!