Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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All She Wrote
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October 2012, week 1: All She Wrote
I'm actually really excited about reading this book at a leisurely pace and spreading it out for discussion. I think this is a great idea! Meet you guys back here in October!
I think I will try this.
I will read the first one in this series and then I will read this. Good thing I'm a pretty fast reader...
Pummpie wrote: "I will read the first one in this series and then I will read this. Good thing I'm a pretty fast reader..."I'm reading the 1st book this weekend!
Mod
Since I have tremendously busy workweek ahead of me, I think I'm going to comment a chapter per day this week. So it's chapter 1 for me today. :) I'm reading the paperback and I already realize that I'll have to buy more post-its as soon as possible... ;)
One thing I like about Josh's books is that the story begins right away from the very first page. J.X.'s line starts the book in a delicious and wonderfully provoking way! And at the same time it is a sweet promise of all the interesting twists and turns to come:
"I knew it," J.X. said. "I knew you'd do this." (page 7)
So, I've only read... what... about ten words of the book and I'm already ready to groan something like: "OMG, what did you do this time, Kit!!!"
One thing adorable about Kit is that he seems to think that he knows himself pretty well. Because let’s face it, that is one of the best things about getting older — one knows what one likes to do and what not. But Kit is beginning to see that J.X. might know even more about Kit’s habits and quirks than he himself does… and that seems to irritate Kit greatly. On page 7 there is a perfect example of this. Kit describes himself as predictible, but feels annoyed when J.X. too has figured that out. LOL.
When Kit and J.X. are talking about Kit's trouble to make a commitment and to proceed in their relationship, J.X. says to Kit on page 8:
"That I could understand. The problem is, you're not proceeding. Three times in three months is not proceeding. Your brakes are locked and your transmission is stuck in park. I think it's bad timing, Kit. Again."
This line made me think that if Kit actually was a car, what kind of car would he be? Something practical, don’t you think? Whilst J.X. would be a some kind of super hot sportscar, Kit would most likely be a practical family car — maybe a Ford or a Volkswagen. ;)
Gah!!! Their telephone conversation has only lasted two pages and I'm already a wreck! Why in the world are you worring so much, Kit? And why are you always turning the serious things into jokes:
”What are you saying?” I asked. ”I’m off your Chrismas card list?” (page 8)
Kit is such a complex character in his very straightforward way. (Does this make any sense?) I can only imagine how much fun it must be to write about him and make him do all these stubborn, nerve-wracking things!
On page 9 there is a pret-ty accurate discription of Kit: Like fine wine, I do not travel well. Sure, when I was young, fresh, low in acidity and not so tannic, I was a more adventurous spirit.
LOL… low in acidity. Very clever. :)
I had to visit some of the websites of the Berkshires. The place sure looks pretty much perfect — all peaceful and lovely surrounded with beautiful nature. Couldn’t help but to visit some hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, white-water rafting, antiquing, wine tasting…you-name-iting (page 10) sites also. ;) And while I was at it, I found some estates in Connecticut designed by Wilson Eyre. Take a closer look at the second estate Avalon Farms in Litchfield. It's designed by Wilson Eyre in 1908:
http://www.ctcandg.com/aug10/deeds
This is how Anna's house in Nitchfield is described on page 10: The house, designed in 1908 by noted architect Wilson Eyre, was a registered historic place.
Well, those were my thoughts about chapter 1. I feel extremely good re-reading ASW! And I'm really looking forward to hear what you guys and gals think about it. :)
Here, here, I'm reading, too! 
It's the first time I read it in paper back and so it's the first time I got a good look on the cover. And maybe now I understand why Josh's not too fond of it. ;)
I never noticed it's winter in the pic. That fits as the story is set in February. But the torsos... oh, well... the left one needs to dress better. Maybe it's old-fashioned, but I don't need to see his undies... ;)
I googled, too, and came up with the same manor in Litchfield, Connecticut, here. There are some cool pics of the dining room, staircase, Anna's Bedroom, etc.
Mod
The marble staircase, the bay windows with brocade shades and valences in Anna's bedroom... How cool! :)
Calathea wrote: "But the torsos... oh, well... the left one needs to dress better."
Oops. Didn't notice his undies before. LOL. Somehow I'm actually more worried about the gentleman on the right, though. I don't think that this is the correct way to wear a jacket like that... What IS the correct way to wear a jacket like that?! :)
ETA: Hubby was looking at the cover the other day and his comment was that the left guy has a cool watch. :)
Johanna wrote: Gah!!! Their telephone conversation has only lasted two pages and I'm already a wreck! "I agree! First my thoughts were an uneasy "oh oh" but then developed into a wolf's howl of "noooooo!!!". Oh, Kit, back to self-sabotage again. He just can't let himself be happy, can he?
This line made me think that if Kit actually was a car, what kind of car would he be? Something practical, don’t you think?
Kit as a practical car? Hm. No, don't think so. ;) I see him a something capricious. Something that might surprise you in the worst moment with something unsuspected, like the heating breaking in the midst of winter, but is kind of predictable in that regard. ^^
I love Kit's remarks, like the wine-metaphor, Johanna mentioned, or
"I felt qualified to apply for the part of corpse after I arrived shortly before dinner." (p. 11)
After that we get to meet Sara, who is older than I remembered (around Christopher's age), although he describes her as young when he sees himself as old.
And then Anna. I think, I already didn't like her when I read the book the first time. As I've re-read three times till now I can't be too sure, but lying in the bed and ordering Christopher around (although quite subtly) didn't make her popular with me.
In the last line of the chapter we learn what it's all about.
"...I think someone might be trying to kill me." (p. 16)
Mod
Hah! You are absolutely right! :) Therefore I'll change my earlier comment to: capricious, 20-year-old Ford or Volkswagen. ;)
Mod
I know what you mean. Anna gesturing and ordering Kit around repeatedly made her look like a diva. The way she is described as such a strong character with an outstanding (right word?) personality has always created very clear visual images for me. I can very clearly imagine her lying on her sumptuous bed motioning with her cigarette towards Kit. :)
Diva is a good description. She only needs this kind of ciggaret extension like they used in the old black-and-white movies. ;)I have a quite distinct image of Anna, too, although she isn't described in detail in this first meeting.
Johanna wrote: "Gah!!! Their telephone conversation has only lasted two pages and I'm already a wreck! Why in the world are you worring so much, Kit? And why are you always turning the serious things into jokes:”What are you saying?” I asked. ”I’m off your Chrismas card list?” (page 8)"
I highlighted this part too. I wanted to slap Kit: he brings passive-aggressiveness to a new height here :)
As for Sara: I think describing her as a snow princess makes a nice contrast with her employer, Anna. You would think Anna is a proper lady, but instead she swears like a sailor. And she's quite bossy and a bit snobbish, maybe?
As I'm trying to keep a track of Kit's works: here's
Open Season on Miss Butterwith
And OMG, the whole gun moment is fantastic, the way Anna mistakes (really????) Kit's remark for the salts instead of the gun.
As Johanna said before, people seem to know a lot about Kit, even if Kit lives as a sort of recluse, I felt sorry for Kit when Anna guessed Kit had been dumped for someone else. It was so indelicate. But Kit keeps J.X. for himself!
Mod
Yeah, I felt really bad about that too. :( Poor Kit. It seems that everybody else have recognized David as the traitor he was...
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "But Kit keeps J.X. for himself!"
Smart move, I think. :)
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "As I'm trying to keep a track of Kit's works: here's
Open Season on Miss Butterwith"
Ah, good. Those titles are priceless. :) It was Liade, who made the first list based on SKHE. Here, I found it. These are the books Liade found:
Miss Butterwith Closes the Case
Miss Butterwith Dispenses
Miss Butterwith and the Dear Departed
Miss Butterwith and the Holy Terror
Miss Butterwith and the Body of Lies
Miss Butterwith’s Double Trouble
Dead Weights for Miss Butterwith
Last Call for Miss Butterwith
Miss Butterwith Closes the Case
Do we have a publication order? Ok, I'm obsessing, lol
Mod
ETA: But really, no, I suppose we don't know the publication order...
I had a hard time the first time I read this book seeing Anna from J.X.'s point of view. Since all we have is Kit's viewpoint on his old teacher, he tends to see her from the stance that she's just Anna and has always been authoritarian in the way she treats people in general. But, she really isn't a nice person.How many books has Kit written in the Butterwith series? I'd actually like to see one in print at some point. =0D
Lori wrote: "How many books has Kit written in the Butterwith series?"I think we were told in SKHE. Something like two books each year for 14 years or so. That would be 28. Will have to look it up. The first was published when Kit finished college.
Mod
I think we were told in SKHE. Something like two books each year for 14 years or so. That would be 28. Will have to look it u..."
This is Kit on page 13 in Somebody Killed His Editor: I'd sold the first Miss Butterwith straight out of college. I'd been writing the series, three books a year, for sixteen years.
Man, that's a lot of books! 48!
OMG! Wow... He really didn't do much except write his books...
Wow! Thank you for the contributions to the discussion. I never bothered to look up for the house because I thought it didn't exist. It's absolutely great to have visuals.
Talking about visuals: I do have the paperback but I never noticed the underwear and till now I considered the white jacket a shirt!
I'm still catching up with work, so I don't think I'll be useful this week, but I love following you.
We won't run out of titles :-)
Or fun things to say about how Kit's position shifts over the course of his narrative on Mrs. Butterwith's Inspector friend ...
I have "googled" and "binged" have not found a satisfactory answer for -In short, the Asquith Estate was proof that some people did still earn a nice living from writing fiction. All that it lacked was someone named Bunty and a corpse in the drawing room.
Can't find a good reference for Bunty and a corpse. If anyone has ideas...let me know.
After a bit of hunting, I discovered that Ellis Peters has a character named Bunty Felse in her Inspector George Felse series.The only other Bunty I find was a comic magazine aimed at teen girls that ran from the 1958 to 2001.
Ah! I did see that is the lists but did know the significance. So Ellis Peters =mainstream=$$$?
Ellis Peters is a successful mystery writer. Her best known work is that of the
Brother Cadfael
series which was turned into a Mystery!/Masterpiece Theater series with Derek Jacobi playing the good brother.
Oh I love these discussions and all the information you people dig up :). I shall start reading this evening, and hopefully join the conversation.
I'm with Anne and I'm loving every single comment.I highlighted this part too. I wanted to slap Kit: he brings passive-aggressiveness to a new height here :)
Agree.
I just started the book and I want to strangle Kit, lol.
Oh, I can't wait to check out that mansion -- thanks for digging that up!I haven't been around here in ages, but selecting ALL SHE WROTE as a group read? Couldn't resist! ;-)
I adore Kit. I can't remember if I've said this before (see: long time since I've been on here), but he reminds me of a human Eeyore -- just the cutest little sad-sack ever. But in such a way that he's (mostly) sympathetic.
Of COURSE he has reservations about jumping into a full-fledged relationship after his recent break-up. His vanity issues are understandable as well, though he should really pay more attention to JX and the fact that he's truly wanted on that score. The fact that he can't take the cues JX is dropping like boulders on butterfly wings does make me want to shake him, but I still like him despite that.
In terms of the age difference complaint -- is it different for men? Because frankly, I've been 35 and I'm headed to 40 (rather more quickly than I would like!), and it doesn't seem like a huge gap to me. Then again, I flat-out refuse to lust after any celebrity under 35 any more, b/c I feel like they're too young for me...so maybe Kit's age concern isn't so trivial...*g*
I have to say that so far my favorite part of the first 6 chapters have been Kit's verbal fencing with Poppy Seed. I don't believe she's really all that nefarious, in the larger scale of the mystery, but she's a hoot and a half -- and so are Kit's internal asides about her (and the other students -- he's so catty, I love it).
Mod
Thank you for this mental image! :)
I think Kit's problems are more about self confidence and his own inability to see what others see in him. Take, for instance, on pg. 21 when he sees himself in the mirror after changing into warmer cloths:It still gave me a start of surprise every time I caught sight of myself in a mirror or window. Apparently clothes did maketh the man, and my clothes makethed me look less like a curmudgeonly recluse and more like a hip writer guy ... The kind of guy J.X. belonged with. The only problem being that I wasn't that guy. Inside I was still a forty-year-old schlub writing cozy mysteries ...
He's not "buying" into the hype I think, though it does change the perception of others around him. This is an attitude I can understand, especially after all the unfun he's had in the past year.
As for the age difference, I think it's more perception than actual on Kit's part. Certainly, J.X. has no problem with it, or he wouldn't be pursuing Kit.
Mod
Don't you just LOVE all the funny and spot on descriptions about Kit's personality? The fact that some of these notes are made by Kit himself and some of them are made by people around him makes it even more delightful. :) For example on page 18, when Anna is telling Kit why she suspects that someone is trying to kill her, Kit is listening patiently in silence (yeah, rrrright):
I heard her out in silence. Well, for me it was silence. Close to silence. I hardly interrupted at all. For me.
And this comment of Anna's (page 19) was so accurate that I didn't know if I should chuckle or cry:
"[...] You're very observant, Christopher."
"I never noticed."
"For being almost totally self-absorbed, yes. You're also surprisingly perceptive about people so long as they're not connected to you. [...]"
And what do you think about the bed in Kit's room?! The bed that Stephen King could have written a book about (page 20)! The one that looked like it had been modified from a sacrificial altar on some obscure Grecian isle (page 20)! LOL. I wonder if we could google anything like it on the internet. I didn't even dare to try... ;) Anyway, because I'm re-reading the book, I'll take the reference to sacrificial altar as an obvious hint referring to events occurring on that particular bed later on in the story... *grin*
One more thing, before this post is way too long to read through... I find it absolutely adorable that every time Kit thinks about J.X. in (or outside) a professional context, he ends up fantasizing J.X. naked! AND ends up praising his honey brown skin color. (page 27) *grin*
I also like the way Anna tells him to shut up so she can tell her story without interruption.As for Kit fantasizing ... yeah. He just won't admit it to himself! LOL
Johanna wrote: "The bed that Stephen King could have written a book about (page 20)! ... I wonder if we could google anything like it on the internet. "Have a look here or here. ;-)
I didn't even know something like that existed! O.O
Mod
Definitely. I too post-ited (that can't be a word!) the mirror scene, because it shows so well Kit's inability to see himself through other's eyes. Just like Lori said.
In the scene Kit knowledges that he actually looks good and that he has even lost some weight, but after that he immediately denies all the positive thoughts and the next moment thinks that J.X. deserves someone better (page 21).
Three pages later (page 24) Kit recalls the first time he'd taken part in the Asquith Circle: The first and foremost lesson I had taken away from that year's seminar was that writing was an insecure business. That underlying sense of precariousness had driven me ever since—at some cost of my personal life. No kidding!!!
Mod
Have a look here or here. ;-)"
OMG!!! Those beds look... scary. I think I understand Kit's point of view better already... ;)
I love the bed. Getting ahead of us here, but when JX comes back with Kit and Kit wants to "formally introduce JX to the monolith" (p117) I laughed so hard people on the train were staring at me.I'm also amused by the fact that he is so fumbling in this relationship -- I think JX recognizes that he sucks at it, and that's why he's so patient with him.
Lori wrote: "After a bit of hunting, I discovered that Ellis Peters has a character named Bunty Felse in her Inspector George Felse series."Thanks for this one! I didn't know what to do with "Bunty" as I couldn't find a meaningful reference.
So, chapter 2. :DJohanna wrote: "For example on page 18, when Anna is telling Kit why she suspects that someone is trying to kill her, Kit is listening patiently in silence (yeah, rrrright):
I heard her out in silence. Well, for me it was silence. Close to silence. I hardly interrupted at all. For me."
Yes, that! *lol*
Or:
"I can’t swear to it, but I’ve been up and down those stairs a million times in winter, spring, summer and fall.”or:
“No pun intended? " (p. 17)
“It would either look like a publicity stunt or it would look like I’m losing it. Either would be intolerable.”*g*
Not as intolerable as being dead, in my opinion, but I’m very fond of me. I would miss me a lot. (p. 18)
Then we have Mr. Wizard.
“That’s it? That’s pretty thin, Anna. It’s not impossible that there could be some…some ice anomaly.” Mr. Wizard I am not. (p. 17)It looks like "Watch Mr. Wizard" was a TV show for children that explained the science behind every day things.
We know about his new clothes from SKHE. They made it into the new story and so I start to wonder what Kit might have worn before that or how he might have looked. The clothes can't be too bad, otherwise he would have ditched them. Or are they an outward sign that he just isn't the recluse writer anymore and he only clings to that image because he's used to it. Shortly after that we have:
—and a tan Ralph Lauren lambswool pullover with a shawl collar. The sweater was not the kind of thing I would have ordinarily bought for myself, but part of my career rebirth was a new look. (p. 21)
Apparently clothes did maketh the man, and my clothes makethed me look less like a curmudgeonly recluse and more like a hip writer guy.(...) The kind of guy J.X. belonged with. (...) I wasn’t that guyMaybe he doesn't only look like this guy but actually is him? Kit really has problems to see himself like others see him. Often you have this the other way round, when people think of themselves to highly and don't notice that nobody else likes them as much as they do.
..., but J.X. deserved more than I could give him. He deserved better.What makes him think, he can't be what J.X. wants or deserves. It's like in the first chapter during the telephone conversation
And that was probably for the best, right? Because it was bad timing. It was too soon after David. I wasn’t ready to start up again—let alone with a guy five years my junior. It was doubtless a good thing that one of us had the presence of mind to see that it was not going to work between us. (p. 8)when he tries to see the break up as reasonable and tries to convince himself that it's the best that could happen. It makes my hear break for him. :(
When Kit walks down to the cottage we meet Rudolf Dunst.
He was tall and willowy, with wavy hair as smooth and white as the snow, and handsome, even youthful, patrician features. He looked like someone famous, but I couldn’t quite place him. (p. 24)I immedeately thought of Christopher Lee when he was younger. Don't ask me why. ^^ And then Christopher thinks about possible MCs.
Another kickass, foul-mouth, bad-mannered chef? Hmmm…maybe that last wasn’t a totally terrible idea. The research might be fun… (p. 25)Keith from "Cherries Worth Getting" by Nicole Kimberling in Irregulars came to mind. The research, though, wouldn't have been to my taste... ;-))
Mod
Hey, nice detective work, Calathea! :)
About what clothes Kit used to wear, it is perhaps a hint when Anna first sees him and says: " I always thought they'd bury you in jeans and a flannel shirt." So probably not very sophisticated clothes-wise. Or otherwise if we should listen to how he describes himself.
Johanna wrote: "Lori wrote: "I think Kit's problems are more about self confidence and his own inability to see what others see in him. Take, for instance, on pg. 21 when he sees himself in the mirror after changi..."I believe Kit is very unsure of himself, and I don't really blame him. After all, he has recently been left by the man he has spent years with, apparently to a younger man, his sales are down ( although maybe on the rise again), he has been told he must change the way he dresses and looks, so basically everything about himself is wrong. So not strange he engineers a break-up with JX, better make it happen now than wait for the inevitable. And he tries to hide his vulnerability behind those witty remarks, from himself and from others. He is so human and recognisable, and so lovable despite all the snark.
Parts of the dialog reminds me of Wilde's Earnest, like (sorry I don't have the paperback):When Anna explains why she won't tell the police:
"[...] This is a small town and I'm a big name."
Modesty was never Anna's weak point.
Or as you already quoted:
"[...] You're very observant, Christopher."
"I never noticed."
About the new clothing, I liked this:
[...] a clean pair of Levis--relaxed fit because even if forty is the new thirty, this time around I'd rather be comfortable[...]
One thing I love about Kit is how he twists your expectations, that's why he reminds me of Wilde. You're expecting something, and you get something else. Like when he walks out in the garden:
It took my breath away--and not merely because it was so cold the oxygen seemed to freeze in my lungs.
And then he describes the whole garden in a very inspired way. It's as if his first reaction is a sort of cynicism, as if he has a mask, or a harder image he wants to project, and then his artistic and sensitive soul takes over.
What I also love about Kit are his non-sequitur, which maybe show where his heart and mind are, even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it fully:
The only time I ever saw them together was at conferences, and they seemed to be behaving themselves as much as anyone does at those things. Which is to say that they weren't actually jumping each other during panels.
But I didn't want to think about J.X. now.
Yeah, Kit, you're very convincing!
Johanna wrote: "Calathea wrote: "It looks like "Watch Mr. Wizard" was a TV show for children that explained the science behind every day things."Hey, nice detective work, Calathea! :)"
Yep, thank you all very much for this insight (and that about Bunty). Often I miss the more popular references, because it's not part of the Italian popular culture.
Calathea wrote: "Kit really has problems to see himself like others see him. Often you have this the other way round, when people think of themselves to highly and don't notice that nobody else likes them as much as they do...., but J.X. deserved more than I could give him. He deserved better."
If he could hear us, he would know how much loved and appreciated he is :D
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Omnibus 1 (other topics)Poppy Done to Death (other topics)
Poppy Done to Death (other topics)
Somebody Killed His Editor (other topics)
The Alienist (other topics)
More...
Since Josh is currently writing the third book of the Holmes & Moriarity series, we thought that it would be a perfect time to read together All She Wrote. This should keep us busy until The Boy With The Painful Tattoo is to be released sometime in January 2013... ;)
We are reading chapters 1-6 during the first week of October (Oct 1 - Oct 7), but you are welcome to join the discussion at any time!
The October discussion is split in four topics (four weeks, six chapters each) to make the reading schedule more flexible for everyone. This way anyone can join any of these topics whenever they have time to read the chapters in question:
October 2012, week 1 (chapters 1-6)
October 2012, week 2 (chapters 7-12)
October 2012, week 3 (chapters 13-18)
October 2012, week 4 (chapters 19-24)
Those of you who are able to read the book at the same pace with others are welcome to comment the day you read the chapter(s) or at the end of each week.
Enjoy! :)