Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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All She Wrote
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October 2012, week 1: All She Wrote
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Lori S.
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rated it 4 stars
Oct 02, 2012 12:06PM
I'm in agreement with Kit - comfort first! =0)
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Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "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."I had to really look as Bunty isn't really part of American pop culture either. It was an interesting search, since a learned about a Girl's comic I'd never heard of before too.
Mod
I'm planning to re-read this week's chapters tonight and rejoin the discussion later this week, but did want to especially thank Johanna for her incisive opening comments about how "the story begins right away from the very first page" with J.X.'s wonderful (loaded with implications) line. I love how Kit's response is a concise sketch of his personality, his feistiness and self-deprecating humor intact.
“I knew it,” J.X. said. “I knew you’d do this.”
I held onto my temper, although that’s a comment guaranteed to fry anyone’s fuse—and mine isn’t the longest to start with. My fuse, I mean.
Then within a few paragraphs he swiftly opts for the easy out... (before he's tempted to risk his heart).
It looks like "Watch Mr. Wizard" was a TV show for children that explained the science behind every day things.Thanks for this Calathea! :)
It seems to me like the problems with his sales and the breakup with David battered Kit's ego, yes, but I think part of it is simply his character.
The way I see it he is not very able at seeing himself, he has always buried himself in writing, and now when he could have J.X. he can't believe someone as "hot" and smart and younger could want him on the long run.
Mod
I never thought about it that way, but I think you are absolutely right.
And the more I think about it the more I feel that Kit's character is a weird mixture of predictability and surprises. ;)
Mod
Have fun camping/teaching, Karen! We are looking forward to you joining us later this week — we've missed you and your comments! :)
Karen wrote: "I love how Kit's response is a concise sketch of his personality, his feistiness and self-deprecating humor intact.
“I knew it,” J.X. said. “I knew you’d do this.”
I held onto my temper, although that’s a comment guaranteed to fry anyone’s fuse—and mine isn’t the longest to start with. My fuse, I mean.
Yes! Exactly!!! :)
Mod
As long as I can remember, I've enormously enjoyed reading aphorisms. I love exploring quotes here in Goodreads. And just the other day I bought a book that has the following quote from Winston Churchill in it: "It is good for an uneducated man to read books of quotations." LOL. So I naturally loved the way Josh used Woody Allen's quote for transition to chapter 3 and the dinner scene (page 30). It's brilliant:
What's that quote by Woody Allen? Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.
I was thinking of both murder and beverages as I sat at dinner that night in the elegant dining room at Asquith House, gingerly sipping my merlot (red wine gives me headache) and studying my fellow guests for signs of incipient homicidal mania. [...]
By the way, there are some unbeatable Woody Allen quotes here, if you are interested... ;)
JPerceval wrote: "I have to say that so far my favorite part of the first 6 chapters have been Kit's verbal fencing with Poppy Seed."
Oh, yes. And the way Kit stubbornly keeps using the nickname Poppy Seed (well, maybe not out loud, but in his inner monologue nevertheless...). This bit was extremely entertaining (page 30):
"Poppy C. C as in Catholic."
Trust a writer to drag her religious hang-ups into it.
It's fascinating what words people choose to use when they say their social security number (in Finland we usually have one letter in it) or their car's license number. Usually we use names for that purpose, don't we? If my car's license plate were TKF-123, I would say it: "Taneli, Kalle, Faarao-123." But to use Catholic for a C — that's priceless! :)
I'm actually typing this comment the second time, because GR ate my first attempt. :( So.. be aware with the long posts, you guys. Try to remember to hit that save-button in time!!! I think I'll split my comments into shorter bits today...
Mod
For example Arthur Gohring — who makes the mistake of calling Kit Chris!!! — reminds Kit of Ving Rhames:
Chapter 3 has so many hilarious moments that I don't even know which ones to comment on! I made my way through this chapter chuckling incessantly. Maybe one of my favorite parts was the bit where Kit tells the others how he got his agent at the first place (pages 36-37):
I said, "I'd completed the first Miss Butterwith manuscript so I mailed it to several—"
Poppy Seed gaped. "Mailed it?"
"Right."
"Through the post office?"
"Yeah."
"You couldn't just email it?"
"No. This was back in the day when some of us still used paper and typewriters. Electric typewriters, of course, and later on word processors, but still antediluvian, I agree."
Nella, boldly reaching for seconds of those buttery whipped potatoes, asked, "But how did that work? The agents would receive a package in the mail and then what? Did they mail you a letter to tell you they were accepting your work?"
"Usually it was to tell you they weren't accepting your work, but yes. Or they'd call."
"How long ago was this?"
"About sixteen years ago."
"Oh. So there weren't so many writers back then." She smiled knowingly.
After reading that, I'm really, really looking forward to learning more about this writing group seminar, because it sure has DISASTER written all over it! :) At this point it feels that these people don't have anything in common (except that they happen to be writers). The conversation around the diner table brings out distinctly all the differences between the characters: the age difference, the different opinions about publishing and money, the differences concerning their sense of humor and ambitions, etc....
And then there was also the poor old Miss Butterwith, who was called sweet by Victoria and who was confused to be some librarian by Poppy. Fun times! ;)
One thing I noticed about the dinner conversation, is the discussion about mainstream publishing with agents and so on as opposed to self-publishing. One wonders if it is Kit or Arthur who mostly speaks Josh's thoughts on the matter, it seems Arthur has the right of it now, but maybe a couple of years ago it wasn't like that. I would guess that many authors' view on self-publishing must have evolved as the industry has evolved.
Mod
Yes. As we know, Josh is always saying that these things have changed hugely in only a handful of years — so 16 years must definitely feel like a different lifetime ago for a writer in the publishing industry.
As long as I can remember, I've enormously enjoyed reading aphorisms. I love exploring quotes here in Goodreads.And here I thought I was the only one enjoying quotes as much as books :)
But to use Catholic for a C — that's priceless! :)
I thought Catholic was her real middle name, lol!
Anne wrote: "One thing I noticed about the dinner conversation, is the discussion about mainstream publishing with agents and so on as opposed to self-publishing. One wonders if it is Kit or Arthur who mostly s..."I know of at least one author ( P.N. Elrod ) who is very resistant to turning her books into digital format because of the potential of having her stuff plagiarized. She still rails on about vanity presses though.
For authors who might be very good but don't have any luck getting in with the traditional publishers, self-publication is a route that is available. I think this is why Smashwords is such a popular site.
I've a question to throw out:In chapter 6 when the group is doing the round table, why, if Sara's writing is so good, is everyone so cool toward it? Is it the perception of her character (ice princess) or is it pure jealousy (though no one really exhibits such behavior)?
And, hands up on who would like to read Ferrell the Ferret: Monkey Business? =0O
Johanna wrote: "I'm actually typing this comment the second time, because GR ate my first attempt. :( So.. be aware with the long posts, you guys. Try to remember to hit that save-button in time!!!"I didn't get on GR yesterday at all... :( First I thought the reason was my sketchy internet connection, but now I think it might have been GR... will comment on chapters 3 and 4 later today.
Lori wrote: "I've a question to throw out:In chapter 6 when the group is doing the round table, why, ..."
You're a little fast for me, Lori. ;)
We'll all be able to comment on chapter 6 by weekend (and I hope some more people, who don't read a chapter a day, will join us then). Maybe we can compare note on the first six chapters then?
I'll participate again tomorrow, because yesterday I came home from work too late, tonight it's my dad's birthday and tomorrow ... the weekend begins :D
Mod
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "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."
Here is one more proof of Emanuela's theory on Kit twisting reader's expectations (chapter 4, page 44):
Anna continued, "I don't know if it was a bad case of burnout or that I loved Todd more than I realized, but after he left, nothing seemed to matter."
Ah yes. How well I remembered those long, lonely days after David left. How the days had dragged. And the nights. Probably because he took my PA with him. I'd spent a lot more time talking to Dicky than I had David. I really missed Dicky.
If Kit's career as an author ever fails him, he would make a fine stand-up comedian...
David, the traitorous ex, still comes up in Kit's stream of consciousness from time to time. :( Especially Kit's conversations with Anna seem to bring David into his thoughts (page 45):
She said dryly, "I've left you an antique writing desk."
"Oh. Thanks." Was I suppose to reciprocate? My will currently left everything to my parents. That was one thing I'd seen to right away after David's departure. No way did I want that cheating bastard benefiting by a dime if I happened to be hit by an asteroid. Which had been a real possibility, the way my luck was going then.
These quotes make me wonder, if Josh will ever let Kit to meet (or to hear from) David in the upcoming books. I mean, Kit is over David — he told us in SKHE that there had been no love in their relationship for a long time before David left — but the way things finally ended between them must have been quite a shock to Kit. And they never really got to talk about what really happened between them... or did they?
Anyway, I think it would be so cool, if Kit and J.X. would stumble upon David (and Dicky, if he's still in the picture) some day. It would be extremely interesting to see what would happen and how each of them would react towards one another. ;)
Mod
*grin* :)
Seems I am the first one to comment on chapter four :)It is still sort of setting the stage, but Kit has started sleuthing already, asking questions, speculating about possible motive etc.
There were a few references I didn't get, and usually I just let them be unless they are too important for the story. One such reference was on the first page, namely that Kit felt like channeling Professor Plum in the Dining Room with the Candlestick. Usually I would have given it a vague thought along the lines, it sounds like something from an old-fashioned mystery, but learning from you guys I googled it. And it seems that the Professor is one character in Cluedo, a board game where the players shall solve a murder mystery. Who would have known, not me.
There is a reference to The Alienist that I did get since I read the book many years ago and liked it a lot. A historical murder mystery with very interesting characters and a keen sense of time and place as I recall.
And then the third reference I am going to mention, but this one might only be in my head. Kit is counting who was in the mansion at the time of Anna's fall, and names the guests and for a short moment forgets that the staff is also relevant. I don't know if any of you have seen the movie Gosford Park? It is set on an English mansion in the 30's and the lord of the manor is killed. The police officer in charge questions all the guests and family members, but isn't able to find the murderer. He forgets that the servants are people too, with their hurts and betrayals and yes, the will to kill. I remember enjoying the movie very much.
So, is this a clue do you think? ;) Or a red herring? Or just something my mind dreamed up? We'll see..
And then it seems like Johanna beat me to it after all :)
Mod
Oh, that's a great movie! And I like your train of thought with that!
I got the Cluedo part, because at one point of my youth I used to play it a lot. :) But something else I wasn't familiar with was the reference to Mother Jones magazine.
Mod
LOL. Luckily the time difference between Oslo and Oulu is only 1 hour — it means that I can easily meet you here in the evenings. :) If you weren't here yesterday evening too, I would have felt pretty lonely... ;)
Johanna wrote: "The whole dinner conversation (in chapter 3) has a wonderfully awkward feel to it! All the new people are introduced to us in the most enchanting way through Kit's highly observing eyes. ;)For ex..."
Oh, yes, I chuckled my way through the pages. :D
And then there was also the poor old Miss Butterwith, who was called sweet by Victoria and who was confused to be some librarian by Poppy. Fun times! ;)
She even asks "Are you sure she's not a librarian?" I wonder how Kit managed not to explode. I mean, he wrote the books he would know wether Miss Butterwith was a botanist or librarian or something else all together. And then she says "I only ask because I haven’t heard of your series. Is it new?". How is it that almost nobody ever heard of Miss Butterwith?
Was this how the writing seminar was going to go too? Was I trapped in some annoying version of Groundhog Day 101? (p. 36)
Ouch. Everything repeating on and on and on... :D
I found one of the heartbreaking moments in chapter 3, when Kit shortly thinks that he doesn't need to watch he weight any longer.
I do like my food. And it was sort of a relief to know that I could eat my dinner without fear that I was going to have to get naked in the near future. I could get as fat as I liked and no one would care. Heck, no one would see. Sheer bliss.
It was funny the way bliss took your appetite away. (p. 31)
For one thing he has one of his self-concious moments again and then you can feel how he misses J.X. but won't let it come to the surface.
Johanna wrote: For example Arthur Gohring — who makes the mistake of calling Kit Chris!!! —
I marked that one too!
Chris. No one calls me Chris. It’s Christopher or Mr. Holmes. I don’t even let my parents call me Chris—though they did draw the line at Mr. Holmes. (p. 36)What's wrong with 'Chris', btw? And what's his relationship with his parents? Sure, this was Kit being funny, right, not hinting that he is distancing himself from his parents...
Thanks guys for looking up the references in chapter 4! I completely missed anything Gosford Park related, but I'm not sure I've seen the movie...I found Professor Plum and don't need to look up The Alienist and Mother Jones.
Btw: In chapter 3, when Poppy Seed called Miss Butterwith sweet, Kit thought
She was not some sweet old lady in a pink woolly cardigan with Life Savers in her pocket and grandchildren and a weekly bridge club. (p. 31)Does anyone of you know if this is a character in some other book or film? Why do I think of Angela Landsbury in "Murder, she wrote"? I don't think there were any pink cardigans. Hm.
I learned that Siskel and Ebert were/are two film critics, who had a TV show "At the Movies". (p. 41)
On page 42 Kit has a sudden fit of introspection.
Because Sara was eerily efficient didn’t mean that she wasn’t shy. I sometimes forgot that even though I too was on the introverted side.I found that to be quite true. Somehow, although one might think in those terms of oneself and is able to count off the outer signs, it's something else to transfer that knowledge when assessing other people.
Okay, a lot on the introverted side.
The other thing is that I was reminded that Kit actually isn't so good at interacting with people. In my mind he is represented as quick-witted and has a lot to say. I tend to forget or overlook that most of this is only in his mind. He's doing a lot of the talking in his thoughts. What would we see if we weren't privy to his thoughts?
And then David and Dicky come up again.
I’d spent a lot more time talking to Dicky than I had David. I really missed Dicky. (p. 44)That says a lot about the state their relationship had been in, doesn't it? ;)
Mod
Wikipedia on Cluedo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluedo
This page has a geekishly comprehensive slide show with international versions of the game: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12...
Mod
Mod
Because Sara was eerily efficient didn’t mean that she wasn’t shy. I sometimes forgot that even though I too was on the introverted side.
Okay, a lot on the introverted side."
I like how Kit's "hidden" empathetic side begins to show up again here. Although he quickly qualifies with: Or maybe she was a cold, unfriendly android in woman’s clothing. But I suspected that she was a shy person who had learned to compensate with a cool, all-but-uncrackable professional demeanor.
Mod
Kit on Nella describing her first meeting with Anna.
Another notorious gang (of writers) — The Quills!
Karen wrote: "She pressed her fists together which I guess was supposed to signify what we grownups call rapprochement. Or maybe it was a gang sign. The Crips. The Bloods. The Quills. (Chap. 4, 11%)Kit on Nell..."
I liked the Quills too, imagine seeing that on graffiti in the city :)
Johanna wrote: "Anne wrote: "I don't know if any of you have seen the movie Gosford Park?"Oh, that's a great movie! And I like your train of thought with that!
I got the Cluedo part, because at one point of my ..."
Something else in common, I liked to play Cluedo too :)
Because Sara was eerily efficient didn’t mean that she wasn’t shy. I sometimes forgot that even though I too was on the introverted side.
Okay, a lot on the introverted side.
Calathea I agree, this is quite true.
Then again, Kit is a good judge of characters in my opinion, unless he actively "blinds" himself to the truth.
Mod
I know. :) I could practically hear Kit gritting his teeth! Poor, Kit!!
Calathea wrote: "I found one of the heartbreaking moments in chapter 3, when Kit shortly thinks that he doesn't need to watch he weight any longer."
Oh, yes. That was a sad thing to think. A very lonely, sad thing.
Calathea wrote: "What's wrong with 'Chris', btw?"
We haven't got an explanation for it, have we? But when Steven "Satan" Krass calls Kit Chris in Somebody Killed His Editor, we get the same hostile reaction from Kit (page 73, Somebody Killed His Editor):
"Chris. Isn't this delightful? Grab a chair. Join us."
Chris. No one calls me Chris. My parents didn't call me Chris. David didn't call me Chris. [...]
Maybe it's just that he simply doesn't like that nickname. I bet that many of us have been called by a nickname or two that we didn't care too much about. Or maybe it's simply because Kit isn't very social, but rather private person. He likes to keep his distance and definitely doesn't want strangers to go around calling him Chris. We'll have to remember that everybody calls him Christopher — only J.X. gets to call him Kit (and us, who do it anyway... but out of love, of course *grin*). ETA: ...and partly because Christopher is so difficult to type — I always keep forgetting where to put those hs! ;)
Mod
This is very interesting. People in the story must see Kit very differently than we readers do. Only J.X. seems to have some kind of higher understanding for Kit's quirks and his constantly ongoing train of though. :)
Mod
Oh, I've totally forgot that Cluedo isn't called Cluedo everywhere! ;) Thank you for the links, Karen.
I'll add a little something to your observation.Chapter 3, an insight on Miss Butterwith
She was Justice personified. She had a mind like a steel trap and a resolve of iron, and she used scientific methods for solving crime. Okay, she was aided in her investigations by her intrepid cat Mr. Pinkerton—-and the dashing Inspector Appleby, who was not gay no matter what anyone said—-but other than that, she was as hardboiled as they come.
Ha ha, even Miss Butterwith's readers like to slash protagonists as we do ;)
I loved how bewildered the young authors at the table were when they heard Kit had sent his first manuscript through the post office. The dialog here is very sparkly and fast paced, but never confusing. It's as if you're sitting st the table with them.
I noticed - at least until now - that the ending of the chapters are a bit cliffhangerish, you don't want to put the book down yet, and you feel you have to read on. I don't like over-long paragraphs, so I really liked the way they are organized in this book.
Chapter 4.
I like playing Cluedo, so that reference really cracked me up. The first time I was reading the book, I was waiting for dinner to be served at a family reunion - everybody knows when I have a book to read, I have to read the book - and I chuckled as a lunatic all by my lonesome in this room full of people shaking their heads. It was like being a part of a secret society of one :)
I share this with Kit:
not to mention the fact that The Birds has always creeped me out
I don't know if I told you I'm terrified by chicken and birds. It was a nightmare living in Venice with those filthy pigeons......
I found Anna a bit manipulative, especially from this point on:
“Christopher.” Anna held her hand out to me. “It occurred to me a short while ago that I never even thanked you for rushing to my rescue.”
She then cries, but when I think of how insensitive she was with the remark about David a few pages earlier, I can't feel too sympathetic to her hurt. Kit's reactions are very genuine, but at this moment he seems a good friend who's being exploited. And this has never seem a good enough excuse, the "I know you can take it" one, even if, in a sense, she's speaking the truth:
“I knew if anyone could understand, it would be you. I know I tease you, but you’re much more sensitive and insightful than people give you credit for, Christopher.”
I loved the "I really missed Dicky." line, as you said, it's one of those wonderful Kit's moments.
Calathea wrote: "The other thing is that I was reminded that Kit actually isn't so good at interacting with people. In my mind he is represented as quick-witted and has a lot to say. I tend to forget or overlook that most of this is only in his mind. He's doing a lot of the talking in his thoughts. What would we see if we weren't privy to his thoughts?"This is a wonderful observation, so very true. Sometimes, when you realize the input that's coming from the outside, or the reactions, you understand how much more or less Kit has noticed. I think it's not easy to be able to shield (that's not the right word, but I can't think of another at the moment) the main character's perception so well when writing, since the author obviously has a more comprehensive view of what's going on.
I've been keeping track of Kit's position on the good Inspector and it keeps shifting (but more on that later).I've never played Clue (U.S. version), but similar mentions have popped up in other stories over the years (like Col. Mustard in the library, etc.).
I was puzzled the first time I read this book over Anna's actions. Part of the problem, as I said before, is that we are only seeing Kit's POV on his old teacher and to him so though he thinks she's being a bit controlling with her bequest to Nella, but Kit's not too worried about it. For him it's normal behavior for Anna. It takes an outsider to see this trait as something else entirely.
Anne wrote: "I liked the Quills too, imagine seeing that on graffiti in the city :) "Yes! *lol* And the battles for territory let poetry slam look like child's play. ;))
Darkm worte:"Then again, Kit is a good judge of characters in my opinion, unless he actively "blinds" himself to the truth. "
You're right, he is good at it. He's been told more than once that he's very perceptive. That might be in play here. Although, his ability totally fails when it comes to people he had known for a while or in a time when he had been easier to impress, like Anna or J.X.
Johanna wrote: "Or maybe it's simply because Kit isn't very social, but rather private person. He likes to keep his distance and definitely doesn't want strangers to go around calling him Chris."
That could be it. And I agree that there are nicknames I'm not too fond of. ;-)
ETA: ...and partly because Christopher is so difficult to type — I always keep forgetting where to put those hs! ;)
Maybe it's a language thing? You don't have these 'h' in Finnish, or do you? We have the name in German, too, and it's written the same way, so no problems there. ;)
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Chapter 3, an insight on Miss Butterwith-and the dashing Inspector Appleby, who was not gay no matter what anyone said—-"
Lori wrote:"I've been keeping track of Kit's position on the good Inspector and it keeps shifting (but more on that later)."
Oooh, the dashing Inspector Appleby... I'm still waiting for Kit to pick up on all the advice and hints he gets on the topic. There had been something in SKHE already. I think that one of the ladies told him to spin Inspector Appleby off and give him his own stories. What do you think how old the Inspector is? I mean, he's dashing and all ;)) And one has to wonder what he's doing in English countryside and villages. :)
Manu wrote:"I noticed - at least until now - that the ending of the chapters are a bit cliffhangerish, you don't want to put the book down yet, and you feel you have to read on."
I thought that, too! Chapters 1 to 3 all ended with direct speech and chapter 4 nearly so.
I don't know if I told you I'm terrified by chicken and birds. It was a nightmare living in Venice with those filthy pigeons......
Hu? Bad childhood experiences? And you can't even really avoid them. :(
Sooo, chapter 5 anyone? :)Back in my room I made myself comfy on my funeral bier and settled down to do my homework. (p. 49)
The first sentence already made me laugh. For one there's another of those phrase for the pompous bed. Until now we had "sacrificial altar", "tomb-sized bed" and now "funeral bier".
I'm sure there's a technical term for this kind of contrasting words like 'funeral bier' and 'comfy', that shouldn't go together and therefor tickle one's sense of humour. :) And then there's 'bier'. That's the way 'beer' is written in German. It's pronounced the same but still... :D
I love Kit's commentary for the manuscripts he's reading.
I started with Rowland Bride’s Came Tumbling After. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great.^^
Damon was trying to ignore the voice in his head….
Oh boy. (p. 49)
It's writing advice incorporated in a novel.
Did you notice (those of you who read hard copy) that this part
Well before the crucial fifty-page cut-off point, I was longing for Bess to meet a bigger, badder serial killer who would put us both out of our misery. (p. 50)is on page 50 of ASW? Cheeky. ;)
But then Kit climbs out of bed and looks for a phone to call J.X. And there's the heart ache again. Poor Kit. :(
On the other side of the country the phone rang with brisk efficiency.So sad.
Once.
Twice.
(...)
Thrice…
Of course he might not be home.
It was Friday night and he was footloose and fancy free. I’d slipped the halter off him myself. Given that gorgeous rump a slap and said, Be free.
So what was I doing now?
Abruptly, I grasped how this was going to look. I didn’t want to advance our relationship, but I didn’t want to let go either. That wasn’t fair to J.X., which he could hardly fail to notice and being J.X., hardly fail to mention in that direct ego-bruising way he had. I wasn’t sure my ego could take a lot of bruising tonight. I missed him.
Very gently, very quietly, I replaced the handset.
It seemed a much longer trip back to my room. (p. 51f.)
What if J.X. had answered? I imagine Kit stuttering and J.X. being his kind, helpful self, but maybe for once he's fed up. But then he told Kit to call him when/if he made his mind up. *sigh*
I hadn’t realized until then that Sara was an active participant in the group. (p. 53)When Kit comes across Sara's manuscript he didn't know she would be part of the writing group. Did Anna know? Or did someone (Sara?) slip the manuscript in there?
Someone was coming up the steps from the bottom garden. A large, bulky figure appeared at the top of the flagstone steps. (p. 55)Suspicious! I mean who's wandering the ground at 3 o'clock in the morning? Can't be up to anything good! ;) I like how Kit's curiosity wanes really fast because of literally cold feet. The preventing and detecting of evil so very much depends on the right climatic circumstances. :D
Mod
The first sentence already made me laugh. For one there's another of those phrase for the pompous bed. Until now we had "sacrificial altar", "tomb-sized bed" and now "funeral bier."
Oh yes! The first sentence was unpredictable and funny. :) For some reason I keep thinking about the bed's canopy frame of wrought-iron ivy and grapes. I don't know about other countries, but in Finland people used to believe that ivy brings bad luck (sickness and even death). But if you have ivy in your bridal bouquet that is supposed to mean fidelity and long-lasting marriage. So what do you think? Could those wrought-iron ivies be omen of both in this case: bad luck in form of murder and good luck for Kit's and J.X.'s relationship? And what about those grapes then? Don't they mean good luck too? I know that in Spain people eat 12 grapes at New Years Eve to ensure the good luck for every month of the new year.
Mod
Friday night. I sighed. Friday night's alright for fighting. [...]
Where does that phrase origin from?
This part I found highly amusing (page 50):
I glanced automatically at the bed stand. An ornate globe lamp, a small plate of chocolate truffles I was earnestly doing my best to ignore, and a couple of books I'd brought including Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance and Adrien English's latest. [...]
Adrien English's latest!!! Cool! Adrien makes a cameo appearance — kind of. LOL. :)
Calathea already mentioned Kit's spontaneous phone call attempt to J.X. — that almost broke my heart. The most excruciating part for me was this (page 52):
It was Friday night and he was footloose and fancy free. I’d slipped the halter off him myself. Given that gorgeous rump a slap and said, Be free.
Johanna wrote: "Adrien English's latest!!! Cool! Adrien makes a cameo appearance — kind of. LOL. :)"Yes, yes, yes! It's so cool! :D I still have hopes that they'll meet some time. Imean they even live in the same area, right?!
Mod
—-and the dashing Inspector Appleby, who was not gay no matter what anyone said—-
Ha ha, even Miss Butterwith's readers like to slash protagonists as we do ;)."
*grin* I agree. :)
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "I don't know if I told you I'm terrified by chicken and birds. It was a nightmare living in Venice with those filthy pigeons......"
Hon, and you chose Venice of all the cities... Piazza San Marco only has about a million pigeons at the time... ;)
Johanna wrote: "Chapter 5, page 50:Friday night. I sighed. Friday night's alright for fighting. [...]
Where does that phrase origin from?"
I think it comes from ESPN's Friday Fight Nights - which is boxing.
It could also come from the rock group of the same name: Friday Night's For Fighting.
Calathea wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Chapter 3, an insight on Miss Butterwith-and the dashing Inspector Appleby, who was not gay no matter what anyone said—-"
Lori wrote:"I've been keeping track of K..."
It's more like Kit is coming to grips with the idea more than anything else. There are evidently indicators that tip people off to Appleby's true self and the only one who isn't seeing them is Kit, which seems to fit in with his blindness when it comes to seeing the true character of the people he's close to.
Eh, I'm old. I think "Saturday night's all right for a fighting" by Elton John.
Johanna wrote: "Chapter 5, page 50:Friday night. I sighed. Friday night's alright for fighting. [...]
Where does that phrase origin from?
I think that's a takeoff on the Elton John song "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." I checked it via Google, and the fact that the song was released in 1973 doesn't age me a bit, does it? ;)
Mod
Look to this day:
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence.
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendour of achievement
Are but experiences of time.
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision;
And today well-lived, makes
Yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day;
Such is the salutation to the ever-new dawn!
Mod
And thank you, Karen, for the poem! I actually knew it in Finnish, but I didn't make the connection until I read the second verse in English. My father (who performs poetry from time to time) used to recite this poem quite often back when I was a child. It's beautiful and it has such wisdom in it. Anyway, it fits in Kit's situation perfectly! He really should stop worrying too much and live a little in the moment...
ETA: I just started to read chapter 6 and realized that the poem was mentioned in context of Kit's morning habits. Well, that's even better. :) I'm still chuckling about this (page 57):
That's according to the poets, and they ought to know all about positive attitude, given what poets earn.
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)
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