What's New From Josh? Showing 351-400 of 2,852

[Murphy]

Josh wrote: "Susinok wrote: "One thing that frustrated me to no end in some of my favorite mystery series is how the lead could never maintain a relationship. It was a trope of the genre at the time. Edna Bucha..."

I never understood why you couldn't have a good relationship and be a mystery protag. I still don't.

Maybe part of the problem is that most people including lots of writers don't understand what consists of a healthy relationship.

[Murphy]

Hj wrote: "Josh wrote: "Well, except for Parker and the endlessly annoying Susan. ..."

Ha! I thought I was the only one who found her annoying! And the endless detail over food... But the descriptions of ..."

I enjoyed both Susan and the food and especially Hawk and the dog.

[Murphy]

I miss Robert B. Parker!

[Josh]

Murphy wrote: "Hj wrote: "Josh wrote: "Well, except for Parker and the endlessly annoying Susan. ..."

Ha! I thought I was the only one who found her annoying! And the endless detail over food... But the descr..."

REBEL!

[Josh]

Murphy wrote: "I miss Robert B. Parker!"

I know. Me too.

Oh. And when I heard that the Jesse Stone books were being taken over by the IDIOT who wrote the TV movies I was heartbroken. I loved those TV movies but then he had to abandon the books and go off on his own lame ass direction and they went downhill from there. The last one was so bad I don't think I can watch anymore.

Speaking of dragging barely cooled writers back to their desk, did any of you see the advertisement for a 'NEW AGATHA CHRISTIE NOVEL," by which apparently they mean a new Hercule Poirot novel written by Sophie Hannah.

I'm not sure why it bothers me so much.

Okay, yes I do. Christie killed Poirot off because she didn't WANT further novels -- she'd wanted to kill him years earlier. Plus, it's not a new Christie novel, and it's offensive to pretend it is. It's a new Hercule Poirot novel, and that's bad enough.

And that concludes today's bad tempered book rant.

[Susinok]

Josh wrote: "Okay, yes I do. Christie killed Poirot off because she didn't WANT further novels -- she'd wanted to kill him years earlier. Plus, it's not a new Christie novel, and it's offensive to pretend it is. It's a new Hercule Poirot novel, and that's bad enough...."

I'm right with you, Josh. I want the book from the original author, and that's it.

I have not read ANY of the 100's of Jane Austen spin-offs or series continuations after an author has died. I want the original.

[Sandra]

Josh wrote: "Murphy wrote: "I miss Robert B. Parker!"

I know. Me too.

Oh. And when I heard that the Jesse Stone books were being taken over by the IDIOT who wrote the TV movies I was heartbroken. I loved thos..."

LOL, yes, I saw those ads and rolled my eyes. I have to agree with your rant.

[HJ]

Josh wrote: "Murphy wrote: "I miss Robert B. Parker!"

I know. Me too.

Oh. And when I heard that the Jesse Stone books were being taken over by the IDIOT who wrote the TV movies I was heartbroken. I loved thos..."

I missed the Agatha Christie ad. Just as well. I agree with your rant, Josh. (And I applaud your writing, as always - "dragging barely cooled writers back to their desk" is wonderful!)

[Anne]

Hj wrote: "Josh wrote: "Murphy wrote: "I miss Robert B. Parker!"

I know. Me too.

Oh. And when I heard that the Jesse Stone books were being taken over by the IDIOT who wrote the TV movies I was heartbroken...."

I wonder who decides these things? Hannah is a good writer, but writes in a totally different style than Agathat Christie, and the Poirot books are set in a different time with a different feeling to it than modern times, so this cannot go well :). I don't think I will read it.

[Carlita]

Anne wrote: I wonder who decides these things?

The publisher and Parker's wife and sons (the estate) struck a deal to have both the Jesse Stone and Spenser books continued. Two new Spenser mysteries have been written by Ace Atkins, which have been well received by fans and reviewers. I just can't get in to them and I can't believe Parker would approve. I've thought Brandman was chosen in the hope the new Jesse Stone novels would continue to be sold to TV as new movies with Tom Selleck.

Christie's granddaughter made the decision with the publisher to continue the series with Sophie Hannah.

[Anne]

Carlita wrote: "Anne wrote: I wonder who decides these things?

The publisher and Parker's wife and sons (the estate) struck a deal to have both the Jesse Stone and Spenser books continued. Two new Spenser myster..."

Thanks for that info, Carlita. It is hard not to think this has more to do with the prospect of earning money off dear old dad or grandma than anything else. I can see the point when it is to conclude a series (like Brandon Sanderson did for Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series) but when it comes to Hercule Poirot for instance, there cannot be that much of a literary intencive I wouldn't think. But what do I know ;)

[K.Z.]

Susinok wrote: "I have not read ANY of the 100's of Jane Austen spin-offs . . ."

I never particularly enjoyed the originals. (Oops, I forgot the blasphemy alert! :-D)

[Josh]

Hj wrote: "Josh wrote: "Murphy wrote: "I miss Robert B. Parker!"

I know. Me too.

Oh. And when I heard that the Jesse Stone books were being taken over by the IDIOT who wrote the TV movies I was heartbroken...."

I think it's the crass commercialism of it. The cynicism of it.

Given that half of the "Agatha Christie" TV episodes and movies are weirdly reworked versions of her plots -- some bearing no resemblance to the original work beyond a title -- I can see why it would eventually seem harmless, even logical to take the Robert Ludlum route. And by now the estate must be managed by grandchildren or even great-grandchildren, people who didn't know Christie, who know her mostly as a meal ticket and would therefore not respect her wishes (or even understand them) in the same way her children and contemporaries would.

That crass and clumsy approach is what set me off. As though readers were so stupid they wouldn't know or wouldn't care about the difference between a genuine new (as in recently discovered/recovered) manuscript and the usual hiring someone to fill a dead author's slippers.

And then I guess I'm also touchy about the notion of people not paying attention to the wishes of the dead author.

[Josh]

Carlita wrote: "Anne wrote: I wonder who decides these things?

The publisher and Parker's wife and sons (the estate) struck a deal to have both the Jesse Stone and Spenser books continued. Two new Spenser myster..."

I think Atkins did a credible job. He clearly respected Parker and totally got it. He's a fan. Brandman is a crap writer. He was fine following Parker's blueprint but his own ideas are the ideas of a TV writer who gets all his ideas of how the world works from...other TV writers.

[Josh]

Carlita wrote: "Christie's granddaughter made the decision with the publisher to continue the series with Sophie Hannah.
..."

Of course. I knew it.

[Josh]

Anne wrote: "Carlita wrote: "Anne wrote: I wonder who decides these things?

The publisher and Parker's wife and sons (the estate) struck a deal to have both the Jesse Stone and Spenser books continued. Two ne..."

Yes. It's the blinking dollar signs. That's the disturbing part. As evidenced by the unsubtle, disrespectful way this was handled. This is all about money. Clearly. And how much money-that-you-did-not-earn does anyone need? For God's sake. It's not like Christie's books aren't still raking in cash.

[Josh]

K.Z. wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I have not read ANY of the 100's of Jane Austen spin-offs . . ."

I never particularly enjoyed the originals. (Oops, I forgot the blasphemy alert! :-D)"

Going. To. Hell.

That's right, missy. You're sitting in the comic book section.

[Susinok]

Josh wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I have not read ANY of the 100's of Jane Austen spin-offs . . ."

I never particularly enjoyed the originals. (Oops, I forgot the blasphemy alert! :-D)"

Going. To. Hell.

That's right, missy. You're sitting in the comic book section. ..."

Hah! So funny! I'm thinking Georgette Heyer is not KZ's cup of tea, either... the closest that a modern(ish) author has come.

What 19th century or 18th century authors did you like? Thomas Hardy? any of the Brontes? Dickens? (LOVE me some Dickens...)

[Carlita]

Josh wrote: Carlita wrote: Anne wrote who decides these things?

Well, I might try one of the Atkins' books, since you say they are decent, Josh. I do miss the characters, but I have avoided them like the plague.

[Jordan]

Wouldn't read Jane Austen if you paid me. But I did enjoy Bronte's Jane Eyre. I was surprised I liked it as much as I did. I also liked The Moonstone by Collins. Otherwise, I'm not much for literary books of that age. But that's just me.

[Jordan]

I agree that writing more books by a dead author, unless one is trying to wrap up a series, is just wrong. I don't read books if someone else has taken over, even if the original author said they could. No one can really get the tone and the words the same. Even authors who've started mid-series to co-write with someone else, I don't get the point. It seems as if Storm Constantine did that with her Wraeththu series after the first two trilogies. I'm stopping after the first six books.

Never mind that I wouldn't want someone using my characters after I'm dead to make money. Fanfic is fine. That's different, but to "steal" my characters from me when I can't do anything about it? I'm coming back to haunt you. Lol.

[K.Z.]

Josh wrote: "Going. To. Hell.

That's right, missy. You're sitting in the comic book section."

HA! Been told that before!

When, back in the day, I was in graduate school, we teaching assistants were all grouped in fairly close proximity in the English Department building. I was continually engaged in raging debates over the greatest English-language novel of the 19th century. The Anglophiles bullied the piss out of me, but I held firm.

Clearly, the winner is Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, followed by The Scarlet Letter and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. (Then there's the generally overlooked Melvillainous gem, The Confidence-Man, and a minor masterpiece by Harold Frederic,The Damnation of Theron Ware: Or Illumination.)

The Brits were pussies compared with these heavy hitters. But Dickens, I must admit, is a good shit. ;-)

[Susinok]

I have not read Moby-Dick; or, The Whale yet, but I've read the others, numerous times. I had to read The Scarlett Letter so many times for school, and I always enjoyed it.

Huck Finn I read as a kid a few times before I knew it was lit'rature. I've read almost all of Mark Twain's writings over the years. Love him.

I'm an equal opportunity classics reader. Here, England, Greece, France, wherever.

[Josh]

Carlita wrote: "Josh wrote: Carlita wrote: Anne wrote who decides these things?

Well, I might try one of the Atkins' books, since you say they are decent, Josh. I do miss the characters, but I have avoided them ..."

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by Atkins. From what I understand he's not planning to make a permanent gig, but so far-so good.

[Josh]

So. Just for fun and (not for inspiration) Least Favorite Literary Classic That Yet Could Still Be Mashed-up into a Great M/M Romance.

I'm sure Dickens offers good grazing.

Didn't Dreamspinner do something with Jane Eyre a while back?

[Jordan]

Josh wrote: "So. Just for fun and (not for inspiration) Least Favorite Literary Classic That Yet Could Still Be Mashed-up into a Great M/M Romance.

I'm sure Dickens offers good grazing.

Didn't Dreamspinner d..."

Romeo and Juliet for sure. lol. I just watched Private Romeo on DVD a couple of weeks ago. Um... I don't really recommend it. It's set in a modern day boys military school, and the guys are reading Romeo and Juliet in class, but the language spills over into their everyday speech and the only person who speaks modern English is the one left in charge. It was awkward just because of the language, otherwise it could have been really good.

[Calathea]

Josh wrote: "So. Just for fun and (not for inspiration) Least Favorite Literary Classic That Yet Could Still Be Mashed-up into a Great M/M Romance. "

Robinson Crusoe was a big disappointment for me. I love the story and was so looking forward to read it (looong ago in sixth grade) and then the book turned out to be sooo booooring. A reviewer here on GR wrote: "Reading Robinson Crusoe is like reading a grocery list scribbled in the margins of a postcard from Fiji: "Weather's fine! Wish you could be here! Need fruit, veg, meat..."." and I have to agree. Sure, I learned a lot, how to dry grapes, collect lemons, treat broken limbs...

If there ever was a setup for M/M in a classic, though, it's in there. I mean, come on, two men on an island... alone... for years! ;-)

[KC]

Josh wrote: "So. Just for fun and (not for inspiration) Least Favorite Literary Classic That Yet Could Still Be Mashed-up into a Great M/M. ..."

Hm... Would it be mean to suggest The Well of Loneliness?...

These i actually liked:
- Dumas (the son) - so many adventures and the friendships! so much lost potential there ;-)
- Spenser's Fairie Queene has good potential and the right spirit, imo.

[Josh]

Ha! These are great suggestions. :-D

[Antonella]

Calathea wrote: "A reviewer here on GR wrote: "Reading Robinson Crusoe is like reading a grocery list scribbled in the margins of a postcard from Fiji: "Weather's fine! Wish you could be here! Need fruit, veg, meat..."." and I have to agree. Sure, I learned a lot, how to dry grapes, collect lemons, treat broken limbs...
"

That's a great review! I can't comment on the book because I read it some 35 years ago, and in Italian...

[K.Z.]

Josh wrote: "Didn't Dreamspinner do something with Jane Eyre a while back?"

O_O

[K.Z.]

Josh wrote: "So. Just for fun and (not for inspiration) Least Favorite Literary Classic That Yet Could Still Be Mashed-up into a Great M/M Romance."

Ooo, there's whole series in the inimitable James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking tales! And the stories would be biracial, too. (We'd have Natty Bumppo looking, of course, like a young Daniel Day-Lewis, and Chingachgook looking like . . . well, looking like the embodiment of loyalty and ferocity. Hitsville!)

[Josh]

K.Z. wrote: "Josh wrote: "So. Just for fun and (not for inspiration) Least Favorite Literary Classic That Yet Could Still Be Mashed-up into a Great M/M Romance."

Ooo, there's whole series in the inimitable Jam..."

Oh yes! Heh.

[Calathea]

I love the Leatherstocking idea (my heart went for tragic Unkas, though) and Dumas. There's a lot of potetial. :-D

I always thought there could be a thing between Malcolm and MacDuff in "Macbeth". But I liked the play, so it wouldn't fit the requirements. ;-)

[HJ]

Calathea wrote: "I always thought there could be a thing between Malcolm and MacDuff in "Macbeth". But I liked the play, so it wouldn't fit the requirements. ;-)"

For me, it's Hamlet and Horatio. I've always been very fond of Horatio and I think Hamlet was too... One reason why he wasn't that keen on Ophelia.

[Calathea]

Hj wrote: "Calathea wrote: "I always thought there could be a thing between Malcolm and MacDuff in "Macbeth". But I liked the play, so it wouldn't fit the requirements. ;-)"

For me, it's Hamlet and Horatio. ..."

Yes, that would explain a lot. :-)

[Josh]

Hj wrote: "Calathea wrote: "I always thought there could be a thing between Malcolm and MacDuff in "Macbeth". But I liked the play, so it wouldn't fit the requirements. ;-)"

For me, it's Hamlet and Horatio. ..."

Yes, there is an unexplained wealth of history between Horatio and Hamlet.

[Karen]

Josh wrote: "Hj wrote: "Calathea wrote: "I always thought there could be a thing between Malcolm and MacDuff in "Macbeth". But I liked the play, so it wouldn't fit the requirements. ;-)"

For me, it's Hamlet an..."

Yes. I sometimes imagine that during the play within the play scene, the one where Horatio has agreed to keep his eyes on Claudius to confirm evidence of his guilt, he becomes distracted by Hamlet playing around in Ophelia's lap and becomes a less than reliable witness. : )

[Calathea]

SNEAK PEEK of THE PARTING GLASS over on Josh's blog.

Grab onto your seats and hang on tight: emotional roller coaster ahead! ;-)

[Josh]

Calathea wrote: "SNEAK PEAK of THE PARTING GLASS over on Josh's blog.

Grab onto your seats and hang on tight: emotional roller coaster ahead! ;-)"

It is going to be rather angsty, I fear. ;-)

[Josh]

Karen wrote: "he becomes distracted by Hamlet playing around in Ophelia's lap and becomes a less than reliable witness. : )
..."

It happens.

;-D

[Antonella]

Calathea wrote: "SNEAK PEAK of THE PARTING GLASS over on Josh's blog.

Grab onto your seats and hang on tight: emotional roller coaster ahead! ;-)"

Thank you very much! Although now Im even more impatient than before...

[Johanna]

Calathea wrote: "SNEAK PEAK of THE PARTING GLASS over on Josh's blog.

Grab onto your seats and hang on tight: emotional roller coaster ahead! ;-)"

Thank you so much for posting the link, Calathea. I'm still dizzy from reading the sneak peek — It's like... I don't know what hit me, but it was wonderful. ;-)

Thank you, Josh. You have no idea how happy it makes me to know that you'll let us revisit these two guys. And angsty? Bring it on, mister!

[Calathea]

Johanna wrote: " I'm still dizzy from reading the sneak peek — It's like... I don't know what hit me, but it was wonderful. ;-)"

I felt the same way. That's why I posted the warning. ;-)

[Johanna]

Calathea wrote: "Johanna wrote: " I'm still dizzy from reading the sneak peek — It's like... I don't know what hit me, but it was wonderful. ;-)"

I felt the same way. That's why I posted the warning. ;-)"

Thank you for the warning, dear. :-)

[Calathea]

Oh, well, I just realised I managed to sneak in one of my eye-roll-inducing spelling mistakes. *rollseyesatself* Maybe I thought of peas? ;-)

[Sandra]

Calathea wrote: "SNEAK PEEK of THE PARTING GLASS over on Josh's blog.

Grab onto your seats and hang on tight: emotional roller coaster ahead! ;-)"

Cool! I really liked that story and am glad there's another.

[Karen]

Beautiful cover and an intriguing direction to take their story. Very much looking forward to it.

[Anne]

The cover is absolutely gorgeous and the sneak peek definitely wetted my appetite for more. And what a breathtaking description of " joy".

[Josh]

Thank you -- all of you! I got the idea (well, the impetus) the write their story after listening to the audio files for it. I thought, yeah, what did happen to them?