Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
I am struggling a bit with Meatworks as it kinda hits too close to home (or work, really) for me. (See Xing's excellent review -- sums it up pretty well for me). https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So I've put it aside for now to read something completely different, Kristen Ashley's newest The Promise (m/f). And I'm rereading another "old" favorite, Pricks and Pragmatism by J.L. Merrow.
Valerie C wrote: "So I've put it aside for now to read something completely different, Kristen Ashley's newest The Promise (m/f)..."I'm a big KA fan and love The 'Burg series. But Frankie & Benny didn't interest me as side characters in At Peace, so I hadn't planned on reading it. But the reviews have been SO GOOD. I'm still on the fence but I have a feeling I'll be giving it a go.
For you mystery lovers out there, has anyone read The Affair of the Porcelain Dog & Turnbull House? The ratings are really high and I've heard good things. Wondering if anyone here has opinions.
Susan wrote: "Valerie C wrote: "So I've put it aside for now to read something completely different, Kristen Ashley's newest The Promise (m/f)..."I'm a big KA fan and love The 'Burg series. But Frankie & Benny..."
I went on a KA tear a couple years ago and read most of her contemps before discovering m/m and getting sidetracked. ;-) If I had to choose a favorite I think it would be At Peace.
I'm only at 15% (her books are so freakin' LONG and it takes me a while to get used to her writing style) but I think it will be a good one. Benny is pretty swoonworthy so far and not too over the top alpha (yet?) so we'll see. :)
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Josh, that's why I took cliffhanger off. I felt knowing where in a series a book was, was more important.
Someone gave Spook Squad by JCP two stars because he didn't know what was going on and felt lost. Well, that's book seven, and he'd only read two other Psycop books before diving into that one. He didn't finish it.
A lot of books are hard to determine series number, so that inspired me to put that in my review.
And yes, I think this form will be of much more use to everyone reading it, and will make me that much more likely to post a review. So far I've done a few this way and I'm having a bit of fun with it.
I will also add abuse to non-con, though it sounds like rape is a better term to use. This was something I hadn't thought of, but it should get mentioned.
And the ratio of sex to plot was sorta what I was trying to do with the sensuality. I don't know if it works though. A rating of high would be an over abundance of detailed sex. Low would be close to fade to black and medium would be a few scenes detailed. Though some reviews I gave medium-high. Or low-medium.
I don't want to have to explain what my reviews mean, so if it doesn't make sense let me know your thoughts, if you wouldn't mind.
Or maybe there's another option that states "plot/sex ratio" and sensuality is just a heat rating, which I'm never really find of myself. Reviews usually turn me off when they state at the top how hot a book is. It seems to take something away from the writer's efforts if they weren't writing pure erotica. But maybe others need that. I don't know.
Well, finally I've done it. I've finished
. It's been taunting me from my to be read pile for years now. There were a a couple of false starts, but it was well worth the effort. It's qualified for my "shrine" shelf. The best part is a used first edition only costs $5.00. :)
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Josh, that's why I took cliffhanger off. I felt knowing where in a series a book was, was more important.
Someone gave Spook Squad by JCP two stars because h..."
I really do like this idea, Jordan. Not least because it quickly covers a lot of the bases -- and even though things like sensuality level are subjective, it still gives a quantitative starting point.
That's a good point about abuse, by the way.
It's funny how we probably all basically agree on what would be over-the-top violence, but I bet it would be close to impossible to get an agreement on over-the-top sensuality. :-D
Susan wrote: "For you mystery lovers out there, has anyone read The Affair of the Porcelain Dog & Turnbull House? The ratings are really high and I've heard good things. Wondering..."I read the first and liked it very much. Haven't got around to the next one yet, but certainly will at some point. Well written and semingly well researched as far as I can see.
John wrote: "Well, finally I've done it. I've finished . It's been taunting me from my to be read pile for years now. There were a a couple of false starts, but it was wel..."Isn't it wonderful? I read it several years ago, it is still with me.
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Yes, I've read both of these fairly recently and really enjoyed them. I'm looking forward to book 3. There is a very interesting dynamic between the MCs, not simplistic, not predictable. I read Porcelain Dog along with the audiobook.
Jordan wrote: "Thanks for your great comments guys! Josh, that's why I took cliffhanger off. I felt knowing where in a series a book was, was more important.
Someone gave Spook Squad by JCP two stars because h..."
I guess for me sensuality doesn't necessarily mean sex scenes as such, there are very sensual books without much graphic sex and vice versa, books with a lot of sex scenes that I don't find sensual at all. (They are mostly boring and irritating and badly written).
Anne wrote: "Susan wrote: "For you mystery lovers out there, has anyone read The Affair of the Porcelain Dog & Turnbull House? The ratings are really high and I've heard good thi..."I'm listening to the first one at the moment, it's good, but I'm not in a must.finish.this, mood over it, I'm reading other books at the same time (well, in between)
John wrote: "Well, finally I've done it. I've finished . It's been taunting me from my to be read pile for years now."John, apparently we have something in common ;-): I bought it in november 2008 and I still haven't read it. No reason for it: it was highly recommended, I love Ireland and I'm especially interested in the history of that time. Just too many books...
I had one of these reviews with the Angela James style form on Amazon this morning. First time I've seen it in the wild and not just here on Goodreads.I like it. It gives the reviewer some structure to get going and of course they can go on and add as many additional thoughts as they want.
Mod
. It's been taunting me from my to be read pile for years now. There were a a couple of false starts, but it was wel..."Thank you for the recommendation, John. And just so you know — I currently have The Desperates paperback on my nightstand (another recommendation by you). I'll start reading that one as soon as I've finished Make Do and Mend. :-)
Susan wrote: "Valerie C wrote: "So I've put it aside for now to read something completely different, Kristen Ashley's newest The Promise (m/f)..."I'm a big KA fan and love The 'Burg series. But Frankie & Benny..."
KA is what got me into Goodreads and I am a fan but last few books have disappointed me. I haven't even read her latest and I am on the fence with this one. The Burg is my favorite series of her and I kind of want to keep it that way ;)
I wish she'd write more books like For You. A suspense (is it called?) with a lunatic killer. I liked it very much, it's my favorite book of hers probably because of the crime relevance.
Ame wrote: "Susan wrote: "Valerie C wrote: "So I've put it aside for now to read something completely different, Kristen Ashley's newest The Promise (m/f)..."I'm a big KA fan and love The 'Burg series. But F..."
I think I discovered KA through GR and Maryse's paranormal romance blog. The 'Burg and the Colorado Mountain series (the earlier self published ones) are my favorites. I was disappointed in the last Rock Chick book but I did like The Will. I haven't read many of her more recent releases, though. I'm not far into it yet, but I am enjoying The Promise, and there is a great scene with Joe, Vi and the girls from At Peace. I like Benny, he is really sweet. I think KA has a talent for writing likeable alpha males. For me anyway. :-)
John wrote: "Well, finally I've done it. I've finished . It's been taunting me from my to be read pile for years now. There were a a couple of false starts, but it was wel..."I've never heard of this one! ADDING IT! Yay! Thanks for the rec!
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. It's been taunting me from my to be read pile for years now."John, apparently we have something in co..."
Yes. It is forever on my TBR list. I won't know when the right time comes to read it, because I will just read it. Until then I will be putting it off. ;-)
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I like it. It gives the reviewer some struct..."
She tweeted about it the other day, asking for people's thoughts, and that's where I first saw it. So, I'm adapting hers to suit my needs. :-)
I am reading Running Wild by SE Jakes and it's enjoyable. I'm eagerly waiting for lunch hour so I can knock it out. I'm almost done.
Mod
On another note, I'm also now reading the first Thursday Next book by Jasper Fforde. So far, it's interesting, though I'm only three chapters in so far.
Jordan wrote: "I'm trying to read one chapter of Wilfred Owen's biography a day, but now that we're in the time when he started writing poems, I'm trying to read the poems as they get mentioned, to have a better ..."I really liked the Thursday Next books, although I had a hard time with the first one. I think the second (Lost in a Good Book? I forget) was my favorite.
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The first one hasn't really grabbed me yet. I mean, it's good. I'm enjoying it. But not as much as I'd like to.
Tracy wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I'm trying to read one chapter of Wilfred Owen's biography a day, but now that we're in the time when he started writing poems, I'm trying to read the poems as they get mentioned, to..."I was intrigued by the concept of the books when I first heard about them but strangely (and unfortunately because I had high hopes for a fun reading adventure) they didn't do it for me at all. I dnf-ed after only three or four chapters and never took them up again. :(
Jordan wrote: "I'm also now reading the first Thursday Next book by Jasper Fforde. So far, it's interesting, though I'm only three chapters in so far. ...The first one hasn't really grabbed me yet. I mean, it's good. I'm enjoying it. But not as much as I'd like to. "
I think I know what you mean; every time I'm reminded of them I think I should really like them (I love the concept) but then when I try reading them I don't enjoy them. And as I type that I think I've worked out why, although my memory may be faulty. I love the idea of books and characters coming to life etc.. But I'm realising more and more that I just don't enjoy what I loosely term "paranormal", although I may be using the term differently form usual. It's the surreal aspects that I dislike about The Eyre Affair, the alternative reality "where time travel is routine, cloning is a reality" etc.. I think I found some of the writing annoying, too.
Jordan wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Jordan wrote: "I'm trying to read one chapter of Wilfred Owen's biography a day, but now that we're in the time when he started writing poems, I'm trying to read the poems as they get..."I had that problem with the first one; I'm fairly convinced that the only reason I like them at all was because I really really loved the second one. Somehow that one book managed to color my perception of the entire series in a positive way (usually it's the other way around -- a bad book will make me dislike an entire series even if I have enjoyed other books in that series).
Mod
Susan wrote: "John wrote: "Well, finally I've done it. I've finished . It's been taunting me from my to be read pile for years now. Yay! Thanks for the rec! "
Well, don't thank me yet. The first fifty or seventy-five pages are a bugger. The language is a little difficult until you learn to let it sing to you. There are scads of minor characters to keep up with. I needed to keep Wikipedia handy as there are lots of references (jokes, puns, etc.) obscure to anyone without an intimate knowledge of Irish history. And finally, the main characters are initially ...well... unappealing. Still, how they grow is beautiful. So is the story once it gathers steam.
I should also mention that it's a tragedy, just like the setting in which it takes place.
Anne wrote: "Isn't [At Swim, Two Boys] wonderful? I read it several years ago, it is still with me. ..."Absolutely amazing, yes. I suspect I'll find it even better with a second reading.
Johanna wrote: "Thank you for the recommendation, John. And just so you know — I currently have The Desperates paperback on my nightstand (another recommendation by you)..."You should know, Johanna, almost my entire book shopping list is comprised of your recommendations to me. :)
Really, my recreational reading has pretty much come exclusively from this discussion group for a while now. I feel so fortunate to benefit from such a fine confabulation.
I read the Thursday Next books and I loved the first three, but then I kind of lost interest. There wasn't a problem with the later books, it was just me, I think. I was tired of the central gag of the stories, the "going into fiction" part. There wasn't anything new about the idea in later books that made me want to come back for more.
Becky wrote: "I was tired of the central gag of the stories, the "going into fiction" part. There wasn't anything new about the idea in later books that made me want to come back for more. "Now that you mention it, that was maybe part why the story didn't stick with me. Years and years ago I read a SciFi-piece by the Strugatski-brothers (I think) that had a similar topic. And maybe I was expecting something similar and didn't get it? Don't know.
I remember that I thought it was funny to no end (which is strange in itself because they're not exactly known for 'funny'). One detail: fictional characters would turn up as described in their book, meaning if a character was described as wearing a red tie he would wear a read tie. And nothing else.
I am enjoying myself with the last of the Harry Dresden books.
Anne wrote: "I am enjoying myself with the last of the Harry Dresden books."I assume you mean latest, since there's at least one unpublished book left :p
Just about to start Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix. I got it as a freebie for signing up for the Kindle Daily Deals email and didn't need to read much of the blurb beyond: "But as no well-bred young lady can hunt the metropolis for a stolen jewel, she has to disguise herself as a man".Heroine disguises herself as a boy = I'm in.
I think studying Twelfth Night for two years at school had a permanent effect on my psyche. :D
Idamus wrote: "Anne wrote: "I am enjoying myself with the last of the Harry Dresden books."I assume you mean latest, since there's at least one unpublished book left :p"
Just so :)
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You should know, Johan..."
Isn't it precious to have found wonderful people with the same taste in books -- and so very practical, too! ;-)
I've decided that it is time to catch up on Dragonriders of Pern, so now I'm reading Dragongirl and sniffling, sick dragons are sick :-(Also wondering what it is wih Todd McCaffrey and plagues
Idamus wrote: "I've decided that it is time to catch up on Dragonriders of Pern, so now I'm reading Dragongirl and sniffling, sick dragons are sick :-(Also wondering what it is wih Todd McCaffrey..."
Is that still going on? O.O It feels like decades since I read them...
Calathea wrote: "Idamus wrote: "I've decided that it is time to catch up on Dragonriders of Pern, so now I'm reading Dragongirl and sniffling, sick dragons are sick :-(Also wondering what it is wih..."
Todd inherited it, while it has been close to 5 decades since book one, this is actually only book 22
Idamus wrote: "this is actually only book 22"'only' being relative, yes? ;-)
I completely lost track of the books. I would have to begin at the beginning again. Not such a bad thought, actually.
Calathea wrote: "Idamus wrote: "this is actually only book 22"'only' being relative, yes? ;-)
I completely lost track of the books. I would have to begin at the beginning again. Not such a bad thought, actually."
Reading about dragons is never a bad thought :D
I think there are 25 or 26 full novels in the series
You can read Todd's without a reread though, it's a different era so no plot lost to foggy memory
Becky wrote: "Heroine disguises herself as a boy = I'm in.I think studying Twelfth Night for two years at school had a permanent effect on my psyche. :D ..."
I'm blaming Shakespeare, too! This is one of my favourite tropes. Talking of Twelfth Night, have you seen She's the Man? -- a film (loosely) based on it.
Becky wrote: "Just about to start Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix. I got it as a freebie for signing up for the Kindle Daily Deals email and didn't need to read much of the blurb beyond..."I'm curious about Newt's Emerald. I love Garth Nix, especially the Abhorsen books.
I'm reading Meatworks. Jordan really knows how to create dark, intriguing atmosphere and characters, i have this impression of a world devoid of color, bleak but with a spark. Pretty cool. And to balance, Think Of England which is fun so far.
Becky wrote: "I read the Thursday Next books and I loved the first three, but then I kind of lost interest. There wasn't a problem with the later books, it was just me, I think. I was tired of the central gag of..."I was in the same boat and kind of lost interest somewhere in book 4. The funniest scene was the anger management class that Miss Havisham taught the cast of Wuthering Heights. I hate Heathcliffe! I hate you all! (Says Heathcliffe)
Hj wrote: "I'm blaming Shakespeare, too! This is one of my favourite tropes. Talking of Twelfth Night, have you seen She's the Man? -- a film (loosely) based on it. "No, haven't seen that. I'll have to check it out, thanks!
KC wrote: "I'm curious about Newt's Emerald. I love Garth Nix, especially the Abhorsen books."Apparently it's pretty different from his other books (which I haven't read.)
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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Yes. I think rape is pretty clear cut. But non-con seems to have more possible gray areas? I know I've heard readers debate whether something was genuinely non-con or not, so there must be shades.