Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
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Ame
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Jul 10, 2015 10:17AM
Just realized Kaje Harper's got a new book out! Life, Some Assembly Required bought and now I'll be gone from the world for some time.
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It is such a fascinating book because it allow..."
This is the interesting thing about journals and journaling. Because while in real life I am political and active (not as Josh Lanyon -- that's not my job as an author) NONE of that goes into my journal. I think every so often I express worry or fear over an election, and that's about it.
And yet these are things that occupy my mind. Politics are a frequent source of conversation and concern in my life.
And yet if my journals should survive, it's going to look like I spent all my time worrying about the pool pump, my diet, and what books I'm hoping to buy. :-D
To say that it would make boring reading is an understatement.
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Yeah, I keep wanting to do that too!
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It is such a..."
: D
I've been an avid, but very erratic journaler. For me it's similar to when I write poetry. I write when I'm angsty or during challenging times. In my teens and twenties, I would use a code for certain activities that I'd prefer not to be recognized by hypothetical nosey friends/relatives. Now, I'm not even certain what they all mean. : )
If my journals survive, any nosey descendants will discover a somewhat depressing (and wee bit pretentious) ancestor. ; )
Josh wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Anne wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I am reading The Animals: Love Letters Between Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy It is such a..."
I have realised that the absence of political commentary is because these were love letters between the two men when they were away from each other. Having said this there are a few comments here and there which reveal their thoughts on some of the political issues of that time.
In one letter Bachardy writes about an argument he has had with his parents because of their racist views. Bachardy's housekeeper who was black, had baked him a cake to make up for Isherwood's absence, but he took the cake to his parents who then refused to eat it because it had been baked by a negro. They also mention the Vietnam war and the Six Day war.
It is a mammoth book though and filled with the trivia of their lives (bills, gossip, the beach, work, films, plays, friends) and yet it makes such addictive reading.
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Heh. :-)
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Oh my God. I did this too. Only, I haven't remembered this for the longest time. But when I read your comment the most embarrassing code words for.. er... having sex, just popped into my mind. *red faced*
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..."
Ah. Yes. I regret to say that arguments do make it into my journal. And that creates a really unbalanced portrait because once the situation is resolved, I don't tend to think of it again. Which probably creates a much more brooding (if pool pump-obsessed) persona than is accurate.
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Ha! We should all be forgiven our early poetical efforts. That goes without saying. :-D
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That's my past journaling too. I only ever wrote in my journal or blog when something bad happened or I was in a mood or having a crappy day. So, yeah, there was a reason online friends used to worry about me. :-)
Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Josh wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Anne wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I am reading The Animals: Love Letters Between Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy ..."
Thanks for the ongoing review, Ije. I requested my library get the book because it sounds fascinating to me.
Jordan wrote: "Josh wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Josh wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Anne wrote: "Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "I am reading [book:The Animals: Love Letters Between Chr..."My old journals are nothing but angst and hand-wringing because I only wrote when I was in an uproar about something (and when you're twenty, there's a lot to be in an uproar about!) and writing helped me sort it all out. I pretty much stopped writing in my journal a lot when I finished university. It's as if all the wild drama kind of petered out. :) I'm keen to read all those old journals. I imagine they will be quite entertaining. They're packed up in a box in my garage and someday I will dig them out and laugh. :)
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And another funny thing is that this pretty much dates us from these contemporary tell-all publicly days. : )
So, did anyone read the first chapter of Go Set a Watchman?Read and listen here:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/harper-le...
I'm still not sure if I want to read rest of the book.
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Ha! We should all be forgiven our early poetical efforts. That goes without saying. :-D"
:-)
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Very true. :-)
Valerie wrote: Do did anyone read the first chapter of Go Set A Watchman? No, I read the New York Times review yesterday. I will never believe Harper Lee wanted this first draft of what she rewrote into the classic "To Kill A Mockingbird" published. She never sought publication of it when she was in good health and she had it for more than 50 years. It was her lawyer who discovered it and negotiated a publishing deal that the thing saw the light of day. I think this is a case of making a fast buck, possible manipulation of an elderly woman in failing health and it certainly tarnishes the legacy of her characters. Her work. Sad. Not reading it.
I guess there is value for those studying the process of writing to see how the rejected first draft became the classic. I would feel much better had Lee sought its publication herself years ago. In the comments of the review, some noted Lee had banned the lawyer from her property and there is an active investigation into elder abuse.
Carlita wrote: "Valerie wrote: Do did anyone read the first chapter of Go Set A Watchman? No, I read the New York Times review yesterday. I will never believe Harper Lee wanted this first draft of what she rewrot..."
Those are pretty much my feelings. I did read the first chapter because it's hard to avoid spoilers anyway and can see why she may not have wanted it published.
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Yes. It is definitely a different mindset.
I look at stuff people post now and it is amazing to me. But frankly not amazing in a good way. I think most of these folks, especially younger people who have no clue how judgmental other humans are, will ultimately regret that much candor. Especially because--as we've discussed--these ruminations are only a tiny part of the picture.
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Oh boy. That certainly doesn't sound good, but if she never wanted it published and he pushed for it, I'm glad someone's looking into it. I'm not planning on reading it, mostly because I just don't have the time.
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Read and listen here:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/harper-le...
I'm s..."
I started it, but decided to wait until I had the complete book.
I think I'd rather read it after all the hoopla has died down, so I can form my own unbiased opinion.
She's a competent writer, and assuming this isn't her very first unfinished draft, the book will be perfectly readable. Will it live up to Mockingbird?
Could anything?
She's not just competing with her own work, she's competing with people's perception of that work.
It will be decades before Go Set a Watchman can actually be viewed with any kind of critical detachment. There is no critic living today who can view it with true objectivity. That's going to be up to future generations.
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Read and listen here:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/harper-le...-..."
So very true.
Josh wrote: I started it, but decided to wait....As always, you have a way of bringing reason to a subject. I think you've got it exactly right though, I am highly biased. I adore "To Kill A Mockingbird" as it is written and I don't want my perceptions changed. Future generations will make the call and that's cool with me.
The New York Times reviewer said it's well written.
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Oh dear. I didn't know these things about the Go Set a Watchman release.
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Read and listen here:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/harper-le...-..."
Yes, probably a good idea to let it sit for awhile before reading it. I, too, love To Kill a Mockingbird.
Mod
As always, you have a way of bringing reason to a subject. I think you've got it exactly right though, I am highly biased. I adore "To Kill A Mocki..."
Yes, that book is just too meaningful to too many of us to be viewed with objectivity.
And the drama surrounding its release is going to color its reception as well.
One thing for sure, it is the biggest literary event I can remember. :-)
I'm currently reading Blue on Black which is kind of an alternative universe western. Extremely well written and written in a way that has me sitting on the edge of my seat sometimes. Not really a romance and at times brutal, but oh my what a book.Another good story I finished this weekend was The Gully Snipe a typical fantasy, perhaps more for YA than romance readers, but I read both kinds, so...but on this occasion I really would wish for the author to have a better editor. I have noticed this with this author before, a good story teller with a message, but once in a while the writing gets so clumsy and the dialogue so stilted I get thrown out of the story. Thanks to the story itself, I do get back in though. There is also a kind of frame- story that is quite unnecessary, I thnk.
Anne wrote: "I'm currently reading Blue on Black which is kind of an alternative universe western. Extremely well written and written in a way that has me sitting on the edge of my seat sometime..."I read it since yesterday, Alison has recommended it. I like it a lot!
Sean Kennedy has published a third Tigers & Devils book today, Tigers on the Run
today! I haven't started reading it yet, but I've been looking forward to it. There are also three shorts which came out a while ago, featuring Simon and Declan: Just Like Florence Nightingale, The First Supper, and When You Run, You Eventually Have to Stop
HJ wrote: "Sean Kennedy has published a third Tigers & Devils book today, Tigers on the Run today! I haven't started reading it yet, but..."Yay, now I just need to get to August where I'll have some money again.
I hope they try again with audio, 3rd time's the charm, right?
Idamus wrote: "HJ wrote: "Sean Kennedy has published a third Tigers & Devils book today, Tigers on the Run today! I haven't started reading ..."I just bought it. It's on a VERY long 'To Read' list. I've had a real problem getting motivated to read lately. I've taken to listening to old favorites on Audible. Not a bad thing at all though!
I've been meaning to reread 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in preparation for 'Go Set a Watchman.' So many books, so little time!
HJ wrote: "Sean Kennedy has published a third Tigers & Devils book today, Tigers on the Run today! I haven't started reading it yet, but..."I'm about 60 pages into it and it's just as great as the first two. Simon is still so very Simon, and Declan is wonderful as always.
Steve wrote: "I've been meaning to reread 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in preparation for 'Go Set a Watchman.' So many books, so little time!"I got this from Audible a while back when I had a credit that needed using. Sissy Spacek was the narrator. She did an excellent job.
I am reading A Body on Pine by Joseph R.G. DeMarco. So far so good. This is the first time I am reading a book by this author. The PI is gay, lives in Philadelphia and also owns a strip club as a side business (as one does). He is trying to find out who murdered his friend who was also his masseur. I am enjoying it and it is well written.
Steve wrote: "Idamus wrote: "HJ wrote: "Sean Kennedy has published a third Tigers & Devils book today, Tigers on the Run today! I haven't s..."I have 348 books on my to-read shelf, only 56 is in my wishlist
Loretta wrote: "Steve wrote: "I've been meaning to reread 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in preparation for 'Go Set a Watchman.' So many books, so little time!"I got this from Audible a while back when I had a credit t..."
Yes, I have that, too. I think I'll start it tonight.
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I read 'The Confessions of Augustine' years ago adn this passage has always stuck with me."How is it that a man wants to be made sad by the sight of tragic sufferings that he could not bear in his own person? Yet the spectator does not want to feel sorrow, and it is actually his feeling of sorrow that he enjoys. Surely this is the most wretched lunacy? For the more a man feels such sufferings in himself, the more he is moved by the sight of them on stage. Now when a man suffers himself, it is called misery; when he suffers in the suffering of another, it is called pity. But how can the unreal sufferings of the stage possibly move pity? The spectator is not moved to aid the sufferer but merely to be sorry for him; and the more the author of these fictions makes the audience grieve, the better they like him. If the tragic sorrows of the characters B whether historical or entirely fictitious B be so poorly represented that the spectator is not moved to tears, he leaves the theatre unsatisfied and full of complaints; if he is moved to tears, he stays to the end, fascinated and reveling in it."
-- The Confessions of Augustine, Book III
Post by Ginn Hale half an hour ago:For those who remember Wicked Gentlemen- «It's about The Book» is posting the new short story in parts RIGHT NOW!
http://itsaboutthebook.com/2015/07/13...
Mod
For those who remember Wicked Gentlemen- «It's about The Book» is posting the new short story in parts RIGHT NOW!
http://itsaboutthebook.com/201..."
Thanks for the notice. Loved it.
Antonella wrote: "Post by Ginn Hale half an hour ago:For those who remember Wicked Gentlemen- «It's about The Book» is posting the new short story in parts RIGHT NOW!
http://itsaboutthebook.com/201..."
Great little snippet. Ginn really knows how to write, I actually felt wet when reading :).
Mod
For those who remember Wicked Gentlemen- «It's about The Book» is posting the new short story in parts RIGHT NOW!
http://itsaboutthebook.com/201..."
Oh, how delightful!
Antonella wrote: "Post by Ginn Hale half an hour ago:For those who remember Wicked Gentlemen- «It's about The Book» is posting the new short story in parts RIGHT NOW!
http://itsaboutthebook.com/201..."
Can't wait to read! Thanks, Antonella!
Mod
For those who remember Wicked Gentlemen- «It's about The Book» is posting the new short story in parts RIGHT NOW!
http://itsaboutthebook.com/201..."
Oh cool! Thank you for letting us know, Antonella!
Antonella wrote: "Post by Ginn Hale half an hour ago:For those who remember Wicked Gentlemen- «It's about The Book» is posting the new short story in parts RIGHT NOW!
http://itsaboutthebook.com/201..."
Marvellous. Thanks, Antonella! :)
Jordan Castillo Price has put together a paranormal anthology. Publishing date: August 25th. She talks about a m/m rock star lineup, and she is right:Astrid Amara
KJ Charles
Charlie Cochet
Rhys Ford
Ginn Hale
Lou Harper
Jordan L Hawk
Nicole Kimberling
Jordan Castillo Price
Andrea Speed
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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