Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
I enjoyed lots of NR Walker, but Cronin’s Key didn’t work for me at all... I also enjoyed more her standalones, and the first in series, e.g., Red Dirt Heart.
Marge wrote: "Haldis wrote: "Josh wrote: "Starting Cronin's Key by NR Walker. I've been meaning to try one of her books for ages,
Please Josh, don't think we're dissing your choice of reading material. My idea was if you like Cronin's Key, that's great, because she is an excellent writer. But if it turns out that story is not as good as you'd hoped, we have recommendations for her other books which several of us liked a lot better. :-)
Marge wrote: "Marge wrote: "Haldis wrote: "Josh wrote: "Starting Cronin's Key by NR Walker. I've been meaning to try one of her books for ages,
Please Josh, don't think we're dissing your choice of reading m..."
Yeah, Josh. What Marge said! :-)
Josh wrote: "Ame wrote: "Weren't there some talk of Three Men in a Boat earlier? On the topic of Jerome K. Jerome, I recommend The New Utopia, amazing short story written as a critizi..."I know that some people feel like this is only a critisize on the socialism, however I feel its deeper than that and what I took from it that dictatorship is bad where ever it is and from what ever politics in springs from and also that tbe biggest threat to dictatorship is books and reading and education and independent thinking. Which is why every leader who hates criticism always attacks the education system first, destroying the education, keep the people ignorant and afraid and you keep your power.
Proven again and again, also in our times.
Jordan wrote: "Just a super cool FYI: Josh has chosen our December read!!! We will read this vintage Christmas mystery collection: Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries.
And I just have to say, I lov..."
I almost missed this! Sounds good! :-)
Josh wrote: "Also A Simple Favor."Looks good! Adding to my list :-)
Josh wrote: "Starting Cronin's Key by NR Walker. I've been meaning to try one of her books for ages, but what really decided me (and this is a commentary on the positives of attending conferences) was chattin..."
I really liked NR Walker's: Red Dirt Heart #1; The Weight of It All; Imago, and On Davis Row - all quite different. :-)
I was reading Kinky Friedman's Greenwich Killing Time but gave up about two thirds in, at the point where the MC compares cats and women in their lack of sense of humor. It was already feeling a bit off, and I've noticed that lately I have zero patience for (subtle) digs disguised as open-mindedness.ETA: the cats & women comparison is not related to the "open-mindedness"; just extra...
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That's an odd thing to compare...
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So I know we just picked our December read, but it's time to nominate books for our January read already!
Remember, one nomination per person, if it gets seconded, it will get added to the poll. The nomination period goes until Wednesday and the poll will hopefully go up on Thursday. :-)
Jordan wrote: "Just a super cool FYI: Josh has chosen our December read!!! We will read this vintage Christmas mystery collection: Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries.
And I just have to say, I lov..."
How fun! I bought it already :)
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So did I! *high five*
Mymymble wrote: "Michael Nava is bringing out a new Henry Rios in January: 'Carved in Bone'.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&s......"
Thank you so much! A very interesting interview!
Karen wrote: "I’ve read a dozen of her books and this is the only one that didn’t work for me at all. So if it’s the same for you, l hope you try another. :)."Now, I'm so glad to hear that! I thought it was just me... it was the first and so far only audiobook I ever returned (and not because of the narrator).
The author has some good ones, though. I really liked The Weight of It All and Red Dirt Heart, too. :-)
I am listening to In Other Words...Murder and I have to agree with Kit. I don't recognize the cozy mystery genre either. There are soooo many books and series out there and it's overwhelming.I think for some reason it's hard to branch out when I am looking at books on the Kindle app than when I was browsing in a bookstore. I used to pick up new authors all of the time if something sounded fun. Now, not so much.
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5-stars
Less Than Three by Jess Whitecroft (4.5)
Band Sinister by K.J. Charles
Unfit to Print by K.J. Charles (4.5)
In Other Words...Murder by Josh (audiobook — loved it!)
Controlled Burn by Erin McLellan
What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Devil Take Me by many of our favorite usual suspects
4-stars
WILD by Adrienne Wilder
The Fall and Rise of Peter Stoller by M. Pepper Langlinais
Criminal Intentions: Changing Faces by Cole McCade (4.5)
The Case of the Sexy Shakespearean by Tara Lain
Like Water Catching Fire by E.M. Lindsey
Life of Bliss by Erin McLellan
In the Vanishers’ Palace by Aliette de Bodard (post-apocalyptic fantasy f/f)
Hmmm... could this have something to do with why I need to spend this weekend catching up on grading... ;)
Calathea wrote: "Karen wrote: "I’ve read a dozen of her books and this is the only one that didn’t work for me at all. So if it’s the same for you, l hope you try another. :)."Now, I'm so glad to hear that! I tho..."
I actually liked it. Enough to finish all three anyways.
Susinok wrote: "I am listening to In Other Words...Murder and I have to agree with Kit. I don't recognize the cozy mystery genre either. There are soooo many books and series out there and it's ove..."I blame the algoritms in Amazon which tend to recommend more of the same all the time, to the point I get a little weary. In fact, I have started to browse bookstores again and asking the staff for recommendations. I even buy a paper book once in a while even though I really don’t have room for them.
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Loretta wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Karen wrote: "I’ve read a dozen of her books and this is the only one that didn’t work for me at all. So if it’s the same for you, l hope you try another. :)."Now, I'm so glad to..."
It gets good reviews that's why I tried it. Unfortunately (for me) it didn't take. Also, there was a misunderstanding on my part of what it's going to be about.
Just finished reading One Night in Boukos by A. J. Demas. Thoroughly enjoyed it, fictional historical mediterranean country, both an mm and an mf romance. no heat. Funny moments, interesting mix of imaginary cultures.
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This sounds adorable!
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LOL!
Thank you for your recommendations, Karen. I've been about-to-purchase What If It's Us a couple of times, but never did. After seeing it in your list, I think I will after all. :-)
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After finishing Leave Myself Behind I went searching for more of Bart Yates and learned that he also uses the pen name Noah Bly. So... now I've started reading The Third Hill North of Town which has been written under that author name. This isn't a m/m book, though. (If I've understood correctly.) All in all, I think here's an author whose books are a bit tricky to categorize.
Johanna wrote: "Finished reading Leave Myself Behind which dealt with several difficult, grave subjects. I really like how this author handles it all, though — sort of down to earth way while being q..."I loved both - The Brothers Bishop more, but also really liked Leave Myself Behind. Awaiting your impressions for his other book(s).
Started reading Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries. I really liked the first story, and it all looks very promising!And i'm enjoying very much Claw and Spirit. I seem to be in the mood for novellas and paranormal, and the stories here so far have been great.
And Indra Vaughn, whose writing I enjoy very much:
- Hooked (novelette) - a bit tricky in that the writing is very good, engaging, but I didn't like one of the MCs through most of it. Reminded me of how I felt about the MC in Dal Maclean's Bitter Legacy, where I was rooting for one MC, while not quite trusting the other MC, etc., but it's refreshing to have it be more complex.
- and started Fated (mystery with a touch of paranormal and romance).
Johanna wrote: "Karen wrote: "Hmmm... could this have something to do with why I need to spend this weekend catching up on grading... ;)"LOL!
Thank you for your recommendations, Karen.I've been about-to-purchase What If It's Us a couple of times, but never did. After seeing it in your list, I think I will after all. :-)"
I'm reading it now. I am definitely enjoying it. :)
Jordan wrote: "Finally finished Euphoria by Jayne Lockwood. All I can say is don’t bother with this one. I don’t normally write long reviews, but this one is an essay. If you want to know why you should avoid it,..."Such a bummer. I'm surprised there's no content warnings for this anywhere. I don't want to read about multiple suicide attempts, especially since it sounds like it's quite trivialized.
WMD wrote: "Just finished reading One Night in Boukos by A. J. Demas. Thoroughly enjoyed it, fictional historical mediterranean country, both an mm and an mf romance. no heat. Funny moments, in..."This one looks good. It is also recommended by KJ Charles, which usually is a good sign. I downloaded it.
Johanna wrote: "Thank you for your recommendations, Karen. I've been about-to-purchase What If It's Us ..."Yes, thank you for mentioning it. I loved other books written separately by these authors and I suppose that the fruit of their joint efforts must be good.
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Yeah, my thoughts too.
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For those who like the series, the next Hazard and Somerset book by Gregory Ashe is out.
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I started Criminal Past yesterday.
I also just finished episode 5 of Cole McCade’s serial, Criminal Intentions: It's Witchcraft, although I’m close to conceding that it’s too graphically violent for me, not to mention gushing with overblown poetic descriptions... but I kind of like that aspect of it.
And I’ve been saving One-Eyed Royals for a more leisurely read, so maybe next week during Thanksgiving break.
Lots of lliterary murder and mayhem here. :)
Good article in Tor.com about K.J. Charles' books:History, Queer Romance, and Fantasy Combine in the Work of KJ Charles
Criminal Past (Gregory Ashe) has a lengthy torture scene and lots of vicious hate talk and brutal graphic details of a rape/assault (not an MC) in the past. Not settling well in my head or heart, so warning shared. Must have been hard to write.Resolution of many plotlines though...
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I think this is the wind-up for this series, and probably a good thing because it's another series that's been exceeding my graphic-violence tolerance point. I had to stop at 45% a couple of evenings ago. Then I did something I usually reserve only for books I know I won't finish — I read the last chapter.
So I'm reading the rest of the book now. I'd become invested in the MCs' story and the Twin-Peaks-y weirdness of their hometown, and want to see some of those plot lines through.
(view spoiler)
Antonella wrote: "Good article in Tor.com about K.J. Charles' books:History, Queer Romance, and Fantasy Combine in the Work of KJ Charles"
T.J. Klune has two three-book contracts with Tor for queer fantasy and adventure books. One series is for adults, and one is YA. It appears Tor making a strong effort to be more diverse. Excellent!
Antonella wrote: "Good article in Tor.com about K.J. Charles' books:History, Queer Romance, and Fantasy Combine in the Work of KJ Charles"
Great article. Nice boost for one of my top favourite authors.
I agree, Tor as a publisher has been making good efforts in terms of diversity and inclusion. I had noticed that recently. :)
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History, Queer Romance, and Fantasy Combine in the Work of KJ Charles"
Thanks, Antonella. What a well-written and engaging article. If I hadn’t already read KJ’s work I’d be ordering her books now. So nice to see her brought to the attention of more readers.
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We will read this vintage Christmas mystery collection: Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries.
And I just have to say, I lov..."
I just started reading it the other night. I think there will be mixed reaction, but I'm finding it sort of a welcome relief from real life.
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I've been meaning to try one of her books for ages, but what really decided me (and this is a commentary on the positives of attend..."
Not really my thing either, but mummies!!! And I wanted to give her a try--and since I'm about to embark on a series that mixes contemporary mystery with supernatural elements...
SO excited to hear you're contributing to the Advent Calendar again!!!
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I've been meaning to try one of her books for ages, but what really decided me (and this is a commentary on the positives of attending conferences..."
OH! Do you think it might be because you had already formed expectations about what her work would be like?
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I've been meaning to try one of her books for ages,
Please Josh, don't think we're dissing your choice of reading m..."
No, not at all! It's interesting though because there seems to be a definite trend in opinion of that series.
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Well, yes, and also it's quite funny and very entertaining--and a lovely historical perspective.
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Right????
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This is going to be the case more and more. Amazon is going to curate books for readers. Personally, I don't think that's going to be of long term benefit to authors, readers or literature.
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,..."
So I'm just guessing that readers are killing themselves?
KIDDING!!!!
I'm a kidder. you KNOW that. ;-D
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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That's what libraries are for! Thanks for the recco; I'm number 83 on 15 copies, so I'll get it in 12-18 weeks or fewer (depending on whether it's a two or three week loan, and whether anyone returns it early).