Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What Are you Reading?
Hj wrote: "KC wrote: "i'm hoping to find some quiet time this weekend and enjoy this book; there are books i never want to hurry and i just want to make them not end too fast, and this would be one of those, ..."I am reading it now, and there are so many good things to say about the book. Great and interesting love story and as always with Harper Fox, those wonderful, vivid landscapes she is painting. You can hear the wind and the waves, smell the salt air, feel the cold breezes and the warmth of the sun, hear the sea birds. And the setting and the rest of the cast and the "mystery" surrounding the people and the place are all wonderful and well written.
But there is one thing I could have wished for, that she got an editor that cleaned out some "modern" language. The book has to take place around year 950 - 1000 given the fact it is before the Vikings were Christened. I don't think anybody would feel a shock like electrical currents when touching another person, or worry about infection, or talk about step-sibs. Or call a physician a quack. Not big things, but it would have made the book so much better if the words were substituted with words and concepts for that time that would express the same emotions. (I know, it is the language geek in me talking here)
And what is it with the shortening of names? I know it is typical modern Anglo and American, but I don't think Fenrir would have called himself Fen, or Benedict, Ben. We don't shorten names like that now, and the Vikings surely didn't either.
But that aside, a lovely book. And it helped me to read about something so very far from the everyday life, during a weekend spent with my sisters cleaning out closets and sorting my mother's things, giving something away, throwing the rest out, deciding on a headstone for her grave. Something that needed to be done, and very good to do it together, but still rough. A good thing then to lose oneself in the wind and surf of Fara :)
And apologies if I come forth a little too picky and harsh. As you know, Harper Fox is one of my absolute favourites, maybe that is why I reacted to those admittedly little things. I don't blame her, but her editors though, this is the kind of things they should have noticed..(Maybe not the name thing, though, that is probably only me being contrary)
Anne wrote: "But there is one thing I could have wished for, that she got an editor that cleaned out some "modern" language. The book has to take place around year 950 - 1000 given the fact it is before the Vikings were Christened. I don't think anybody would feel a shock like electrical currents when touching another person, or worry about infection, or talk about step-sibs. Or call a physician a quack. Not big things, but it would have made the book so much better if the words were substituted with words and concepts for that time that would express the same emotions. (I know, it is the language geek in me talking here)And what is it with the shortening of names? I know it is typical modern Anglo and American, but I don't think Fenrir would have called himself Fen, or Benedict, Ben. We don't shorten names like that now, and the Vikings surely didn't either."
Exactly my thoughts, on the (overwhelmingly) positive and on the negative side. In fact I gave 5 stars but I wanted to put 4.5 in the rating. Then I considered that Harper flies so high above the average of m/m books that I didn't.
As for the shortening of the names: I wanted to write her and say it as soon as I saw the first excerpt online...
Antonella wrote: "Anne wrote: "But there is one thing I could have wished for, that she got an editor that cleaned out some "modern" language. The book has to take place around year 950 - 1000 given the fact it is b..."Good to see it isn't only me, then ;)
Anne wrote: "Good to see it isn't only me, then ;)"A couple of years ago I went to a workshop about consent decision-making (useful for ex. to decide democratically the course of action in a demonstration), and learned a very important thing: even if only one person has an opinion, this opinion must be heard and taken into account.
But I still tend to forget that I have a right to my motivated opinion even in a situation when I am the only one to have this opinion.
And often, after I expressed it, I notice that I was not alone...
And I forgot to comment about sorting your mother's things: it's hard, I'm glad for you that you could do it with your sisters.
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Antonella wrote: "Anne wrote: "Good to see it isn't only me, then ;)"A couple of years ago I went to a workshop about consent decision-making (useful for ex. to decide democratically the course of action in a demo..."
Well said, Antonella. I was wondering if I should say anything since Harper Fox is well beloved here, but since I love her books too, I thought I had the right.. Tough love, you know ;)
And thank you.
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Hmm. Well those are good points, to be honest.
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..."
This makes it seem more of a natural (inevitable) ritual, doesn't it?
Thanks for the Harper Fox review Anne. I've yet to read any of hers but use of modern language would bother me too. I'm also pleased you weren't dealing with your mother's stuff on your own.On Friday I discovered my lovely local library had got me a copy of Dominic Hibberd's 'New' biography of Wilfred Owen so I've been devouring that over the weekend. 'New' is the appropriate word as this bio, published in 2002, is the first to deal with his sexual orientation or 'he was indeed gay' as it says on the blurb. You can discern this from his poems although this was most definitely was not mentioned when we were reading them at school. The book is a delight and you feel as if Dominic Hibberd might almost have known Owen or having been born twenty four years after Owen's death. My school girl edition of Owen's poems was edited by Hibberd so by yesterday evening I'd decided I really should write to him... according to the blurb he lives somewhere in Oxfordshire and 'is a now a full-time author'.
The first thing Google brought up was his obituary - he died last August.... I felt like I'd lost a friend.
Caroline wrote: "On Friday I discovered my lovely local library had got me a copy of Dominic Hibberd's 'New' biography of Wilfred Owen so I've been devouring that over the weekend. ...My school girl edition of Owen's poems was edited by Hibberd so by yesterday evening I'd decided I really should write to him... according to the blurb he lives somewhere in Oxfordshire and 'is a now a full-time author'.
The first thing Google brought up was his obituary - he died last August.... I felt like I'd lost a friend. ..."
That's a shame, Caroline. He sounds like a lovely man, from his obituary and other comments. Charlie Cochrane is a huge fan of Owen, and often comments on his poems and letters in her Livejournal blog.
Hj wrote: Charlie Cochrane is a huge fan of Owen, and often comments on his poems and letters in her Livejournal blog..."Thanks for the link HJ. We are now 'friends' - a Brit! I thought the Americans had the monopoly on this genre.
I am reading (trying to read) Sole Support by Kaje Harper. It's a nice and slowly building romance. However, Samhain Publishing's format for Kindle SUCKS! It's TINY TINY print and it does not allow you to adjust line spacing. So I'm squinting at tiny type very closely aligned.I was lazy and didn't go to the Samhain site to buy the e-book. I can adjust these things in MoonReaderPro in MOBI file, but I don't have as many options on Samhain's published on Kindle files. Grrr...
Last title I had trouble with was The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles. Also tee-tiny print.
Susinok wrote: "I am reading (trying to read) Sole Support by Kaje Harper. It's a nice and slowly building romance. However, Samhain Publishing's format for Kindle SUCKS! It's TINY TINY print and it does not allow..."Are you reading on a Kindle? Samhain definitely publishes their ebooks with teeny print. But it's easy to bump the font size on a Kindle. I don't know about on the Kindle app, if you're reading on a tablet or phone for example. I'd imagine there's a way to adjust there. Hopefully someone else who's familiar with the app knows how.
I read on a Kindle app on my iPad. To make type larger, tap on a book page. At the top, right-hand corner, along with other items, an Aa appears. Tape on that and a drop menu appears. The same Aa will appear in two, side by side buttons. Tap the one with the tiny arrow pointing up to make the type larger.
Yes I know how to change the font size on Kindle or Kindle app. However, the line spacing size is not adjustable. Also the font size gives you huge increments. It's the difference between small paperback print (maybe 8 point) and a large print book at 14 point.Other ebooks have more increments between sizes. I'm just generally griping.
Hj wrote: "KC wrote: "i'm hoping to find some quiet time this weekend and enjoy this book; there are books i never want to hurry and i just want to make them not end too fast, and this would be one of those, ..."Thanks! :)
Caroline wrote: "Thanks for the Harper Fox review Anne. I've yet to read any of hers but use of modern language would bother me too. I'm also pleased you weren't dealing with your mother's stuff on your own.On Fr..."
Please don't let my criticism stop you from reading any of her books, they are among the best, yes even this one, despite those things I mentioned.
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I skimmed it for that horrid paper I wrote in college, but didn't have the time to read it cover to cover like I wanted to.
That's sad to hear that he died, and so recently too.
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I only just started it this morning, but it promises to be good. It's one of my summer reading books. Lol, depending on which list you go by, it's either number 3 or number 2. If you forget the MM book between the other two. Hehe.
For those interested in Joseph Hansen's Dave Brandstetter Series, TJ wrote a great post on Book 2, Death Claims. Just went up today- http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/201...
I started Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell. I have heard good things about him. I normally do not go for YA, but a few here and there can mix things up a bit.
Susinok wrote: "I started Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell. I have heard good things about him. I normally do not go for YA, but a few here and there can mix things up a bit."Didn't he just win a Lambda for this one? Let me know what you think. I've had this lingering in the TBR for a while now.
Reggie wrote: "For those interested in Joseph Hansen's Dave Brandstetter Series, TJ wrote a great post on Book 2, Death Claims. Just went up today- http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/201......"I'm reading Death Claims right now. I'm having such a hard time starting and stopping it, because the print is so tiny I can only read a chapter or two at a time. It gets really good and I have to quit from eyestrain.
Yes, this reminded me why I DO prefer to read on my e-reader now. These old eyes can't take the tiny print, or light print, any more, though I can still read regular paperbacks. I'm having some trouble with Josh's latest, too. Not quite as small, but I think they used one of those ink-saving fonts or something. I'm sure young folks wouldn't even notice it.
Becky wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I started Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell. I have heard good things about him. I normally do not go for YA, but a few here and there can mix things up a bit."Didn't he just win a Lambda for this one?..."
Yes he did.
Marge wrote: "I'm reading Death Claims right now. I'm having such a hard time starting and stopping it, because the print is so tiny I can only read a chapter or two at a time. It gets really good and I have to quit from eyestrain. ..."This was the first thing I thought when I saw the review - that I really want to read these stories but can't cope with the tiny typeface in the copy I have of his books!
Reggie wrote: "For those interested in Hansen's Dave Brandstetter Series, TJ wrote a great post on Book 2, Death Claims. Just went up today- http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/201......"And a great review it is, too. I've seen some reviewers gripe that there is too much description in the books, but I haven't found it so. It is lovely, and TJ correctly points out that the bleak descriptions often mirror Dave's mood.
Marge wrote: "Yes, this reminded me why I DO prefer to read on my e-reader now. These old eyes can't take the tiny print, or light print, any more, though I can still read regular paperbacks. I'm having some trouble with Josh's latest, too. Not quite as small, but I think they used one of those ink-saving fonts or something. I'm sure young folks wouldn't even notice it. t..."I have a few eyesight pet peeves, and those fancy thing typefaces in books is one of them. I have a beautifully done knitting book that I have to squint at to be able to read the patterns. DRIVES ME CRAZY! It's that fancy, curved sanserif font that people like to use for arty books.
Another peeve is pale gray typeface on cream paper. I need more contrast!
And (sorry, I'm on a roll now...) websites with similar characteristics above, or with black backgrounds and gray typeface... or other darker background.
The reason black and white is popular is because it is READABLE, PEOPLE!
Some of us are of a certain age (my eye doc likes to say, that young whippersnapper!) that our eyes just don't work as well as they used to. Sigh.
Anne wrote: "But there is one thing I could have wished for, that she got an editor that cleaned out some "modern" language."I had a similar feeling about a book I just finished: The Last Day Of Summer. I really enjoyed it (despite some overly dramatic behavior) but there were several baseball mistakes that yanked me out of the story - one rather major and at a critical point. I wish the author had asked a baseball fan to read it over and correct those mistakes.
Hj wrote: "This was the first thing I thought when I saw the review - that I really want to read these stories but can't cope with the tiny typeface in the copy I have of his books! ..."
It's very weird. I bought Fadeout a couple weeks ago, and I checked the book before I bought it--the font is great, nice easy reading. Since #3 (Troubleshooter?) was printed by a different company, I checked it too when I ordered it along with Death Claims. The print size is fine. It never occurred to me to check Death Claims, because it was printed by the same company as Fadeout. Argh!
On the other hand, a different company did those first two ebooks, too, and I hear they are not well done. I plan to eventually read the remaining books on my e-reader.
Susinok wrote: "And (sorry, I'm on a roll now...) websites with similar characteristics above, or with black backgrounds and gray typeface... or other darker background...." You are SO right. Sometimes I wonder if people even LOOK at the poor websites they design! Or if they make sure how things look with different browsers.
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I've heard the "white on black" background is energy-saving, but then, monirors are no longer the vertical microwaves that they used to be. :)
Susinok wrote: "I started Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell. I have heard good things about him. I normally do not go for YA, but a few here and there can mix things up a bit."I liked that book. I'm a Jay Bell fan. I still need to finish Something Like Winter.
Just finished setting up my kids' online accounts for the library summer reading program. They have to keep track of the books they read & the time they spend reading, and they can register for prize drawings every 10 hours. Grand prize is a trip for 4 to Atlanta, including admission to the aquarium and a dozen other sites/museums. Of course, we're a family of five, but on the off chance one of my kids wins, I think we could spring for an extra ticket to the stuff we really want to do. Maybe.I wish there were stuff like that for summer reading for adults, too! I have a couple of books I want to read, but they're going to be intensive and I just don't have the motivation for that in the summer.
Charlinda wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I started Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell. I have heard good things about him. I normally do not go for YA, but a few here and there can mix things up a bit."I liked that book. I'm a Ja..."
I finished it at lunch today. A few times I was wincing, wondering what came next, but I enjoyed the book.
Back to adults for a while and then I'll read another. I picked up Something Like Summer, Winter, and Autumn during Josh's 99 cent sale. Can't just charge $1.98... had to pile a few more on there. :)
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Wow! A trip for four to Atlanta?! Nice. We have four grand prizes, roughly. They will be tech prizes but we have to wait to find out what they are because they're donated from companies and businesses. So, we often don't know what they are until the day they're given out. But we've given out things like Nooks, laptops, and an ipad or two, I think.
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. Cole McGinnis 3.5, It is a free minishort, the link is on the GR page. Enjoy!"Thanks, Reggie! I would have missed this one. : )
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during my kitchen clean-up breaks, and listening to The Poets' Corner: The One-and-Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family while I work.Late at "night" (early morning) I'm reading a series of erotic BDSM shorts that cost about 10 cents a page, but are perversely addictive. ;-}
Jordan wrote: "Tracy wrote: "Just finished setting up my kids' online accounts for the library summer reading program. They have to keep track of the books they read & the time they spend reading, and they can re..."There are apparently lots of other smaller prizes, too. & a special backpack full of goodies for anybody who makes it to the 40-hour level (which, honestly, I think my middle child could do in about 2 weeks, given the opportunity).
I had one of those happy accidental discoveries this past week. Somewhere, God knows where, I read something that piqued my interest and trundled off to Amazon for a four-book impulse buy of M. Kei's Pirates of the Narrow Seas series (http://www.goodreads.com/series/48355...), and had a blast with it. It reminded me of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Martin series, but with gay characters. I hear there's a fifth (prequel) coming out soon, too, just in case I haven't quite had my gay pirate fix hasn't quite been met. But what am I going to do with all this archaic nautical terminology rattling around in my head?
James Buchanan- Deputy Joe Fans-- Excerpt posted for WIP Deputy Joe #4- http://www.emlynley.com/blog/2013/06/...
I finished Power Exchange by A.J. Rose yesterday and now i'm reading the sequel Safeword. Really good books.
John wrote: "I had one of those happy accidental discoveries this past week. Somewhere, God knows where, I read something that piqued my interest and trundled off to Amazon for a four-book impulse buy of M. Ke..."You probably have to write your own gay pirate story, then ;)
Good to see you here, by the way.
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Thank you for the recommendation, John. Very hard to say "no" to a pirate series like that... And like Anne wrote, lovely to see you here. :-)
I just read Mary Calmes Matter of Times series and the books were good.
John wrote: "I had one of those happy accidental discoveries this past week. Somewhere, God knows where, I read something that piqued my interest and trundled off to Amazon for a four-book impulse buy of M. Kei...But what am I going to do with all this archaic nautical terminology rattling around in my head? "
Read some more Age of Sail m/m stories, of course!
Alex Beecroft and Lee Rowan are excellent. Katherine Cross also writes it, though I haven't read her yet.
P.S. Congratulations on using "piqued" correctly! I keep reading "peaked my interest" everywhere, to my dismay. Even "peeked" on one occasion...
I winced last night seeing "he road him.." instead of rode. Bad proofreader, bad.
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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You're right; there is plenty to savour slowly in Brothers of the Wild North Sea. Enjoy!