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Adrien English series challenge #1: Fatal Shadows
message 51:
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Ame
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Nov 11, 2016 09:21AM
I hated Captain Crunch more than I ever disliked Jake. My loathing for him knows no boundaries.
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Absolutely! In fact, we've purchased a couple of extra Kleenex packages especially for this reading challenge."
And plenty of Tab.
:-D
Lulu wrote: "woho! so In. I'm an audio girl when it comes to Adrien, somehow it soothes me :)"the first time I read this series I listened to it... I love Chris Patton, no one else can be Adrien (and his Jake is freakin' hot too...). I'm actually going to read it this time around though.
Johanna wrote: "Also, I don't think I've ever noticed before that the first time Jake calls Adrien Adrien — not Mr. English — is as early as in chapter two (page 18, Just Joshin edition):."I think he's being condescending and homophobic though... you think he's starting to show his attraction? That will be interesting to re-read and see how gradually Jake starts to show his attraction to Adrien over the course of the book, we know Adrien thinks Jake is hot pretty quick but since he's straight and all... Now I'm getting really excited, I've been literally craving a re-read on this series for awhile, thanks so much for organizing this!
Mod
I thin..."
No, maybe not his attraction exactly, no. But... by the page 18 he's now seen Adrien twice in a pretty shaken stage. And the way Jake uses his first name right after Chan has called him Mr. English... it suddenly made me wonder if Jake himself even realized he had used Adrien's first name? Or did he do it in purpose? Why? To calm Adrien? To trick him to do... what?
I'd like to think this is something Jake does unconsciously, but I'm not sure.
Mod
the first time I read this series I listened to it... I love Chris Patton, no one else can be Adrien (and his Jake is freakin' hot too...). I'm actually going to read it this time around though."
Oh yes. His Jake is SO HOT. :-)
Mod
But I'm not sure I'd noticed he called him Adrien so soon in the first book. That's interesting!
Johanna wrote: "Trio wrote: "Lulu wrote: "woho! so In. I'm an audio girl when it comes to Adrien, somehow it soothes me :)"the first time I read this series I listened to it... I love Chris Patton, no one else c..."
Yes. And I think I'll listen rather than reread. I need something calming for my brain.
Johanna wrote: "Trio wrote: "Lulu wrote: "woho! so In. I'm an audio girl when it comes to Adrien, somehow it soothes me :)"the first time I read this series I listened to it... I love Chris Patton, no one else c..."
listening for the don't-even-know-time I noticed small things, like their characters, first time it was about the mystery.. now its about reading between the lines and going AHA!
Mod
the first time I read this series I listened to it... I love Chris Patto..."
And aren't those "a-ha!" moments the best! :-)
Johanna wrote: "Absolutely! In fact, we've purchased a couple of extra Kleenex packages especially for this reading challenge."And plenty of Tab.
:-D "
I had forgotten all about Tab, until now. :-D
The first time I read the name, I had to google it because I had no idea what it was.
Ame wrote: "I hated Captain Crunch more than I ever disliked Jake. My loathing for him knows no boundaries."
Captain Crunch...with his fake British accent. Brrr.
I dislike him so much that I always imagine him with greasy hair. Like Snape in Harry Potter. My brain is just weird that way.
Trio wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Also, I don't think I've ever noticed before that the first time Jake calls Adrien Adrien — not Mr. English — is as early as in chapter two (page 18, Just Joshin edition):."I thin..."
Wasn't that when they tried to put some pressure on Adrien? I thought (looking back) that was a point in the investigation when they started considering him to be the murderer for real. So he wasn't polite anymore?
I'm in chapter 8 of my re-re-re-re-...-re-listening. Shouldn't have started that early. *sitting on my hands till Monday*
Lulu wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Trio wrote: "Lulu wrote: "woho! so In. I'm an audio girl when it comes to Adrien, somehow it soothes me :)"the first time I read this series I listened to it... I love Chris Patto..."
you've so got that right! It shows how much pre-planning Josh puts into the characters, that there are so many different levels and things going on...
Jordan wrote: "And now I want to reread Kit and Ajax"Heh! I think of him as Jax when I read.
Ame wrote: "I hated Captain Crunch more than I ever disliked Jake. My loathing for him knows no boundaries."Same here. The fake English accent was the clincher, and then everything else just piled on top of that.
Johanna wrote: "I started to listen to Fatal Shadows last night and there are so many wonderful details I'm currently re-re-re-re-re-re-discovering: The kind of person Robert had been, how extremely entertaining C..."Even though this is the fourth read for me, it's been a couple years since I last read the series, and I too am noticing the exact same things you mentioned, Johanna. I had forgotten many of the nuances and undertones which reveal their feelings--especially Jake. I never hated him as some others do, because I could see how much he wanted to be able to love Adrien.
Mod
The first time I read the name, I had to google it because I had no idea what it was."
Yep, me too. I don't think we've ever had Tab in Finland. :-)
We had Tab here. I know because my grandmother was diabetic and this was the only soda she could drink when I was young.It tasted horrible though.
Mod
"Wasn't that when they tried to put some pressure on Adrien? I thought (looking back) that was a point in the investigation when they started considering him to be the murderer for real. So he wasn't polite anymore?"
You're right. They had only recently learned that Adrien had had an argument with Rob right before Rob was murdered. It's all told in the next page (page 19) and Adrien thinks:
There was something different in their faces, in their voices, in the way Riordan was calling me "Adrien" instead of "Mr. English." It started the hairs on the back of my neck prickling.
So, it's probably only the hopeless romantic living inside me believing there was caring involved at this stage? :-) Maybe Jake only wanted to have an excuse for taking a look around Adrien's apartment...
Although... I can't help remembering the quote from much, much further into the series when Jake says (in The Dark Tide):
“You know what I thought the first time I saw you?"
"No."
"Point of no return."
Mod
But... if we're all rereading the series, I think it would be fun to reflect our observations sort of back and forth throughout the whole series.
Mod
Well, since we already have a lively discussion going on I don't think we need to wait until Monday! It's so delightful to already see so many participants here — there will be lots to talk about throughout the whole week even if we start already.
Overall — I don't think we need to *precisely* follow the dates I set for us. Maybe we can always use the weekends as a flexible sliding to the next book and topic? Like... we can continue discussing the book of the week, but already pop in the next one during the weekend separating those two weeks/books.
How does that sound to all of you? Let's make this as relaxed and convenient and cosy as possible!
And when Adrien English #6 So This is Christmas comes out in the end of this year, surely we want to discuss that too together! :-D
Johanna wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Trio wrote: "Johanna wrote: "You know what I thought the first time I saw you?"
"No."
"Point of no return."
*melts*
Mod
Heh! I think of him as Jax when I read."
Ummm.... that was autocorrect! I meant to say J.X.!
Hello there, I don't think I'll join the challenge, I am such a slow reader lately and I really want to try and catch with my to-read-pile.... (haha, as if that was ever possible...) And I'm not good at discussing books anyway... :( But the challenge is a really lovely idea - and I realized just HOW lovely from the fluttery-butterfly-stomach feeling the "point of no return" quote gave me... :D :D
Sigh.... Maybe a relisten? ... :D
Although I'm more inside the story when I'm reading it myself....
Anyway, I wish you lot's of fun, heartbreak and a wonderful emotional ride!! :)
Back to lurking and maybe wetting my appetite here. :D
Johanna wrote: "“You know what I thought the first time I saw you?""No."
"Point of no return.""
I second Ame's *melts*.
Re-reading The Dark Tide will be the perfect cure for the two previous books, I can't wait.
Johanna wrote: "By the way, is there anyone of us who's reading the series for the very first time? If so, we probably need to be careful about the spoilers.
Yes, if someone is on the first reading, we could use the spoiler tag for the following books at least.
Barbra wrote: "I'm an awful writer so I don't usually participate in the discussions but I really enjoy reading all of the posts. :-)"
Maybe you'll feel like joining the discussion later. Don't worry about your writing style, Josh set the bar pretty high for everyone anyway. :-D
I just had time to sit and start reading FS and I had to come here and post this:
"Cops before breakfast. Before coffee even. As if Mondays weren't bad enough."
How Adrien is this incipit?
Mod
It's so interesting when a book/series has become part of one's life and somehow each re-visit adds depth. Kudos to Josh's writing there. Yet, as has been mentioned before, the author can be quite self-critical of older work, while the reader becomes more and more convinced of the author's genius. So bear with us, Josh! Is this a perfect book? No, but close enough, and a near-perfect set-up for the series.
Uli wrote: "Hello there, I don't think I'll join the challenge, I am such a slow reader lately and I really want to try and catch with my to-read-pile.... (haha, as if that was ever possible...) And I'm not go..."Please forgive me everyone that I'm not going to join the official challenge either, though I plan to do it. Goodreads annoys me with how it displays on my page, and I don't want to be annoyed any more. :)
So last night I was reading about the first Tuesday writers' meeting (page 29 on my reader), and I cracked up when we were introduced to Jean and Ted Finch.The Finches are writing partners, which seems like a surefire way to destroy a healthy marriage....They met at one of the Bouchercon mystery conferences. Love among the midlist.
Sound like anybody we know? LOL!
I'm now reading scenes with them further on in the book with a new perspective.
Johanna wrote: "KC wrote: "Calathea wrote: "Do you remember how it felt to read Fatal Shadows for the first time? When we didn't know Adrien yet? And that other guy...what was his name again...? ;-)"It was love ..."
DITTO!
Ame wrote: "We had Tab here. I know because my grandmother was diabetic and this was the only soda she could drink when I was young.It tasted horrible though."
I actually love Tab (it's the only diet soda I enjoy) and my middle son loves it too... there is nothing better than when it is ice cold, from the fridge, right out of the can. It's the only way to drink it.
Trio wrote: "Yeah, I'm still not 100% behind J.X. either...Jake gave me so many *grrr* >:/ moments he will have to be incredibly good to Adrien for a very long time for me to ever forgive him.
As an aside th..."
It was such a pleasant surprise to find Adrien & Jake in that book, kind of an affirmation.
I don't think we need to worry about spoilers in this thread... no one is reading it for the first time here, right?Also, I like the idea about being flexible about the start dates for each book.. yay!
Lulu wrote: "woho! so In. I'm an audio girl when it comes to Adrien, somehow it soothes me :)"Chris Patton's narrative performance is freakin' awesome!
Trio wrote: "Lulu wrote: "woho! so In. I'm an audio girl when it comes to Adrien, somehow it soothes me :)"the first time I read this series I listened to it... I love Chris Patton, no one else can be Adrien ..."
This is a really good immersion read on Kindle.
Listening now and trying to read into the "Adrien" thing with Jake. When he says Adrien its like his inner feelings are breaking through. But then Jake realizes that and starts with "Adrien with an e". Like he's trying to get distance between them by antagonizing Adrien as well as using it as a reminder to himself of not going there. Because "Adrien with an e" sounds quite different than "Adrien".Or maybe it's just my overactive inagination. If so I do think Chris agrees with me though ;)
Mod
Hey! I already enjoyed reading even your first comment! :-)
Mod
:-D
Mod
"Cops before breakfast. Before coffee even. As if Mondays weren't bad enough."
How Adrien is this incipit?"
Such perfect lines to start a book, right?! I've always admired Josh's ability to start and end her books and her chapters sentences like the ones you quoted — economical, telling, spot-on.
Mod
Yes!!!
Mod
The Finches are writing partners, which seems like a surefire way to destroy a healthy marriage....They met at one of the Bouchercon mystery conferences. Love among the midlist.
Sound like anybody we know? LOL!"
Ha! I haven't caught that gem of self-irony before! Thank you for pointing it out, Marge.
:-D :-D :-D
Mod
Chris Patton's narrative performance is freakin' awesome!"
Couldn't agree more with you.
So I started re-reading Fatal shadows. The best part about re-reading is finding those small details, that have so much meaning..One line though got me laughing aloud. Adrien: "I phoned the police. By now I had the number memorized."
Not from USA, but i always though that if you need to call police you dial 911? Am I wrong?
Mod
Well, I think that makes sense.
Also, I can't help thinking that when Jake is calling him "Adrien with an e" Jake is teasing him (in his own, dry way). And that he finds Adrien peculiar and a little bit amusing.
I think this is also the first time I realize how differently (from each other) these two see the world in the very beginning of the series. Adrien himself keeps pondering about Jake on page 20: He looked like a guy who expected the worst of people and was rarely disappointed.
What they both do, though, is to make sharp-eyed notes of each other. We only get to read Adrien's observations, but through his eyes we're also able to see Jake's reactions — and non-reactions. :-)
Here's a line that made me send the first warm thoughts Jake's way. This is Jake trying to wake Adrien up after he has fainted in Rob's apartment (page 39, Just Joshin print version): "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty. Come on. Open those baby blues. Wake up."
There's just something endearing about his words. How he uses the Sleeping Beauty reference, and especially about the fact that Jake has noticed the color of Adrien's eyes. Despite the fact that he's sharply patting Adrien's cheek while delivering his commands with sarcastic tone (I would imagine). :-)
K. wrote: "So I started re-reading Fatal shadows. The best part about re-reading is finding those small details, that have so much meaning..One line though got me laughing aloud. Adrien: "I phoned the polic..."
Yes, you dial 911 for an emergency/police. In Adrien's case I think he means the detectives # directly. I have not started my re-read though, ;) so can't be sure.
Mod
We set up the AE reread topics only a couple of days ago, so you're right on time for the reread, Edina!
K. wrote: "Not from USA, but i always though that if you need to call police you dial 911? Am I wrong?"Like Melissa said, that's only for emergencies. There are other numbers for non-emergencies.
Johanna wrote: "There's just something endearing about his words. How he uses the Sleeping Beauty reference, and especially about the fact that Jake has noticed the color of Adrien's eyes. Despite the fact that he's sharply patting Adrien's cheek while delivering his commands with sarcastic tone (I would imagine). :-) ."
love it :)
"God help the serial killer who tackles your mother"*snickers*
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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