Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Adrien English series challenge #2: A Dangerous Thing
Elena wrote: "By the way, now I'll expect you two, Johanna and Rosa, to expand on why the end of DoaPK is so good for you, during DoaPK's week. :-D"For me it's the first time I really liked Jake, the first time I stop to "feel" with Jake... I don't know if I'm explaing this properly... Before that moment at the end of the book on the ship, I didn't like him at all. He irked me all the time, I wanted to smack him around. I couldn't get past his denial state. I used to refer to him as "the cop living in Narnia"... but then, in the deck when everything happens, there's too much raw feelings there, too much pain, when he says to Adrien he's not dying (or something to that effect, I can't remember the words)... In that moment, for the first time, I feel sorry for him, for his mistakes and my lack of understanding... And then, when he is visiting Adrien, and through the scene you can sense that he is feeling that his opportunity was lost, but then Adrien tells him that it still matters to him... it's just perfect ;)
I hope this rant made sense XD
Mymymble wrote: "I love the interchange, verbal and non-verbal, between Kevin and Jake. And between Mel and Jake. Guy, though, that's just sad for all of them."I'm with you here, except the part about Guy, I can't feel sad for Captain Crunch, sorry.
Loretta wrote: "So, what do you think about the Guardians? Was that what followed Adrien down the mountain? That was certainly a spooky scene. Jake felt something, too. That spine-chilling howl that had them both ..."Some animal, I think. In the woods in the dark every last dry leave seems to come alive. And then Adrien has a lot of imagination. It's catching, in the dark...
Did you guys have night walks in summer camp, when you walk in a group of ten or twelve-year-olds without light and everybody is seeing something? Hearing something? Oh, and is that a ghost over there?! See them run from an old white cloth... :-D:-D
Rosa wrote: "Elena wrote: "Rosa wrote: "Maybe I'm not answering much because it's difficult to express myself in English, but I'm enjoying being part of this through reading comments :)"I know the feeling, Ro..."
I love that scene with Kevin and Jake, it’s definitely worth mentioning more than once. Jake jealous is always nice to witness. :-D
Now, though, I feel like an idiot, because I kept answering you and Johanna about why you liked so much the end of DoaPK and in my head I was thinking of THYS. Don’t ask me why.
Of course I couldn’t conceive that you could like it so much.
Forgive me, I don’t know why my brain made the wrong association between the acronym and the book. I’ll pay more attention in the future.
Now that my brain is back online, I can say that I totally agree with you about it. I had the same reaction the first time I read the series and on a lesser scale even during the re-reads.
I never hated Jake, but I never really liked him until that point. You explained it perfectly.
One thing that stuck out for me on this reread is when Jake admits that he followed Adrien all of the way. Adrien had been accusing of that twice and the first time he was completely ignored and then Jake admits it. For him it must have been like admitting defeat.
Mymymble wrote: "Lols think I meant sad in the pathetic sense. Guy makes me ill. Can't wait for the next book so I can spew verbally."I can't wait too, last time I didn't have anyone to share my disgust with. Yay!
What about the mystery, though? Did you guess whodunit? I tend to forget which of the archaeological professors did it so it's a bit of a surprise to me on every read. :-D
Calathea wrote: "What about the mystery, though? Did you guess whodunit? I tend to forger which of the archaeological professors did it so it's a bit of a surprise to me on every read. :-D"Me too, Calathea. :-D
I was thinking earlier how every time Adrien and Jake’s relationship takes a turn for the better or, more accurately, every time Jake opens himself to the possibility of taking their relationship to the next level, is after Adrien is in danger or ill. The first time is at the end of FS, when Jake admits he’s interested in Adrien after Bruce almost killed Adrien in front of him.
Perhaps I can’t really count it, because before the investigation was closed Jake couldn’t get involved with a suspect, but it’s still significant that he acknowledges his attraction to Adrien for the first time after almost losing him.
After that, they spend two months in a sort of limbo, with Jake unable to touch Adrien, spend time with him in public and his visit to Adrien’s becoming less and less frequent. He ignores every one of Adrien’s attempts to discuss their situation and keeps setting the pace that suits him.
Then Adrien takes off to the ranch, gets in trouble, ends up in the hospital and suddenly Jake is immediately by his side and we all know what happens next.
Flash-forward to DoaPK, I don’t need to explain what I’m referring to with Adrien being in danger and Jake making big decisions partly because of that, do I?
It’s like Jake is constantly torn between what he wants (or think he wants)/the idea of how his life should look like (his job as a cop, a wife, kids) and his feelings for Adrien which he’s able to fight, or at least keep in check, neatly relegated in a box away from the rest of his life, until an immediate danger or necessity puts him in a corner and he’s required to act and make a choice. Then the part of himself he keeps tightly and constantly under control and his feelings for Adrien get the better of him and it’s like he can’t help himself.
I know this isn’t technically a comment on A Dangerous Thing, but it’s difficult to re-read the series without making connections with things that happen in the other books. This just came to me now and I didn’t know where to put it.
Should I wait until we finish The Dark Tide before discussing the series as a whole?
Elena wrote: "I was thinking earlier how every time Adrien and Jake’s relationship takes a turn for the better or, more accurately, every time Jake opens himself to the possibility of taking their relationship t..."Which is also interesting because remember what Adrien said about Mel? Adrien's illness was what ended their relationship because Mel couldn't handle. Then along comes Jake.
What I always find most interesting about Jake in ADT is that he is two persons. He's so clearly 2 persons, the one that wants to be straight married family man and then the "homosexual" who xan't help but wanting Adrien.And lets not forget Jake'a age. Both in relation to the environment he grew up in where a gay cop was not even a possibility and also the age itself. When people wake up realizing life isn't how they pictured whether single or not. It's no coincidence so many people divorce around that age. So I think Jake is living a tumoultous life, a life he hadn't expected for himself, at that age and meeting for the first time a man he's attracted to beyond sex. Life is not easy for Jake at the monent which I think explains very well what happens in THYS.
Elena wrote: "I was thinking earlier how every time Adrien and Jake’s relationship takes a turn for the better or, more accurately, every time Jake opens himself to the possibility of taking their relationship t..."Don't forget THYS after Adrien accidentally electrocutes himself. They have sex shortly after that and it was the first time it felt more like love-making than just sex to him. It's also the first time Jake gives Adrien a blow job.
Mymymble wrote: "Elena wrote: "Mymymble wrote: "I love the interchange, verbal and non-verbal, between Kevin and Jake. And between Mel and Jake. Guy, though, that's just sad for all of them."I'm with you here, ex..."
Guy is so beyond pathetic, he redefines the concept. I cannot stand him.
Ame wrote: "Which is also interesting because remember what Adrien said about Mel? Adrien's illness was what ended their relationship because Mel couldn't handle. Then along comes Jake."Good point, Ame.
Despite all his flaws, Jake’s easiness in dealing with Adrien’s health problems without smothering him or freaking out is one of the reasons they’re so well suited for each other. It’s even more significant that Adrien’s state of weakness or fragility makes Jake run to him, unlike Mel.
Linda wrote: "Don't forget THYS after Adrien accidentally electrocutes himself. They have sex shortly after that and it was the first time it felt more like love-making than just sex to him. It's also the first time Jake gives Adrien a blow job."Thanks, Linda, I forgot that the electrocution accident came just before that sex scene.
I remember the scene made an impression on me the first time I read it because, like you said, it felt more like making love than having sex and I was so happy, thinking it meant Jake was finally reaching a turning point.
He was reaching a turning point, just not the one I hoped for. :(
Calathea wrote: "One thing that stuck out for me on this reread is when Jake admits that he followed Adrien all of the way. Adrien had been accusing of that twice and the first time he was completely ignored and then Jake admits it. For him it must have been like admitting defeat."I’m not sure I remember the part you’re referring to, I haven’t reach it yet.
Speaking of Jake reluctant to admit defeat, this exchange made me laugh. Adrien and Jake are discussing a cop’s gut instinct and Adrien points out that Jake believed him to be a serial killer.
Jake’s eyes narrowed like a tiger tired of playing with his food.
“Hit rewind.” He tapped his forehead with his index finger. “I didn’t think you were a serial killer. I thought you were not telling everything you knew, which was right. I thought you were not being stalked.”
“Which was wrong.”
“Which was…” He took a big breath.
“Wrong.” I prompted.
“Wrong.” He conceded.
I grinned. “Just wanted to hear it.”
I just finished FS so I will be starting ADT soon. I'm looking forward to some Jake and Adrien romance time. I feel like everyone else though that you just get a sick feeling in your stomach because you know what is coming in THYS. I don't remember a lot of this book as I usually just re-read the end of DOaPK and TDT so I'm looking forward to this. Lots of good discussion already!
Calathea wrote: "What about the mystery, though? Did you guess whodunit? I tend to forget which of the archaeological professors did it so it's a bit of a surprise to me on every read. :-D"I had always assumed the second dead body was Livingston. So when Marquez said he had spoken with him, I figured he was the killer. Adrien seems to have forgotten that comment when it is confirmed Livingston is dead. I think that must be what Adrien keeps trying to remember when he is scratching his wasp sting.
Ame wrote: "What I always find most interesting about Jake in ADT is that he is two persons. He's so clearly 2 persons, the one that wants to be straight married family man and then the "homosexual" who xan't ..."I agree. Jake clearly tells Adrien he has nothing to offer him and that he still plans to marry. At the end, Adrien acknowledges to himself that he just doesn't care.
Mod
I do get what you're saying here. As a very "Josh" ending, the series could have closed there… and left all of us protesting even more loudly that we need more A&J! It would have been fine in a "make up your own damn story" way, because I'm pretty sure we each would have concocted our own versions of an HEA for the guys. Of course, we'd have missed out on that particular oft-repeated Jake pronouncement so many of us love repeating. Yikes! Never mind, we need the 5th book, if just for that! :)
Mymymble wrote: "Rosa wrote: "Elena wrote: "Rosa wrote: "Maybe I'm not answering much because it's difficult to express myself in English, but I'm enjoying being part of this through reading comments :)"I know th..."
I also love those two quotes! In the first one there's so much barely controlled aggression XD
I really like that one because despite Jake tries to show like he doesn't care, he still can't help it and shows his jealousness and insecurity. When I first read the book, I didn't give it importance, but then, after re-reading it, I just find it adorable.
Elena wrote: "Rosa wrote: "Elena wrote: "Rosa wrote: "Maybe I'm not answering much because it's difficult to express myself in English, but I'm enjoying being part of this through reading comments :)"I know th..."
That happens to me all the time, I need to be reminding myself which letter is the first in every word, so I can keep the title in my head...
THYS is a difficult reading for me... it involves a lot of personal feelings that mix with what Adriend is feeling... but still I'm looking forward next week to comment and "hate" Capitan Cruch together ;)
Rosa wrote: "I'm looking forward next week to comment and "hate" Capitan Cruch together ;)":-D
Viv wrote: "I just finished FS so I will be starting ADT soon. I'm looking forward to some Jake and Adrien romance time. I feel like everyone else though that you just get a sick feeling in your stomach becaus..."DOAPK has always been the most difficult to read. Adrien's feelings are so hurt by Paul and Jake's relationship with him. I felt such a heartache. It was awful. And that is why I'm so grateful for TDT.
After Adrien finds the body in the cave, he and Jake are discussing the necessity of Adrien going back to the cave with Jake and the police and Jake says: “Look, you don’t have to keep proving yourself to me, okay? I think you’re plenty tough in the ways that count.”
Adrien is always worrying that his heart condition might make him appear weak in the eyes of other people, especially a potential partner, especially Jake, while Jake simply takes it into account when it’s necessary to keep Adrien safe, otherwise it doesn’t seem to register at all with him.
It also seems like Jake is starting to form his opinion of Adrien as the bravest person he knows. :)
I love how Adrien remains speechless after Jake's comment. More than once Adrien says Jake isn’t really listening to him, but this proves that he’s actually paying a lot of attention to Adrien.
Ame wrote: "DOAPK has always been the most difficult to read. Adrien's feelings are so hurt by Paul and Jake's relationship with him. I felt such a heartache. It was awful. And that is why I'm so grateful for TDT."You said it so well, Ame.
One thing I like so very much about the stories is the humour in there. The little funny bits that give us a breather from more heavy stuff. At the moment I'm thinking of the way Adrien (very subtly) tries to send Jake on his way back home. And Jake totally sees through it and is not having any of it.Can someone of you find the quote? Unfortunately, I only have the audiobook with me and not a print or e-copy.
Calathea wrote: "One thing I like so very much about the stories is the humour in there. The little funny bits that give us a breather from more heavy stuff. At the moment I'm thinking of the way Adrien (very subtl..."Do you mean this part at the start of Chapter 9?
I scrambled and said, “Listen, Jake. I thought over what you said last night. The fact is, you're right. I've decided to go back to LA.”
Watching him out of the corner of my eye I saw his head jerk up like Smokey the Bear scenting forest fire.
“I've got a few things to wind up and then I'm out of here.”
A beat.
“You're serious?” he said finally.
“Yes.”
Another beat. He drank some coffee, set the cup down and said more cheerfully, “Well hell, maybe I should head back today?”
“That's what I was thinking.”
“You think that would be a good idea?”
“I do. I think you should start packing right after breakfast. You don't have to worry because I'll be out of here by tonight myself.”
He smiled. “Hey, so if I start packing right away I could be on the road by lunch?”
“You won't have to miss another day's work.”
I stopped because he was laughing.
“Man, you are something else,” he said shaking his head.
“I don't follow?”
“Don't give me that little boy blue look,” he said. “You're trying to get rid of me.”
“No. No, I thought about what you said last night. Really.”
“Shut up, Adrien,” he said.
That is a funny moment, and then it gets all sad because it was his birthday the day before. :(
Another quote I love: "What the hell?” His voice came out muffled behind his hand.
“Sorry.”
“You’ve done this before, right?”
Despite I prefer mystery over romance I just realise almost all the quotes in my head are related to romance rather than mystery... I supouse it's because the characters feel completely real :)
Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Calathea wrote: "One thing I like so very much about the stories is the humour in there. The little funny bits that give us a breather from more heavy stuff. At the moment I'm thinking of the way A..."The funniest thing was that Adrien really believed Jake would fall for his ruse. :-D
Linda ~ chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny ~ wrote: "Calathea wrote: "One thing I like so very much about the stories is the humour in there. The little funny bits that give us a breather from more heavy stuff. At the moment I'm thinking of the way A..."Yes, that's exactly what I meant! Thanks, Linda!
I can see it play out in front of me, with all the awesome timing in there. Hilarious. :-D
Rosa wrote: "Another quote I love: "What the hell?” His voice came out muffled behind his hand.
“Sorry.”
“You’ve done this before, right?”
Despite I prefer mystery over romance I just realise almost al..."
I loved the comic moments during their first time, it felt so much more realistic than the perfect orchestrated sex scenes you find sometimes in books.
Another thing I thought was funny was the image Adrien painted of how the wildlife would react to a cannabis bonfire on the hill behind the ranch. I mean, the police burned it in the end. Do you think they had a happy time doing it? ;-)
Rosa wrote: "Another quote I love: "What the hell?” His voice came out muffled behind his hand.
“Sorry.”
“You’ve done this before, right?”
Despite I prefer mystery over romance I just realise almost al..."
Oh, yes! Nice one. :-)
I mean, they needed a funny moment in there, what with the way they started. Jake's proposition was beyond un-romantic.
Calathea wrote: "they needed a funny moment in there, what with the way they started. Jake's proposition was beyond un-romantic.."Haha. I think in ADT and THYS, Jake was still trying very hard make it mostly about "sex". I love the scene when he first kissed Adrien in ADT, then went to the bathroom and LOCKED the door! :-)
Mod
In some ways it's the most straightforward of the books and it's the most relationship intensive because it's largely just A&J being together outside the "rules" of their usual relationship.
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Josh wrote: "One of the points of writing Kevin though was to underline the fact that Adrien could -- was still open -- to the idea of having a "normal" relationship with someone else. He wasn't forced into cho..."I like that a lot in the series, because Adrien tries so hard to have a "normal" relationship, but it simply doesn't work because Jake is the right person for him ;)
Despite being closeted it is Jake that does all the pursuing in their relationship, have you noticed it? Adrien is very passive especially in THYS and even after Jake comes out. It is Jake who pursues this the whole time. Quite interesting don't you think?
Ame wrote: “Despite being closeted it is Jake that does all the pursuing in their relationship, have you noticed it? Adrien is very passive especially in THYS and even after Jake comes out. It is Jake who pursues this the whole time. Quite interesting don't you think?”It is interesting and I think it couldn’t have gone otherwise, Adrien being the mature and balanced individual he is.
Adrien is in a difficult position, he loves Jake enough to choose him over easier options, but he’s aware that they don’t have any chance at a future together until Jake comes out, to do more until then would be masochism on his part. He can’t avoid falling in love with Jake, but he has enough self-respect and self-preservation to not actively pursue him, because he knows Jake isn’t the healthier option for him.
After Jake comes out, Adrien has to deal with his own health problems, his hurt over Jake’s actions and, once again, he has other options to consider and, once again, Jake ends up being the first choice.
Jake does all the pursuing and, being closeted and with all the other issues he has, that says a lot about his feelings for Adrien, but it says also a lot about Adrien’s that he never put a stop on things, even with all the signs of future failure flashing in front of him the whole time.
Edina wrote: "Same with Bruce, Kevin, Guy and Mel. Adrien is always passive. Why is that?"Well, with them he's passive because he'd prefer Jake to anyone of them. ;-)
Although with Kevin he wasn't exactly passive, he rejected him quite clearly, just as he did with Mel and Guy in the end.
Also, I forgot to add earlier that Adrien became quite proactive when he learned Jake was actually thinking of leaving LA, I love that part. :)
Yes when Jake finally stopped pursuing that is when Adrien stopped being passive. But I'm trying hold back and save that for TDT. Tough I know.
I did not remember Jake's "So you want to fuck?" comment. So typical of him to try and make it physical only. And yet their first time is so beautiful. I find it very surprising that Jake wants to look at Adrien's face during the act. He wants Adrien to say his name and tell him what he is feeling. It's so tender and sweet and so at odds with his fuck comment. And nobody says "baby" like Jake. And yet the next morning, he has to put Adrien back in his place with his queer comments about ballet lessons. I guess he was feeling too vulnerable after their lovemaking and lashes out. What an ass!
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I find this wonderful — that we have such strong recollections of how these books and characters intertwine with our lives.
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LOL. That I can promise. :-D
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Nope, I definitely didn't guess it. And I'm the same way than you are: I always tend to forget which (one of two) archaeological professors were behind it all. :-)
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Yes, this is so true.
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Oh my gods, that's such a great scene! :-D How it surprises you, how it's timed, how it builds... how the grin on reader's face gets wider and wider as the dialog proceeds. :-D :-D :-D
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
Stranger Things Have Happened: An Adrien English Write Your Own Damn Story (other topics)The Mystery of Nevermore (other topics)
So This is Christmas (other topics)
A Dangerous Thing (other topics)
So This is Christmas (other topics)
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I know the feeling, Rosa, sometimes ..."
I love you idea!! So I'm in!! This quoute has been mentioned earlier, I think, but I love it because it's one of the few times that early in the relationship that Jake shows a crack in his well palced mask, and I find really funny how Adrien tries to avoid the unwanted interest:
But then Kevin wrapped his arms around me, and his mood seemed less fraternal than mine.
“Er ... Kevin,” I began, trying to pry him loose.
And then with the timing of a French farce, Jake opened the door. He stood stock-still. I could hear the clock ticking on the mantel. I hadn’t heard him drive up. I hadn’t heard the front door. And I hadn’t, off the top of my head, anything to say.
Jake did though. Right on cue he drawled, “Meanwhile, back at the ranch ...”