January 2023 Group Read with Guest Author, Jonathan Janz

[Shainlock]

Well said, Char! Exactly that!

[Char]

I trusted you, as I trusted him, and I'm so glad I did, in both cases.
THE LISTENER is criminally underrated, btw. :)

[Jonathan]

Char wrote: "I trusted you, as I trusted him, and I'm so glad I did, in both cases.
THE LISTENER is criminally underrated, btw. :)"

I love McCammon so much. I'm about twenty percent of the way through THE LISTENER and agree with you. What a great story so far.

[J]

A few chapters into part II. Hard to put it down and like nothing I have read before. Excited to finish it this week !

[destiny ♡]

I just started this a few minutes ago. 21 pages in and I'm already totally hooked. I love the narrative voice!

[destiny ♡]

I finished it and adored it! Now I'm so excited that I can go back through this thread and read everyone's spoiler-y thoughts. But first, can I just say that: 1) this fully reawakened my love of old, gothic horror writing (VERY well done!), and 2) not really a spoiler, but just in case: (view spoiler)[Lizzie is such a badass and I love her! I mean, I loved Arthur too, but man, Lizzie has my heart. New book girlfriend for me tbh 😂 (hide spoiler)]

[destiny ♡]

Oh, and a thought regarding that awful animal-related scene: (view spoiler)[as painful as it was to read, especially as a cat lover (two of my cats were asleep on my feet as I was reading the scene, and I even had to stop for a second and love on them because it was just so freakin' sad!!), I also kind of love that you included it because wow, what an incredibly pivotal moment. If this makes sense, while it made me hate Erskine, it felt even MORE like a huge reveal about Sarah's character, because I was fully willing to trust her until that scene, and everything I thought I knew about her was turned upside-down in an instant, too! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

destiny ♡ wrote: "Oh, and a thought regarding that awful animal-related scene: [spoilers removed]"

You could not have described my thoughts better with your spoiler. 100% agree Destiny!

[Kimberly]

Ginger wrote: "destiny ♡ wrote: "Oh, and a thought regarding that awful animal-related scene: [spoilers removed]"

You could not have described my thoughts better with your spoiler. 100% agree Destiny!"

My exact thoughts, Ginger! Destiny nailed the emotions that came from that scene, and why it was necessary.

[Char]

Well said, Destiny! I must agree!

Jonathan, I'd like to take this time while I'm thinking of it, to say THANK YOU so much for joining us this month! I think you might've gained a fan or two and I'm pretty sure most of us here had a blast! Thanks again for being such a great guest, and author! :)

[Michael]

I think we all benefited from Jonathan's participation. Thanks for sharing some of your time with us.
I just ordered The Sorrows.
Also need to reread Nightmare Girl again.
I'd reread The Dismembered, except I gave it to my cousin. She'll love it.

[Brenna]

Totally agree! It was so amazing to engage with you Jonathan! I've loaded up my Kindle with more of your books 😂 Excited to read more!!

[Kimberly]

Thank you, Jonathan! It's a pleasure to have you join us.

[Garrett]

Thanks for joining us Jonathan. It's fun for me to have a local author to follow from my hometown of WL!

[Jonathan]

J wrote: "A few chapters into part II. Hard to put it down and like nothing I have read before. Excited to finish it this week !"

That's so great to hear, J. Thank you!

[Jonathan]

destiny ♡ wrote: "I finished it and adored it! Now I'm so excited that I can go back through this thread and read everyone's spoiler-y thoughts. But first, can I just say that: 1) this fully reawakened my love of ol..."

That makes me so happy, Destiny. THANK YOU! Lizzie is a favorite of mine too. Weird part is, I didn't even know where the story or her character would go until Arthur arrived at Altarbrook. Then, I felt this pull toward the library, not because of the books (or not because of the books alone), but because I had the feeling someone important was in there. From that point on, she wrote her own story.

[Jonathan]

destiny ♡ wrote: "Oh, and a thought regarding that awful animal-related scene: [spoilers removed]"

Yes! This. A thousand times this. I am totally cool with people hating that scene or one-starring or DNF-ing the book because of that scene, but what you said is exactly why it needs to be in there.

And please give your cats a scratch for me! :-)

[Jonathan]

Ginger wrote: "destiny ♡ wrote: "Oh, and a thought regarding that awful animal-related scene: [spoilers removed]"

You could not have described my thoughts better with your spoiler. 100% agree Destiny!"

Thank you, Ginger!

[Alan]

Thanks again for joining us Jonathan. I will definitely look for you at AuthorCon. If you have copies of this book with you I'm def getting one.

[Jonathan]

Kimberly wrote: "Ginger wrote: "destiny ♡ wrote: "Oh, and a thought regarding that awful animal-related scene: [spoilers removed]"

You could not have described my thoughts better with your spoiler. 100% agree Dest..."

Thank you, Kimberly!

[Jonathan]

Char wrote: "Well said, Destiny! I must agree!

Jonathan, I'd like to take this time while I'm thinking of it, to say THANK YOU so much for joining us this month! I think you might've gained a fan or two and I'..."

Char, THANK YOU! This has been incredible. I've had so much fun talking with you all and am so happy we've had this opportunity. Thank you!!!

[Jonathan]

Michael wrote: "I think we all benefited from Jonathan's participation. Thanks for sharing some of your time with us.
I just ordered The Sorrows.
Also need to reread Nightmare Girl again.
I'd reread The Dismembere..."

That's awesome, Michael. Thank you!!!

[Jonathan]

Brenna wrote: "Totally agree! It was so amazing to engage with you Jonathan! I've loaded up my Kindle with more of your books 😂 Excited to read more!!"

That makes me so happy, Brenna! I really appreciate it!

[Jonathan]

Garrett wrote: "Thanks for joining us Jonathan. It's fun for me to have a local author to follow from my hometown of WL!"

WL people unite! Thanks, Garrett!

[Cal]

Jonathan Janz Thank you so much for joining us dude, I had a lot of fun with this and it was an honor to have you along and very active for my first goodreads Group Read!

[Debra]

Recently read 2 Jantz books, love them

[J]

For the past few years I have been trying to find a book that I could try writing a screenplay/script for. I knew a few chapters into this short story that this piece was the one.
“She looked at me then, and something passed between us. I reflected that misery can bring people together as surely as joy”

This struck a chord deep down in my cold black heart.

The Western Tower. Bloody brilliant.

[Monica]

Love that quote J. ANd thanks JOnathan!

[Jonathan]

Alan wrote: "Thanks again for joining us Jonathan. I will definitely look for you at AuthorCon. If you have copies of this book with you I'm def getting one."

That's awesome, Alan! I'll see you at AuthorCon!

[Jonathan]

Calvin wrote: "Jonathan Janz Thank you so much for joining us dude, I had a lot of fun with this and it was an honor to have you along and very active for my first goodreads Group Read!"

Thank you so much, Calvin!

[Jonathan]

Debra wrote: "Recently read 2 Jantz books, love them"

Hey, thank you, Debra! That's so awesome to hear!

[Jonathan]

J wrote: "For the past few years I have been trying to find a book that I could try writing a screenplay/script for. I knew a few chapters into this short story that this piece was the one.
“She looked at me..."

This makes me so happy. Thank you, J! I think the book would look fantastic on the big screen. :-)

[Jonathan]

Monica wrote: "Love that quote J. ANd thanks JOnathan!"

Thank you, Monica!

[J]

I agree 100% Jonathan. If executed well it could be incredible.

[Alan]

Ok, I'm a couple months behind, but I did get a copy directly from Jonathan 3 weeks ago at AuthorCon and just read it tonight. Wowie, that second half of the book did not go the way the first half led me to believe it would. It was like starting with Emile Bronte and ending with Stuart Gordon. Yet it all worked in a satisfying manor.

[Char]

LOL Alan! I have to agree with you there.