Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed*
I have a few thousand books stored in my parents' attic. My mother begs me every six months ago to do something about them (although I don't know why...there's plenty of room!!). To show willing, I'll occasionally fill up a box with some of the oldest and crappiest titles that I know I'll probably never read again and take them to a charity shop. It hurts every time.Although the worst was when I took my entire Star Trek collection of novels - a complete series of TNG, DS9 and Voyager books stretching from 1987 to 1998 - and gave them away.
Yes...My name is Chris and I was a Trekkie!
Mod
That's horrifically sad! I wouldn't have burned them... don't know what I would have done though. I guess just throw them out? Or find a place to ship them on line? It seems to me there must be places like Books for Soldiers where you can ship books.
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FYI: You can donate clean stuffed animals to your local police department. They give them to kids in emergency situations, such as when they're pulled from their homes in the middle of the night and can't take anything with them. That's what I did with mine. I was too attached, and didn't know what else to do with them, but I knew they couldn't stay in my parent's attic forever. Giving them to the PD where I knew they would go to kids who really needed them made giving them up that much easier. I contacted the local PD where they live and they said they would take them. If you do a search online, you can find instructions for cleaning stuffed animals before you donate them, which is a MUST if they were well-loved.
Antonella wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "I had little choice but to burn them"The horror!
BTW: if I only would have known, maybe we could have organized a ship transport to Europe...
Anyway I'm surprised, because here in..."
If only, Antonella . . .
However, I lived in an out-of-the-way place, where certain kinds of books simply weren't in demand. Now, if I'd had hunting and fishing and craft books, and every Nora Roberts novel ever published, I couldn't have given them away fast enough!
Christopher wrote: "I have a few thousand books stored in my parents' attic. My mother begs me every six months ago to do something about them (although I don't know why...there's plenty of room!!). To show willing, I..."Ah, the storage solution! I've resorted to that, too. But I'd run out of people to impose upon. ;-)
Christopher wrote: "I have a few thousand books stored in my parents' attic. My mother begs me every six months ago to do something about them (although I don't know why...there's plenty of room!!)."So it's not only my parents? What is it with them?
Experience taught me that logic doesn't work one bit (there is enough room in the attic) but the emotional approach does the trick. Puppy dog eyes, quivering lips and (recited disbelievingly) "What? You want me to leave for real??" works every time.
Although the worst was when I took my entire Star Trek collection of novels - a complete series of TNG, DS9 and Voyager books stretching from 1987 to 1998 - and gave them away.
No! You didn't!
A couple of months ago I tried to convince myself to sell my Star Trek novels on ebay for a small price to find them a good home and get a bit more of shelf space... I just couldn't. They're still here, huddled together, safe and warm on their shelf...
Practical reading: I have had this book for...several months now.
I finally got around to doing more than flipping through.OMG. Best thing I have *EVER* put in my mouth. I think I'm going to have to work my way through the entire book. It'll give me something to do while the DH is deployed.
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This hit me as great title. :-D
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Josh wrote: "I discovered Downtown Abbey the other night -- I have now watched the first season all the way through twice and am eagerly waiting for the second season to be delivered to my door."First season was better than season two. The Christmas Special was up to original form. Just my opinion, of course.
Josh wrote: "I discovered Downtown Abbey the other night -- I have now watched the first season all the way through twice and am eagerly waiting for the second season to be delivered to my door."You're going to love it. Damn, now I want to watch it again!
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..."
The first season is truly wonderful.
Yes, the second season of Downton Abbey was disappointing in so many ways. I didn't like how they handled Thomas (I think I'd be much better at handling Thomas) and some of the episodes were just so lowest common denominator...
Well, looks like I'm in the minority (like that's anything new!). Have to say, Christopher, I'd like to see how'd you handle Thomas too.
Hambel wrote: "Have to say, Christopher, I'd like to see how'd you handle Thomas too."I think I've got a list written out somewhere...
Josh wrote: "Liade wrote: "Josh wrote: "I discovered Downtown Abbey the other night -- I have now watched the first season all the way through twice and am eagerly waiting for the second season to be delivered ..."I know, right? And the costumes are so lovely, esp Mary's wardrobe. The second season is not out yet at Asia. I'll be very sad if they handle it badly. :(
Devoured Confessions of a Rentboy last night. I could've sworn the author was some fairly young British guy, the narrator's voice struck me as that authentic, but no. The author is a female who lives in the American Midwest and came fresh out of some slash fandom. I was impressed.
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Oh no! Well, perhaps I'll hold off watching the second season for a bit. I have a ton of reading to finish up this weekend.
Meanwhile I just finished
An unexpected delight. It's smart and funny and genuine.
Josh wrote: "An unexpected delight. It's smart and funny and genuine."I agree, but then why did you give it only 3 stars?
Mod
I agree, but then why did you give it only 3 stars?"
I have to go back and change it. It was a DNF for me the first time. But this time it really did win me over. Maybe I'm more patient now? Or maybe it shone in comparison to the book I read right before it?
Mod
We don't all laugh at the same things.
Josh wrote: "Or maybe it shone in comparison to the book I read right before it?"I'm not wondering, really. This is the definition of curiosity in my dictionary.
Josh wrote: "What do I always tell you guys? Humor is tricky. It's risky. It's much harder to write funny -- to get someone to laugh -- then it is to write tragic or angsty. It's not hard to make a reader cry. ..."Alberto Sordi, one of the most popular Italian actors, once met a screenwriter outside of Cinecittà (the Roman Hollywood) and asked him: "What are you working on? Comedy?" The screenwriter: "No, drama." Alberto Sordi: "Oh, you're resting then!"
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I'm not wondering, really. This is the definition of curiosity in my dictionary."
:-D
It would make for an interesting comparison because both books were about twenty something males going through emotional crises and finding love.
And I still have to finish this month's Book Club read!
Mod
:-D I love that.
Josh wrote: "What do I always tell you guys? Humor is tricky. It's risky. It's much harder to write funny -- to get someone to laugh -- then it is to write tragic or angsty. ... We don't all laugh at the same things."I'm glad if you change your rating of ''Tinseltown''.
A book that tried too hard to be funny, at least int the first pages, was First You Fall. Two and a half years ago it was a DNF for me, but sooner or later I'll try it again.
Antonella wrote: "A book that tried too hard to be funny, at least int the first pages, was First You Fall. Two and a half years ago it was a DNF for me, but sooner or later I'll try it again. "I enjoyed First You Fall a lot, but I agree that, had I been in a different mood, it could have gone the other way. :) Looking forward to read Second You Sin!
Mod
And the funny thing was, I was rereading Death of a Pirate King the past two days and came to the mention of First You Fall, and had a ball over cause I'd read it and enjoyed it. lol. I think I had a ball the first time I read that line too. That's how oddball I am about stupid stuff like that.
Calathea wrote: "Antonella wrote: "A book that tried too hard to be funny, at least int the first pages, was First You Fall. Two and a half years ago it was a DNF for me, but sooner or later I'll try it again. "I..."
I actually read Second you sin before the first one, something to do with the first not being in e-book format for a while or something. I enjoyed both of them, they are funny, but there is that little bit of seriousness underneath that make the funny bits even better in my opinion (more of that in the second than the first book) The third "and then you die" are supposed to come in the fall, I am loooking forward to it.
Cleon wrote: "Not a book, but for all you bibliophiles here, have you ever visited these amazing bookstores? "LOVE this one:
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OH WOW, Cleon! What a wonderful link!!! Thank you so much! This compensates for "the almost sex" that didn't continue in the General News thread... Heck, who needs sex, when one can sit ogling amazing pictures of book stores on Friday night?! *grin*
The only one I've visited is Shakespeare & Company in Paris. It was a memorable experience all right. :)
Kari wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Not a book, but for all you bibliophiles here, have you ever visited these amazing bookstores? "LOVE this one:
"
Yeah, I love them all! But I esp love the ones at Beijing, & the gothic ones. They're so dreamy!
Johanna wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Not a book, but for all you bibliophiles here, have you ever visited these amazing bookstores? "OH WOW, Cleon! What a wonderful link!!! Thank you so much! This compensates for "the..."
You're most welcome!
And "the almost sex"? I have to rectify that.
Later.
LOL! Yeah, I'm evil like that.
I'm reading The Starving Years and loving it - very adventurous. I'm not usually into m/m/m but this one is great.
Josh wrote: "What do I always tell you guys? Humor is tricky. It's risky. It's much harder to write funny -- to get someone to laugh -- then it is to write tragic or angsty. It's not hard to make a reader cry. ..."So, so true that a sense of humor is thoroughly subjective. I wonder why that is. Can't be cultural. Might it have to do with upbringing? Education? I don't know, but it's a fascinating topic.
Just bought The White Knight from Amazon.Love the new cover! It's hasn't made it to GR yet, but it looks great. Hot Guy-LA palms/w ocean in background... {sigh}
Looking forward to reading it this weekend! 8)
Cleon wrote: "Not a book, but for all you bibliophiles here, have you ever visited these amazing bookstores? "That is so lovely, thank you. I immediately got this crazy dream of buying an around-the- world ticket and just visit bookstores :)
I am a great fan of my Kindle but I do hope bookstores will survive too!
K.Z. wrote: "Josh wrote: "What do I always tell you guys? Humor is tricky. It's risky. It's much harder to write funny -- to get someone to laugh -- then it is to write tragic or angsty. It's not hard to make a..."I actually think it is cultural as well as the above. I have been told that a typical self-deprecating form for humour that Norwegians indulge in wouldn't work in the US for instance. If we try that, people would look at you with confusion and maybe pity, is what I'm told.
Not that I have tried ;)
Irony is lost on children, so there it comes to maturity and perhaps education as well.
A fascinating subject, humour.
Mod
This is very interesting. I think it has a lot to do with upbrinning, with the things that a person believes in and what she/he values in life. And just like Anne said, at least some of the aspects about humor must be cultural, right? While staying in US for a year (and being very young at the time) I realized that I just didn't get some of the jokes (mostly the ones conserning politicians and current national events that I wasn't aware of).
And with children (in school) the situation comedy is the most amusing kind for adults, while children themselves appreciate slapstick humor. :)
And yes, Norwegians have the funniest jokes about Finnish people! But those jokes wouldn't be so funny to a person from somewhere else. And we Finns love to make jokes about Swedish people... while Swedes joke about Norwegians. ;)
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I guess I feel the same way about m/m/m - although I have to admit that I haven't read it before. But this story was very intriguing and the three guys definitely belonged together. And the threesome thing had so many layers in it - layers that didn't have anything to do with sex. Not that I complain about the sex either. :)
Johanna wrote: "Anne wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "Josh wrote: "What do I always tell you guys? Humor is tricky. It's risky. It's much harder to write funny -- to get someone to laugh -- then it is to write tragic or angst..."Does that mean you don't make jokes about Norwegians in Finland? Should I be insulted now? ;)
Mod
"
LOL! Yup, it wasn't a joke. ;)
I kept on thinking about this humor thing and realized how hard it really must be to write it, because at the time you don't get the instant reaction from the reader and see if your humor works or not. And because it is risky as Josh said earlier. In many ways, I suppose. And then there are always people who might be offended...
I meant "not cultural" insofar as people living in the same country (or even in the same neighborhood!) have widely divergent senses of humor. Heck, my partner and I often don't laugh at the same things.
Mod
Yeah, I see what you mean. So maybe it all comes down to personality? My mind just kept wondering further on with the cultural aspect you mentioned in your message... :)
Many occupations have their own humor too, that people not in the particular profession might not get, or even think was horrible. I used to work in a hospital...talk about gruesome humor sometimes that no one else would understand...
Humour also depends on how much alcohol has been consumed. So many variables...
Mod
Ha!!! :)
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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The horror!
BTW: if I only would have known, maybe we could have organized a ship transport to Europe...
Anyway I'm surprised, because here in Switzerland charity shops will take every book. If you are an old person and you don't have a car, they even come to fetch them for free. From my extensive research on the field ;-) I know the same happens in the UK and in Ireland.