Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed*
Just finished reading (er, i.e., oggling) this one: Little Book of Big PenisBelated Christmas present from a friend. That, and a package of brandy-filled chocolates. ^.^
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Belated Christmas present from a friend. That, and a package of brandy-filled chocolates. ^.^"
Oh, uh, gee!
*coughs* On a slightly more sophisticated note, I've been reading a lot of poetry lately. I never really read poems before or even felt like I "got" them, for the most part. But I loved Richard Blanco's inaugural poem, and now I'm on this poetry-reading kick. Kinda makes me wish I had someone to sit in bed with and read to. :)Slightly different topic: This quote was on the back of the November issue of Poetry Magazine: "The unadmitted reason why traditional readers are hostile to e-books is that we still hold the superstitious idea that a book is like a soul, and that every soul should have its own body."--Adam Kirsch
I thought that was beautiful. And it's appropriate, because even though Poetry Magazine is free to read on-line (just found that out yesterday!), I really like to hold the paper copy in my hands. There's really something different about reading the paper issue versus the PDF on my iPad.
Susinok wrote: "I'm reading Lou Harper's Last Stop. I'm about 30% into it now.And listening toThe Ghost Wore Yellow Socks (at work)."
That last sentence intrigues me. You can listen to audiobooks at work?
Christine wrote: "This quote was on the back of the November issue of Poetry Magazine: "The unadmitted reason why traditional readers are hostile to e-books is that we still hold the superstitious idea that a book is like a soul, and that every soul should have its own body."--Adam Kirsch..."That is fantastic. I don't know that it's so much unadmitted as unrealised - people don't know why it is that they want to have some books in print instead of "just" as ebooks, or why (some) ebooks don't feel "real".
I'd always thought it was that, because I've spent so many years reading print books, I've associated the wonderful experiences I've had from reading with the physical solid book instead of with the author's imagination, feelings, and skill transmitted through his printed words. But I prefer Adam Kirsch's explanation!
Hj wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I'm reading Lou Harper's Last Stop. I'm about 30% into it now.And listening toThe Ghost Wore Yellow Socks (at work)."
That last sentence intrigues me. You can listen to audiobooks at work..."
Yes I can. Or music if I choose, with my earbuds in. I normally pull out an audiobook if I have a long, boring project to work on. Most people tend to not interrupt me when I have my earbuds in because they know I am working on something bigger.
Wow. I can only do mechanical things, like knit or drive, while I listen to audiobooks (or music for that mater). I envy you your concentration.
Hj wrote: "Wow. I can only do mechanical things, like knit or drive, while I listen to audiobooks (or music for that mater). I envy you your concentration."Well we're talking about filling in endless spreadsheets. If I didn't have an audiobook, I'd go batty with boredom. The audiobook takes up enough concentration to make the time pass faster.
More complicated stuff, and I have to unplug.
Christine wrote: On a slightly more sophisticated note, I've been reading a lot of poetry lately. I never really read poems before or even felt like I "got" them, for the most part. But I loved Richard Blanco..."You want to watch out Christine it can become addictive. I really like Richard Blanco's poem too and he read so well considering the grandeur of the occasion. That is such a great idea having a poet read something specially written for the inauguration. Are you reading his books now? I've promised myself I'll read some of his and have been recommended 'Looking for the Gulf Motel' as a starter. Who else are you reading? The other poet you might like is Rafael Campo, another openly gay American poet. His book 'The Enemy' was one of my best reads of last year.
I know what you mean that holding a book as a physical object is quite a different experience from snuggling up with a kindle. The Poetry Foundation website is a tremendous resource - did you read the interview with Blanco
As poets, we can linger on a poem forever and ever. ...
I can so relate to that.
The other useful website to go to for poems and other good things is World Literature today where they have poetry trails which you have in the States. My current favourite on the website is a Pavane by an Australian poet Mark Tredinnick.
But anyways people I actually came on here to ask for recommendations. I want to read something written by a Welsh writer of M/M romances.
John wrote: "Jordan wrote: "My brain's made up of Swiss Cheese. I just like to make everyone else think it's Cheddar. lol. Seriously, I forget sooo much, it's terrible."I've come to consider my forgetfulness ..."
Yeah, and you get excited about the same things several times! A few months back, I had this cool insight and thought myself all witty and smart. So I told my husband about it, and he looked at me and said 'that's great, really, but you are aware that you've told me the exact same thing 2 years ago, right?'. ... Damn.
Susinok wrote: "Hj wrote: "Wow. I can only do mechanical things, like knit or drive, while I listen to audiobooks (or music for that mater). I envy you your concentration."Well we're talking about filling in e..."
I recently visited a history museum in Miami and saw this exhibit about workers who rolled Cuban cigars, how they hired someone to read out loud for them because the work was so monotonous!
Christine wrote: "I recently visited a history museum in Miami and saw this exhibit about workers who rolled Cuban cigars, how they hired someone to read out loud for them because the work was so monotonous!..."Nice! Audiobooks are great for that.
Caroline wrote: "Christine wrote: On a slightly more sophisticated note, I've been reading a lot of poetry lately. I never really read poems before or even felt like I "got" them, for the most part. But I loved Ric..."Caroline, I haven't read any more by Blanco, but I'd like to. I feel like I've been skirting the edge of this swimming pool that is Poetry for years now, kind of looking down, wondering what it's like, and now someone pushed me in and the water's great, but I'm just kinda floundering until I figure out what to do now that I'm actually in. ^.^
So, thank you for the recommendations! And I'd be happy for any others. It's hard to say what I like, though, because I don't even really know myself. I think I like shorter poems, for sure. I find many poems a little tedious to read past two pages.
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I've come to consider my f..."
Yup, been there, done that. It's awesome, at first. And then it's just a big huge let down.
Funny story about poetry. My brother went through a period where he really liked the beat poets from the 50s and bought some poetry books by Allen Ginsburg. I opened one of the books up randomly and the poem I read pretty much described in great detail sex between two men. I read it through. My brother made the comment, "I'm not sure but I think Ginsburg must be gay."
What was his first clue? :)
Christine wrote: It's hard to say what I like, though, because I don't even really know myself. I think I like shorter poems, for sure. I find many poems a little tedious to read past two pages. ..."In that case it's probably not a good idea to mention that I'm currently mainlining David Jones' In Parenthsis. So moving swiftly on I'd recommend anything by Mark Doty - you have six books of poems or two memoirs to choose from. I love him, his work I mean and have even written a poem in homage in which I become his dog...
Susinok wrote: "My brother made the comment, "I'm not sure but I think Ginsburg must be gay."
What was his first clue? :) .."
LOL. Can you remember which poem it was? A Supermarket in California is probably my favourite of his.
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Caroline wrote: "LOL. Can you remember which poem it was? A Supermarket in California is probably my favourite of his. ....."Oh man no way would I remember that. It was years ago.
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Well, if I may confess, I am a long-time fan of such old school yaoi as Kizuna, Fake, Bronze. So I wasn't entirely uninitiated, although I'm pretty out of touch with what is current.
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Ah. There could be some truth to that! :-)
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..."
LOL
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OMG, I read one of Mark Doty's memoirs and was just... wow... Yeah, I HIGHLY recommend his writing.
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Really? You liked Fake? I tried to get into that one, and the first book turned me off for several reasons. I can't remember all of them, but I think police procedure mistakes was a big one. I haven't read the other two, so I'll check them out.
i'm working my way through Screwing the System by Josephine Myles & Raven Calls by C.E. Murphy. if one gets too intense i swap over to the other.
Kira wrote: "i'm working my way through Screwing the System by Josephine Myles & Raven Calls by C.E. Murphy. if one gets too intense i swap over to the other."How is Screwing the System? I just got that too.
Susnok wrote: "How is Screwing the System? I just got that too." i'm really enjoying it. i read the original short story when it was written for the M/M Romance group last year and really liked it. i like seeing the characters fleshed out.
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BL = Boys Love. It's the generic term for Shonen Ai and Yaoi."
Oh. Huh... ok. I was just looking at a list on GR that I guess listed every word used to describe Yaoi. Don't know why they had to do that. Oh well. Now I get it. lol. Thanks!
Katharina wrote: "Another book (actually two books) I revisited lately is 'The Talisman' and its sequel 'The Black House' by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Especially the first one is definitely not what I expected ..."LOVED The Talisman. Did not so much care for Black House. Agree, especially the former, is unusual for S. King, but I've always attributed that to his partnership w/Straub.
Tharayn wrote: "Juthi wrote: "Omg! I would give an arm and a leg to have Nakamura Asumiko's drawing style. Especially in her manga Copernicus Breathing which was downright creepy and poetic all at once. And I lo..."
Yes, I rec'd this, too. Add that it's very sexy and gorgeously drawn. In fact, the eroticism is more violent than I find appealing, and yet I'm still buying and reading the series. Yaoi readers who wish for more grownup characters and stories, try it. There are a couple of prequels,too, involving the MC's romantic interest and those are more sensually sexy.
Josh wrote: "Katharina wrote: "Josh wrote: "As far as what I'm reading now -- I'm catching up again on several months of Publisher's Weekly (wow, I picked the wrong time to fall behind on industry news -- there..."Me, too. All three of those, but Bronze stays with me. I really hated the art in the second part. Do you remember? The blond character looked like a praying mantis. But the story and writing was so moving, the ending really beautiful, that I could forgive a lot.
Tharayn wrote: "Bronze is... very special. Artwork and story. I know many BL/Yaoi fans who can't stand one of them (or both).... But I loved it (execept the last volumes, especially the ending of vilume 15. Such ..."
Tharayn, excuse me. I saw the anime. I didn't know there were yaoi books of the same; I never saw them. I'm going to see if I can find them.
What did you think of the anime?
Candice wrote: "Katharina wrote: "Another book (actually two books) I revisited lately is 'The Talisman' and its sequel 'The Black House' by Stephen King and Peter Straub."LOVED The Talisman. Did not so much care for Black House.
Yeah, to be honest, I was kind of disappointed at first, too, reading the Black House. It was just so very very different from The Talisman (which I absolutely loved). And Jack is all grown up. I still fell into it at some point and couldn't stop reading. The Talisman was definitely more memorable, though. I have a pretty hard time coming up with the story in the Black House...
Caroline wrote: "I love him, his work I mean and have even written a poem in homage in which I become his dog..."Ha! Cute!
Thank you for all of the recommendations. I'm filling up my to-read shelf. :)
One of the most beautifully rendered animes I have ever watched is Mushi-Shi. The artwork alone makes it worth watching.
Lori wrote: "One of the most beautifully rendered animes I have ever watched is Mushi-Shi. The artwork alone makes it worth watching."Definitely yes! That one has lovely art and great stories with lots of inspiration from Japanese folk tales.
I started listening to The Darkling Thrush. I'm not very far in to it yet but it sounds like it will be very interesting. I like the arcane library idea.
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It's a great book and it was the first audio book from Josh that I got my paws on. I absolutely loved it. Enjoy, Susinok! :)
Katharina wrote: "Candice wrote: "Katharina wrote: "Another book (actually two books) I revisited lately is 'The Talisman' and its sequel 'The Black House' by Stephen King and Peter Straub."LOVED The Talisman. Did..."
Like you say, it was very different from the TAlisman; so maybe I didn't give it a fair shake. But also, like you, I can't remember much of it and nothing that makes me want to revisit it.
Juthi wrote: "I am currently reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I was really intrigued by it until the main character asks Colonel Graff if there are girls in the genius astronaut battle school too. And G..."It's still a great book, but Card is old fashioned when it comes to his beliefs (he's Mormon) and he follows in the true tradition of old-time science fiction - girls are good for eye catching covers but aren't good for adventure and doing traditional male roles ...
I've learned more science from SF books than I ever did in high school or college and in much more interesting and understandable ways too.
There are lots kick-butt SF heronines out there. Check out books by Elisabeth Moon, and the Honor Harrington series by David Weber.Also Jack McDevitt has a female space captain in one of his series. CJ Cherryh had strong female characters, as did Vonda McIntire.
The covers are just window dressing, just like the bare male chests of m/m. Don't judge the book by those.
Orson Scott Card is a notorious homophobe. The more I found out about him, the more determined I became to avoid all his books. I won't even get them from the library.
Josh wrote: "Katharina wrote: "Josh wrote: "As far as what I'm reading now -- I'm catching up again on several months of Publisher's Weekly (wow, I picked the wrong time to fall behind on industry news -- there..."If you look at my icon, you can see it's of Dee and Ryo. I'm a HUGE FAKE fan. I met 2 of my closest friends through its small fanfic community. But Yaoi was also my gateway into m/m/. I had voraciously read everything out there, was beginning to get tired of some of the tropes, and found out there were novels that still told the types of stories I was interested in, involving 2 male leads. But FAKE will always have a VERY VERY special place in my heart. (I was very lucky to discover Jordan Castillo Price in the early days. She was and continues to be a personal favourite of mine.)
Juthi wrote: "Susinok wrote: "The covers are just window dressing, just like the bare male chests of m/m. Don't judge the book by those"Well bare chests on romance covers makes sense! I just don't understand w..."
More of Jim C. Hines' photo covers! LOL =0D
I like this one
Juthi wrote: "Susinok wrote: "The covers are just window dressing, just like the bare male chests of m/m. Don't judge the book by those"Well bare chests on romance covers makes sense! I just don't understand w..."
A lot of those covers were Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. The SF Covers were by Baen books, and they are known for their colorful covers. Baen has a loyal fan following who expect those covers and seek them out.
And yes the covers are nuts but no more crazy than the Fabio cover or some more modern romance covers. The point is to look beyond the cover to the story.
Lori wrote: "More of Jim C. Hines' photo covers! LOL =0DI like this one ..."
That's the artist in the pics? Gotta love someone who can laugh at themself!! Love it.=D
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Reggie wrote: "Lori wrote: "More of Jim C. Hines' photo covers! LOL =0DI like this one ..."
That's the artist in the pics? Gotta love someone who can laugh at themself!! Love it.=D"
He's actually an author who loves to make fun of covers. I just finished reading
Libriomancer
which has a cool idea at its core - that people with an affinity for magic can pull objects and even characters out of the pages of much loved and read books. (i.e.: vampires known as "sparklers" for instance. LOL)
Johanna wrote: "Since there are so many anime fans here, I bet at least some of you also draw manga, am I right? It would be lovely to see your visions of Blood Red Butterfly as manga drawings! Just saying... ;)"I draw, but I never could get the hang of manga/anime. It's too ethereal for my style of drawing.
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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On the other hand, now my coworker has started to use my Swiss cheese against me so... yeah, not so good. lol.