Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
ARCHIVE (General Topics)
>
What else are you reading? (June 2010 - May 2013) *closed*
Josh, I've been listening to "Yellow Socks." I guess I didn't give it my full attention on the first reading, because, for one thing, I hardly remembered it. But here's what I wanted you to know: I love this couple. This asthmatic Christopher Robin and his gruff Marine. And I totally dig the way you kept Nick apparently heterosexual virtually right up to the last instant before giving him away as anything else. It made the eventual romantic connection between them that much more potently effective.As I listen, almost as though for the first time, I keep wishing for a new adventure/mystery for them to tackle. It's not just greed. Perry's sweetness and inate courtesy is funny and charming, especially set against Nick's helpless regard and exasperation.
I hope you look again at this couple with an eye to a sequel.
I loved Perry. I cracked up when he turned down a beer because he had just brushed his teeth for the evening. Asthmatic Christopher Robin just about sums him up.
Mod
Aleks just has an amazing way with words, doesn't he? I read all the SF books and loved them. But I'll admit, especially the first one, they are dark. And not for the faint of heart. But if you believe in love conquering all, give it a go. I know I'll be rereading them a lot in the future. Soldiers was definitely my favorite of them all.
Mod
Aren't you a tease? ;)
As if we weren't anxious enough to get our hand..."
You're a horrible tease. I agree with that statement. Viking Monk saga? Sounds fantastic!
Mod
http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blo...
Anybody read it?"
I thought 50 Shades of Gay was supposed to be an anthology? Done by one of those really tiny presses we have that I've since forgotten the name of? I want to say Silver, actually, but I'm probably wrong.
Anyway, nope, haven't read it, or heard of this one. I will definitely check it out though.
Susinok wrote: "I loved Perry. I cracked up when he turned down a beer because he had just brushed his teeth for the evening. Asthmatic Christopher Robin just about sums him up."
Josh described him as being reminiscent of Christopher Robin which I agree was perfect. YOu're right re the "toothbrush" response; a perfect example of what I was trying to say. Also, when an elder tenant is making himself too comfortable, Josh says something about Perry being as little able to repel social invaders as criminal. Then, Perry offers the guy tea. I laughed outright.
Mod
Have fun reading it! I just looooooove that series (and Henry, lol). :)"
Thanks, Tharayn. I finished Goldenboy (the 2nd book in the series) yesterday. I found that I do love these books, but had to take a break with something lighter. Henry and I are of an age, lived through the same times, and now as I look back I feel that I didn't do enough, didn't speak up enough. Of course Henry's a hard act to follow...
I really do not like confrontations and keep away from negative comments. But..., then there is always a but :) I hate it when people post these flash video avatars. Some close to ten in one message, and very large ones as well. Why? It is so annoying. Yes, I did write a comment to the poster stating my annoyance. Am I the only one who hates them?
I don't like flash videos or even just pictures in reviews.
I have been scouring my Kindle for non-paranormal books. I seem to have burned through most of my contemporaries and am reading clean-up on them now.I do have several mysteries though. Thank goodness. I think it's time to dip into my Josh horde.
After finishing Cherries Worth Getting, I've decided not to rush through the rest of Irregulars. I'll just be too disappointed if I finish the whole thing in less than a week. So, saving each story as a piece of candy between other books. Reading Perfume now, and enjoying so far. :)I always wonder how a translation differs from the original. How much of what I'm reading is the translator, and how much is the original author? Like, Suskind seems to have this way of writing these sentences that run on for half a page, but are very easy to follow, because he has this conversational voice. And I wonder if it's like that in the German.
Mod
..."
Thank you! That's a comment I don't often get. :-)
Personally, I find belabored endingings dull. Which is why I err on the side of brevity.
Tumbler is a good place for those gifs. I thought they were dead and gone, too. I was surprised to see them here at first. How 1990s, hehe.
Mod
It's melancholy and beautifully written.
Mod
All About Romance reviewed After the End! Gave it a very good score, too.
For the most part that site has..."
Well, that's positive.
Mod
I've contracted to do the entire AE series with Chris Patton through Audible.com
Josh wrote: "Well, that's positive. ..."They seem to have a new reviewer who is into M/M. Good thing about that site is that the reviewers are very careful to not be snarky. If they downgrade a book, they will point out weaknesses, plot craziness, etc., but from a straightforward style.
Mod
They seem to have a new reviewer who is into M/M. Good thing about that site is that the reviewers are very careful to not be snarky. If they downgrade a b..."
I like that. It's more useful to the reader -- and to the writer. Not that being useful to the writer is the goal, but it's great when that happens.
Mod
Goldenboy is my personal favorite. A classic.
Mod
That's a couple I'd like to revist -- for that exact dynamic, by the way. It vaguely reminds me of those cartoons where the gruff bulldog is placed in charge of a baby (now that I think about it...interesting parenting!) and the baby keeps climbing onto rooftops and things and the bulldog is always the one injured rushing to the rescue. :-D
Mod
Asthmatic Christopher Robin just about sums him up."
:-D
Josh wrote: "That's a couple I'd like to revist -- for that exact dynamic, by the way. It vaguely reminds me of those cartoons where the gruff bulldog is placed in charge of a baby (now that I think about it...interesting parenting!) and the baby keeps climbing onto rooftops and things and the bulldog is always the one injured rushing to the rescue. :-D "HA!
Josh wrote: "That's a couple I'd like to revist -- for that exact dynamic, by the way. It vaguely reminds me of those cartoons where the gruff bulldog is placed in charge of a baby (now that I think about it...interesting parenting!) and the baby keeps climbing onto rooftops and things and the bulldog is always the one injured rushing to the rescue. :-D .."I know that exact cartoon, too. LOL.
Mod
Susinok and Christine,
First times are special, and I often have had a reserved stash too, but I've never had the self-control to keep Josh's books there. Maybe because they're as good or better the second or third time through?
;-)
Karen wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I do have several mysteries though. Thank goodness. I think it's time to dip into my Josh horde."Susinok and Christine,
First times are special, and I often have had a reserved s..."
I am keeping a very, very small reserve of Josh stories. Otherwise, I went through them in less than half a year (most of them in two months). Green Glass Beads, Mexican Heat, and Strange Fortune might be the only ones I have left...
It's soooo hard not to just gobble them up. I have become SUCH a picky reader, and Josh is one of the very few authors whose stories I can read compulsively, in the way that I used to read--just totally disappear into the story within a few sentences. The kind where I can't put the book down, or--having put it down--can't wait to pick back up again. Actually, for a while, I thought maybe I'd graduated from that kind of reading along with high school... Nice to rediscover the experience. :)
Now, the trick will be to put off re-reading all of Josh's books for long enough that it'll feel almost like the first time when I read them again. ^_~ (...And I'm failing miserably at this, btw. I've already re-read my favorites!)
Mod
I don't like them either.
Mod
After that, I will likely be reading Plakcy's Mahu Men, since I haven't read that story collection yet. Read the first story the other night. Can't wait to get to the rest.
There are only a few of Josh's books left. I think there are 5 total. OMG. The end is in sight. Waaaaaah! Don't remind me. I'll have to stretch them out a bit, perhaps weave some JCPs works in there and I can catch up on both together. Might be rather nice. lol.
Jordan wrote: "I'm just finishing up a manga series that I dearly love. It will be sad to get to the end. After that, I will likely be reading Plakcy's Mahu Men, since I haven't read that story collection yet. ..."
I love the Mahu Men stories. I read one every so often. Once again I'm drawing out the book and savoring the stories.
If you follow Neil Plakcy's reviews, he reads a TON of mystery novels. I've found some good stuff watching his Goodreads activity.
Mod
After that, I will likely be reading Plakcy's Mahu Men, since I haven't read that story c..."
Yep, I've still got the two latest Mahu books to read too. I'm VERY behind on Plakcy. Let's not even mention the Have Body Will Guard series. I own everything, just haven't read them yet.
Can't wait though!
I'm caught up on Mahu and Bodyguards. I have his two dog mysteries I have not read yet, and The Russian Boy.
Mod
Susinok wrote: "I'm hoarding them. :)"I'm not familiar with Neil Plakcy. Any suggesions on which books of his to start with?
It's so funny how we all hoard books. It will be a sad day when I catch up on all of Josh's writings. I'm not too far from that point as it is.
Mod
I hope not! I have to admit I am working much more slowly. Or maybe not slowly...but not in linear fashion. I'm jumping around more as well as stopping for the evening the minute my wrists twinge. It's weird. But I'm just going with it.
Mod
I'm not familiar with Neil Plakcy. Any suggesions on which books of his to start with?
It's so funny how we all hoard books. It will be a sad day when I cat..."
The strongest of the series remains Mahuh. It's one of the most solid debuts I recall.
Mod
Have any of you read http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...
I believe it's romantic suspense?
Josh wrote: "I had a very nice note from an author by the name of Drake Braxton.Have any of you read http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...
I believe it's romantic suspense?"
It was a DNF for me. But mostly because it wasn't what I expected it to be, story-wise. The suspense ended at about a quarter into the story, then it's more of a drama about personal struggles. It hits some of my pet peeves in terms of characterisation and subjects, so it could be just me...
Very mixed reviews on that one. I wonder on which side I'd be on, but I'll never know because I've got enough books to read before I start experimenting... For ex. today I dug up
which I bought on paper in 2011 (I suspect because Josh said it is good) and haven't read yet. Purdy died on the 13th March 2009, like Elisa Rolle reminded: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/19...
Tina Kay wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I'm hoarding them. :)"I'm not familiar with Neil Plakcy. Any suggestions on which books of his to start with?..."
For a solid mystery series, the Mahu series is amazing. Mahu is the fist book in the series, starring Kimo Kanapa'aka, a gay, Hawaiian homicide detective. Deeply in the closet, he has to out himself in the first book in order to continue to investigate (he finds the body behind a gay bar he was in). The setting of Honolulu and the surrounding area really comes to life in this series. I was in Hawaii two years before I read the first book, and it brought it all back for me. It was wonderful.
The bodyguard series has more of an m/m romantic suspense feel to it (Think Armed and Dangerous, sorta, in Africa). It is set in Tunis. One of Neil Plakcy's biggest strengths is being able to make a setting come alive. First book here is Three Wrong Turns in the Desert.
Susinok wrote: "Tina Kay wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I'm hoarding them. :)"I'm not familiar with Neil Plakcy. Any suggestions on which books of his to start with?..."
For a solid mystery series, the Mahu series is ..."
Josh, thank you for the suggestion, and Susinok, thank you for all the suggestions and information. I'm happy that my 'to be read' list is growing.
Candice wrote: "Susinok wrote: "I loved Perry. I cracked up when he turned down a beer because he had just brushed his teeth for the evening. Asthmatic Christopher Robin just about sums him up."
Josh described ..."
I'm also listening to this audiobook, and loving it. I keep grinning inanely as I drive, when I'm not laughing out loud! I love the beer/toothpaste and the offer of tea, too. It's lovely to see the way Nick's exasperation with perry turns to affection, and also his admiration for Perry's quick brain and insight.
Josh wrote: "I've contracted to do the entire AE series with Chris Patton through Audible.com ..."Yippee!!
"Candice wrote: "Josh, I've been listening to "Yellow Socks." ... I love this couple. This asthmatic Christopher Robin and his gruff Marine. And I totally dig the way you kept Nick apparently heterosexual virtually right up to the last instant before giving him away as anything else. It made the eventual romantic connection between them that much more potently effective...."Josh wrote: That's a couple I'd like to revist -- for that exact dynamic, by the way.
I hope you do revisit them - in 2015 maybe??
Josh wrote: "Candice wrote: "Josh, I've been listening to "Yellow Socks." I guess I didn't give it my full attention on the first reading, because, for one thing, I hardly remembered it. But here's what I wa..."Warner Brothers did that in Looney Toones with a bulldog and a kitten. It was wonderful.
Wow, for those who haven't gotten on the Tamara Allen train yet, Downtime, The Only Gold and If It Ain't Love are free on smashwords right now. Not sure for how long...https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...
Her books are some of my most favorite. :D
EDIT: Woops! Meant to post to the e-books freebie thread. Oh well...will cross-post now... Sorry!
Mod
Maybe it was a kitten? I admit it's been a while since I watched the cartoon! :-D
So I just finished Fatal Shadows & A Dangerous Thing and I loved them. My first Josh Lanyon book :) Now i'm on to The Hell You Say. I really want to read Fair Game. *sigh* So many books so little time smh...
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
Chained Melody (other topics)The Far Pavilions (other topics)
Death in Kashmir (other topics)
The Flame Trees of Thika: Memories of an African Childhood (other topics)
Mistress of the Art of Death (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
M.M. Kaye (other topics)Elspeth Huxley (other topics)
Lauren Willig (other topics)
Charlie Cochet (other topics)
Damon Suede (other topics)
More...
It's always fun reading otherworldly stories that are set in places I've been, because it brings the story to life--and brings the place to new life. When I return to Portland, I'll be thinking about goblins...