Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
Book of the Month Club
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Candidates for Next Month's Read
Putting my hand in the air for SKHE. I've only read it once so a re-read will be nice. Two or three chapters a day and then a 
Mod
Not sure I would be up for a chapter by chapter, since I'm also trying to do a bunch of other chapter by chapter stuff with novels this month. But if you were to wrap up the chapter by chapter with an over all discussion at the end, I'd definitely go in for that!
Jordan wrote: "I'm all for Somebody Killed His Editor too. Have it in print but still haven't read it yet, so that sounds perfect. Not sure I would be up for a chapter by chapter, since I'm also trying to do a ..."
I've got to agree with Jordan - if I have to read at a certain pace I'm probably going to end up finding it a chore and a pressure rather than fun, but I'll happily join in at the end :)
I think I've only read that one once so re-reading it seems like a plan :)Not sure I'd manage chapter by chapter though - so I'd probably just join in at the end.
How about we start reading (for those who want to go chapter by chapter) this Satturday (07/14) two chapters a day and wrap it up with a discussion of the whole book the last weekend of July (28th & 29th)?And maybe we can convince Fearless Leader (love the title, Reggie ^^) to provide us with a couple of questions to keep in mind while reading and use to guide the discussion...
I'm excited to read SKHE!!!~! Why doesn't some organized person come up with a schedule and post it with the BOM thread. Then we can have Options! =D
Those that want to read together can coordinate, and those who want to be involved in the debrief at the end know when to show up. :D
Reggie wrote: "I'm excited to read SKHE!!!~! Why doesn't some organized person come up with a schedule and post it with the BOM thread. Then we can have Options! =D
Those that want to read together can coor..."
That's actually what I intended to do with the post above yours... ;-)
Let's wait what the others say regarding to timetable etc.
Calathea wrote: "How about we start reading (for those who want to go chapter by chapter) this Satturday (07/14) two chapters a day and wrap it up with a discussion of the whole book the last weekend of July (28th ..."LOL!!! Too little coffee, too little sleep! =D
You Go Calathea!
Reggie wrote: "LOL!!! Too little coffee, too little sleep! =D"
Calathea wrote: "How about we start reading (for those who want to go chapter by chapter) this Satturday (07/14) two chapters a day and wrap it up with a discussion of the whole book the last weekend of July (28th ..."Perfect! Count me in.
I don't know that I'll be able to participate all the time but I've never done a chapter by chapter discussion so I'll at least try to stop by to see what is being said!
Sounds good to me. I'm entertaining some Aussies this weekend but I'll catch up.
Mod
I realize that I may have to join in in the middle of the read or closer to the end...assume that's ok? (Just found out yesterday that I need to do a LOAD of preparatory reading for a course.
Of course, anytime. The more the merrier ;-)
I've got a modest proposal ;-). Karen suggested something similar for next month. I mean it for the next future.Considering that
- everybody seemed enjoy the reading we did for SKHE
- if we do this every month it will take some years to finish all books by Josh
- variety is the spice of life
I propose that we alternate one book by Josh and one book by someone else.
I don't mind the way we read someone's else books, but for the books by Josh I'd like to do it the same way we did it for SKHE.
Did anyone read Somebody Killed His Editor for this month's BOM and wants to come over to the July topic to discuss the beauty of it? :-)
Mod
I'd like to second this. My original suggestion was that we read All She Wrote next, or alternate with a non-Josh book so that he is able to join us if so inclined.
I'd very much like to read ASW in the same way we read SKHE (discussing two chapters or so at a time) and soonish, kind of the way my daughters and their friends would re-read all of the Harry Potter books before the next book or movie came out. ;-)
But as Calathea noted we seem to have lost participants in the SKHE discussion. I loved reading this way, sharing insights, discussing author and character choices, but obviously it's not everyone's cup of tea, and likely too time consuming for some. Comments and thoughts for August?
Karen wrote: "I loved reading this way, sharing insights, discussing author and character choices, but obviously it's not everyone's cup of tea, and likely too time consuming for some. Comments and thoughts for August?"If this is really a problem we could do the time consuming reading only for Josh ;-). And anyway the amount of time one invests depends from oneself. On some days I had time and I did extensive researches, on other days I just waited for the helpful contributions of the others.
As I said in the other topic, for me this kind of discussion it was actually easier to follow: to read a couple of chapters per day is always possible, even if I'm working a lot, or reading something else.
Till now I often missed the book of the month discussion because the end of the month came and I hadn't even started the book!
Mod
Yes, I think we're all on the same page (smile) in this regard. Although I personally wouldn't mind the same approach with other books, I'm guessing this would work best for others. I think we could make it even more "user friendly" by regularly posting invitations to jump in at any time (as some of you did for SKHE).
Mod
Anyway, I think that this particular way to discuss a book bit by bit works the best with a book that one is not reading for the first time. I've only done this twice (first with TGWYS) and both times I was re-reading the book. Because of this I would suggest that we'd continue discussing the future Book of the Month books (from other authors) like we have done before, having the discussion in the end of the month, but that we could at least discuss ASW in the near future like we did with SKHE. (And now I'm glancing my bambi eyes Josh's way...)
ETA: But it would be fun to have more people and more opinions (OMG. Please don't strangle me, o Fearless Leader...) in the discussion. Not that there was anything wrong with the excellent company, but the more the merrier, you know... :) Anyone interested? And seriously, how do you feel about this, Josh?
Johanna wrote: "t would be fun to have more people and more opinions (OMG. Please don't strangle me, o Fearless Leader...) in the discussion. Not that there were anything wrong with the excellent company, but the more the merrier, you know... :) Anyone interested?"I posted a comment in the General News with link to this discussion, because it's not the first time that I notice that people don't look at all topics here in the thread.
I do, now I even give a cursory look to the ''Writing Weekend Challenges''.
We did get a lot of hits on the BOM thread so it seems like people were interested. We could do the chapter by chapter dissertation under the book thread and leave the BOM thread strictly for the book summary. It could also be, with all the emotions around book discussions, that people are just avoiding potential conflict right now. {shrug}I would be interested in reading ASW with you all before Book III comes out!! *pastel SKWEEE*
Johanna wrote: "I too enjoyed hugely discussing SKHE the way we did it. Just like Karen said it can be time consuming, but obviously a lot of fun, too. And like Antonella pointed out one doesn't have to take part ..."I wasn't able to join the discussion this time because in my job June, July and August are the worst months. I'll read through the thread when I'm a bit more relaxed, even if I know everything will be already said, lol
I've been reading SKHE along with you all, even though I haven't joined in the discussion much. But then, that's me in RL too... hovering on the outskirts of a discussion, listening and agreeing/disagreeing with things, but letting others do the talking ;-pI thoroughly enjoyed reading the BOM this way and would love to do it again with ASW, whether it's next month or the month after. I'll make more of an effort to join in this time :D
Hambel wrote: "I've been reading SKHE along with you all, even though I haven't joined in the discussion much. But then, that's me in RL too... hovering on the outskirts of a discussion, listening and agreeing/di..."I loved the discussions on SKHE, and learned a lot of new stuff through all the references and discussions. And I would love to read ASW that way as well. But I also like the "standard" BOM discussions so any way is good for me.
I also believe this chapter by chapter reading works best for re-reading, at least for me, because with a new book I won't have the patience to pace myself to a couple of chapters a day :)
Whatever is decided, I will be happy because any way I will learn about new things and read interesting books I might not have found by myself. A win win scenario :)(Which is a phrase I hate btw, it's too much used in my work environment)
Mod
I second this.
Reggie wrote: "It could also be, with all the emotions around book discussions, that people are just avoiding potential conflict right now."
I see what you mean. And I hope that anyone (and especially Josh) doesn't see our SKHE discussion as a review, because that isn't what it's all about. At least that's the way I see it. I see it as an opportunity to exchange thoughts about a book we've all enjoyed. To make new discoveries, to learn new things. To share the joy of reading Josh Lanyon book. ETA: Just like we do under the Story Discussions on this site.
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I'm happy to do the discussions anyway you want.
I do think it would be better to wait a month before tackling ASW -- even I can see that all me all the time is going to get boring fast!
In fact, I'm kind of exploring steampunk right now so maaaaaybe there might be some interest in doing a steampunk book in the near future?
As for the mechanics of it, I really enjoyed the in-depth discussion of SKHE though I agree it probably works best on a reread rather than the first time through.
Mod
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Well, I guess the potential exists that someone who hates the book will jump in on the thread, but then again it's not really that kind of thread. For one thing it's taking place in my own forum and the discussions have so far been more or less "appreciations" of the work. Not that there can't be dissenting opinions, but they're usually tempered by the fact the participating members wouldn't be part of the group if they didn't generally like my work.
So it's kind of a different vibe -- same as when I was invited to be the author guest in JR Ward's forum. There was plenty of discussion and not every reader loved everything JR did in every single book, but I think everyone remains aware that they are in JR's backyard, so to speak. :-D
And there's plenty of room on Goodreads outside of an author's own forum for making one's displeasure in a book known.
Which is the long way of saying the obvious: I enjoy readers who enjoy my work! It was entertaining popping in and out of the discussion -- and it's been so long since I wrote the book that there were all kinds of things even I had forgotten!
Josh wrote: "In fact, I'm kind of exploring steampunk right now so maaaaaybe there might be some interest in doing a steampunk book in the near future?"Mongrel, oh Fanule!
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Mongrel, oh Fanule!"Only if we share Fanule! I want it in written ;-)
Antonella wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Mongrel, oh Fanule!"Only if we share Fanule! I want it in written ;-)"
We can share my car, my house and if I had someone, even that someone, but Fanule, NEVER! ROFL
LOL! But we have to find a compromise if we want to read the book!Anyway, I would be very much in favor. And it shouldn't stir any trouble because so many of us just love the book.
I can't be reasonable where Fan is concerned :)Ok, only for as long as it takes to discuss the book, if it's chosen.
Mod
I doubt that we'll get easily bored with your books, but steampunk sounds good for August's Book of the Month read. :) I haven't read much of it, but I've been meaning to read Mongrel (which Manu suggested). Is Ginn Hale's Wicked Gentlemen a steampunk novel? How about Dire Straits by Megan Derr?
Johanna wrote: "Thank you for your posts, Josh!I doubt that we'll get easily bored with your books, but steampunk sounds good for August's Book of the Month read. :) I haven't read much of it, but I've been mean..."
Steampunk would be fun!
Johanna wrote: "Thank you for your posts, Josh!I doubt that we'll get easily bored with your books, but steampunk sounds good for August's Book of the Month read. :) I haven't read much of it, but I've been mean..."
We already did Wicked Gentlemen a little while ago. I'd gladly re-read it and re-comment it for the n-th time :)
Megan Derr I like very much, but I haven't read Dire Straits yet. Listened to them a lot though, haaa haaa haaaa ahem...
Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Megan Derr I like very much, but I haven't read Dire Straits yet."Ditto.
There is also: Wings of Equity by Sean Kennedy.
Antonella wrote: "Emanuela ~plastic duck~ wrote: "Megan Derr I like very much, but I haven't read Dire Straits yet."Ditto.
There is also: Wings of Equity by Sean Kennedy."
I haven't read it, but I own it, sounds good.
Mod
Megan Derr I like very much, but I haven't read Dire Straits yet. Listened to them a lot though, haaa haaa haaaa ahem..."
I was afraid that that was the case with Wicked Gentlemen, but I wasn't sure if I remembered correctly. And actually Dire Straits won't do, because it's only 32 pages long (didn't realize that when I talked about it). ETA: I'm only assuming that we want to read something longer... but the more I think about it, the more I actually like the idea of reading a couple of short stories instead of a novel for the Book of the Month. I don't mean right now, but maybe sometimes in the future. :)
And anyways, after every post from you and Antonella I become more and more interested about this Fanule guy... ;)
I hope K.Z. will forgive me for quoting this:He was a freak of nature and a force of nature. Perfidor, the Dog King. The epithet and the image it conjured made him laugh aloud.
Mod
In regards to Wicked Gentlemen, is there a list somewhere of books that have already been read as Books of the Month? It's easy to track the discussions of Josh's work, but since the BOM files are listed by month rather than title, it takes a bit of scrolling to discover which book was finally selected for each month.
I don't know much about Steampunk beyond Orwell and Verne. So I looked up Steampunk on Listopia. Most of the books were 300-900pgs long and about girls! Oh,my. Then I look under groups and found a GR steampunk group. They are small and not much help. The ratings on the books vary wildly, even fans are divided in what they want in a book. I did find something amusing.
"Steampunk Tales: The "Penny Dreadful" for your iphone"
http://steampulppublishing.com/index....
Karen wrote: "In regards to Wicked Gentlemen, is there a list somewhere of books that have already been read as Books of the Month? It's easy to track the discussions of Josh's work, but since the BOM files are listed by month rather than title, it takes a bit of scrolling to discover which book was finally selected for each month. "We could make a bookshelf in this group and add the BOM books as we're reading them. So it would be easier to look up what we've already read. :)
Johanna wrote: "Reggie wrote: "We could do the chapter by chapter dissertation under the book thread ---"I second this.
Reggie wrote: "It could also be, with all the emotions around book discussions, that peopl..."
In case you didn't notice: I looooved the chapter-by-chapter discussion of SKHE! :)) So, I'm all for reading ASW in the not too far future. But for reasons some of you already mentioned I'd rather keep these chaper-by-chapter reads as a special event for once in a while and continue the BOM reads like before. I think most of us won't have a problem to read several books a month ;-) or otherwise could decide wether to take part in the BOM or the JLB-re-read. I'd agree to schedule the reading of ASW loosely for end of Semptember/October.
And for the August BOM: Steampunk sounds very good, although we read
Wicked Gentlemen October last year.
Here's a listopia list with m/m steampunk titles as inspiration for other books in this genre. ;)
Mod
btw, I think a bookshelf with out BOM titles here sounds good! All the books I read for BOM here go on a special shelf for myself so I know which ones I read for this group. It's nice to see and helpful at the same time.
Mod
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That is a great idea.
Mod
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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Somebody Killed His Editor has 29 chapters. If we read a couple of chapters a day it'll take about two weeks. Or do you want to read three chapters per day? That's not a lot either.
Soooooo.... When do we beging? ;)