Karen’s Comments (group member since Mar 03, 2012)

Karen’s comments from the Q&A with Josh Lanyon group.

Antonella wrote: "Rolling Stone’s list of the 20 Best Queer Romances of All Time:
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/...

Seen thanks to [author:..."

Interesting list. It also made me consider what constitutes a romance novel. I've come to expect an HEA or HFN ending, even when it takes a series of books to get there. That seems intrinsic to the genre... but maybe I'm just differentiating between genre romance novels and romantic novels (novels focusing on a romance, without those happy endings). RS's list seems to include a lot of the later.

And where is The Charioteer? :)

Ginn Hake's new serial/series Price of a Thousand Blessings Volume 1 & Price of a Thousand Blessings Volume 2



Hard to wait for Volume 3... especially as I can't find a publication date. :)

Antonella wrote: "((Uhm... I meant to post this at the end of April...))

I just arrived home after 10 days in Italy.

As usual I went to Milano for the celebrations for Liberation Day on the 25th April: the nation..."

Thank you for sharing, Antonella. It is always a treat to have a peak at your travels.

Melissa wrote: "I enjoyed The Lemon Drop Kid. I noted in my review "It's amazing how many times I am surprised by the uniqueness of JLs writings." Still so true!

I read JL's note at the end about what inspired th..."

This is a wonderful synopsis of many of the challenges in this story. I'll post again after I finish re-listening.

(I had to divert to listening to a book for our local independent bookstore's sci-fi/fantasy book club. It's a long story and we meet in a week...)

Melissa wrote: "Karen wrote: "We've been watching Grace, a homicide detective series set in Brighton. I find myself on the edge of my seat and at times it's a bit hardcore for my usual taste, but overall very well..."

My husband worked in our local art film theaters way back when (in the 70s & 80s). We're very used to watching non-U.S. English films with sub-titles. I know a bit of French and get a glimpse of what I'm missing in translation. We even watch the Brit films with sub-titles. Otherwise I lose track of the visuals while trying to hear what's being said. :) I agree with you about dubbing.

We've been watching Grace, a homicide detective series set in Brighton. I find myself on the edge of my seat and at times it's a bit hardcore for my usual taste, but overall very well done despite Grace's (rather obligatory) ongoing issues with his superior officer(s). :)

The personal backstory is that Grace's wife disappeared some years back, and that plot arch appears to be going in a direction I find less interesting, but this is overall an engaging series.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_(...

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Karen wrote: "Love codas! I just finished Josh's A Winter Romance: Holiday Codas 3."

I haven't finished it yet, because for at least half of the stories, once I've read the coda, I need to go back..."

I know, insidious, right? ;) I need to re-read The Parting Glass duology: In a Dark Wood and The Parting Glass...

Melissa wrote: "...I'm reading/listening to several good things right now..."

Zero sounds like something I would enjoy (as a retired Montessori math teacher). :)

I've read and love the SOS Hotel books. I'm just starting to collect the audiobooks. Michael Lesley really is amazing!

Melissa wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Just finished my fourth read of Fadeout last night so that my library book group could discuss it tonight! SUCH a great read once again and SUCH a great book discussion..."

I've collected the audiobooks and very much enjoy them. The narrator voices characters fitting to the time. However, if you haven't read the series you might consider reading the first book in order to imagine your own voicing, then check out the audio. Or sample the audio to see what you think. It's one of my favorite series.

Melissa wrote: "I should know this, but, how can I be notified of the next group read? I am positive it's just an oversight on my part. Thanks!"

I usually post it here and on Chat + there should be a banner near the top of the Q&A with Josh Lanyon homepage. I'm going to extend discussion/comments through 3/31, since I meant to re-listen to the audiobook and comment, but got caught up in other things. I'm just getting back to it this week. Would love to hear your thoughts on this book.

Melissa wrote: "Karen wrote: "I just added The Lemon Drop Kid to a new Book of the Month discussion. It could also be in Josh's standalones, but it could possibly (?) evolve into a series. :)

...I enjoyed it! I don’t know if it could ever be a series, but I could definitely see Josh writing some codas. 😊

Love codas! I just finished Josh's A Winter Romance: Holiday Codas 3. I love revisiting all of these guys.

The audiobook is now available at Audible & Apple...
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Lemon-...

Great narration by Andrew Gibson.

I just added The Lemon Drop Kid to a new Book of the Month discussion. It could also be in Josh's standalones, but it could possibly (?) evolve into a series. :)

This will be a "Christmas in February" read, but December was especially busy this past year (lots of family visits), and January was... ugh. So here's a tale of betrayal, forgiveness, and the power of love for our February reading pleasure.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Past time for a group discussion of this lovely book. Meant to offer it in December, but December gets so busy. Enjoy — and remember, there be (dragons) spoilers here...

Loretta wrote: "For those in the United States, I hope you enjoyed a good Thanksgiving surrounded by family and lots of hugs. Well, I hope everyone was surround by family and lost of hugs :)"

We traditionally make a ~7 hours drive to Tucson where my brother-in-law hosts. Family & friends — a group of 18 adults + our grandkids (1 teen, 1 kindergartener, & 2 toddlers) gathered on Thursday. Our older daughter & family came in from Washington State and our younger daughter & family (who live next door to us) drove in from New Mexico. Thanksgiving is done with everyone pitching in their favorite dishes. And all of us are on the same page politically (the littles haven't voiced their opinions yet).

We drove three cars there from NM so everyone could get around town. On Sunday my husband & I drove our separate cars ~7 hours home. I listened to Walter Mosley's Farewell, Amethystine — Easy Rawlins #16 while driving.

Melissa wrote: "Karen wrote: "Speaking of audiobooks, I recently listened to Ben Aaronovitch's The Masquerades of Spring: Rivers of London (numbered Book 4, but I'm not sure how that was calculate..."

I love the narrator of this series. The books are urban fantasy/alt. reality (magic exists) mainly set in London, with gods and monsters (not m/m). I feel that series gets progressively better. There's an overall story arc, but some plot resolution with each book. There are also a number of codas/shorts... and it looks like I haven't read Book 9. Oops.

Speaking of audiobooks, I recently listened to Ben Aaronovitch's The Masquerades of Spring: Rivers of London (numbered Book 4, but I'm not sure how that was calculated) narrated by the amazing Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. If you've read/listened to any of the Rivers of London series, this is a treat. And even if you haven't, you probably can follow as it's a prequel of sorts to the rest of the series. Thomas Nightingale arrives in NYC in the early 1930s on a mission that involves "Gussy"/Augustus, a Brit expatriate and one-time/sometime member of The Folly (paranormal detectives). Gussy is gay and this story aptly describes issues of race and sexuality at that time.

Loretta wrote: "I have been listening to Gregory Ashe's The Last Picks series. I am loving the narrator, Andrew Gibson. Josh just announced he will be narrating the The Lemon Drop Kid, so I am sup..."

I've been reading the ebooks and enjoying them. Guess I better check out the audiobooks. :)

Antonella wrote: "Me three 😊.

In my case fantasy: I finally read Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #1) and I quite liked it, maybe 4 stars.

Now I've started ..."

Same with me re the first book and the second. I began listening to Harrow the Ninth and finally gave up... this was a ways back when it first came out. I thought I might go back to it sometime, but there've been too many more inviting books to read.

So very very sad. Hugs to friends here and around the world.