I'm glad I made you sympathize wit hher - it's what I was going for! Believe me, I'm one of the biggest Jim/Pam fans ever, but I do feel for her -- been there and hated it. :o)
Thanks so much for reviewing!
Reviews For Unravel
Reviewer: IThinkWeBrokeHisBrain Signed 
8 [Report This]
Date: July 19, 2009 04:16 pm Title: Chapter 3
8 [Report This]Date: July 19, 2009 04:16 pm Title: Chapter 3
I really loved this story. Karen is one of my favorite characters, and I think you really did well getting inside her head here. It seemed very realistic, and the last line is perfect. Nicely done.
Reviewer: nqllisi Signed [Report This]
Date: February 27, 2007 01:10 pm Title: Chapter 3
Date: February 27, 2007 01:10 pm Title: Chapter 3
Well, well. Noble Karen. I like. I doubt she'll actually materialize, but I like her a lot.
This part hit me hard, by the way...made my belly feel just the way it did at the end of Casino Night (for at least the first 15 times I watched it, if not more):
He left because of her; he transferred because she turned him down. She turned him down not because she didn't feel it, but because she was engaged.
And she broke her engagement because she wanted Jim. ...Wants Jim. Still. Worse yet was the realization - the knowledge - that Jim wanted her, too.
Still.
I hope you'll let us see noble, self-sacrificing Karen (but it's self-preservation, too, when you let go of someone who is drowning). Lovely.
Reviewer: mcmuffins Signed [Report This]
Date: February 27, 2007 07:41 am Title: Chapter 3
Date: February 27, 2007 07:41 am Title: Chapter 3
Do it! Do it! I really like your sympathetic portrayal of Karen. I totally see her hearing herself sounding so desperate, but needing to get at what's really true.
Reviewer: Too Late Kev Signed [Report This]
Date: February 27, 2007 07:00 am Title: Chapter 3
Date: February 27, 2007 07:00 am Title: Chapter 3
This was all really good. You've written Karen really well as a woman in a difficult position! And, since we really don't know if Karen yet knows about the engagement, the end really could go this way. (We can only hope.)
I think you've done a great job with the voices. And I loved the lunch scene (Chapter 2, maybe?).
Thanks for this!
Reviewer: lisahoo Signed [Report This]
Date: February 26, 2007 09:17 pm Title: Chapter 3
Date: February 26, 2007 09:17 pm Title: Chapter 3
Never mind the AU, Holy cr*p, this is the best Karen I have ever read. Wow, what an amazing dive into her head and whatever would/could possess a woman with any self-respect to pursue a relationship with a man who is in love with another woman. Just gut-wrenching.
But I still want Karen to go away. I hope it is with even a fraction of the class you have portrayed her here.
Reviewer: Amalia Kensington Signed [Report This]
Date: February 15, 2007 02:07 pm Title: Chapter 2
Date: February 15, 2007 02:07 pm Title: Chapter 2
Hm.
I like that you're having Karen be conflicted about how to react to all of this. It's such a complicated thing, really.
Also, having not been privy to the goodness that was pre-CN Jim/Pam, the parking lot scene does sound really...harsh.
hee!!
I love this.
Thanks so much.
cheers.
--Lex
Reviewer: nqllisi Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: February 14, 2007 12:34 pm Title: Chapter 2
10 [Report This]Date: February 14, 2007 12:34 pm Title: Chapter 2
Oh, wow. Jim is Sisyphous- that's exactly the look he got when he watched Pam over Karen's head, and exactly why he's so angry at her for leaving with Roy. Wonderful, apt comparison. One of my tiny ficlets had him comparing it to running on a treadmill, but this is better- because he actually does get somewhere, but then it all slips away.
And poor, self-deluded Karen, who is so understandably smitten with our boy that she lets herself believe him instead of her own instincts. Wonderful read, as usual- I am very anxious to read Part 3!
Reviewer: Angryhaiku Signed [Report This]
Date: February 14, 2007 09:14 am Title: Chapter 2
Date: February 14, 2007 09:14 am Title: Chapter 2
Awww! This is really well crafted, and it completely crystalizes the difficulty of Karen's position. I can't wait for the next one!
Reviewer: kaystar Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: February 14, 2007 07:26 am Title: Chapter 1
10 [Report This]Date: February 14, 2007 07:26 am Title: Chapter 1
"...And if you still find yourself wondering sometimes what could've been....well, I'll make you forget." What a beautiful line. This chapter is an awesome look into Karen's heart and soul. And these lines gave me cold chills:
"Still she nodded once, swallowing, then: "Okay. So what do you want?"
"You." His answer was immediate, his eyes on hers."
and
"Because his eyes didn't leave hers as he moved inside her; when he came it was with an agonized moan against her clavicle, her name on his lips, his arms tight around her."
Reviewer: HereComesTreble Signed [Report This]
Date: February 14, 2007 05:19 am Title: Chapter 2
Date: February 14, 2007 05:19 am Title: Chapter 2
Wow, you actually made me feel bad for Karen a little. I didn't know I could have sympathy for her. Must be well written, then!
Reviewer: Lyss Signed [Report This]
Date: February 13, 2007 08:22 pm Title: Chapter 2
Date: February 13, 2007 08:22 pm Title: Chapter 2
Oh, Karen. I really can't wait to see what's going to happen when she learns the missing piece to this whole saga, both on the show and in your story. This is very well done. Poor girl has no idea what she's in for, does she?
Reviewer: super_perfect Anonymous [Report This]
Date: February 05, 2007 12:08 am Title: Chapter 1
Date: February 05, 2007 12:08 am Title: Chapter 1
as dwight would say "let the record reflect that Jim Halpert is a liar!" Poor poor karen.
Reviewer: PamPongChamp Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 10:48 pm Title: Chapter 1
Date: February 04, 2007 10:48 pm Title: Chapter 1
Ahh no why!? why are you making me sorry for her!! she is an evil hussy....but I dont want her sad :( thanks a lot...hehe
Reviewer: allibabab Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 08:17 pm Title: Chapter 1
Date: February 04, 2007 08:17 pm Title: Chapter 1
Oh gosh, this is just wonderful. I love how you've really fleshed Karen out -- I don't buy into that whole Krazy!Karen thing either, and you've written this so well and made it into such a perfect explanation for her behavior concerning this whole Jim/Pam situation. I love the way you've written this because it's painful but so, so real. Karen knowing that he's lying to her about wanting to be with her (or, not lying, but it's obvious it's not 100% the best thing ever), but she's given herself to him and she can't take it back when he's not letting go, even though they both know he probably should. Just... fabulous. I'm really, really looking forward to the next installment!
Reviewer: sharky Signed 8 [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 07:51 pm Title: Chapter 1
8 [Report This]Date: February 04, 2007 07:51 pm Title: Chapter 1
Great job! I loved the end when Karen is asking him if he still wants to be in the relationship. It seems to be as much Jim convincing Karen as convincing himself and you pulled off all that stammering really well.
Reviewer: GreenFish Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 07:33 pm Title: Chapter 1
Date: February 04, 2007 07:33 pm Title: Chapter 1
Man, something about Karen/Jim fic -- it hurts -- I really give you credit for doing this, because as I'm reading it, I'm just getting possessive about it all. I don't want Karen to have Jim, I want Pam to have Jim. You definitely told it convincingly, and I think that's why it hurts so much. Can't wait to read more.
Reviewer: Morning Angel Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 07:32 pm Title: Chapter 1
Date: February 04, 2007 07:32 pm Title: Chapter 1
I love this. You made Karen's insecurities and nagging doubts stay with her despite the fact that she is going forward with their relationship. I think that is really true to what we are seeing on the show. I don't buy this idea of Karen being crazy; she is just in love with Jim and want to believe it is mutual. Jim is trying to reassure her that it is because I think he wants it to be, but ultimately, you can't will yourself to be in love. I think you were really spot on with this story.
She wanted to touch his cheek, to tell him that there was just no need for him to look so dejected, because god, she'd do anything to make him happy; he deserved happiness...not this - this purgatory he seemed to be caught in. Beautifully sad.
Reviewer: EverybodyHurts Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 06:38 pm Title: Chapter 1
Author's Response:
Date: February 04, 2007 06:38 pm Title: Chapter 1
So many wonderful lines in this:
"she knew instinctively that he wasn't hers right now; he was clearly drowning in something bigger than he was...something that eclipsed the near embryonic state that they were still in."
and this one:
"When she heard his voice - raspy, so tired, as if he had tried desperately hard to run and just couldn't anymore: "Yes" - the truth in its entirety literally knocked the breath out of her.
He's in love with her; it wasn't just a crush, and it wasn't harmless or easy or anything like he implied in the coffee shop. It was more than that - so much more than that."
As Colette already mentioned, Karen realizes that she is not acting like herself; she is being somewhat self-delusional when it comes to Jim because she loves him and doesn't want to face the prospect of being alone in Scranton without him. We have all known from the beginning that Karen was going to get hurt in this relationship...it just sucks that some fear, unsaid words and bad timing have led to this mess.
Sorry I'm rambling. Looking foward to the next chapter. I'm glad you're delving into the details of the "5 Nights." Mindy must have known that we would be obsessing over the whole "What did Jim tell Karen?" scenario!
Author's Response:
First of all, thanks for such a thoughtful review.
That said...yeah, I think that the behavior we're seeing from Karen isn't really true to who she really is. I mean, who among us hasn't been forced into playing the desperate role? I know I have - didn't do it for very long, but I did suffer through it long enough to realize that I never wanted to go there again.
Oh, and the "5 Nights" conversations will be the second part of this, because yes, I'm so intrigued (and kind of horrified) at the thought of how those went, what was said.
Thanks so much for your awesome review!
Reviewer: Amalia Kensington Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 06:01 pm Title: Chapter 1
Date: February 04, 2007 06:01 pm Title: Chapter 1
Oh, WOW. This was such a good version of Karen!! 100% spot on (I tried and failed here: http://amaliak.livejournal.com/34493.html --I'm too shy to post it here at MTT).
i like that she thinks of Jim as her "good guy", because I think that he is and while I don't agree with the way this whole situation is being played out on the show (poor Karen!) I think that you've presented the scenes of what probably happened is a very realistic way.
In not so many words, I'm trying to tell you that you rock.
Thanks so much for this.
cheers.
--Lex
Author's Response:
Wow - thank you so much! Is that link a link to a fic you wrote? I'll have to check it out. (And BTW: Don't be too shy to post here; this is a really welcoming community, believe me!)
Yeah, how could you not think Jim's the epitome of a "good guy"? And that's the tragedy of it all - he is a good guy, just not for Karen.
Thanks again for the review!
Reviewer: Emma Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 04:27 pm Title: Chapter 1
Date: February 04, 2007 04:27 pm Title: Chapter 1
Wow, this was so devestating. I can't wait to read more!
Author's Response: Thank you so much, Emma!
Reviewer: nqllisi Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 04:21 pm Title: Chapter 1
Author's Response:
10 [Report This]Date: February 04, 2007 04:21 pm Title: Chapter 1
OK, in this piece you do what you always do- make it real, make them whole, breathing people in a world we recognize. You give Karen more depth and width and substance than the show ever has. This is totally how she would feel and what she would think, and I love her just a little here. But it doesn't matter at all because of this: she'd never heard him laugh that way before. It was the strangest sound, actually -- strangled yet so...uninhibited, as if he hadn't let himself laugh that way in a long, long time.
Exactly. Precisely. Gorgeous.
Author's Response:
Your reviews are almost as amazing as your fic - so thoughtful; I'm always happy to see a review from you because I know the feedback will be carefully thought out and specific.
I'm really glad I made her real to you; I was really intimidated in taking her on, because we know so little about her. And I'm as guilty as anyone of being hard on her, but really, what a horrible position she's in - they're all in.
Thanks again for the review - and BTW, your latest is just breathtaking; I hope you keep going with it.
Reviewer: Colette Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 04:07 pm Title: Chapter 1
Author's Response:
Date: February 04, 2007 04:07 pm Title: Chapter 1
This made me feel for Karen in a way I rarely do...thanks for making her AWARE enough to see what's happening; yet, human and vulnerable and invested enough in Jim to desperately want it to work (even as she knows the truth.)
On the show, it's sometimes hard to glean her character, but she's so clear and relatable here. And Jim...oh, man is his pain and desperation palpable. He's so trying to hang on. He's so in love...only with the wrong person. Raw, and sad and aching (all the stuff I live for!) Thanks for this, girl7 - you are the master of emotional nuance.
Author's Response:
Ah, you are such a great, thoughtful reviewer. I'm glad you liked it. You know I'm ready for Karen to get out of the damned way, but I do feel sorry for her -- and I've been where she is (sort of), so I really sympathize.
Five nights of endless talking is just so not a good sign; things aren't going to go well for her, I'm sure. She should totally hook up with Hot!Roy - then we'd all be happy. :o)
Thanks again for the review - you're the best! (Oh, and congrats on the ribbon - totally well deserved, as usual!)
Reviewer: sherlockelly Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 03:57 pm Title: Chapter 1
Author's Response:
10 [Report This]Date: February 04, 2007 03:57 pm Title: Chapter 1
I love you for writing this! The Karen Hatred as of late has done nothing but depress me horribly and I'm not okay with how much it effects me... much like Karen in your story.
Love it!
Author's Response:
Oh, I'm glad I made you feel better! I have to admit that I'm a huge Jim/Pam fan and would like nothing more than for Karen to move on, but I do sympathize with where she is right now.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review!
Reviewer: EmilyHalpert Signed [Report This]
Date: February 04, 2007 03:55 pm Title: Chapter 1
Date: February 04, 2007 03:55 pm Title: Chapter 1
good job. you made me not hate karen for the few minutes while reading this... so its a start. i can at least see from her point of view instead of just being like, "JAM!"
Author's Response: