Date: August 07, 2009 09:51 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
This was such a fantastic story. I loved the way you kept weaving the art concept in with the plot, and the ending was so simple, so perfect, so THEM. I absolutely loved it, and I think it's the most unique and thoughtful stories I've read in a long time.
10 [Report This]Date: December 24, 2008 08:36 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
HOLY FREAKING CRAP ON A STICK.
That is by far the best fanfic I have ever read. I am sorry, I love all of you out there at mtt reading this review, but this story was... well, amazing would be an understatement. I am completely blown away. Your vivid descriptions are insane and I dabble in art a bit, so I can relate to the jargon.
I'm going to finish this rambling review with wow.
Author's Response: This is very kind of you. I'm glad you enjoyed the story, but I'm sure there are other stories out there that put this one (ahem) in the shade. :) Thanks very much for reviewing!
10 [Report This]Date: March 15, 2008 11:46 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Just popping back in to tell you this is still my all-time favorite. The imagery is just stunning. Brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. And I read it a lot.
I promise I'm not a stalker!
Author's Response: Gee! I am so flattered. Thanks!
Date: January 29, 2008 08:41 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
I don't normally respond to author's responses, but when I said it was my favorite of all time, I meant it. I read nearly every story that comes across this site, and it's still just it for me. I can't explain it, but this one really, really got inside me. (oops...TWSS!)
Author's Response: Well, then, all I can say is thank you VERY much, I am very flattered, and I am glad you enjoyed the story. :)
10 [Report This]Date: January 27, 2008 10:08 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
I can't begin to describe what I felt when reading this. It's paced perfectly, I love the originality of it, and the emotion they were feeling really, truly was translated to the reader. This is my absolute favorite story of all time. Period. The end :)
Author's Response: Thank you! Very high praise, indeed! But I'm sure once you have read some of the other, very fantastic stories on this website, you'll have "new" absolute favorite stories of all time. Thanks so much for reading!
Date: February 26, 2007 11:44 am Title: Chiaroscuro
You know what's a work of art? This story. Amazing.
Author's Response: Oh, thank you! How very flattering. Thanks for reading!
Date: February 21, 2007 04:38 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Beautiful. As an aritist, I'm loving all these new DrawingPam! fics. This was lovely. Especially:
He closes the folio and sits looking down at it in his lap, saying nothing. His shoulders slump under the wet wool. Tired. Defeated.
"I can't..." he says. "Can't fight this. Not if you do this..." He looks up and his eyes are a study in contrast: pain and hope, fear and love, those expressive eyes she cannot capture no matter how hard she tries. "I don't know what this means," he says.
"It means I haven't got it right yet, so I keep trying," she says.
It totally broke my heart, thinking about Jim trying so hard to move on, and how close he is all the time to failing at it. And Pam finally telling him he doesn't have to fight it! And the image of Pam erasing her border is wonderful.
Author's Response: Thanks, Paper Jam! I am glad to get the opinion of an artist, because I'm never sure if I'm using a word or describing a technique wrong. I have to admit that Conflicted!Jim is fun to write this season.
10 [Report This]Date: February 21, 2007 09:38 am Title: Chiaroscuro
"It means I haven't got it right yet, so I keep trying," she says
This is flawless. You capture their cautious dance so delicately. I'm not an artist, but your use of colors and shades within the text works soooo beautifully as a literary device, because it ties your paragraphs together and reflects the content and relates directly to our Pam. Love this. Love.
Author's Response: Thank you so much. I was a little afraid the colors metaphor might get beaten to death in so short a piece. Glad to see it wasn't.
Date: February 21, 2007 05:05 am Title: Chiaroscuro
I love the idea of Pam's art being the catalyst for thier connection. Such a great metaphor - I think in BS, it was so under-developed because that's where she's at in her life...she's never going to really create anything until she has the courage to take a risk and express herself. Anyway, this is touching and evocative and I love how in the end, Jim needs to go resolve things with her first (and when he asks if can come back, I swooned a little.) Sometimes there's as much power in her simply putting her forehead against his chest as an entire love scene - like here. I think from now on we better call you Never Enough Caravaggio!
Author's Response: Caravaggio! Love his work. Thank you! And glad to see the head/chest thing is not yet overworked; I use that too much, I know. Thanks for reviewing; as always, I look forward to your opinion, colette.
Date: February 20, 2007 11:03 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Wow. My love of this began with the first few lines and only increased as I read. Really well done.
Author's Response: Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it.
Date: February 20, 2007 10:07 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Breathtaking. Just breathtaking. Such rich descriptions. Great job!
Author's Response: Wow. I am very flattered. Thank you very much!
10 [Report This]Date: February 20, 2007 08:30 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Really good stuff, here. Rather great, actually. If only.
Author's Response: Ah, yes, if only they'd get together. *sigh* Thanks for reading!
Date: February 20, 2007 06:48 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
that was amazing. Absolutely beautiful. I love this...
Feels the tinge of color coming back into her life, softening the black and white and gray with a wash of pink for love and lavender for regret and green for new beginnings
Love it!
Author's Response: Thanks very much! Wasn't sure how all that heavy metaphor was going to play. I appreciate your feedback!
Date: February 20, 2007 03:50 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
So so beautiful. I love the metaphor. I love how so little is said but so much happens.
Author's Response: Thanks! Sometimes I think all Jim/Pam stories should be dialogue only; other times I think they should have NO dialogue. Hopefully this is a happy medium.
10 [Report This]Date: February 20, 2007 03:37 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Oh, nej, this took my breath away! I'm literally speechless.
But she keeps going, right up against him, and the folio falls and spills him all over the floor.
Pure poetry!
Author's Response: Breathe! You make me feel so guilty. :) Thanks for reviewing, StarShine. I appreciate you taking the time to give comments!
Date: February 20, 2007 03:25 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
okay, it's entirely possible that you just single-handedly made me actually wish to try chiaroscuro again (after I swore off charcoal forever).
I like a lot of the little subtle elements in this story. You are literally giving an image a thousand words, and the effect is just wonderful. For some reason the idea that come into my mind is Jim spilling onto the floor in the form of the sketches. That was beautifully written.
Thank you so much for this.
cheers.
--Lex
Author's Response: Ah, Jim!Spill. So much I can do with that image...:D I'm glad you thought this was subtle. It's hard to pull that off in such a short piece. Thanks for reading!
10 [Report This]Date: February 20, 2007 03:22 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Holy hell, that was good. One of the best I have ever read.
Author's Response: Thanks so much!
10 [Report This]Date: February 20, 2007 02:39 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Beautifully written (as always). If it wasn't Jim and Pam, I'd say the folio of drawings (him) was just a tad stalkerish! Love how you used "him" instead of "drawings"...made it more personal.
I've never been good at getting the subtle meanings of art and litterature, so I'm sure I'm missing something big here, but I found your use of colour very interesting. It's nothing new when it comes to Pam, but your presentation was enchanting.
Author's Response: Thank you, LM! I am glad you enjoyed this piece. I think I can forgive Pam for being stalkerish about a guy who once said he loved her. Thanks for reviewing!
10 [Report This]Date: February 20, 2007 01:38 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Just beautiful, nej - really!!!
Author's Response: Thanks, Moxie! High praise from you!
Date: February 20, 2007 01:29 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
Never Enough Jam, you have forced me to (finally) delurk to review! I really enjoyed this. You really have Pam and Jim down. Keep on writing!
Author's Response: Oh, my! I flushed a lurker out of the bushes! :D Now that you're here, stick around and read some of the other fab writers over here.
Date: February 20, 2007 01:26 pm Title: Chiaroscuro
wow. i love the imagry in this. its just, so... vivid in a way. i love it.
Author's Response: Thanks very much!