Date: May 16, 2007 05:05 am Title: Chapter 4: I can't remember how this got started, but I can tell you exactly how it will end
I like how you have Michael telling her about Jim going after the job...he's always been a sort of catalyst in their relationship, so that's very apt.
Hmm. I kind of think Jim, with Karen's urging, called Wallace; that it was symbolic of his scraping bottom - finally becoming exactly the guy he never wanted to be (Say what you will about Michael Scott...). His realization of that - selling his soul and breaking solidarity with Michael - ALONG with realizing Pam is still the 'one', no matter how hard he's tried to move on - is what's going to snap him back and make him return to his authentic self. Pam found herself following CN; Jim lost himself. IMO, making that call will turn out to be a pivotal moment in his coming to terms with who/what he's become. Pam's speech will be the trigger (wake up call) that sets the wheels in his head in motion....maybe he needed to hit bottom before he could bounce back and redeem himself. But that's just my read on it...and this is your - very well conceived and written - story!
I like that you have Jim conflicted...feeling shame instead of pride when Wallace compliments him; feeling 'sorry' for what he's doing; his ambivalence. You definitely get across that he's not comfortable with himself - which is KEY. He's not the guy Karen wants him to be. He's just Jim, after all. And that's good enough for Pam ;-)
Okay, sorry for rambling. Looking forward to seeing how you (and the show!) resolve this mess they've created. Very engaging, as always, girl7!
Author's Response:
As usual, I completely agree with your logic on that one (and a damned insightful explication that was, BTW). I still haven't decided whether or not I can (or rather, am willing to - ha) believe that Jim would deliberately attempt to subvert Michael's authority that way. I don't think it'd be problematic for him to apply for the job (in terms of it being a slight against Michael in some way - problematic as hell for Jim Halpert, though, who would not want a corporate job). But I do think it'd be entirely out of character for him not to give Michael an earlier heads up that he, too, was going for it.
I don't know...it's hard to figure out, really. That's just one of the many, many things I hope they clarify tomorrow night.
Never apologize for rambling - always love reading your thoughts! Thanks again!
10 [Report This]Date: May 16, 2007 04:57 am Title: Chapter 4: I can't remember how this got started, but I can tell you exactly how it will end
And really, what was there keeping him in Scranton? The ever-growing chasm between him and Pam that somehow never really lost its sting?
Oh, Jim. He's so lost. He just can't accept that he's as much a part of DM-Scranton as Michael or Dwight. If he and Pam were to leave, he'd always miss it. If he leaves with Karen? It'll kill his soul. This is a lovely, understated piece (and I love that choice of word to describe Michael- he does go to that place sometimes, and there's no better way to phrase it!).
Author's Response: He is lost, isn't he? I'm really glad (and so flattered) that you're enjoying this! Thanks for the review!
Date: May 16, 2007 12:07 am Title: Chapter 4: I can't remember how this got started, but I can tell you exactly how it will end
Oh! I can really see all this happening! Bravo!
Author's Response:
Gah - if only; if only....
Thanks for reviewing!
Date: May 15, 2007 11:49 pm Title: Chapter 1: I believe I can see the future....
Yes, this makes my stomach hurt just as much as watching the show, so how's that for a recommendation? :-) Seriously though, this reads so true to the show and that is scary and makes me kinda sad, but in a good way, if that makes any sense. It's late (early?) so I might not be making sense. Bottom line: I agree with Jen74. I really like Karen, but please make her go away. (I said please...) That goes for you too, Greg Daniels. :-P
Author's Response:
I'm really glad it's true to the show; that's exactly what I was going for. Obviously, I don't think we'll be privy to as much stuff there as here, but I think I could buy it if it went this way. Fingers crossed. :o)
And your wish will soon be granted, BTW - at least, I'll do my part. I don't know what the hell GD will do, but it had better be good! :o)
Thanks for reviewing!
Date: May 15, 2007 08:36 pm Title: Chapter 4: I can't remember how this got started, but I can tell you exactly how it will end
Ooh, once again that last line comes in with a twist!
I like your take on how the corporate interviews happened.
Author's Response:
I'm really hoping that's how they went down - but I'm hoping even more that we'll at least find out how they went down.
Thanks for reviewing!
Date: May 15, 2007 08:32 pm Title: Chapter 3: Sometimes I think I'm happy here, yet I still pretend
Jim's POV is so interesting here. The last sentence sort of comes through and tries to sweep away the prior two paragraphs, but will it succeed?
Author's Response: Well I wrote the thing, so I know the answer to that - and I'm hoping Greg Daniels' answer will be the same as mine! :o) Thanks for reviewing!
Date: May 15, 2007 08:27 pm Title: Chapter 2: I can feel their eyes are watching in case I lose myself again
Wow. The paragraph about Jim's expression is just perfect, and I'm curious to see what happens...
Author's Response:
Thank lisahoo for the high def screencap, because I stared at that thing for a long time before writing that description. (Okay, and maybe I stared at it just because JK is, you know, yummy and all. hee.)
Thanks for reviewing!
Date: May 15, 2007 07:11 pm Title: Chapter 4: I can't remember how this got started, but I can tell you exactly how it will end
Thank you for writing that David Wallace had called Jim earlier in the week. It hurts my heart to think that Jim may have called him after hearing that Michael was interviewing (which I really don't think he did, but who knows) I like your world much better. Do they have cookies here?
Seriously, I love how you write Michael. Just putting that "yesshhh" in there makes me giggle.
Now make Karen go away.
Author's Response:
Honestly, I believe that's the way it went down; I really don't see Jim a) actively pursuing that job or b) attempting to undermine Michael in any way. Aside from that, I think the basketball game in Cocktails was for a reason - to establish a rapport between Jim and David. So I could really see him approaching Jim about the job and not vice versa.
My husband and I have been laughing about "Yessshhh" (and answering all questions in the affirmative that way) ever since "Traveling Salesmen." So to see that they've really incorporated that into Michael's lexicon thrills us both to death.
And yes, we do have cookies here - along with vodka soaked muffins. (Isn't that what they used to say they were handing out on the spoiler threads at TWoP?)
Thanks, as always, for the review! (And uh, yeah, working on getting Karen out of the way. It's just that the damned glue they use to stick her to Jim's desk is particularly binding. ...Was that mean? [/Pam])
Date: May 15, 2007 07:01 pm Title: Chapter 4: I can't remember how this got started, but I can tell you exactly how it will end
Please tell me you added in bits, because suddenly I'm feeling like the worst reader ever if i missed them the first time round...!!! LOL
Still laughing at the Deal/No Deal bit. I really am a loser.
I just love the Jim/Karen dynamic you've established in this story, its so realistic and plausible based on what (little) we've seen. I swear I think you might have an insider job with the Office where you know what's going to happen, this seems too realistic to me ;-)
Author's Response:
You mean you actually missed some things? What the hell were you doing all night? Sitting around emailing, I bet. ;oD (Yes, I did add in a few bits here and there.)
And good god, if I had an insider job with the show, I'd have given the people what they wanted way back in Gay Witch Hunt! (Why did that sentence sound just wrong?)
Thanks again for the joke - and for betaing. And emailing. And also think it's funny when James Gunn refers to various objects (both animate and inanimate) as fuckers. (KILLS me.)
10 [Report This]Date: May 15, 2007 07:00 pm Title: Chapter 4: I can't remember how this got started, but I can tell you exactly how it will end
Well, more of the same from you...the same flawless writing that crackles with intensity, the same deep insight into the characters and their motivations. You write an especially great Jim...you write him as an actual man rather than an idealized projection. Same old same old, I'll be hungrily waiting for updates.
Author's Response:
Okay, so coming from a guy, it's really flattering to hear that I write a realistic Jim. (It's very odd, because I find him easier in a lot of ways to write than Pam, which confounds me given the gender difference.) Thanks for yet another thoughtful review - and thanks even more for the gem that is your Newlywed Game fic. I read it today (and reviewed), and while we're all fond of saying we laughed out loud, I literally did; I even clapped at one point (I believe it was Daryl's "Way to go, Mike!"). Just terrific stuff. My husband doesn't read fanfic and hasn't read any Office fanfic at all, but I found myself thinking I have GOT to show him your story.
Thanks again!
Date: May 15, 2007 06:47 pm Title: Chapter 4: I can't remember how this got started, but I can tell you exactly how it will end
Ow. I like your vision of how all 3 of them end up interviewing in NY. Plausible, Jim's not too much of an ass, but definitely drifting along as Fancy New Halpert.
Thanks so much for the quick updates -- so awesome to have girl7 fic to distract me while waiting for the finale.
Author's Response:
Thank you - that's exactly what I was going for. Why I feel it's my mission in life to defend Jim Halpert, I have no idea... :o)
Glad to be of help in distracting you from waiting for the finale -- writing is exactly how I'm distracting myself. :o)
Thanks for the review!
10 [Report This]Date: May 15, 2007 06:15 pm Title: Chapter 3: Sometimes I think I'm happy here, yet I still pretend
Ack! Stop convincing yourself, Jim! That gets you nowhere fast, and I know that for a fact! -grumbles in frustration-
Author's Response:
Hee - I know it well, too! He's got to see the light eventually, I'm thinking. I mean...come on, how long can he possibly keep running?
(My eyes keep flicking to the gorgeous screenshot banner at the top of the MTT page of he and Pam kissing on CN. Oh for the days....)
Thanks for reviewing!
Date: May 15, 2007 05:19 pm Title: Chapter 3: Sometimes I think I'm happy here, yet I still pretend
Wow. I just love this. I know that he has to be terrified to let go of Karen. For Jim, that's his security. He has feelings for her, and she openly has feelings for him. I know just how he feels. But he needs to take this chance. And I need to remind myself that they DON'T EXSIST!! Because the way you write, they do.
Author's Response:
I totally agree with you that she's his security - not to discount his feelings for her or vice versa. But yeah, it's definitely not even close to what he feels for Pam.
And what's that you say about them not really existing? Pshaw!
Thanks for being such an awesome supporter/reviewer!
10 [Report This]Date: May 15, 2007 03:37 pm Title: Chapter 3: Sometimes I think I'm happy here, yet I still pretend
See, now, this is why I love your writing. Jim wants to go with Pam but he goes with Karen, but his heart and mind are still on Pam. That's the show, that's the character, and that's what you capture here. Always, over and over, you just take the truth of the characters and stick to it while fleshing it out.
"Truly right"- that's what they are for each other.
Author's Response:
It means a lot that you say that, because I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to convey what I intended to here - that he's in love with Pam still, yes, but that he's also caught very much off guard by the fact that he really does care about Karen. I didn't want it to be a simple, "What? Pam wants me? See ya, Karen!" kind of thing.
Thank you again for another lovely review (and for some incredible stories - I read some of your latest earlier today and left reviews!)
Date: May 15, 2007 03:33 pm Title: Chapter 2: I can feel their eyes are watching in case I lose myself again
Yes, I am an idiot.
Read chapter 3 before chapter 2. Forgive my non-sensical rant for a review in chapter 3. That being said- you freaking nailed Jim (had to stop myself from writing John! LMAO!) And the Dwight line- soooo Dwight. Had me laughing out loud (not just LOL'ing ;-)
Author's Response:
If you had written that I freaking nailed John, I probably would've paused, thought about it, swooned a little, then burst out with a healthy TWSS! Glad you liked Dwight - when I'm in the middle of a serious Jim/Pam fic, I have the damnedest time writing lines for other characters.
Thanks for reviewing and pimping and keeping me totally entertained!
Date: May 15, 2007 03:29 pm Title: Chapter 3: Sometimes I think I'm happy here, yet I still pretend
OMG- YOU ARE SO NOT LEAVING ME WITH THIS! Dude, UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!!! I feel like I'm on the edge of my seat, biting my nails. If I have little stubs for fingers because of you... why I oughta... ;-)
Freakin beautifully written chapter. Ugh! So jealous of you and the magic you just create. Its like fairy dust (did I just go all Dwight on your fic?)
Author's Response: DUDE - check your email!!!!!! Oh, and yeah - all fairy dust. Got it on sale at K-Mart this afternoon. Now the only trick is to figure out how the hell to get it up Greg Daniels' nose....
Date: May 15, 2007 01:44 pm Title: Chapter 3: Sometimes I think I'm happy here, yet I still pretend
I am enjoying this story so much. I am sorry I haven't had a chance to leave you a review before. I think you took a very balanced approach to it all. Everyone is tortured, no one knows what to do, and no choice is obvious. It's great. I can't wait to read more!
Author's Response:
Oh, thank you so much - and it's really flattering to hear you say that I'm taking a balanced approach, because that's exactly what I set out to do here. I was really surprised by the number of people (on the TWoP boards) who either perceived Pam as being selfish and wildly inappropriate or who viewed Jim as a cold-hearted ass -- because I just don't think I could lay blame on any of them: Pam, Jim, or Karen. I think they've all got their flaws, and god knows they've all made mistakes, but I just don't see any clear cut view of right and wrong in this whole scenario - which is what makes it believable to me as a viewer.
Thanks, as always, for the review!
Date: May 15, 2007 10:11 am Title: Chapter 2: I can feel their eyes are watching in case I lose myself again
Just a quickie, because I'm kind of running around here...but I really like the way you describe Jim's expression as he listened to her speech - it so subtly registered such a huge gamut of emotions (have read some comments saying his expression was blank, which mystifies me...) I think his reaction was understated - internalized, not for the cameras - and all the more powerful for it. And that sense comes across here.
This line is so true, but made me sad: ...it had been so long since she'd really known him.
And I love that pregnant pause at the very end, when he wants to say more, but doesn't quite know what/how. Sometimes Jim saying 'okay' (or 'yes') has huge resonance...like here.
Author's Response:
I hear you, sister; I've been a little baffled by some of the comments regarding Jim's indifference. Even when I watched the show the first time, it struck me that he looked like he was about to cry, but then when lisahoo posted the high def screencap, you could actually see the tear hovering in his eye (oh, that boy). So yeah, I really wanted to convey that here. And I also think this is my own little personal Jim Halpert redemption project. He hasn't fallen from grace in my eyes, but since so many people have perceived him as an ass this season, I just feel oddly compelled to try to get in his head, make sense of it all.
As usual, your review left me going, wow.... So thank you!
(BTW: "Map of the World" is on my list of things to read as soon as I get this thing finished and off my plate -- am really looking forward to it!)
9 [Report This]Date: May 15, 2007 10:04 am Title: Chapter 2: I can feel their eyes are watching in case I lose myself again
Oh my gosh! That was heartbreakingly good. I loved Jim at the end--so true to character. Well done! :)
Author's Response:
You are so amazingly supportive - honestly. I really appreciate all your feedback and praise; it just thrills me to death. :o)
Glad you found it true to Jim's character. Lately he's taken a bit of a beating on the boards (and there are some valid points there, I think), but I really think he hasn't changed that much from last season; he's just really wary right now. I have full faith that we'll see the old familiar Jim very soon (and hopefully all next season!).
Thanks for reviewing!
Date: May 15, 2007 09:51 am Title: Chapter 2: I can feel their eyes are watching in case I lose myself again
I love this story!!! "But I can. I did. I will." I love it! Please update soon.
Author's Response:
So glad you like it - and I'll be updating soon, I promise. Very [/Jim] soon, in fact.
Thanks for reviewing!
10 [Report This]Date: May 15, 2007 07:14 am Title: Chapter 2: I can feel their eyes are watching in case I lose myself again
How lovely. Of course everything will still be awkward and tense and weird- but he's Jim and he loves Pam (even if he can't admit it). You manage to convey the tension while maintaining the hopefulness. Love, love, love.
And really, that was all she could ask for - that he really look at her for the first time in a year; that he finally acknowledge all the misunderstandings and heartbreak and history and emotion between them instead of dismissing it all.
You do know how to write a killer sentence, my friend. Gorgeous.
Author's Response:
"You do know how to write a killer sentence, my friend. Gorgeous." ....As do you, you know. :o) Thanks so much for reviewing so fast - I put that up expecting to get the sound of crickets, heh.
I'm dying for the finale - and the hopefulness here comes from my conviction that they'll do right by us in the finale; surely they will....
Thanks, as always, for the review!
Date: May 13, 2007 04:47 pm Title: Chapter 1: I believe I can see the future....
Wonderful. I love his pride in Pam.
This is a great line "Hell, they'd even talked about it - the fact that he'd been sort of in a weird state when he met her, more or less, so he hadn't really been in a place of opening up, of falling." It's actually sort of nice to think that maybe they had talked about it...
Glad to hear updates could be frequent!
Author's Response:
I can only imagine that they'd have to have talked about it at some point. ...Because I cannot allow myself to even consider the possibility of Jim Halpert saying I love you if he didn't mean it. And yes, I'm aware that I am sad and pathetic. :o)
Thanks for reviewing (as I snicker like a 10-year old at your name).
10 [Report This]Date: May 13, 2007 12:46 pm Title: Chapter 1: I believe I can see the future....
please hurry and write more! i'm loving it!
Author's Response:
Okay, well I took longer than I thought to update, but I've got several chapters in the bag (just need to edit them). So I'll be updating quickly from here on out.
Thanks for reviewing!
8 [Report This]Date: May 12, 2007 08:34 pm Title: Chapter 1: I believe I can see the future....
Wow, great story. (Slight nitpick - in the 4th sentence from the end I think you meant to say "gauging" not "gaging" because when I first read it, I thought it said gagging which also seemed appropriate.) I love that you picked up on the Jim and Karen sweetness in the episode as it seemed to me that they were truly happy together. Can't wait for the next chapter....
Author's Response:
Ha -you're totally right. I use word pad because I have plain old word on my new laptop, and wordpad doesn't have spell check, grrrr! Anyway, I'll go in there and correct that; thanks so much for pointing it out.
I really was struck, actually, by the sweet dynamic between Karen and Jim in this episode; I'm just a little disappointed that we didn't see it sooner. We've seen glimpses of it, I think (grenade tossing, anyone?), but not enough to make it believable that Jim would stay with her (or at least, IMHO).
Thanks, as always, for reviewing; you're like the Queen of Reviews, I tell you!
Date: May 12, 2007 08:51 am Title: Chapter 1: I believe I can see the future....
Bra-freaking-vo. Please update this very soon. Like, two minutes ago. Seriously, I have to go to a softball game, then get my children ready for a wedding, then a reception, and when I get back, it better be up, missy ;)
Author's Response:
You are so great and supportive of my stuff (and you always pimp me, which I so appreciate. And that did not sound right at all.) that I feel guilty for not updating this sooner! But I can tell you that I've been writing all day and have several chapters done, so there'll be more updates later this afternoon and into tonight. And I will finish this thing tomorrow - have to get it posted before the finale airs, you know.
Thanks for everything!