Date: June 01, 2007 07:04 pm Title: The Line
I don't know... it seems like he might be doing more running, and not really "facing his life". Hmmm. Well, I'll just follow along wherever you take this.
Date: June 01, 2007 06:57 pm Title: Imploding
I found a whole chapter of Jim beating himself up to be very interesting. Jim's a lot harder on himself than I am on him...
Date: June 01, 2007 06:26 pm Title: The Line
I really like it so far! I'm glad there's a story out there that Jim realizes that he needs to make ammends with Karen...regardless of how much I really dislike her...
10 [Report This]Date: June 01, 2007 02:17 pm Title: The Line
At first I was hesitant to read this, because, well, I love fluff, and I wanted to wallow and bask in the first date fluffiness everyone was pouring out. But I'm so glad I read this. I kinda forgot that Jim's been a douchbag. And more importantly, I didn't even realize how douch-y he's been to Karen. It's easy to get caught up in how Pam feels, and see things from her point of view. But putting yourself in Karen's place, and truly, the poor girl was wronged when all she ever wanted was for him to love her back. I almost want this to be what actually happens on the show (but we know it won't because home base is DM), because, much as I love Jim, I want to see him grow up. Real men don't charm the pants off women and then just dump them at the earliest convenience. He was a complete jerk to Katy and to Karen; even if they were terrible matches, they're still people. I can't wait to see where you go with this.
Author's Response: Thanks a lot. Love your thoughts and your review. The douche-baggery you mention really turned me off after the finale, so I really do hope Jim redeems himself.
Date: June 01, 2007 01:51 pm Title: The Line
Once again, Dog the Bounty Hunter has shown us the way. Showin' the love for Detroit, I see. I drove through there two weeks ago. It's colourful, to say the least...
One of these days I'll write a useful comment.
Date: June 01, 2007 12:07 pm Title: Imploding
Thank you, thank you, thank you for dealing with the fact that Jim has been such a douchebag this season in such a believable, almost (I mean, he's been a big douchebag) sympathetic way. I think you explore his conflicting emotions in a very real way, when it could have easily become melodrama. Good show.
Author's Response: Thanks a lot for the comments. I agree -- he's kind of lost his relatability factor. I hope they show him struggling in the real show.
Date: May 31, 2007 07:11 pm Title: Imploding
This is a hard chapter. Jim is basically a good guy so this would be hard for him. But, please let it end with Jim and Pam together. Please.
10 [Report This]Date: May 31, 2007 03:46 pm Title: Imploding
Keep it coming is all I can say. I get an email when this story gets updated and rush to read it because there's precious little out there now to redeem how sad I am for Karen. And I actually hope you get Pam a bit dirtier too, becuase I used to really like her and I guess I want to again but she reeally ruined herself for me on the last two episodes. I would love it if its Pam on the phone and GuiltyJim wants to argue with her a bit. Thanks so much!
Author's Response:
Thanks again for reviewing this. Wasn't planning on dragging Pam into this too much, but then again I haven't written the next chapter so who knows, maybe you'll get lucky ;) Seriously, though, I'll probably try to keep the narrative in Jim's head for the duration. It's fun writing a guy who'se emotions are degenerating into a total mess. thanks again!
9 [Report This]Date: May 31, 2007 02:55 pm Title: Imploding
While I enjoy Jim beating himself up - I think he's being a little harsh on Pam in his head. Kicking Karen when she was down? I hardly see that. I also don't think her actions were that cruel.
Funny how Jim doesn't seem to think there was anything wrong w/ telling an engaged woman that he was in love with her and then kissing her, but he thinks that Pam is cruel?
However - I am liking this and I am anxious for more!!
Author's Response: Thanks for the feedback. I tried to show him carrying only mild guilt until he sees one aspect of the situation that he wasn't ready for (how the publicness of it all made Karen an office pariah), which triggers his implosion. And Pam is only catching heat because Jim's eating himself up for failing Karen on the beach, now that he's confronted with its effect on her. It's all about Jim being far from perfect. Thanks again for commenting.
Date: May 31, 2007 01:38 pm Title: Imploding
I'm glad that this chapter seems to show Jim looking at his own actions....the first one hinted that his main fault is that he didn't condemn Pam for her Beach Games speech....and I don't think the situation calls for "either Karen or Pam is a villain here!" Jim is the one in the center and needs to own up for fickle or false emotion...either to Pam for breaking up her engagement over an easily forgotten crush, or to Karen for using her as a buffer and letting her think it was more.
Author's Response: Hey Maybe Once, thanks for the comments. I was more trying to make Jim mad at himself for being completely ignorant about Karen's feelings (vs mad at Pam). I guess since I've taken it upon myself to ambush Jim with an unending stream of angst-bombs, ole Pammy may catch a tiny bit of friendly fire along the way, but rest assured it's aimed at Jim.
Date: May 31, 2007 01:01 pm Title: Imploding
Great story so far...it is painful, but it is true that Jim, Pam, and all of us JAMmers have been neglecting Karen and how painful the last 2 episodes must have been for her. This is a great alternative to all the fluffy, post-The Job first date fics...I've read so many of those in the past two weeks, and your story is a welcome wake-up call.
Author's Response:
Thanks a lot. I'm moved by the refreshing and empathetic response from you, and also the Jim/Pam crowd in general. Reminds me we Office fans are really a lot more alike than we are different.
Date: May 30, 2007 05:34 pm Title: A House Divided
I didn't think anybody was going to write this story, but I'm so glad you did. This is an outstanding characterization of Karen, who is so often treated like an obstacle instead of a person, and of Jim, who cannot dump a six-month girlfriend in New York and be a mensch at the same time. Thanks for writing this.
Author's Response: Thanks a lot for the review -- its a good one when I learn a new (and perfectly fitting) word.
10 [Report This]Date: May 30, 2007 03:14 pm Title: A House Divided
Thanks so much for writing this. Keep it up. I am such a Karen fan (she's so much like me, except she's much prettier). It is more than unfair what they did to her and the only way I'll ever be able to really enjoy Jim and Pam is if they actually own up to what they did and show some serious remorse. I get so mad -- Jim and Pam fucked up Karen's job as well as her personal life, and arent even sorry. On the show, they'll probably be too happy enjoying themselves to ever win me back, but this fic is exactly what I hope happens. Jim needs to own up to all the shit he's hurled at my girl.
Also, I love the picture you paint of Karen with all the observations. The thing about body language is so right. You make her strong and vulnerable at the same time, which is great writing. Keep it coming. I love it.
Author's Response: Well I wouldn't be so hard on myself... Karen (and Pam too for that matter) are prettier than most people on this planet, and if you're a lot like her you're probably more than cool. I'm glad you're enjoying this. I'm enjoying writing it. And the body language stuff is my favorite part so I'm glad you noticed it. thanks a lot!
Date: May 30, 2007 11:36 am Title: A House Divided
wow. i really like this. i don't want to. i want to be happy with my fluffy jam. but i have to love it. because you're right. jim's a good guy. he didn't mean to hurt karen, but she OBVIOUSLY has feelings for him and he wouldn't just throw that away... he'd try to fix it. but i really don't think there's any way he can. i'm excited to see where you take this. it's very well written. you did a good job of capturing something we die hard jam-shippers tend to miss: karen's feelings for jim were real. it's hard to be upset at pam for being fancy new beesly and speaking her mind at the beach, but they could all take some lessons in timing. anyway, after a year long review, i'm looking forward to more of this. you're off to a great start.
Author's Response: Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough thoughtful review. Much appreciated. I agree with you -- deep down he's too good a guy to try not to fix things, but there really is no great way out of this. (As a writer, though, I love a big, complicated mess!) Thanks again.
Date: May 30, 2007 08:40 am Title: A House Divided
You know... this is really perfect, actually. I think we all (many of us, okay) want to see/read/know about the happiest of JAM stories, but you are ON to something here, and for the first time, I DO feel really bad for Karen.
Words I NEVER thought I'd write.
Please continue and give us/them a way to fix this so my JAM is good!!
Date: May 29, 2007 08:47 pm Title: A House Divided
Very interesting. As you figure out where it's going, I'll follow. It's certainly different from everything else I've been seeing, and your Chapter End Notes explain why very well.
10 [Report This]Date: May 29, 2007 08:17 pm Title: A House Divided
I have a really absurd level of love for this - it's one of the first real looks we've gotten in fic, not only of Karen's side of things, but that Jim gets her side and cares about her, which feels so real.
Love the way you wrote Karen and Jim, and Jim's slow realization that he has a blind spot when it comes to Pam and her actions.
I'm so intrigued to see where you take it. It's a messy situation, and I'm excited to see a story where things aren't all wrapped up in a pretty little bow.
Author's Response: Thanks very much for the comments. I'll be disappointed if the real show drives the happy bus right over Karen's grave, so I figured I'd try to bring a little balance. (If you're the same yippee as the TWOP poster, then you were already a favorite of mine)
Date: May 29, 2007 08:12 pm Title: A House Divided
Good fic...thanks for sharing.
Just wanted to point out the Katy was a red head...in the above paragraph, you say she's a blond. I hope you don't take that wrong...I'm not trying to be rude...just trying to be helpful! Otherwise, a very good fic! Keep writing!
Author's Response: Thanks for the heads up -- you're right.
8 [Report This]Date: May 29, 2007 07:37 pm Title: A House Divided
This was a powerful look inside Jim's head. But it scares me that some of his thoughts ("He hated that he could see no wrong in Pam as she had publicly trampled all over Karen's fragile little world" and "Whatever it was, he hated himself for finally loving her just as she was.") might lead him back to Karen. I'm anxious to read your next chapter, and hope that you prove me wrong!
10 [Report This]Date: May 29, 2007 06:59 pm Title: A House Divided
So as much as I love the immediate happy ending - I think I like this even more. In real life this would be a messy situation that isn't fixed in one date. I like to see that Jim has SOME feelings about what he did to Karen - unintentional or not. I like where this is going!