10 [Report This]Date: September 29, 2011 11:17 pm Title: Troubled the Water
I loved this story so much. I love reading Karen stories when Jim really loves Pam and he eventually even chooses Pam.
I hadn't read a story yet that dealt with the actual NY break-up scene(s). It was great to read, and a nice surprise. I didn't know what the story was really about based on the summary. I only read it because 1) it was written by you and 2) Karen and angst must mean a positive somehow for Pam. I am very glad I took a chance on it.
I am working my way through your Jim/Pam stories, so you'll hear from me again. Thanks for writing!
10 [Report This]Date: April 08, 2008 04:39 pm Title: Troubled the Water
This was really beautifully written and hit some truly honest notes.
Author's Response: oh wow - thank you so much! i really liked writing both sections, to try and see it from karen's POV. i was all about the honesty.
Date: September 11, 2007 08:35 pm Title: Troubled the Water
That was beautiful. Both of them. By far my favorite "Jim breaking up with Karen" speech I've read, maybe because it was a little bit more sensitive and less "I have to write this scene to get the the first date chapter" and I have a soft spot for Karen fics despite my dislike for her initially.
Author's Response: thank you! i like karen a lot too (although do i like her more, now that she's kind of out of the picture).
Date: September 11, 2007 05:29 pm Title: This Regret I Got Accustomed To
Also, I love the Charlie Brown analogy at the end of this chapter. Such an excellent simile! or metaphor... can't remember which is which.
which is awesome, considering i teach college english.
Author's Response: i'm glad it worked! it's a little silly, but i think karen's mood at the end of that piece is similar to feeling like a "blockhead."
Date: September 11, 2007 05:28 pm Title: This Regret I Got Accustomed To
Wow. I really enjoyed this. I liked hearing things from Karen's perspective, and what her life was like away from Jim, with her friends. Did she notice when Jim called her Pam, though? Ah! Also, I love when her friend says something about Karen pulling a "Felicity in Scranton." That was original and cute. And the "I'm close..." I thought I was a giant pervert; then I read Karen's thought. I like this Karen a whole lot. Someone needs to write her post-getting-dumped by Jim roadtrip fic. ALSO: I thought it was SO realistic, Karen's friends referring to Pam as the "crazy ex." Girls get catty and are so quick to label "crazy" sometimes, especially when they're territorial. And we KNOW Karen is.
lastly, my friend erica, who likes to force me to go out to overpriced trendy restaurants in nyc, brought me to kittichai this spring. the chocolate-covered spareribs are really delicious. and it is quite trendy, so, good researching with that!
Author's Response: first of all, i really appreciate you writing so much! how lovely to have so much feedback. it was really valuable for me to have a karen POV piece; i have not ready many, if any at all. although i am clearly a jam addict, i thought the least karen deserved was her side of the story.rnyes - karen noticed when jim called her pam. that might be a bit over the top, but when you have someone on the brain, it's hard to shake them; i can see it happening.rnoh, the felicity in scranton - i'm glad you liked it.rnkaren is definitely a pervert... what i really wanted to do was create a climate that was funny and tragic, and I think the "I'm close" moment (hopefully) hits both those categories.rnhmm... karen roadtrip fic? with janis joplin on repeat? maybe. i love the idea - you should write it!rnpam as "crazy ex." i don't really know how else karen's friend would know her. karen likes pam (or, she did), but not enough to talk about her to close friends. i can imagine her relating: jim had a crush on this girl. jim still has feelings for her. this girl bared her soul and went over the boundaries of appropriate. karen's friends would only gleam from the situation that pam is crazy and should be avoided at all costs.rnoh poor pam! i've been abusing her quite a bit lately...rni'm glad kittichai was a good pick! it was at least a 30 min search when i was at work to find something that would fit...rnthanks so much for your comments.
Date: September 11, 2007 02:06 pm Title: Troubled the Water
ACK! I forgot there was an alternate version -- kind of like a DVD! I think I like your first version better, but the crying Karen next to the dry fountain is a pretty haunting image, too.
Formatting looks good, BTW.
Author's Response: this IS like a dvd. and if my commentary wouldn't be so boring, i'd do that as well. rnrnyeah - my first version was definitely my vision. but i like the "prompt" that NBC gave me :)
Date: September 11, 2007 12:05 pm Title: This Regret I Got Accustomed To
Loved this line: It’s amazing, when someone tells you something for the first time, but once you’ve heard it, it’s information you feel you’ve known all of your life. So true.
The bold text is a bit tough on the eyes, BTW.
Author's Response: thank you! i like that line as well.rnrnre: text, i could not get it to function properly... am going to tinker with it now...
10 [Report This]Date: September 11, 2007 07:32 am Title: Troubled the Water
Really great. I could evision it happening.
Author's Response: thank you!
Date: September 11, 2007 07:11 am Title: Troubled the Water
I must admit I was confused at first at the two similar stories. I assumed that the second chapter was a continuation of the first. I liked both - but the first take was my favorite. I loved all the little analogies, especially "Felicity goes to Scranton." I think that your first version fits more into Karen's character, but since the writers of the show evidently decided that Karen is the type to cry in front of a fountain, what do I know? Anyways, these were both interesting reads!
Author's Response: oh i'm glad you liked it! i know it was a bit confusing, but i had hoped that the story notes would help - i'll try to change the language to be clear. "felicity in scranton" was a last minute addition, but i fell in love with it. rni agree with you - i don't think crying by a fountain is karen's style, but i did what i could. thanks for your feedback.
10 [Report This]Date: September 11, 2007 06:35 am Title: Troubled the Water
poor karen. i still love it. it is such a good story!
Author's Response: i was kind of nervous for you to read it! glad you liked... and i agree, poor karen.
Date: September 11, 2007 06:23 am Title: This Regret I Got Accustomed To
Ugh, this felt so real and painful - I could totally envision both versions.
Author's Response: sorry it's painful, but, good! thanks for your feedback.
Date: September 11, 2007 05:56 am Title: This Regret I Got Accustomed To
I can imagine that happening.
Author's Response: what a nice compliment; thank you.
8 [Report This]Date: September 10, 2007 11:05 pm Title: Troubled the Water
This makes my post-Office-commercial fic sound like such crap. :)
Brava. Very well done and very poignant. I loved it. (Both of "it"s.)
Author's Response: ohhh don't say that! but uh i guess... thanks?rnrni'm pleased to get a brava :)
Date: September 10, 2007 10:28 pm Title: Troubled the Water
OMG, you totally made me mad at Jim for choosing Pam! You made me feel sorry for Karen--to a degree I've never experienced before. Dang. I mean, just...dang.
Author's Response: yes! mission accomplished :)rnrnthank you - i'm glad you enjoyed both versions.
Date: September 10, 2007 10:25 pm Title: This Regret I Got Accustomed To
Something about this line really got me: “I wanted to love you." I think it sums up the Jim/Karen relationship so beautifully, and you did a wonderful job rounding out her character. Good work! -CH
Author's Response: oh, thank you! in all honesty, i felt like i had to write something on karen's behalf; she was getting torn up! i'm sure she was mad and i'm sure it was ugly, but, for me, she deserved a little bit of grace.
9 [Report This]Date: September 10, 2007 10:23 pm Title: This Regret I Got Accustomed To
Wow. Nice. I mean, really good and raw and real. This was especially great:
Jim crushed her into a hug, her arms pinned to her sides. “You’re wonderful,” he whispered into her ear. She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut.
I don't know why for sure, but that hit me hard. I never wanted Jim and Karen to get together--like, it physically hurt me to watch it--but I love that you made him acknowledge her, and in that one movement and that one sentence, admit that they never would have worked and it had nothing to do with her merit as a girlfriend.
Excellent job.
Author's Response: i love your reading of this scene! i do want to say, though, that a part of this scene (and really throughout the story) is that i wanted to play up that clueless, romantic side of jim. karen wants it to be over, done, because talking on a street corner in nyc is not helping anyone. when he says, you're wonderful, she is sad and angry and all of that - but she's also pissed and maybe internally rolling her eyes.rnthanks for your feedback!
Date: September 10, 2007 10:16 pm Title: This Regret I Got Accustomed To
That was really painful in a good way. I totally believed it. Great job!
Author's Response: i was going for painful - so i'm glad i succeeded. thanks!