Date: December 27, 2007 02:54 pm Title: May to October
P.S. I knew I would love this for two reasons: (a) I generally love your work; and, (b) the title brings to mind Counting Crows' August and Everything After, one of my favorite albums : )
Author's Response: Thanks so much for the kind words. I've always liked that title of that album, and did base the title of this on that.
Date: December 27, 2007 02:53 pm Title: May to October
This was perfect. It was the right mix of angst, love and uncertainty.
I've always wondered what Pam's motivation was behind not calling Jim. This made total sense to me:
“I wanted to call you but it felt so weird, like it would be like I’m done with him, I’m ready for you now. And like I just left him to be with you. And I didn’t want it to be like that. I didn’t want to feel like I was unfaithful; I wanted to feel like…I don’t know. And I guess maybe I was a little mad that you just left, and I was afraid I’d call and it just wouldn’t matter.”
Do we get to find out about the next six months?
Author's Response: Thanks, beeswax. I've pondered Pam's not calling Jim a lot, and that was the best I came up with. The next six months will be up eventually.
Date: December 27, 2007 02:51 pm Title: May to October
You know how I feel about this ...it's wonderful. I adore the I love you part. It was very honest and real. As you know I laughed happily with the Baby part - I mean really how do we come up with the sweet little nicknames? It's always weird. Personally I still feel weird about baby.
The last part is really heartwarming. You shouldn't have mixed feelings about this, it is really truly terrific.
Author's Response: Thanks uncgirl. It's definitely better because of your efforts. Surely Jim and Pam would have some sort of pet names, but it is a little hard to imagine. Not many people can really pull off "baby."
9 [Report This]Date: December 27, 2007 02:28 pm Title: May to October
I really enjoyed all of it. You did such a good job. It made their relationship seem so real--warts and all, but you could feel the love. Looking forward to more.
Author's Response: Thanks so much, glad you liked it. There will be more, I'm just not sure how soon.
Date: December 27, 2007 10:52 am Title: May to October
Love this. Wonderful wonderful job, of course you already know that I think that! ;-) I think July is my favorite...I'm such a girl. Glad you posted and glad this got a very deserved ribbon.
Author's Response: Thanks sg! I was glad to have your vote of confidence.
Date: December 27, 2007 09:42 am Title: May to October
I really liked how you handled them talking out how it was for each of them S3. I think that cleared the way for an honest, mature relationship.
And I love that Pam hates being called 'baby'. I always cringed when Roy called her 'babe', so I cannot tolerate when Jim calls her that in fic. Nicely done.
Author's Response: Thanks, hoo. I agree, they need to make peace with the past at some point or it will just sort of be lurking. And it's hard to imagine those two using pet names with a straight face. Good luck in the Gator Bowl, by the way.
10 [Report This]Date: December 27, 2007 08:26 am Title: May to October
This was incredible. It fits perfectly with them- the slow moving from akwardness and anxiousness, to something more. I loved it! It feels like Jim really would have been closed off at first, as he had been for so long, and I loved that you incorporated that into their relationship. As much as I like total fluff and the idea that everything was perfect from that first night, this story is now down as one of my favourite first date/days/summer lol fill in fic. Oh, Pam's everything is going to be ok attitude was perfect!
Author's Response: Thanks so much. I do think that Jim really would have been a bit of a mess at first, while FNB would have been the calm, steady one. She spent her tough year really growing, while Jim spent his behind a wall. Thanks for the review!
Date: December 27, 2007 07:58 am Title: May to October
This is absolutely beautiful. Especially seeing Pam having to get use to someone not taking advantage of her. This is eloquently written. Such a perfect normal relationship. God I miss that.
Author's Response: Thanks so much, Alie. I imagine after ten years of Roy, Pam must be in for some adjustments, most of them happy ones. Good luck on finding a "perfect normal relationship," by the way.
Date: December 27, 2007 07:39 am Title: May to October
This was thoughtfully written and I can't begin to tell you how badly I needed to hear (read?) their "September Talk". All those things needed to come out. Thank you.
Author's Response: Thanks, Abigail. I enjoyed the idea of them finally being safe enough to talk about that stuff and make their peace with it, and tried to imagine what they might actually say.
9 [Report This]Date: December 27, 2007 07:22 am Title: May to October
First of all, let me just say what a treat it is to see you writing again, brokenloon! Really, you've been away far too long for my taste. Let's not make this practice of extended absences a habit, shall we? Good.
Now then. I love how utterly real this story feels. I know we all have it in our minds that every single moment of Jim and Pam's lives together is going to be nothing but skittles and bunny rabbits and rainbow-vomiting unicorns. But the truth is that nobody has lives like that. Every couple experiences some sort of miscommunication now and then; some sort of "please, I love you but shut up" moment; some type of "why didn't you tell me this sooner?" moments. And I'm so glad you included some of those here.
I especially liked the way you handled "the talk." We've seen that explored many, many times, but somehow it seemed fresh and original here. I think it was how you alternated back and forth between them, using only their words. That was a good choice, because we, the readers, can imagine the rest. That's always the best writing, in my opinion. Show me, don't tell me, and don't show me too much. Don't spoon feed me. And I like that you never spoon feed your readers. Well done.
Once again, glad to see you're back. And I look forward to more!
Author's Response:
Well, Mose, we can't all be as prolific as you, sir. I do have some stuff in my head, though, so I may not be too scarce. Thanks so much for this kind, thoughtful review. I'm gratified that you found this real and particularly gratified that "the talk" worked for you. It's funny, when I beta I often caution authors to avoid including too much of their own interpretation and analysis within their own story. I'm relieved that perhaps I'm heeding my own advice. Thanks again.
10 [Report This]Date: December 27, 2007 05:53 am Title: May to October
Well I (being awesome) liked all of it. But I told you that already. :) A thousand thank yous to you for writing it for me. The way Pam paints in October is the way I hope I can eventually write again - just put words on paper and simply be content with what I see there. Here's hoping. And though I go to a place in my head where they are just instantly blissfully happy I know it wouldn't be like that in actuality. You did a wonderful job portraying that - so yay you.
PS - If you auction off Jim I'd better be the winning bid. ;)
Author's Response: Well, I imagine that will be a pretty competitive auction, and I would be set for life afterwards. A thousand your welcomes and I hope and trust that you will find your writing groove again soon. Thanks for the review, and for everything else.
Date: December 27, 2007 01:59 am Title: May to October
Well I for one am loving it. My favorite thing was the whole "baby" part...I just can not see Jim calling anyone "baby" and whenever I read it in fics I get an awful feeling in my tummy because it's just so wrong!!
...i'm so glad you agree
Author's Response: Yeah, it's really hard to hear Jim saying it. Even "sweetheart" doesn't sound like Jim. But maybe it works in just the right context. Thanks for the review.
10 [Report This]Date: December 26, 2007 10:59 pm Title: May to October
I think you are too hard on yourself. I think the whole thing was really, really lovely - which is saying a lot given that I always kinda believed they said I love yous sooner than you suggest they did. But you made it completely believable, and I think you captured what initial awkwardness between them might have been like. Good job. I'd love to see the next six months, since TPTB seem fit to deny us....
Author's Response: Thanks, moxie! Who knows, maybe the I love yous came on the first date? It's hard to say with these two crazy kids. I'm not going on strike anytime soon, so this wil get updated eventually.
Date: December 26, 2007 10:01 pm Title: May to October
You had me at "baby" and for all the reasons you higlighted SO wonderfully! There is something so amazingly Jim and Pam about being wierded out by terms of endearment -- I think you having him call her Beesly immediately after the discussion was perfect. I have two VERY favorite parts...1) that code for a bad day is needing to see a really bad movie and THAT'S when he can call her baby, 2) The long talk about the past. The timing of that conversation was just perfect. I've always been of the thinking, that "the discussion" probably happened later rather than sooner. Brokenloon it's SO nice to see you writing again! I can't wait for the next installment.
Author's Response: Hey there Lovefool. Thanks so much. I totally agree, they wouldn't have the discussion until they had really built a foundation with each other, they just wouldn't feel safe enough. It's hard to imagine Jim Halpert saying "baby," but maybe Pam would put up with it if the context was just right. That part was fun to write.
Date: December 26, 2007 09:52 pm Title: May to October
i like that you didn't portray their relationship as this perfect fairytale story and that their first time wasn't earth-shattering either! Please update soon!
Author's Response: Thanks, elly. I tried to make it fairly realistic, and the not so perfect first time was part of that.
10 [Report This]Date: December 26, 2007 09:27 pm Title: May to October
To be honest, there wasn't anything that I didn't like about this story. It was very refreshing that they didn't just go out for dinner that first night and lived happily every after (although I like stories that go that way too). This was just very realistic and I like that it took some time for Jim to "come back." The whole "baby" thing cracked me up. Just very enjoyable, anxious for more!
Author's Response: Thanks so much. I think Jim had sort of shut himself down for a year just to get by, and I do think he would sort of be all over the place when he first opened back up. I like to think they will live about as happily ever after as anyone does, but surely it won't be easy. Thanks again.
Date: December 26, 2007 09:12 pm Title: May to October
I loved this. Really wonderfully written, just the way I imagined them being behind the scenes and all :) Keep going, you're doing a great job. You captured each of their voices perfectly-- I especially loved the whole bad day one.
ahhh i loved it :D
Author's Response: Thanks so much. I liked the bad day one too, and always good to hear that their voices ring true.