Date: July 14, 2008 10:03 am Title: I lick my wounds but I can't ever see them getting better
Great Job with this story! I'm really enjoying it. Please continue and updtae soon!
Thanks,
B
Author's Response: Thanks batman29 :) I'm glad you're liking it - the updates will be coming soon so stay sharp!
8 [Report This]Date: July 14, 2008 09:12 am Title: I lick my wounds but I can't ever see them getting better
Please update soon! This story is breaking my heart!! It's very good though! Hope we see some JAM interaction soon!
Author's Response: Hi Jinxcoke! It's nice to hear from you. Don't you worry - the JAM interaction starts soon enough, and tensions will start to build a bit. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
9 [Report This]Date: July 14, 2008 05:12 am Title: I lick my wounds but I can't ever see them getting better
I'm really glad you picked this up again! I am enjoying this story. I like the yearning that you have built into their interchanges. Very nice.
Author's Response: Thanks for the kind words, Vampiric Blood. I'm glad you're enjoying this, and I promise not to go so long between updates again.
7 [Report This]Date: July 13, 2008 11:56 pm Title: I lick my wounds but I can't ever see them getting better
Well, I love this. (I had a similar idea about Jim taking this sort of job, but that's taking forever for me to put together.) Anywho, I especially loved the line in this chapter about tsunamis and how they happen and Pam might be starting her own tsunami-like life change.
And it would be realistic that Pam could register for classes in one week, depending on the school. She would probably be taking them at Luzerne County CC though, since they offer more than Lackawanna - and Luzerne's registration process is quick like a bunny. But this is all probably too much reality for one review, haha. At any rate, super job - I love it. :)
Author's Response: Hey carbondalien! See, I should have consulted you before posting this chapter - it's all in the details, after all ;) Thanks for the kind review!
Date: July 01, 2008 10:49 am Title: you left me hanging from a thread we once swung from together
Good lord, woman, you're taxing my breathing here! I held my breath when she read his card (well done, very Jim-esque), then again when he called her at the end. Also, this line: "It was like even though their friendship had been contained to the work environment, missing him had seeped into every corner and crevice of her life." It's an example of what you do so well; you have a real knack for really articulating the subtleties / straightforward truths but using really lovely prose. (I hope that made at least a little sense -- sorry for the hideously awkward sentence.)
And you are evil like a hobbit for that cliffhanger! Looking forward to an update!
Author's Response: I'm glad you liked the card. It's been done so many times, I know, and it's hard to think of something fresh and original, so I decided simple was best. Your review makes perfect sense, and I thank you for the kind words! Always good to hear from you, girl7.
Date: July 01, 2008 10:42 am Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
I forgot to mention this in my previous review, but I love the job you've got Jim moving toward! (And I also snorted at his prank on Dwight at the beginning of this chapter.)
And oh my god at this: "Dwight in his volunteer deputy uniform, holding a beet, with a caption underneath that says, ‘working the beet’" Bwah! That's just brilliant!
Whoosh. I held my breath for that final heartbreaking scene with them in the parking lot -- so well done. I also love the way you re-worked a bit of dialogue from CN and BG; the bits you chose work really well here. (The beautiful way you've written their goodbye makes me wish -- yet again -- that the writers had let us see their goodbye before he left for Stamford -- if, in fact, they even had one.)
Gah, I'm totally sucked into this -- can't wait to see where you take it now that it's going into AU territory!
Author's Response: Thanks girl7. I wanted to give Jim a job that was realistic - something he'd be good at and probably enjoy, but nothing too glamorous either. Also, I'm glad you liked the Dwight/working the beet joke. It took me a while to come up with something witty for that - glad it paid off :)
Date: July 01, 2008 10:34 am Title: the distance between us makes it hard to stay
I have to say, the beginning of this chapter was really fun to read, because Pam's excitement is palpable (in spite of her best efforts at talking herself out of it).
I thought this line was really fantastic: "If she is quiet enough she swears she can feel her world shift a little."
And oh wow, that final exchange between them in his room...really emotes that tension & sadness that marked so much of season2; it has echoes of those moments when there would be that spark of recognition between them, but them Pam would scramble back behind her walls, leaving Jim standing there looking shattered. Sigh.
This is fantastic! Next chapter....
Author's Response: Oh how frustrating was Pam? I mean really. It was so typical, but yet sort of understanding - when she reacted the way she did so many times. So glad we can put THAT behind us now, lol.
Date: July 01, 2008 10:26 am Title: it's so easy to see dysfunction between you and me
This: "For the first time in Jim Halpert’s life it kills him to have to wait for it to happen. For the first time in his life he feels like he doesn’t want to be stagnant anymore."
IMO really articulates the essence of Jim's angst/anxiety in season 2. It's like you can sense this slow-building tension in him with each episode; in some ways, CN shouldn't have been as stunning as it was, given the signs that Jim was losing control (or rather, losing his ability to take his usual passive approach with Pam). I think you're doing a really great job of illustrating that here.
"She would mention Roy, or she would push back at him a little and it was like she was drawing another line in the sand. Another line to remind him what side he belonged on. It wasn’t the side he wanted to be on."
Guh. Beautifully put and so heartbreaking.
Author's Response: Hi girl7! You know, one of the things I loved about S2 was the way they steadily built the tension between Jim and Pam. It was like they bumped it up a notch with each episode, and it was brilliantly done, IMO. I'm so glad you feel I've captured that here, because it truly was what I was shooting for. Thanks so much for reviewing!
Date: July 01, 2008 10:20 am Title: why do you do this to me?
Oh wow, kells; this totally took me back to that episode. You really capture the nuances & the subtext of that entire exchange (and its repercussions). I think your interpretation/version of both their points of view that night is spot-on, too.
Really intriguing start -- off to the next chapter!
Author's Response: Yay! It's always so awesome to get a review from you, girl7! Thank you.
9 [Report This]Date: June 26, 2008 03:10 pm Title: you left me hanging from a thread we once swung from together
This is a very nice story!
Author's Response: Thanks for the kind words, Crystalized. I'm glad you like it.
Date: June 26, 2008 06:03 am Title: you left me hanging from a thread we once swung from together
Aw, he wrote directions on the back of his card. And they ate alone in his car. Sigh. And he called her right back and said the proverbial 'hey' - love that she feels like her missing piece is found just hearing his voice. Okay, I'm ready for her to take that chance ;-) (Btw, I just drove through the Delaware Water Gap like two days ago - small world.)
Author's Response:
Isn't the water gap so pretty, Colette? Oh and yeah - I'm ready for Pam to take that chance too.
Thanks for your reviews. :)
9 [Report This]Date: June 25, 2008 08:58 pm Title: you left me hanging from a thread we once swung from together
Things are looking up! This is so nicely written. I really like the gentle way you are presenting their relationship. I liked Jim's note to Pam ... will we get to see Pam's note to Jim? Or whatever it was that he was supposed to look at later? (From the last chapter.)
Looking forward to more!
Author's Response: Hi Vampiric Blood! yes..in fact I posted chapter 6 tonight and (spoiler alert!) Pam's note is in there. Boy I hope the hype isn't better than the actual note ;). Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Date: June 25, 2008 08:35 pm Title: you left me hanging from a thread we once swung from together
That's just a mean place to end a chapter.
Author's Response: lol! Well, I've updated now, so I hope you'll forgive me. But come on - we all secretly love the cliffhanger ending..right? ;) Thanks for reading and reviewing, ISayOye.
Date: June 25, 2008 07:37 pm Title: you left me hanging from a thread we once swung from together
This chapter made me smiiilleeee.
:D
Author's Response: thank you, Brosandi! I aim to please :)
10 [Report This]Date: June 25, 2008 07:01 pm Title: you left me hanging from a thread we once swung from together
Oh, how I love this fic. Realistic and perfectly paced and just really great storytelling. Especially loved the new twist on the Christmas card in this chapter. I get really excited whenever I see this is updated.
Author's Response: Hi brokenloon! It's good to hear from you, my friend. I've been mostly MIA lately, and I can't believe I'm just now getting to your review. Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you're enjoying this.
9 [Report This]Date: June 25, 2008 06:19 pm Title: why do you do this to me?
This is so sweet and hopeful. I don't always like the way AU's pull in real dialogue from the show and make it a different situation, but this was done so so well. The partial Casino Night conversation was just excellent and fit perfectly.
I'm looking foward to Pam taking a chance. :-)
Author's Response: Thank you so much. I was worried about using the dialogue from the show, and I hoped I didn't overdo it. I'm so glad you feel it fit. Thanks for reading and reviewing, WeBrokeHisBrain. I hope you like where it goes!
7 [Report This]Date: June 23, 2008 05:26 pm Title: why do you do this to me?
Great job capturing Jim's emotions and thoughts during season 2. The amount of detail you put into this fic makes it seem very realistic and true to character. It still makes me sad to think about what he went through during that time. Cant wait for more!
Author's Response: Thanks so much, second drink. It is heartbreaking to look back at Jim during S2 and think about how much pain he was in, especially in light of the things he said to Dwight in Money. I'll admit I was worried about writing this at first because my story 'happens' before Pam and Roy get "re-engaged" in booze cruise. I had a hard time coming up with a legitimate scenario in which Jim would have left before then, because I didn't think the reality of it all (her being engaged) hit him until that episode. However I'm glad you feel it's coming across as realistic because that was my biggest hurdle. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing - more is coming soon, I promise.
Date: June 23, 2008 02:42 pm Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
Very nice story. This chapter has just the right amount of sadness and hope. I like how even though Jim is leaving, his goodbye w/ Pam is filled w/ such love between them.
Author's Response: Alamos thank you so much! I'm glad the goodbye scene worked for you. I struggled with it because I didn't want it to be too heavy, but I knew that any goodbye between them would be at least a little emotional and tense so I was trying to find the right balance. I'm glad that you saw the hope shining through too...never, ever, ever. give up ;)
Date: June 23, 2008 01:02 pm Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
Awww kells. You found a way to make S2...S2...even with this little detour. I'm glad you wrote this. After my trip to Baltimore I was knocking this idea around myself. I can't wait to read what's next.
Author's Response:
Hi xoxoxo! Oh I'm glad that you are enjoying this. I've actually been meaning to post on the forum or PM you regarding the discussion in the fanfic threads because I totally know how you're feeling. It's hard to come up with new ideas and situations, while staying true to the characters that we know and love. That's why I had a hard time getting started with this one, but when you had posted about it in the obsession thread one day it got my brain jogging again.
Anyway, I'm rambling, but my point was simply that I know how you are feeling, and I've been there too. I appreciate you reading and reviewing - more to come soon :)
Date: June 22, 2008 08:07 pm Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
I am really enjoying this. You will let us know what's in Pam's note, right??
Author's Response: lol. Hello Vampiric Blood. Yes, I promise that you will learn what Pam wrote, but not right away. You will, however, find out what else Jim gave to Pam in the next chapter, so hopefully that will hold you over a bit. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
10 [Report This]Date: June 22, 2008 01:27 pm Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
I love this story! It feels really real. I like how you've woven aspects of the actual episodes (the teapot, the casino night parking lot conversation) into your AU world. I can hardly wait for the rest of it!
Author's Response: Thanks grapejelly! I'm glad you like it so far - more is coming soon :)
Date: June 22, 2008 10:39 am Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
well written, very vert emotional
Author's Response: Thanks for the kind review sofaraway! I'm glad you like it.
Date: June 22, 2008 08:09 am Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
Gosh it got dusty in here all the sudden. Very nice.
Author's Response: Okay I'll admit that I don't get the dusty reference, lol. That's okay though because I appreciate you taking the time to read and review, Feedingmyaddiction.
Date: June 22, 2008 07:53 am Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
This is fantastic, kells. I don't know what you were worrying about! I totally buy that this is how it would happen if it happened like this on the show. I can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve, but I hope it's lots of phone calls and letters and emails and then they realize they can't live without each other. Great work!
Author's Response:
Hmmm....Sudz, have you been snooping on my computer? ;)
Seriously though you always leave me such nice reviews and I can't tell you how much I really appreciate that. I'm glad that you feel it's working for you so far. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Date: June 22, 2008 05:39 am Title: it hurts but it may be the only way
This is so sad, and real, and heartbreaking. I do like how you incorporate some of the lines of later eps into this scene. And "procrastination is the devil's tool" -- great. Way to sucker us in with the unopened envelope, too. Good job so far...I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out. :)
Author's Response: Callisto I'm glad you are okay with me using dialog from the episodes. I worried that maybe it came across as lazy. My reasoning for using it is a little corny. I just figure that, even in an alternate universe, there are certain moments and phrases that pass between these two that always should be a part of their history - no matter how it's told, for some reason. Does that make sense? Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying it and I really appreciate the kind review. More to come soon!