Date: March 30, 2009 04:19 pm Title: Invitation
I haven't read this since you first posted it, and now I can't believe I didn't think before how much this reminds me of one of my favorite short stories, "The Chrysanthemums." At least Pam didn't see it thrown away. :)
Author's Response: Have to admit - I had to Google to see what The Chrysanthemums was. It's been about eleventy thousand years since I've read any Steinbeck, and don't think I ever read that story...but I will definitely check it out now ;-) Anyway, thanks for the re-read (always flattering!) and the comparison (somehow, I gotta believe ol' JS did it better than I, lol!)
9 [Report This]Date: December 07, 2008 07:07 am Title: Same old story
ok, clearly, today is a 'being obsessed with Colette' kind of day. i love this fic, i've made no secret of it. but i re-read this chapter today and totally started crying! (TMI, but, i think i am pre-menstrual, which is causing such emotions? at least, i hope i am, otherwise i'm a complete sap, there's no hope for me, etc). this chapter gives me the same feeling as that scene from the beach that snuck its way into "the job." a stolen moment for jim and pam, twinged with sadness and angst, but yet there's a real promise here of what we know will happen. and even if we didn't know, there's hopefulness and energy piped through this. and the hand holding! sigh.
Author's Response: Being re-read is high praise - sorry to make you cry though, PMS notwithstanding ;-) Glad you got the sense of some hope at the end, along with the bleaker stuff. Man, S3 was a goldmine in terms of fic germination, but it really does take it out of you, lol. Thanks again, Emily!
10 [Report This]Date: December 03, 2008 06:27 pm Title: Artifact
So sad :(
Author's Response: Thanks for reading and reviewing!
10 [Report This]Date: December 03, 2008 06:25 pm Title: Life back to normal
Ew Karen, what an ungrateful hobag lol
Author's Response: Wow.She was feeling a little threatened. But still...thanks, Hannah!
10 [Report This]Date: December 03, 2008 05:36 pm Title: Same old story
God. I want to give Pam a cuddle but also slap her silly.
Author's Response: Exactly. So frustrating in those days. Thanks again!
10 [Report This]Date: December 03, 2008 05:00 pm Title: You must be happy
My heart is breaking :(
Author's Response: Sorry about that...thanks for reading, Hannah!
10 [Report This]Date: December 03, 2008 04:41 pm Title: Invitation
Ooooooooooooh Karen is sneaky, wanting to introduce Will to Pam lol.
Author's Response: Yeah, little bit. More desperate than sneaky maybe? Thanks!
10 [Report This]Date: September 18, 2008 03:08 pm Title: Artifact
*le sigh* Lovely. How very Jim of him to save an "artifact" from Pam, the way she saved the yogurt lids from Office Olympics. I congratulate you on the wonderful portrait of Karen you drew here; she was as real as Jim and Pam, very alive on the page (so to speak). You showed her both brittle and vulnerable; it's so easy to emphasize one over the other.
I loved lines like "He didn't know how to be around her". That's so very true--when one is past a certain intensity of emotion, how to find new ground in a relationship? Very true to life. Well done. You know I always love your stuff, Colette; this one was no exception (even if I got to it a little late!)
Author's Response: Jim is kind of sentimental - teapot full of bonus gifts, anyone? ;-) I liked the idea that the 'artifact' of what he wished had been (or was) for himself was also something connected with Pam's self-realization (did that make any sense?) Glad you thought Karen came alive here. I agree that stories often either portray her as evil shrew-vixen or as most awesome girl in Awesometown - and frankly, both extremes just miss the point for me. Anyway, thanks much NEJ!
Date: August 22, 2008 11:18 am Title: Artifact
That was gorgeous. I like the sadness of all three of them. The struggle to keep up appearances and the subtle failures to do so. Your Karen felt very true to her portrayal on the show, with none of the fic cliches I so often encounter. And that Jim kept the pot was the perfect ending, so bittersweet and full of hope.
Author's Response: Glad you found Karen's portrayal accurate here - in fics, I often find her drawn as either the cool goddess who made no mistakes, or conversely, as the evil heartless minx from Central Casting. But, I thought she was simply a normal woman, with both strengths and insecurities, dealing with a lose-lose (lose) situation. Also pleased the ending came across as bittersweet, but still hopeful...that was exactly the tone I felt on the show, at that point in S3. Thanks so much for your thoughtful review, belsum!
Date: August 16, 2008 10:20 am Title: Artifact
*sigh* I like how you ended this. And the title. And I absolutely adore your end note of '... at the length truth will out.'
I've only been around a bit, but I'm thinking I should poke around your other pieces. Loved this one :)
Author's Response: You can always count on Shakespeare for a pithy quote, lol. Glad you liked this so much - if you do poke around, chronologically, I'd start with one around Lost & Found (personal fave) - the earlier ones are a bit klunkier. Thanks so much variella - really appreciate the feedback!
Date: August 16, 2008 10:16 am Title: Life back to normal
Thank goodness he took the recycling.
Good grief, doesn't Karen know the etiquette for these things is putting them on a top shelf in the cupboard and then putting them in a garage sale ten years later? Yup, she knew what she was doing and it speaks volumes about the whole situation...
Oh, and re: last chapter? Condom wrapper... em-bar-ras-sing. And such a realistic touch. Such a Jim thing to notice too.
Author's Response: Well, like Karen said re: throwing away the pot - it was just a silly thing, 'no point in holding onto it.' Zing. Glad the subtext there worked for you. And the condom wrapper...yup, last thing he wanted Pam to see - as if that moment with her wasn't uncomfortable enough. Yikes. Thanks again, variella!
Date: August 16, 2008 09:29 am Title: Invitation
bucolic
Niiiiiiice. Cool word to use! So appropriate for PBS re-airings of some BBC shows.
‘I seriously doubt she has class on Sunday night, Jim.’
LMAO. This just killed me- I totally heard Karen's voice in this phrase.
The plot thickened
I really appreciate how concise your writing is; so much said with one short phrase.
Author's Response:
You know, I actually did base that PBS description on about a dozen of those mysteries I've seen. They really do tend to be like that, lol. Glad Karen's voice came across - I have much more practice doing Pam/Jim, and hoped I'd hit the right note with her.
And thanks so much, variella - 'concise' is a favorite word of mine. (Though clearly, that doesn't show in this response ;-)
10 [Report This]Date: August 15, 2008 05:22 am Title: Artifact
this is absolutely brilliant, colette! the whole story is amazing, but i especially how you left the end so sad and yet open-ended that you can't help but hope. you write tragic so well, and i can just see jim cleaning that pitiful clay pot as though it were delicate and fragile and priceless.. just, wonderful!
Author's Response: Thanks so much StarShine - I guess at that point in S3, the situation just seemed sad, but open-ended. (Who knew it would take months more to evolve? Devolve?) And, yeah - aw Jim. So blinded by his own defenses/heartache back in those days. Thank god that's over. ;-)
9 [Report This]Date: August 14, 2008 09:08 pm Title: Same old story
...shut...up. you are KILLING me with the sweet, exquisite angst. you know, i haven't been round these parts recently, i've been feeling out of love with office fic, but i've think you've brought me back to the homestead. i love your work, you know i do, but you have this great talent and the only description i can think is: gapfiller. which isn't enough to say what you do, but. anyway. you should be on the writing staff and when there's some sort of jim/pam moment, you should write it. it would be beautiful.
Author's Response: Ha! Do me a favor and give Greg Daniels my number, okay? Glad this sad little thing reeled you back a little (and hope you survived the murder attempt!) Thanks so much, Emily!
Date: August 14, 2008 08:02 pm Title: Invitation
Exhausted and mostly incoherent but stopping by to say sigh. He wuvs her - and I you for writing this. :)
Author's Response: Sigh back at you! Happy to hear this worked for you, despite the exhaustion...thanks so much, xoxoxo!
9 [Report This]Date: August 14, 2008 07:48 pm Title: Invitation
So sweet! I really liked this (and I've got tears in my eyes)!
Author's Response: Thanks, Lexie (handing you a cyber-hankie ;-)
Date: August 14, 2008 04:28 pm Title: Invitation
This story, since it was so true to these characters, really makes me wonder AGAIN...why the heck was Jim with Karen for so long?
I love how he takes care of the pot as carefully as he always used to take care of Pam.
Nice job.
Author's Response: Yeah, that relationship did drag on too long (for BOTH Jim and Karen) - it would have made more sense to me if it had ended after TR - even if after that it took J/P months longer to find their way to each other. Oh well. Thanks much, jkfan9989!
Date: August 14, 2008 04:13 pm Title: Invitation
I really loved this story-it was very sweet!
Author's Response: Thank you, SkeetShruting!
Date: August 14, 2008 10:56 am Title: Artifact
I love the delicate pace of this story, and how many things you leave unsaid -- it reminds me so much of the tone of the third season where everyone was thinking things they weren't saying.
Author's Response: Glad to hear that - I really wanted this to feel like an organic part of S3 which yes, was so much about what wasn't articulated. Thanks so much, sophia!
9 [Report This]Date: August 14, 2008 10:11 am Title: Artifact
Ouch. But, amazing job.
Author's Response: Thanks, flonkerton - glad you liked it despite the ouch factor ;-)
Date: August 13, 2008 06:09 pm Title: Artifact
Aw so sweet. Great little story!
Author's Response: Thanks!
Date: August 13, 2008 06:08 pm Title: Life back to normal
Stupid Karen
Author's Response: I think she was just starting to clue in at this point. But, yeah...it sure was frustrating to watch. Thanks, raspberryjam!
Date: August 13, 2008 05:25 pm Title: Artifact
Wow. The imagery in this last chapter was just so wonderful. I felt like he was wrapping PAM up in that soft towel and being so careful with her. Uh...man this makes me appreciate the fact that now they are together and staying that way! lol Great work here Colette.
Author's Response: See, that's what I hoped - revisiting those miserable days would make the current situation feel that much sweeter. So happy you liked this one, LoveFool - still really pleased - and a bit surprised - by the response this sad old thing has gotten.
Date: August 13, 2008 05:21 pm Title: Life back to normal
That bitch! She threw away the pot?! Oh jeez...I am VERY fired up about this! Man I wish Jim woulda just dumped her ass right then and there...but alas -- that probably would not have made the most sense. Ok...reading on. lol
Author's Response: Ha! You know - I understood where she was coming from (duh, I wrote it, lol) but it pissed me off too. Thanks much, LoveFool!
10 [Report This]Date: August 13, 2008 04:54 pm Title: Artifact
I've been dying to read this, but work has me insanely buried at the moment. I finally found the time this evening and, man alive, am I glad I did. You never cease to amaze me. I love so much of this story, even though it hurt my heart a bit. But a few things do stand out for me. I love the moment in the bedroom, where Jim can't help but grab Pam's hand. Such a simple gesture, but the moment spoke volumes about how he was feeling. And this entire last chapter...I can't pick a single moment. The care he took with Pam's pot and the disregard Karen had for it seems so perfect. Like I said, this hurt my wee heart, but it is beautiful. Thank you for sharing :)
Author's Response: So sorry about hurting your heart ;-)...but so glad you liked this. And really pleased you thought him grabbing her hand was 'enough' - hoped it would convey all I wanted it too. Thanks so much, WalkInLove - love hearing from you!