Date: December 01, 2020 08:13 pm Title: In Which the Mail Arrives
Clearly, Jim has made a splash on the social scene. Who was Creed Bratton, indeed - perhaps it's better not to know.
By the way, let's acknowledge Colonel Scott here - an automated machine for grilling food and removing the fat would've made him the toast of London if he could've figured out a way to do it, and clearly he's not so gauche that they would deign not to attend his events, so take that, smart set. Pam's frustration with him here is very well put.
Oh, Pam. In every era, you can't quite process what's in your heart.
Author's Response: Right? A 19th-century George Foreman would have been BRILLIANT.
Date: December 01, 2020 07:51 pm Title: In Which Jim Eats Breakfast
The description of that breakfast was good enough to make me hungry.
Author's Response: I always worry about food--do others like the same things I do?--so that's nice to know.
Date: December 01, 2020 07:35 pm Title: In Which Observations are Made
"He would have been the first to admit that he was imperfect, but he would have done so in the careless way of those who think that the mere acknowledgement of the possibility of fault should inoculate them against the need to take any further action to cure themselves of the fault so graciously admitted" is a dynamite description of Roy. I think it was a good choice to give him enough savvy to detect something was wrong right from the get-go - this is Roy as something quite a bit more than a bumbling buffoon, but as someone keen enough to take advantage of the situation he's in and loathe to have that situation threatened.
MEREDITH DRANK THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON UNDER THE TABLE. That's amazing. As is the fact that Jim's acquaintance with Phyllis is going to end up keeping him in Pam's orbit.
Author's Response: Meredith has superpowers (although for all I know, Wellesley was a lightweight). And thank you--I'm very proud of that description of Roy.
Date: December 01, 2020 07:19 pm Title: In Which Jim Drinks, and Meets an Old Friend
I love this introduction of Phyllis - very much a busybody with a heart of gold, and one with no time for Jim's B.S. Nice for him to have a friend here, though.
He got the 19th century version of grape soda. You slay me.
Author's Response: How could I resist when I knew there was a way to get him grape soda? :)
1 [Report This]Date: December 01, 2020 03:44 pm Title: In Which a First Impression is Made and Marred
Clever reuse of Pam's love of card noises aside, Jim being so taken with these little things about her is lovely.
This may be your strongest chapter yet with the introduction of Roy. I really appreciate the way you handled this, providing both Jim's impressions before he realized who he was and after and letting us understanding how much they changed. I think the same thing happens to us in the audience of this show - we root for JAM and thus from the jump take a pretty negative view of Roy, and it's unusual to see that acknowledged so plainly. I was also happy to see a dive into what PAM finds appealing about Roy, which often gets lost entirely in spite of the fact that it's pretty important to understanding Pam, and the more-removed narrator's perspective.
And the line of Jim not usually comparing himself to other men like "a male lion sniffing a rival on the wind" is killer. As is Pam never having seen a panther but being sure Roy moved like one. Apparently similes about big cats just appeal to me.
Author's Response: Big cats are cute! And thank you, I really appreciate the detailed analysis of what I'm not sure I necessarily realized I was doing with the introduction of Roy...
1 [Report This]Date: December 01, 2020 03:33 pm Title: In Which Jim Gathers Wool, and Pam Notices
Again... these two are just very winning. I know there's story coming, but for the moment it's just enjoyable hearing them talk to each other.
Author's Response: :) I don't love writing dialogue, so I really appreciate hearing this.
1 [Report This]Date: December 01, 2020 03:32 pm Title: In Which a Victory is Won
The Jim/Pam banter in this chapter is just absolutely adorable from start to finish. Feels wonderfully like them, both in this period and in canon.
Author's Response: Thank you! I was very worried about the banter, since the styles aren't exactly the same, so it's a relief to hear it worked.
1 [Report This]Date: December 01, 2020 03:31 pm Title: In Which a Game Begins and an Introduction is Made
I'm not sure if this is a remix/repurposing of Casino Night or foreshadowing, but either way, I like it.
The description of their immediate connection here is just very strong. And the metaphor of Michael as a hurricane is killer.
Author's Response: Always assume that there's at least a little bit of canon recycling in any place it looks like there is ;). Thank you! Hurricane Michael felt appropriate.
1 [Report This]Date: December 01, 2020 03:29 pm Title: In Which a Gentleman is Pulled, Unsuspectingly, into an Orbit
As always, I love how immediately and how deeply you've immersed us in this world - you really have a knack for finding the beats of the genre.
I particularly enjoyed the trope-y stunning first glimpse of Pam - both for its embrace of the style and just because it's really good description. You can practically feel the lump in Jim's throat.
And I thought the description of why Michael's incompetence, buffoonery and inappropriate behavior make him a feature of the social scene was clever - the sales pitch for The Office worked even in this period, I guess.
Author's Response: Thank you! I read probably 300 Regency Romances around the time of my daughter's birth, so I had some practice ;).
1 [Report This]Date: November 21, 2019 04:07 am Title: Epilogue: In Which Two Happy Endings Are Achieved
Oh, this is a wonderful story! I adore the Regency era, and you made a great mix of the show events with the historical setting. You inspire me to create something regency-ish myself. Thank you!
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm so glad you followed through on that inspiration, and I'm glad you liked this; I was in the midst of reading every Regency romance I could get my hands on and this was the output...
1 [Report This]Date: May 10, 2018 01:24 pm Title: Epilogue: In Which Two Happy Endings Are Achieved
This was such a sweet story, and I’m glad to see it concluded! The bits of the show that you sprinkled throughout your own story line were great and kept the story grounded, even in an alternative universe. However, the point of this review was mostly to tell you that the Dwight/Angela interactions were fantastic :)
Author's Response: Thank you very much! I do very much value your reactions to my Dwight/Angela scenes, so that is very good to know :)
Date: May 07, 2018 07:39 am Title: Epilogue: In Which Two Happy Endings Are Achieved
Aww... that was so great! Thank you so much for creating something so different but yet still so Jim and Pam!
Author's Response: Thanks for reading! I love putting them in other worlds and I'm glad it works for you.
Date: May 03, 2018 09:55 am Title: Epilogue: In Which Two Happy Endings Are Achieved
I finished this story with a huge dopey grin on my face. Excellent excellent excellent, from start to finish. You should be very proud of the way you commanded the language and weaved familiar characters onto the story in such a way that they became completely new. I am excited to see what you have for us next!
Author's Response: Thank you thank you. I really appreciate your consistent feedback and I'm glad you've been enjoying. I'm not sure what's next, but this has definitely been fun to write. Thanks for reading!
Date: April 29, 2018 08:49 am Title: In Which Indecency is Discovered
This chapter made me squeal with delight. 😊
Author's Response: :) Excellent...
Date: April 25, 2018 07:30 pm Title: In Which Indecency is Discovered
I think It’s time for my... Squeeeeeee!!!!
Do we get some Katy aftermath? We just kinda ditched her at the party.
Author's Response: I think Squee is appropriate here, yes ;). And Katy lives with the Colonel, so I think it's safe to say our lovers will be interrupted yet again...
Date: April 24, 2018 08:31 pm Title: In Which a Question is Answered
As soon as I had read this line
“Jim is here because I asked him to visit me this morning, Mr. Anderson.”
I had copied it to paste in my review as my favorite in the whole story so far.
But then I read this...
“Congratulations, old boy! I knew I was doing something great when I introduced you two to each other! I take all the credit, you know, knew you were perfect for each other the first time I saw you! I say…”
and it’s a completely different kind of brilliance but now I can’t decide!
Author's Response: Yeah, I had a lot of fun with the quotes here, which is funny because I usually shy away from dialogue.
Date: April 24, 2018 03:00 pm Title: In Which a Question is Answered
Ooh I loved these last few chapters! The build up to the breakup and now the buildup to them being together is just so good.
Author's Response: Thanks! We'll see a little of them actually together soon.
Date: April 22, 2018 10:11 pm Title: In Which Dwight Helps
Oh, that was so great!
Author's Response: Thanks! I appreciate hearing it.
Date: April 16, 2018 04:21 pm Title: In Which Jim Throws a Party
This chapter is so sweet in its angst. I love seeing them in this setting.
Author's Response: Oh boy I'm behind on reviews! Thanks for this. The angst really is the heart of the Romance genre and of this part of Jim/Pam so I think they fit together nicely.
Date: April 16, 2018 10:23 am Title: In Which a Gentleman is Pulled, Unsuspectingly, into an Orbit
I had a feeling Katy would be stopping by, can’t wait to read more about what sort of havoc her presence will wreak.
Author's Response: Good instincts ;).
Date: April 15, 2018 09:02 pm Title: In Which the Incomparable Comes to Town
“Hot Girl” is really one of my favorite episodes and I LOVE reading it in this setting. Great great job!
Author's Response: It's a great episode, isn't it? It's a fun sandbox to play in too.
Date: April 12, 2018 10:43 am Title: In Which Mr. Howard Gets Advice
Just caught up on the last three chapters! Great writing as always. I love the looks into other characters, like Ryan in the most recent chapter. And the cricket game was excellent. I could go on and on about what I love about this story, but to keep it brief I’ll just say: I love it all.
Author's Response: I'll keep those peeks into other people's heads coming then! The cricket match was fun to write, trying for the flavor of Basketball without the structure of the sport (while also unabashedly drawing on Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers for what might make cricket actually interesting as a read).
Date: April 11, 2018 10:01 pm Title: In Which Mr. Howard Gets Advice
What a contrast to the jim/pam situation! Ryan is one of my least favorite characters on the show but I enjoy him in some stories and this is definitely one of those stores.
Author's Response: Thanks. I share your general Ryan opinions, so I'm glad you're enjoying him here because I wasn't sure what to do with him initially.
Date: April 06, 2018 05:41 pm Title: In Which a Conspiracy is Hatched
The pranks in these last two chapters are my favorite part. I love them as co-conspirators in ang time frame, but something about them in this setting is just delightful. Always look forward to your updates!
Author's Response: Thanks! It's fun trying to adapt them into Regency terms, because (for example) staplers weren't invented until the 1860s so no stapler in Jell-o.
Date: April 03, 2018 07:19 am Title: In Which Habits Are Disrupted
Oh my goodness this chapter was too funny!
And Nope, I could just not feel any pity for Roy. But oh my goodness poor Pam!! I nearly choked on my lucky charms when I read Ryan had sicced Kelly on her! And Angela, hilarious! Don’t worry Pam it’s all worth it in the end!
Author's Response: I think Pam will manage to figure that out, but it might take her a little while...