1 [Report This]Date: April 10, 2023 08:46 am Title: willow
“Purpose… filled the hollow spaces in him.” Swoon! Such an incredible line to start with! And the morning after! There’s something about Pam in Jim’s button down sitting on his counter that always, always gets me. And Paris? I can just picture them there! I love Paris… the second time was when I fell in love though… first time needed the lay of the land, second time I definitely appreciated all of the details you write about. I’m sure that Jim’s return trip is better too, now that he’s with Pam too!
I too still have my tiny “La Tour Eiffel” from the street vendors along the Seine— and yes, I did haggle! The engagement scene was perfect, because you know exactly what both of them are thinking… especially loved her sudden need to kiss him.
I loved your use of the canon “you repay me just by being with me”. I think that’s canon, right?? And your love scenes are just gorgeous… not so detailed in the physical description but the sensual feeling makes them so intimate and sexy. Yes, a perfect end to a day in Paris!!
I don’t quite know what Danny’s up to, but I don’t like it. Especially after that deliciously flirty stairwell break… “why do I always feel like I’m being kidnapped??” I just love that Jim just NEEDS to kiss her. Still, I’m waiting for another shoe to drop…
I love your canon use of “I don’t even know who you are” and the crazy guy at the laundromat… I love reading all the different interpretations of that backstory, along with the familiarity and day to day I intimacy of your Jim and Pam doing her laundry one day.
Of course Karen would show. As much as I hate this, I do love that Pam agrees calmly to talk with Jim tomorrow, encouraging him to talk out his issues with Karen, even though her heart must be terribly frightened. Jim’s cool reception of her is quite satisfying though.
This has to be the most satisfying Jim Karen fan fic ending which happens in a matter of hours and I love that. It’s clear how everything changed the minute he met Pam, including living— and anything not that is just not acceptable. I love how Jim is protective of Pam’s yogurt too; a sweet callback in a dramatic tense scene. I’m not sure if this is a literary element but I love your little lists of what is running through Jim’s mind… that home is how Pam’s leg intertwines with his when they sleep, how she never orders fries and always eats his, laughing at his not funny jokes, losing her keys, her ponytail, and how she says his name. Again, it’s that daily intimacy of sharing a life. So good!
Again, what a fantastic nod to how destined they are— that she knew he was at her door, and that she was going to call him back that night. I love that there isn’t a thought in either of their minds that this— they— are it for each other. His canon words were so right in this scene, and Pam’s reaction is what we all wanted from Casino Night. So amazing. This was excellent! I’d love a whole fic of this, truly! I mean, we need to figure out this Danny stuff, right? You’re so talented and this is such a gem! And I’d love that see where else in Europe Jam travels! Makes me so excited to get abroad again!
Author's Response: Wow thank you SO much for the lengthy and well thought out review! I really do adore hearing what people loved most.
Date: March 15, 2023 12:13 am Title: dorothea
Stop. I don’t know how you took Dorothea the song & turned it into the genius that is Dorothea the story, but you did & it is so, so good!
The disappointment that Jim didn’t show up in the talking head was so soothed by that ending. What a great payoff!
Date: March 14, 2023 10:01 pm Title: happiness II
Umm… I’m going to need chapter 3 of this immediately. Please.
Date: March 14, 2023 09:35 pm Title: happiness I
The tension, holy god, the tension. I’m dying. Can’t leave a real review, have to get to the next chapter…
Date: March 14, 2023 06:57 pm Title: no body, no crime
It’s a crime that I haven’t reviewed this yet.
The twists. The turns. The twists again. I love it so much.
I can’t even go through & pull out some of my favorite lines because I’d just be copying the entire story here.
It’s so clever. All the little details. I love this version of Pam, she’s got that end of Season 3 confidence. Don’t even get me started on this Jim. I adore him. I adore it all.
Date: December 30, 2021 01:58 pm Title: ivy
I'm kicking myself for not getting to reading this sooner! First of all, I love stories that hurt me, that leave me staring off into space and make me want to read them again instantly so I can feel the burn one more time. This is one of those painful stories (in the best of ways). One of the things I noticed right away was how you wove, so expertly, the lyrics of this haunting song into the words. So well done.
This line got to me: "And that’s probably what does it, she thinks, when she’s laying in bed later and replaying every second of what happens next."
and then you absolutely murdered me with: "She doesn’t look back as she leaves because she can’t stand to know whether or not he watches her."
Ughhh BT this was amazing.
Date: December 09, 2021 07:01 pm Title: ivy
Oof. Par excellance for the angst. That they were so close and yet still so far. Magnificent writing to bring that all out even if wrenches on the heart and won't stop.
Date: December 09, 2021 04:23 pm Title: ivy
This story is an example of why Jim was
such an ass in season 3.
His constant hot and cold attitude towards Pam
was very juvenile, especially since he completely ignored the fact he started the problem with the the two of them in the first place.
It’s no wonder Pam had emotional whiplash.
It’s too bad she didn’t tell him to piss off. 😂
Author's Response: lol definitely didn’t intend to write him as an ass in this chapter. I think there was some hot and cold action on both their parts throughout the years and that Jim definitely has some emotional whiplash too. He didn’t make perfect choices in season 3 and I agree that he had some low points, but I also think he was really doing his best to protect himself. 🤷🏻r05;a92;a039;
Date: December 09, 2021 03:02 pm Title: ivy
“ But he pulls away and says “we’re drunk,” and she thinks I’m not drunk, are you drunk? The words lodge in her throat and instead she whispers her agreement and apology and lets her hand fall away from his still freezing grip.” This all broke my heart but this right here completely shattered it. Ouch.
This was so good, though, even if it destroyed me a little bit (but let’s be honest, if it doesnt hurt, did you really love it?). You intertwined the lyrics so flawlessly. Pam being the stone house that she is hoping Jim can cover in ivy and break through was amazing. “Feels a lot like grieving for the living.” Ugh. I loved it.
Date: December 09, 2021 02:46 pm Title: ivy
WELL. I never.
I'm always curious about what their interactions might have looked like thoroughly out of the camera's eye in Season 3, and you've doubled up on it here by also removing them from all familiar context. It's a moment out of time, a vacation from reality, doesn't really count, and while they're not quite shedding all their baggage they at least come a lot closer to being their true selves with each other than they usually are in canon. And you did well letting us feel Pam's relief at that... even where it's painful, even where she's making herself vulnerable, it's still better and *easier* than all she has to do to pretend this connection between them isn't real and never was.
I also liked how this is a fraught moment that they get around not by diving into it, but through their normal sort of interaction, just bonding as friends do. In a lot of ways, this feels like Season 3 Jim and Pam escaping back to their Season 2 status quo, where their deepest feelings are below the surface but they're comfortable with each other and are able to enjoy each other. I'm sure this makes it all intensely painful for Jim, who is basically living his nightmare, but it's a special moment for Pam who is badly missing it.
Interesting reading Pam trying to come to grips with her relationship with Roy. There's so much going on beneath the surface there that we really don't get to see and can't easily infer about how she feels about her choices in canon. Her knowing on some level this is an admission of defeat at best and that it's already doomed at worst is something I'm going to be mulling over for a bit. ("Maybe Roy can build up some walls of his own and climb on top of them so he can at least look down and see her every once in a while" is such a great but also terrible image of how their relationship would work.)
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, Jim Halpert walks into hers." SOLD. On so many different levels.
"she needed a little bit of home without being at home" Oooof. Yep. Makes sense. Makes way too much sense.
"the place where loving someone feels a lot like grieving for the living." - Ummmmm. OW?
"a tarnished, strained version of his Jim-the-paper-salesman smile" is a spot-on description of S3 Jim.
Date: December 09, 2021 02:43 pm Title: coney island
Just realized I hadnt gotten around to reading this, and man have I been missing out. This is a perfect s9 song, and you did it soooo much justice. My heart kept breaking for them both, Pam especially. The little tidbits of steam mixed in there perfectly, and really added to the comparisons of how they used to be to how they were feeling now. So, so, so good!!
Date: November 26, 2021 05:37 pm Title: coney island
Sprinkles!
This is one of my favorite songs on the album (shocking, I'm sure) so I was so excited to see where you would take it.
There were so many layers to season 9 and I always felt was an honest look at a very adult relationship, which is never perfect. You did such a good job at capturing that. Like this line "She was just so angry at him all the time now. Not in a yelling, slamming doors kind of way. It was the snippy comments, and the sighing, and sarcastic way she talked to him about Athlead. It felt like there was nothing he could do to make her happy." Such a simple, succinct way of encapsulating that.
LOVE that whole flashback to the time period after they started dating and oh My God even though I knew it was coming lyrically, I gasped when he almost got hit. It was such a clever way to jolt them both and put it all into perspective.
And of course, the hotel room was perfect. I would expect nothing less. ;)
Date: November 23, 2021 08:20 am Title: coney island
Oh these heartbreaking seasons 9 emotions! I almost can’t handle them when I read a season 9 story because it always feels so raw, like they’re still going through it. You really write the realities of marriage or any long term relationship so well and I could totally see Pam and Jim both having these internal monologues and thought processes. And I was proud of Pam for doing what she needed to do in that moment! But of course happy that they found their way back to each other in the end and that we got just a little hint of steam. Beautiful job and it fit the song so well!
Date: November 20, 2021 09:09 pm Title: coney island
"Pam was the kind of person who gave second chances. And thirds, and fourths, and fifths." Yes. That's Pam, all right. Down to her socks. You can see, here, the way she's grown from the person who needed Jim to jar her out of her complacency with Roy... the Fancy New Beesly can reach her own conclusions, and the Jim of a few years ago would be as proud of her as he would horrified at himself. You can also see how waiting too long with Roy might ultimately lead her to cut the line too early with Jim.
I also like this take on Jim - someone who is not so far gone in his own head that he realizes he's not putting a strain on Pam. It makes it better and worse at the same time, that awareness... this is not a Jim who has forgotten Pam, but a Jim who is kind of doing whatever he can get away with and hoping she won't draw the line. On the other hand, you also give us at least a little hint of the pressures he's facing on the other end, too, that he's got a set of business partners whose good opinion of him he's a lot less sure of than Pam's... and show us a Jim who push comes to shove would in fact put Pam first, who gets her and cares about her happiness in a way we don't always see in Season 9.
"But sometimes she felt like she and the kids were a box of accomplishments that Jim had checked off. Now he was moving on to the next set of achievements, and she was just supposed to stay in place, part of the tableau of Jim Halpert, successful family man." Okay. Ow. That hurt. A lot. Just in general, you really captured the doubts that would have crept into Pam's mind and made them real, the vibe that made Season 9 so hard to sit through.
Just in general, this felt very psychologically true to them, both as the couple we fell in love with early on and as the couple we feared for in Season 9. Really nicely executed.
Date: November 20, 2021 12:09 am Title: coney island
So this got to all the feelings of S9 in every single way. The way they were not on the same page about everything. Jim making the big decisions without really talking to her about it. Pam feeling like she's bending to be with someone who's taking her for granted again. Makes sense Pam would start to have some of those thoughts. She must not be good enough. Why am I not his priority anymore? Put down the damn phone!
That it takes Pam leaving for it all to finally click makes sense for Jim. You don't know how good you have it till it's gone. He got a taste of that and even just an afternoon seemed to shake him to the core. Especially with re-living all their thoughts from the early days.
Got me going with Jim almost getting hit by a car there. However it's another catalyst. This time for Pam to realize that despite it all, their bond is still strong, even if it needs work. I really loved the line where they acknowledge they have to work on staying in love. They're past the easy phase so it's great to see them come to the realization that they'll need to put in the work to keep things going. Sounds like they're ready for that challenge too.
And the payoff is a wonderful night together in the hotel room. Well done Jim for putting the phone down and being open and honest with her. Same for Pam, even including the idea that she might leave him. A hard truth, but it also shows she's really being honest and open which is what they need.
Then of course the gift was a delight to read. However of course the kicker right there. Flag Day. Ha! That made me laugh so much I had to explain it to my partner here at work.
All of this was great though. Just outstanding. Wish I still had some jellybeans to give.
1 [Report This]Date: November 19, 2021 09:41 am Title: dorothea
Goodness... the tension! You had me worried there ;0)
I really enjoyed this; it's beautifully done, and I loved all the little details that set the various scenes. Thanks!
1 [Report This]Date: November 14, 2021 07:29 pm Title: no body, no crime
"One time I wore tiny heart shaped earrings to work for Valentine’s Day and Kelly put me in a friendship timeout for three days." I love u.
"Deputy Dwight Schrute. This fucking guy." HA. HAHAHHAH. MA'AM. I CACKLED.
"Meredith immediately loses interest in our conversation and leans over me to ask Jim if he has his handcuffs on him and if he thinks they’re stronger than the ones she has in her purse." Why is this so perfect? Why are you so perfect?
"I’d stick around but there’s a guy at the bar staring daggers at me and he’s definitely got a gun, and we don’t want any problems tonight." Oh my god this could be a story on its own holy shit.
“What’s more fun than getting drunk and throwing shit down the quarry?”
“Literally anything.”
I don't know how many more creative ways I can say that you write perfect dialogue but this is just--
“Oh yeah. She was with me, dude.” Listen I get that that's the line in the song but why is it so perfect that Karen says that as she pulls out a planner in the middle of a bar
"and oh. Goddamn. It’s a fucking fantastic smile." Like, listen. I know it's Jim. You know it's Jim. We all know it's Jim. How do you still shock me with his appearance and make me swoony?
"Jim writes this down in his notebook. “And the three of you were…?” He looks up from his notes when I don’t respond. Suddenly I’m very thirsty and take as much time as I can to finish my water.
Because what were Karen and I doing with Danny Friday night?" Is this the next chapter of the unicorn
“And you’d have preferred that? The Pure Romance party?”
“I have enough purses.” MA'AM--
“She’s only Scranton’s top ThirtyOne consultant. Of course she was there.” HAHHAHAH STOP THIS IS PERFECT
“I’m just Pam tonight, Jim.” You should write romance murder novels hot DAMN
“Joke’s on you. You could have done that two hours ago.” Oooo do I LOVE confident murderer Pam
“Maybe.” He sneaks a quick kiss to my forehead. “If it’s a slow day at work, sure. Just give me a list.” Why am I in love with Detective Halpert
"Also, it would have been a damn shame if this year’s Cake Pops for Cops Funraiser had been canceled." Okay. Again. How do you do that?? It's so perfect???
"I once told Pam that Stamford was full of corrupt cops. I neglected to tell her that I might have been one of them. To be fair, she neglected to tell me she was a murderer. I think we can call that even." HAHHAHAH THIS IS THE PERFECT TIE UP
Ma'am. I don't know how you do it. How you take something so outlandish as a double murder escape plot and tie literally every single little intricacy of the show into it perfectly. You truly do have a gift.
Date: November 14, 2021 06:56 pm Title: dorothea
This is so good. Just perfect for the song. It was deliciously angsty, but I'm grateful you gave us a happy ending. Part 2 would not be unwelcome.
This line? Perfection. "Time is a funny thing. The way it can hold you in its palm, make all of your senses keenly aware of their surroundings - the driver shouting at Jim, Jim staring at her with an intensity that rivals the neediness in the way her name falls so simply from his lips, the smell of tires on hot asphalt - without really knowing exactly what’s happening in the moment."
And this one. It hurt, a lot: "The date of the party was December 22nd. She wasn’t going to think about how that was the same night she’d answered Danny Cordray’s text and shown up at his house at 11:30 for what was an unapologetic holiday lonely fuck. She’d snuck out at 6 the next morning and waited until she could pull into the Dunkin Donuts parking lot a mile from his house before she let herself cry."
This song felt like a challenge to fit with JAM, but you made it seem easy.
1 [Report This]Date: November 14, 2021 06:52 pm Title: happiness II
Gatsby Jim! Oh, this was so good. The descriptions were perfect. I love historical fiction, and this read like the best kind of novel. I knew you would break our hearts in the end, but the ride was worth it. And two parts?? We're too lucky.
Date: November 14, 2021 04:16 am Title: dorothea
Ok this is the first chance I’ve had to sit down and read this since you posted and all I have to say is…you understood the assignment. Oh my God did you ever.
Your writing is always this perfect blend of understated realistic romance wrapped in these tragic, beautiful undertones of desire and it all makes for the most masterful stories that haunt you for days.
And the way you took this song and spun it to work for these two idiots is just genius.
“Dammit, she thinks, annoyed that she lost this game of chicken they are both silently engaging”— I seriously love this.
“I almost did, you know?” —omg you are so good at this, this thing you do where you have Jim say these one liners that make me set down my phone and stare off into the distance for ten minutes.
“The beautiful thing about summer evenings in this part of Manhattan is that it really is like the movies. You can let your steps take a wandering aimlessness that wraps you in a secluded cocoon of your own moment. The city seems to slow its pace, deeply attuned to the inhabitants who are desperate for a reprieve from the grueling aspects of urban living.” — Absolute perfection. That’s all.
“Time is a funny thing. The way it can hold you in its palm, make all of your senses keenly aware of their surroundings - the driver shouting at Jim, Jim staring at her with an intensity that rivals the neediness in the way her name falls so simply from his lips, the smell of tires on hot asphalt - without really knowing exactly what’s happening in the moment. “ —Can you please show me how to write like this? Please. I’ll pay even.
Uuuugh it’s sooooo good DC.
So. Good.
(And I *hate* that I have no more jellybeans.)
1 [Report This]Date: November 13, 2021 11:07 am Title: dorothea
I read this on the way home from work last night and nearly cried on the subway. The beginning was so heartbreaking with all the miscommunication. I'm so glad that they found their way back to each other in the end.
Thank you so much for this gorgeous story!
Date: November 13, 2021 08:31 am Title: dorothea
I just enjoyed all of this story as with all the things you write, even if it was a little heartbreaking in the beginning.
Loved that they come together in NY- always love a tale that takes place in my city (even if I no longer live there) and I think I know the Shake Shack they go to.
Gotta say -silly enough this is the line that I most related to through ...actually accept the update her computer had been trying to complete for three weeks...I am Pam here, not wanting to update either...and I see the symbolism I think you may have been going for - unless it was just a clever observation... either way - loved it.
Another great addition to the bunch.
Date: November 12, 2021 02:55 pm Title: dorothea
This was bittersweet.
At first I was disappointed that Jim took
the job at corporate, but I think it was better for Pam because she actually put herself first by
going for the what she wanted, instead of putting
the guy first. Perhaps spending those few years apart were a blessing in disguise.
Date: November 12, 2021 01:42 pm Title: dorothea
This was one of the songs I was so curious on how you guys were going to make into a Jam fic but you did it beautifully. Broke my heart from the very beginning with Jim not interrupting the talking head but then put it all back together with giving us the “are you free for dinner tonight” line at the end. You also referenced the song within the fic amazingly. “Well, its not selling makeup in magazines.” That was BRILLIANT. Loveddddd this chapter
Date: November 12, 2021 01:20 pm Title: dorothea
Oof. That Jim didn't get her note till after he accepted the job and then to find out even then he had doubts about if the job was right for him. I mean genius move. But enough about Jim. Pam, wow now that's a journey she went through. As if the journey of self-discovery she went on through canon S3 kept going since she didn't have Jim there. She has to keep fighting for herself. A few stumbles along the way for sure. Some more angst to live through but it all seems so real.
However there at the end, they still find each other. Thank you for that. Phenominal as always.