1 [Report This]Date: February 01, 2021 08:04 pm Title: Chapter 1
This is a very poignant piece and I'm glad you shared it here. ED is a big issue, and though I don't struggle with it, I also have insecurities about weight sometimes, and ED is certainly not a "woman's issue".
I also appreciate you bringing in the subject when it comes to Jim's character, since it was always subtly hinted at in-canon but never explicitly stated; I hinted at it in both of my larger fics myself. Jim's a character with so many problems and insecurities that it takes someone like Pam to make him feel whole, feel like himself. I especially love the fact that you pointed this out: Dwight is confident and happy with his completely neurotic and pompous self while Jim doesn't realize the good man he really is, using snark to hide his unaddressed self-esteem issues. It's always been a layer to their dynamic that I wish was further expanded upon.
I echo pretty much everything that's already been said by these other reviews, so I'll add this. Everyone is properly in-character and I am here for that: his coworkers' misguided attempts to help and being nosy in general, Kelly unintentionally playing into his insecurities for her own weight loss, Pam doing everything and anything to get through to him, and Jim *constantly* living in denial until the truth confronts him head-on and he no longer has a choice. I'm a character study guy (as you could guess from this very review) so when one puts these pre-established characters in a situation, no matter how real, and portrays it in a way that these characters would accurately respond to it, that pulls me in, and you did so fantastically with this, addressing a very serious and impactful problem in the process.
Excellent piece.
1 [Report This]Date: January 31, 2021 05:02 am Title: Chapter 1
As someone who has both a heart condition and anorexia, all parts of this story really resonated with me! I really enjoyed it and you capture what it's like having to deal with people catching on and dealing with the feelings of insecurity and doubt even with the people you love. I relate a lot to Jim when everyone was trying to force him to eat, Ive had very similar experiences with various different groups of people in my life. Really well done!
1 [Report This]Date: January 29, 2021 10:35 am Title: Chapter 1
I remember reading this one on A03 back in the day and being really struck by the subject matter. I'm glad you brought it over. It's an interesting recasting of Jim's canonical sticking to his routines, and obviously something you don't read very much about a subject that our society is pretty silent about - well worth taking on.
I don't really know enough about eating disorders and in particular the psychology of men living with them to comment, but it struck me that you handled Jim compassionately. You certainly did well painting the ignorance of the well-meaning people around him and how unintentionally damaging they can be, which feels very realistic.
It also walked the beats of a "one of them is in crisis and it ultimately brings them together" story well!
1 [Report This]Date: January 28, 2021 04:39 pm Title: Chapter 1
So this was really interesting. Normally one associates anorexia with women, which of course is incredibly unfair and not at all accurate. So having it be Jim who is the one dealing with this issue feels very real. Kudos to you on that.
Very well written. You can see exactly the kinds of "we only mean well" things everyone around the office is trying to do. However as happens in life those kinds of gestures rarely work. Forcing someone rarely gets them to change for the better. As you showed here it just makes them bristle and dig their feet in more.
Tough love only works when the person who is giving the tough love has a prior connection with the person. Pam is great here in the scene where she brings Pete to Jim's place. She's coming to him from a place of love and friendship. Thus the ensuing fight cuts a lot deeper than any insult or scheme from their office mates.
I really liked that Pam is just there for him. She's saying that regardless of everything, she's just going to be there for him. It's a great side of her personality. She wants to help him, but she wants to help him the right way. It's not going to be quick or easy. It's not about shoving food in his face. It's about being a steady healthy presence in his life. Which is something this Jim seems to have been lacking for a long time.
Jim's mental state was really interesting to read. How he's justifying everything he does. Is so exacting about his weight to make sure his doctors are happy. The self loathing that triggered a lot of these behaviors. It all rings very real. Same with the anger at people trying to help him and the misguided feelings of respect when Kelly comes to him for "advice." It all builds up to the a boiling point there at his place. Finally in the hospital and especially when Pam doesn't leave him, it feels like he's really started to turn a corner. Pam DOES want to be with him, brokenness and all. So maybe he can start to like himself a bit more and thus start to build a better relationship with food at the same time. I think it also helps that if he's going to get into a real relationship with Pam he would try to be a better man for her, which means being more healthy too.
Great job for your first fic here on MTT. You really knocked this one out of the park. Welcome. Hope to read more from you going forward.
1 [Report This]Date: January 28, 2021 12:11 pm Title: Chapter 1
I would also like to start my review with a resounding OUCH, and I mean it in the best way possible.
This premise is such a good one, as is the reason for the office finding out about Jim's disorder. The way Jim sweeps it all under the rug when Pam finds out *really* hit home for me. That was so well-executed, and I applaud you for that.
The scene with Angela and the cinnamon roll. Excuse me, cinnamon rolls. Oh my goodness. The nerve and ignorance of Angela Martin comes through so strongly in this scene. The ability to invoke the emotion of WTF is happening in writing is such a gift, and you are using that gift SO well.
Through the story, I really appreciated the way we see how Jim is thinking of himself. He can't see himself as anything other than fat, and so of course he is able to twist any interaction with others as a way to affirm that. His friendship with Kelly also felt incredibly realistic, and I like that Pam has to step in and prevent them from bringing more harm to each other.
And then the scene at the end just made my heart soar in the best possible way after all the emotional roller coaster you created for us. Brilliant job with that.
I hope you write more on MTT for us, because you knocked it out of the park!
Author's Response: Thank you so much for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: January 28, 2021 08:07 am Title: Chapter 1
Can I start off with saying "ouch?" Is that appropriate?
This is very, VERY well-written. I love that you showcased a male with an ED, although it hurt to see that it was Jim. It's always women portrayed with EDs, so thank you for sharing light on the fact that males can have them too.
This was just super realistic while reading, and the ending hit me hard. I love that Jim doesn't want Pam to feel as if she needs to "fix men," which is absolutely 100% true that she doesn't. Her response was great.
Overall, this was really well-written, and although I may be hurt the rest of the day thinking about this Jim, it was definitely worth the read!
Author's Response: Thank you for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: January 28, 2021 08:04 am Title: Chapter 1
The roller-coaster of emotions I felt while reading this...wow.
This was one of those stories I couldn't put down. It was like watching a train wreck and I needed to know how it ended.
I think this was an important topic to write on. There's a whole stigma around men and ED's and showcasing that they do exist is really great.
Now you have me questioning whether Jim did have something in the show because he really doesn't each much.
Anyway, awesome writing. You made me feel a lot of emotions throughout this fic. I hope you continue writing on MTT.
Author's Response: Thank you for the kind review! I (and the prompters) got the idea for the prompt because Jim/John was so thin during the show, and when letting out imaginations run wild we came the conclusion Jim must have had an ED haha. But it didn’t help that Jim seemed really set on eating the same five things.