Date: June 06, 2007 07:41 pm Title: A House Divided
Okay... I finally sat down and read this story from start to finish at work...
I loved this story even though it didn't like a happy JAM story. I liked how you described Jim's inner struggle and demons. I actually felt "a little" sorry Karen.
Author's Response: Thanks a lot. "A little" is good, although this was about as happy and ending as she could have gotten, I think. Thanks for the feedback.
10 [Report This]Date: June 06, 2007 04:14 pm Title: A House Divided
I know I commented already, but I just had to say, I blame you for the guilt lingering in the back of my mind every time I read not just first date stories, but any JAM stories. ^_^ And yet, I'm still reading them. Seriously, can't get over how powerful this was! Bravo again!
Author's Response: I'm honored to be the source of your guilt-bone ailment... is that mean? Seriously, though, this is a really nice thing to read about a story. Thanks for writing such great feedback.
Date: June 06, 2007 01:26 pm Title: A House Divided
Interesting take on the aftermath of Jim's happy ending. Although I didn't relish this side of Karen or Jim, it is probably pretty real. Thanks for writng
Date: June 06, 2007 05:50 am Title: A House Divided
If karen takes Jim back after this she is officially the most deluded idiot alive. interesting story.
Author's Response: If I had a nickel for every confident, capable, strong woman I know who does everything right except fall for guys who jerk them around... I'd have about a quarter... 30 cents if I get to count Office characters.
Date: June 04, 2007 08:38 am Title: A House Divided
I agree Jim is a good guy and tht breaking up with Karen had to be hard for him. I just wish we would have seen it.;)
10 [Report This]Date: June 03, 2007 04:47 pm Title: A House Divided
I do like this a lot. I'm a total Pam fan but her behavior on her beach speech annoyed me a bit, and her breakroom conversation with Karen in the Job really struck me as self-centered, entitled and disrepectful so I like how this story shows some of the dark side of things. FOr me Pam is easy to forgive so I hope you dont go too hard on her. Great story. I'm hooked.
Date: May 30, 2007 05:34 pm Title: A House Divided
I didn't think anybody was going to write this story, but I'm so glad you did. This is an outstanding characterization of Karen, who is so often treated like an obstacle instead of a person, and of Jim, who cannot dump a six-month girlfriend in New York and be a mensch at the same time. Thanks for writing this.
Author's Response: Thanks a lot for the review -- its a good one when I learn a new (and perfectly fitting) word.
10 [Report This]Date: May 30, 2007 03:14 pm Title: A House Divided
Thanks so much for writing this. Keep it up. I am such a Karen fan (she's so much like me, except she's much prettier). It is more than unfair what they did to her and the only way I'll ever be able to really enjoy Jim and Pam is if they actually own up to what they did and show some serious remorse. I get so mad -- Jim and Pam fucked up Karen's job as well as her personal life, and arent even sorry. On the show, they'll probably be too happy enjoying themselves to ever win me back, but this fic is exactly what I hope happens. Jim needs to own up to all the shit he's hurled at my girl.
Also, I love the picture you paint of Karen with all the observations. The thing about body language is so right. You make her strong and vulnerable at the same time, which is great writing. Keep it coming. I love it.
Author's Response: Well I wouldn't be so hard on myself... Karen (and Pam too for that matter) are prettier than most people on this planet, and if you're a lot like her you're probably more than cool. I'm glad you're enjoying this. I'm enjoying writing it. And the body language stuff is my favorite part so I'm glad you noticed it. thanks a lot!
Date: May 30, 2007 11:36 am Title: A House Divided
wow. i really like this. i don't want to. i want to be happy with my fluffy jam. but i have to love it. because you're right. jim's a good guy. he didn't mean to hurt karen, but she OBVIOUSLY has feelings for him and he wouldn't just throw that away... he'd try to fix it. but i really don't think there's any way he can. i'm excited to see where you take this. it's very well written. you did a good job of capturing something we die hard jam-shippers tend to miss: karen's feelings for jim were real. it's hard to be upset at pam for being fancy new beesly and speaking her mind at the beach, but they could all take some lessons in timing. anyway, after a year long review, i'm looking forward to more of this. you're off to a great start.
Author's Response: Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough thoughtful review. Much appreciated. I agree with you -- deep down he's too good a guy to try not to fix things, but there really is no great way out of this. (As a writer, though, I love a big, complicated mess!) Thanks again.
Date: May 30, 2007 08:40 am Title: A House Divided
You know... this is really perfect, actually. I think we all (many of us, okay) want to see/read/know about the happiest of JAM stories, but you are ON to something here, and for the first time, I DO feel really bad for Karen.
Words I NEVER thought I'd write.
Please continue and give us/them a way to fix this so my JAM is good!!
Date: May 29, 2007 08:47 pm Title: A House Divided
Very interesting. As you figure out where it's going, I'll follow. It's certainly different from everything else I've been seeing, and your Chapter End Notes explain why very well.
10 [Report This]Date: May 29, 2007 08:17 pm Title: A House Divided
I have a really absurd level of love for this - it's one of the first real looks we've gotten in fic, not only of Karen's side of things, but that Jim gets her side and cares about her, which feels so real.
Love the way you wrote Karen and Jim, and Jim's slow realization that he has a blind spot when it comes to Pam and her actions.
I'm so intrigued to see where you take it. It's a messy situation, and I'm excited to see a story where things aren't all wrapped up in a pretty little bow.
Author's Response: Thanks very much for the comments. I'll be disappointed if the real show drives the happy bus right over Karen's grave, so I figured I'd try to bring a little balance. (If you're the same yippee as the TWOP poster, then you were already a favorite of mine)
Date: May 29, 2007 08:12 pm Title: A House Divided
Good fic...thanks for sharing.
Just wanted to point out the Katy was a red head...in the above paragraph, you say she's a blond. I hope you don't take that wrong...I'm not trying to be rude...just trying to be helpful! Otherwise, a very good fic! Keep writing!
Author's Response: Thanks for the heads up -- you're right.
8 [Report This]Date: May 29, 2007 07:37 pm Title: A House Divided
This was a powerful look inside Jim's head. But it scares me that some of his thoughts ("He hated that he could see no wrong in Pam as she had publicly trampled all over Karen's fragile little world" and "Whatever it was, he hated himself for finally loving her just as she was.") might lead him back to Karen. I'm anxious to read your next chapter, and hope that you prove me wrong!
10 [Report This]Date: May 29, 2007 06:59 pm Title: A House Divided
So as much as I love the immediate happy ending - I think I like this even more. In real life this would be a messy situation that isn't fixed in one date. I like to see that Jim has SOME feelings about what he did to Karen - unintentional or not. I like where this is going!