Reviews For Taking a Chance
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Reviewer: JennInTheCity Signed [Report This]
Date: May 28, 2008 05:29 pm Title: and sore must be the storm

I really, really liked this! I love Pam cleaning Jim's place and just not wanting to leave. I can't wait to see Pam meeting Jim's family!

Author's Response: Glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for reading. :)

Reviewer: NanReg Signed [Report This]
Date: May 28, 2008 01:24 pm Title: and sore must be the storm

P.S.  Of course you know that I had to give this another read (just because).  Forgot to mention that I love the quote in your chapter note.

Author's Response: I'm obsessed with quotations. Always have been. And there are so, so many that describe this relationship...I think I'm going to start off all my new chapters with them.

Reviewer: Mountaineers02 Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 28, 2008 12:41 pm Title: and sore must be the storm

Loved it! I am always thrilled to learn more about Jim's life outside of work, since we're given so very little detail about him in the actual show. Loved the little descriptions of his apartment, and I can see this as Jim's real life. Please hurry with the picnic chapter. I'll be looking forward to it!

Author's Response: Thanks Mountaineers02! I kind of like that they don't give us much background detail, that way I get to make it up. :) Thanks for reading, and I'm at work on the next part...hopefully it will flow the way Jim's parts have been doing for me lately. Thanks for reading!

Reviewer: bigtunette Signed [Report This]
Date: May 28, 2008 12:37 pm Title: and sore must be the storm

Between this and "That's Coming," you're one of my favorite authors now, too. You get inside both their heads so well, and I can't tell, at all, that you had problems writing Pam. Will we find out who actually wrote that stuff about Jim? I bet it was Ryan. ;)

Author's Response: Thanks! I'm glad to hear my Pam-struggles aren't as obvious as to others as they are when I'm writing them. As for the notes...well, maybe it's a mystery. Or maybe we'll find out. I haven't decided :)~ Thanks for reading!

Reviewer: NanReg Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 28, 2008 10:57 am Title: and sore must be the storm

Callisto, it's official:  you are now one of my favorite authors.  This story makes me so happy.  It's like reading a great novel, one that you hate to put down.  I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter.  So many warm little moments.  One could never guess that Pam was giving you a hard time.  You capture both Pam and Jim so well.  I really can't wait until you update, but I'll try to be patient.



Author's Response: Thank you NanReg! What lovely things you always have to say. Very inspiring, and I'm glad you're still enjoying the story, which really was only supposed to be three chapters. (I was lamenting that I didn't just pick a haiku for my chapter titles...) I think the next one will come faster, Jim's parts just seem to come more quickly. Thanks for sticking with me!

Reviewer: Jordon Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 28, 2008 10:55 am Title: Hope is the thing with feathers

woohoo, update!

(very excited to see this, if you couldn't tell)

I'm really enjoying your story as you take us through the first months together, and the steps people take in being a couple. Everything is very real, and the characters are true to the show - if you were having problems with Pam, I couldn't tell. Anyway, a very fun update, thanks so much!



Author's Response: Thanks Jordon! I'm glad you're still along for the ride. I don't know why but the Pam chapters are really making me struggle, whereas Jim's chapters just seem to pour out...but I'm glad it doesn't seem like it. Thanks for reading!

Reviewer: iwantphillyjim Signed [Report This]
Date: May 20, 2008 05:24 am Title: and sweetest in the gale is heard

I really like this story, you're doing a great job! keep it coming.

Author's Response: Thanks!

Reviewer: Vampiric Blood Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 19, 2008 08:12 pm Title: and sweetest in the gale is heard

You are most DEFINITELY one of my favorite authors now!!!  I cannot believe how deftly you are flipping back and forth between Pam & Jim in these chapters.  I love Jim's nascent confidence in the relationship alternating with moments of sheer terror.

Too much great text to pick favorite sections.  Keep it coming!



Author's Response: Aw shucks. :D Seriously, thanks a bunch, and it's all due to you. If you and NanReg hadn't pushed i wouldn't have bothered adding to this, but I'm having a lot of fun with it. Not really sure exactly where it's going to end, just letting it write itself, but I've got the basic idea down for the next one. But I learned my lesson from chp. 4 and will not be rushing it.

Reviewer: second drink Signed 8 [Report This]
Date: May 19, 2008 03:42 pm Title: Hope is the thing with feathers

I really enjoyed this. It was well written, and alternating between Jim and Pam's thoughts was a nice touch. There
was a nice mix of dialogue and narration. You've really managed to get inside their heads and write down their thoughts in a believable way.

I can’t. Those fucking words again. My throat closed up and I shut my eyes tight and reached behind me to grab onto the railing, afraid I might actually collapse. Not again. Oh dear sweet Jesus not again."

That part killed me. My stomach actually plummeted reading that because I could really feel the shock and panic Jim was going through. Really great writing.

The only thing that I didn't quite find believable was Karen writing those messages and sticking them in Jim's desk. It just seemed a bit ooc and immature for her to stick angry notes in his desk, and somewhat different than the level headed person the show has portrayed her as. That's just my opinion though. Please don't take this personally, I really enjoyed your story otherwise.

Author's Response: Thanks for the feedback! I really like to hear everything, including stuff that doesn't work. And...I probably shouldn't say this because I don't like foreshadowing, but... it really DOESN'T seem like Karen's style, does it? ;)

Reviewer: lisahoo Signed [Report This]
Date: May 19, 2008 02:39 pm Title: and sweetest in the gale is heard

Love when Jim tells Pam she is home -- and that she already has a bag in the car.  I adore how they are in sync so soon.


Author's Response: :D Thanks lisahoo, I'm glad you're still with me!

Reviewer: NanReg Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 19, 2008 02:23 pm Title: and sweetest in the gale is heard

Callisto, so very happy to see an update to one of my favorites.  This chapter was a gem. 

The part of me still capable of rational thought knew better, but I have a tendency to see shadows everywhere, and she still scared the hell out of me on so many levels. She had my heart in her hands and she could just destroy me, so easily, unthinkingly.  Oh, that is just wonderful.  

I'm so appreciative of the fact that you can put out such a long chapter and have it be so solid from start to finish, and you're not done yet!  Something to look forward to : )



Author's Response: Thank you NanReg! I really love when people point out particular passages that struck them and that was one I was proud of, so...thanks!! Well, on to the next Pam-pov chapter, I've got the idea sketched out but I hurried the last one and wasn't altogether happy with it, so it may be another week or so. Fortunately it's been pretty slow at work and now I'm off for three days. :D Thanks for sticking with me, there's more in the works.

Reviewer: Jordon Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 19, 2008 01:59 pm Title: and sweetest in the gale is heard

This has really become my one of my all time favorite post-The Job fics. I love the alternating narratives, and the characters are written spot on. Also, some of the little details you've thrown in, like Cole Hamels (my favorite pitcher!) really add depth and flavor to a great story.

Lastly, was the quote you heard from Ben Stein from one of his appearances on Loveline? I was just listening to one of his shows with Adam and Drew on my iPod, and he talked about that exactly, along with his book.



Author's Response: Thanks Jordon! It's all in the details...I can get kind of obsessive about that sort of thing. Hamels really did almost pitch a no-hitter on a Wednesday in May of last year. As for Ben Stein, no, I was just cruising through quotation websites, because I am a sucker for good quotes, and that one just jumped out at me. Thanks so much for your encouragement and feedback! I'm having so much fun writing this.

Reviewer: bashert Signed 8 [Report This]
Date: May 14, 2008 02:47 pm Title: and never stops at all

I feel terrible for Karen, and at the same time, the "sorry if it made you feel weird" comment makes me want to hit her. I feel so conflicted! (That's a good thing, I swear!)

I loved this! You have Pam written so well and believable. I also love the idea that they spent the whole weekend together (minus 47 minutes). Great job!

Author's Response: Thanks! More to come...

Reviewer: Vampiric Blood Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 14, 2008 01:27 pm Title: and never stops at all

Well, I am SO glad to see chapter 4 is posted and the TOC does not say "Complete!"  Another fine chapter.

Author's Response: This chapter was probably not my best effort, but thanks for sticking with me and keeping my confidence up :)

Reviewer: NanReg Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 14, 2008 10:52 am Title: and never stops at all

*NanReg does a happy little jig despite the fact that she's at work*  Callisto, you may have struggled but it comes off as effortless.  Really.  You did such a great job at capturing the passion of the weekend, the insecurities of the new lovers, the nervousness--all of that and more.  Karen's conversation with Pam was a unique spin that I don't think I've read before.  It was so believable.  I could actually feel compassion toward Karen in this sticky situation without hating Jim or Pam.  Yet another fine chapter in a fantastic story.  Can't wait for more.

Author's Response: Thanks Nan! I did struggle really hard with this one. Believability is key I think to any good story, so I'm glad it came off as realistic. I'm looking forward to writing the next Jim-POV chapter. Glady you're still coming along with me :)

Reviewer: Dundie All-Star Signed 9 [Report This]
Date: May 12, 2008 10:27 am Title: and sings the tune--without the words

Here's another review, as promised! This was an awesome interpretation of their first date, and like it says at the end of this chapter, no wonder he bought a ring after only a week! You definitely proved it was plausible. As for "emo bits" that may stand out, I definitely noticed some (especially in chapter 2) that seemed out of place, but I didn't find most of them too distracting. And you could definitely, DEFINITELY expand this, especially if you have more ideas for it. Great job!

Author's Response: Thanks for coming back and reviewing this for me!! I'll probably go back and chop some stuff out of ch. 2 eventually but right now I'm just trying to work out something for the next chapter. I have about three different versions but I think what I've got going now is going to be the final draft. Thanks again for reading and I look forward to hearing what you think about what I come up with. :D

Reviewer: Sevian Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 06, 2008 09:35 pm Title: and sings the tune--without the words

Wonderful and real and sexy and just the right emotions - I love it!

Author's Response: :) My editing instincts keep asking if it's too ...sappy?... in places...so thanks for that!

Reviewer: Vampiric Blood Signed [Report This]
Date: May 01, 2008 04:25 pm Title: and sings the tune--without the words

Slow day today, not much new ... so I reread this story.  I just love how you have made Pam the aggressor here.  That she's got Jim half undressed while she's still fully clothed. 

Favorite line that makes me smile every time I read it:

I’d waited how many years and now I have stage fright?

Yup, I'm voting for nine, count them nine, more chapters.



Author's Response: I'll come back to this one VB...want to finish up my other one first. I promise there will be more though. Thanks for the encouragement!

Reviewer: Mountaineers02 Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: May 01, 2008 12:56 pm Title: and sings the tune--without the words

Callisto, you're a great author! Keep up the good work, please!

Author's Response: Thanks!!

Reviewer: NanReg Signed [Report This]
Date: April 29, 2008 07:07 pm Title: and sings the tune--without the words

I'm with Vampiric Blood:  more, more, more!  We're greedy, but we're appreciative : ) 

Author's Response: All right, coming back to work on this one now! Sorry I haven't gotten around to responding before, had to finish that other one, it was just bursting to get out. Next chapter of this one is giving me a heck of a time...

Reviewer: EverybodyHurts Signed [Report This]
Date: April 29, 2008 06:14 pm Title: and sings the tune--without the words

That was fantastic writing, especially them affirming their love for each other, both verbally and physically.
I could easily see Jim thinking, "She's the one, always has been," as he picked out her engagement ring the following week.

Author's Response: Wow...thanks! :D

Reviewer: Vampiric Blood Signed [Report This]
Date: April 29, 2008 05:03 pm Title: Hope is the thing with feathers

Oh no!  Unacceptable!  Your readers are all totally enraptured, like me, I'm sure!  We want 12 chapters.  One for every line of the poem.  Three stanzas!  Can we take a poll?

Author's Response: Really?

Reviewer: dancer288 Signed [Report This]
Date: April 29, 2008 03:42 pm Title: and sings the tune--without the words

great job...hopefully more??

Author's Response: Yah, getting back to it now!

Reviewer: Vampiric Blood Signed [Report This]
Date: April 29, 2008 12:07 pm Title: and sings the tune--without the words

OK, I looked for the Emily Dickinson poem.  Hope has 12 lines.  If you're taking a line per chapter title, that must mean we get 12 chapters!  Yay!

This is just beautiful!  Can't even pick a favorite line because it's all so good.  You have a fine voice and define the characters really well.



Author's Response: Um...yeah...about that...I wasn't thinking of getting past the first stanza, but...well, we'll see what I can come up with! Probably done after the next one though. Thanks again for the kind words. Constructive compliments make my day :)

Reviewer: Jordon Signed 10 [Report This]
Date: April 29, 2008 10:34 am Title: Hope is the thing with feathers

Good golly this is fantastic. Incredibly detailed and descriptive, and Jim and Pam are just perfectly written. Great, great job, are you sure this is your first story?

Author's Response: Thanks! What a nice compliment from an English Lit student! :)rnrnThis is the second story I've posted, but i've been writing for a long time. This is just such a fun, great place (and fun, great characters) to practice with.

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