Reviewer: Susan M Signed 10
Date: January 06, 2008
Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
Okay, I'm tired and so this is going to be pretty blunt so send the kids out of the room for a second.
I fu*king hate babyfic. Seriously. No offense to those who write it, and from the amount of it that gets written people must really love it, so no offense to those folks either. It's just not for me.
HOLD ON - this is a positive review. Just stay with me a second.
I was chatting with someone when I started reading this, and I even said to them, "Oh damnit, Allentown is babyfic -- I'm not going to like this." Except Allentown isn't just babyfic -- and I'm glad that I stayed with it because usually I shut my browser the second the pee stick turns pink.
I just burned through all eleven chapters and I'm sitting here now all sniffly because it was just so incredible.
In my opinion the best fics are those that are true to the characters, and true to canon (or fanon - hello, Jonathan), but build on both in a way that adds to our understanding of them. This entire story is so spot on. It takes the JAM storyline in a direction that is interesting and fresh, but also feels familiar. I really have been missing our show lately, and this fic was as satisfying and enjoyable as the actual show, so kudos to you, sweetpea.
I'm glad to see this story was awarded a ribbon. It's well deserved.
And that video made me all schmoopy. :D
Author's Response:
Okay, I love you so much it hurts. When I first started posting this story, I was afraid it was going to be pegged as babyfic - and personally, I have nothing against it at all! If it's done right (See: LoveFool) it's wonderful. But I knew this wasn't about the baby, really. Poor little Natalie was really just a plot device (like Karen, only...smaller) for Pam's storyline. I was worried that she seemed ambivalent about being pregnant in the beginning - I think that would be a real emotion she might have, but I know a lot of readers don't want to think JAMbabies wouldn't make her the happiest camper in the park.
Anyway...thank you so much for reading this and, what? As satisfying as the show? Good grief, that might be the best thing ever! I've been missing J & P and the whole gang so much these days! Stupid greedy studios! The video was my first (obviously!) attempt and I'll admit that I was bawling like a baby while I was finishing it. Couldn't have done that without all your hard work.
Thank you so much, Susanita, for sticking with the story and for this awesome review. :-*