Date: November 30, 2008 05:55 pm Title: Puzzled
Can't remember if I commented on this fic, but I really love it. I had to re-read it a few times but I love how it jumps around. Very sad but hopeful at the end. Great job!
Author's Response: Thank you so much. I really like it too. I'm glad it wasn't too sad for you. I don't seem to be able to stick to super sad, there always has to be a little bit of hope in there at the end. :)
Date: October 28, 2008 07:26 pm Title: Puzzled
Wow...finally got caught up with all the fanfic and was blown away when I read this. Break my heart why don't you! Very glad for the happy ending. I am a sucker for them. That was beautifully written!
Author's Response: Sorry about the heartbreak; at least it ended happily. I'm really glad you liked the writing. I'm actually working on improving my writing instead of just being happy with something mediocre, so I really feel pleased with how this story came out.
Date: October 22, 2008 10:22 pm Title: Puzzled
wow - beautiful, beautiful writing Azlin. I think you hit the nail on the head with how Pam would need to recover from something like that - on her own and in her own time. The reason they are perfect for each other is that Jim loves her enough to be patient. Thank you for writing this!
Author's Response: Hey, sorry I didn't respond to this sooner! Thank you so much for the review. I'm so glad you liked the writing, and I completely agree that Pam would need to recover on her own. And poor Jim would just have to wait for her to come out of it because if he tried to force her to be with him it would just make things worse. Anyway, thanks again! I'm really glad you liked it.
Date: October 22, 2008 08:23 am Title: Puzzled
Gosh, this was just crushing to read in so many places. I can't even imagine this, but you did and you translated it so beautifully. Really gorgeous, Azlin.
Author's Response:
Thank you so much. This is high praise coming from the author of Write to Me, which I totally fell in love with, in case you hadn't noticed.
The funny thing is, I didn't imagine it. When I started writing this story all I knew was that Jim was leaving and he and Pam were no longer together and they didn't have any kids, and then the rest of the story just sort of told itself as I went along. I usually hate when authors talk about their stories like that, but in this case it really is true.
Date: October 21, 2008 03:45 pm Title: Puzzled
WOW! So many emotions in this story: love, loss, heartache, and hope. All of them are so beautifully written. Jim's pain and loss for Pam and their daughter is written so beautifully, that's impossible not to be right w/ him as he is experiencing his life crumble.
The weaving between past and present is done effortless and you do a great job of keeping me (the reader) right there in the moment with them. At the end I felt joy and sadness for them.
Author's Response: Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you liked the story and I'm especially glad the format worked for you. I've started realizing since I wrote this that maybe I don't need to stick to the traditional "once upon a time" way of telling a story and that you guys will still respond to it, which is a huge relief because there are times when I just can't write in the traditional way. Plus I like to challenge myself to do things in new ways. So hopefully this newfound freedom to experiment will lead to some good things. :) Anyway, thanks again. I really do appreciate hearing from you.
Date: October 21, 2008 08:55 am Title: Puzzled
Yay for non drug induced story reads and reviews. Although, I gotta admit, it could be funny...
Sorry Jim, but, I rather like doing puzzles. Not the mountains, water, and flowers combo you describe. A nice town setting, with lots of buildings and such. Those are my type of puzzles. Or the huge collage ones. I also enjoy those. Of course, he's more using it as an analogy, but I just felt the desire to tell you about my like of puzzles.
And that was the last random comment. Serious Azlin... you wrote this? And I don't mean it in a weird way except for the fact how did you get to be so damn awesome? I've always known you were awesome, but this catapaults you into a different level of awesomeness. The messed up with my heart strings and makes me want to cry and you captured everything so amazingly beautifully it hurts and something like that awesomeness. Which I lost my train of thought somewhere around there, but it still stands.
I can't even say what my favorite line or piece was. It just, you really felt it all, and it all felt so realistic, and it hurts and... gah.
Amazing, simply amazing.
PS: I'm glad I read this without drugs. I don't think I would have gotten it with drugs.
Author's Response:
Oh, I'm not opposed to drug-induced reviews at some point, I'm just not sure this would've been the best story to use as a guinea pig.
Well, Jim likes doing the same kinds of puzzles that my mom likes best. My mom is a total sorter when it comes to puzzles and it drives me nuts. My idea of sorting is here are edges and here are non-edges, now let's turn them all right side up and look at the box the entire time to figure out where all the pieces go. Of course, my mom's method is so much faster in the end, but the initial sorting process is just so... tedious.
I wrote it! (Did Jim say I didn't write it? I. wrote. it!) It's really quite astounding though, isn't it? Maybe my creative writing class is paying off. I knew there was a reason to stay in college one more semester.
Since you couldn't think of a favorite line I'll quote mine: "Everything is the kind of thing he would do with her if only he could see her again." I just like how it worked in context. And for some reason it's like stuck in my head today. So I'm not sure if it's my actual favorite, but it was one I knew off the top of my head.
PS: Remind me to tell you about how I came to school today and only talked to boys all day. Not exactly on purpose it just sort of worked out that way.
Date: October 21, 2008 01:31 am Title: Puzzled
I don't often read fanfic at work, and your story is why. I'm going to spend the second half of my shift in a daze, trying not to cry, not really paying attention to what I'm doing, and it's all your fault. That's how powerful this story is.
Beautifully written, amazing, powerful. You took my heart out, smashed it into a million pieces, then got out the glue and started to put it together, piece by piece.
btw, I never log in at work. I logged in specifically to write this review. now that's huge.
Author's Response: Oh dear. I hope your dazed state didn't affect anyone but yourself because if I interfered with your ability to do your job I'd feel really guilty. And is it wrong that I really like the visual of gluing your heart back together? For some reason I feel like I'm a little kid in kindergarten all over again. Finally, I know what it's like to never login at work/school and then have to for one certain story and I'm very flattered that it was mine. :)
Date: October 20, 2008 04:11 pm Title: Puzzled
Wow. I didn't have a hard time following the timeline. I read this the other day on my phone at my son's football game (missed the whole 3rd quarter). Anyway, I couldn’t get it out of my head and had to come back for a second and third read. So sad, so believable. This story has a similar plot to 'every other weekend'--but yours is so tight. Can't believe you covered so much in just 4722 words.
Author's Response:
Tell your son I apologize for his lack of parental support during the third quarter. ;) I'm really glad you connected with it. I'm ashamed to admit that I keep rereading it myself. I should really know my own story by now, but there's something about it that keeps haunting me and that I'm still trying to figure out. And I wrote the thing. Weird.
Oh, and I have to say you freaked me out with your reference to another story. I was so scared that I'd ignorantly plagiarized someone else, but I checked out the other story and it's not too similar. I hope. Anyway, glad you liked this one!
Date: October 20, 2008 08:08 am Title: Puzzled
Azlin, I am totally drained. This was so well written--beautiful and deeply moving. You killed me but then you resurrected me at the end. Does that make me a zombie? Anyway, another awesome fic from you and another reason to really, really like the idea of chocolate chip cookies for breakfast.
Author's Response: Yes, I think it does make you a zombie, but only because it's almost Halloween. ;) I'm so glad you liked the story. The funny thing about the chocolate chip cookies is that I wrote that part in knowing that my little sister was making some later on and that there would be leftover dough for me to eat the next morning for breakfast. I'm telling you chocolate chip cookie dough is the new breakfast of champions. Or maybe when I say champions what I really mean is college students.
Date: October 20, 2008 06:09 am Title: Puzzled
Wow, I love the way you wrote this. I didn't find it confusing at all, and it meshed with the changing emotions a tragedy like this brings on a couple.
*applauds* Well done.
Author's Response: Thank you so much. I'm glad it wasn't confusing for you and that the format fit the content. Thanks again for the review!
Date: October 20, 2008 12:35 am Title: Puzzled
I have a hard time reading fics. I'm just not super into fanfiction and it takes a really good story to remind me sometimes that wonderful, talented, and special storytellers do exist.
You are one of them.
This was so beautifully pieced, so elegantly written. I was sobbing by the end of it. That last sentence was enough to crush me, but in a good way that's hard to describe. Thank you for this gem of a fic.
Author's Response: Wow. This is quite possibly the most flattering review I've ever gotten. I really appreciate your kind words, and I'm so glad that you enjoyed the story. Thanks for giving this piece of fanfic a chance.
Date: October 19, 2008 10:11 pm Title: Puzzled
They named her Faith. She took theirs with her
UGH. I am continents away on a different side of the hemisphere and if you hear the sound of a heart breaking, you know what it is. :/ I can't get over how beautifully written and heartbreaking it is.
Jim's life being broken and being put back together with pieces (that you mention and detail) is actually kind of one of the best things I have ever, ever read.
I'm sorry, I'm spamming you. I'll leave it for another two weeks before I review you again.
Author's Response:
Okay, I'm ashamed to admit that I just cyber-stalked you a little bit to figure out how many continents away you really are, but yeah, you are far away. (In case the really long flight didn't tip you off.)
You never have to apologize for multiple reviews, in fact you sort of made my night. ;) Mostly, I'm so glad there are people like you out there who really respond to this kind of writing. It's not like this is the first time I've written something this way, it's just that when I write fanfic I often feel like I have to tell a traditional story in a traditional way and that's sometimes a bit limiting.
Anyway, thanks for loving it. :) I'll respond to your other review in the morning.
Date: October 19, 2008 10:04 pm Title: Puzzled
Wow. This was so incredibly heartbreaking and at times difficult to read. (Due to the angst, not the way you wrote it.) And then when you think all is lost forever, there is a surprising happy ending. Thank heavens.
I really liked how you moved from one place in time to another, and how you compared/tied in what Jim was thinking with their lives as pieces of a puzzle.
Awesome job!
Author's Response: Thanks for the review. I'm glad my writing didn't hinder your reading. ;) And I'm especially glad that the quick scenes and frequent switches worked out all right. I was hoping that would be the case, but I wasn't sure if it would all make sense in the end, so thanks again!
Date: October 19, 2008 10:04 pm Title: Puzzled
This was gorgeous, beautifully written. and absolutely heartbreaking. I'd go more into detail but I don't think I can.
Fantastic, though. Wonderful. In-character but stretched to the extremes of their emotions - you never lose a beat. The way you contrasted the pain with that happiness in the alternating passages is beautiful. And you've made me ache for Jim like I've never ached before. :/ It would be easier to write from Pam's perspective, I think, in this sort of situation? To make it hit harder? but you handled Jim's perfectly.
And I adore the way you wrote this, too - simple, short, and beautiful. It was great to read and notice the way you wrote it as much as it killed me to read what you wrote. (Also, you made me think of asymptote graphs without wincing. :P) And that's skill. That's beautiful. You astound me. And thank you for that little bit of hope at the end. It was both believable, bittersweet and hopeful, and - just - also? You made me cry. I haven't cried reading a fic in god knows how long (see: never), so congratulations.
Basically, this entire thing was beautiful, from end to end, and whatever I can say won't do it justice, so I'll just shut up here and sob. And read it over again. I just wish I could make sure you know it better...if that makes sense.
Author's Response:
Asymptote graphs! So that's what they're called! The extent of my research was looking at one web site and it just said "other functions" and then there was too much math going on and I gave up. I mean, obviously I knew the concept still from high school algebra, but I'd forgotten the name.
Anyway, I'm so glad you enjoyed the story. I was aching for Jim too as I was writing it. And I always knew there would be that bit of hope at the end, but I'm glad it felt believable because I really was worried that it would be too abrupt and wouldn't fit with the rest of the story.
Date: October 19, 2008 08:32 pm Title: Puzzled
Oh man, this made me bawl. I'm seriously in love with this story so hard. I listened to the last half of "Abbey Road" over and over while I read it, and just... damn. The way it flows, the brief scenes, it's... the whole thing is just incredible. I've got nothing else other than platitudes. So amazing.
Author's Response:
I always feel a little guilty when I write something that I know has the potential to make people cry. Anyway it's funny that you mention listening to something over and over again while reading because I actually had a certain song playing on repeat for almost the whole time I was writing this. and the even weirder thing is that the song is kind of upbeat, though I guess the lyrics talk about longing sort of. I would've mentioned the song in my notes, but it doesn't really fit the story, so I didn't. But yeah, I just think it's cool that we were both listening to something on repeat. :)
Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
Date: October 19, 2008 06:39 pm Title: Puzzled
Wow that was so sad! You really pulled it out in the end though! Great job!
Author's Response: Thanks! I know it was really sad, but I'm glad you made it through all the sad stuff until the end, because I think it makes it worth it. Anyway, thanks again. I really appreciate the review.
Date: October 19, 2008 05:50 pm Title: Puzzled
This (unfortunately) seems very realistic, and true to the characters of the show. I believe Jim is destined to always be the love sick puppy, left to pick up the pieces of his heart after Pam breaks it. Your storyline was true to their characters, and it was sooooo good.
I also love those 'pieces' of Jim's heart that you mention. I love fics that have those tiny, offhand details in them - they make it seem so much fuller and richer. The little things like Pam's chocolate chip cookies and the view of their house make something as abstract as true love seem tangible.
To put it short, this was an awesome blossom with double extra awesome. I am in awe, my friend.
Author's Response: Thank you so much for your review! I really am glad you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun filling in all those details and I think putting these characters in such a realistic, albeit tragic, situation really helped me to see them in new ways, so that was really interesting for me to write. Again, I'm so glad you liked it. Reviews like yours are why I keep posting. ;)
Date: October 19, 2008 05:21 pm Title: Puzzled
I think it's so poignant how he keeps buying her presents but knows not to send them. The year he forgets is so bittersweet to me.
Lovely job. :)
And I wouldn't wish my pregnancy nightmares on my worst enemy, and that includes Dwight. ;)
Author's Response:
You know you've got me thinking... I think there's a real lack of Pregnant!Dwight fics, especially after the canon "evidence" in Baby Shower, and you seem like just the right person to remedy this. I'll be expecting to see something from you shortly. ;)
Anyway, thanks again for all the encouragement and for continuing to point out my mistakes. I love it because my absolute least favorite thing in the world is reading over my old stories and seeing typos or grammar errors. You're the best!
Date: October 19, 2008 03:16 pm Title: Puzzled
... If you hadn't let them get back together at the end, I probably would have had to kill myself. That's how painful this was. It's the most beautifully heartbreaking fic I've ever read, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Fantastic job.
Author's Response: Wow. Thank you. I'm definitely taking it as a compliment. And yeah, I couldn't have written it that sad if I didn't know they were eventually going to get back together. Thanks again! I'm so glad you liked it.
Date: October 19, 2008 01:57 pm Title: Puzzled
Wow...this was just fantastic. So Sad, but really beautiful and a great ending.
Author's Response: Thank you so much. I'm very glad you enjoyed it. And I'm glad you liked the ending because I was worried it wouldn't fit somehow.
Date: October 19, 2008 01:48 pm Title: Puzzled
Wow, that was...
I loved the way it was written, really. It wasn't difficult for me at all to keep track of.
However, I have to go calm the shakes/sobs now. Fantastic job, I love things that make me cry.
Yes, I'm totally weird.
Author's Response:
I'm so glad you liked it. This fic actually came out of an assignment for my creative writing class in which we were supposed to write a piece with the structure of something else. Obviously, for this I used the structure of a puzzle. For my class I ended up writing something else, but I was so intrigued by the idea of a puzzle that I couldn't stop writing it that way once I started.
Anyway, sorry for the long aside. And I'm also sorry about the shakes, but it sounds like you enjoyed the overall experience, so I guess I'm not that sorry. Thanks again!