10 [Report This]Date: January 07, 2008 02:01 pm Title: The Job
Shootingstars, this chapter in particular was absolutely breathtaking. I truly love these glimpses into their minds--they seem so real and true. There are simply too many beautiful lines to quote, but I'll try.
"He can’t stop comparing their cold, sharp lines with the image of a soft watercolor that he’s been pretending not to notice for weeks." Heartbreaking.
"Jan might be out of control but he can’t laugh at the way they treat her. He turns his eyes away from her humiliation."
Your observations are spot on in my opinion. Hope to hear more from you soon!
Author's Response: Thank you so much for following this story throughout. It means a lot that you took the time to comment on each chapter as it appeared and I'm glad the ending didn't let you down. Thanks again :)
Date: January 07, 2008 01:11 pm Title: Casino Night
Wow. Just....wow. I am so sad to see this story go, but I can honestly say it was one of the most beautifully written, moving, and inspiring stories I have ever read here. Thank you so much for you dedication to keeping in style with the characters and continuity in terms of their actions. It honestly felt like I was watching the episode myself, except with a microscope that could see into their thoughts and hopes and dreams.
I also loved how you continued with your hello, goodbye theme throughout the story, and then finally in the end they were just...ONE. Beautiful!
Author's Response: Thank you so much for reading and commenting throughout. I really can't believe how nice people have been, this is only my first fic here. Thanks again :)
10 [Report This]Date: January 07, 2008 01:11 pm Title: The Job
Once again, you've written a beautiful chapter. And once again, you managed to get right inside of Jim and Pam's heads (if they were real, of course.) I loved this series!! I hope you will write more like it.
10 [Report This]Date: December 25, 2007 07:11 pm Title: Beach Games
Wow...I registered just so I could comment on this series. I love this so much. The writing style fits so perfectly with the content. The short sentences match fleeting thoughts. And one of my favorite things is the dual POV's in every chapter and the hello/goodbye cues. You did a really good job matching their feelings and Pam's growth. Not only has she become independent, but she understands Jim better than before. You took two already close characters and made them inseperable. My absolute favorite chapter was the part with the phone call (The Initiation?). I wanted to stop and review that part but couldn't stop reading. You nailed the angst and anxiety and comfort. You've probably heard this before, but I've been in that situation before - loving a very close friend and having to find that familiar routine after a period of separation. During nearly every conversation we had there were hello/goodbye moments that I relieve and regret. I never managed to get to fancy new beesley status, unfortunatley. The point of the digression was to thank you for describing it in a way that I never could and tell you that it was freakishly accurate. The only negative I have is that I would have liked a Jim POV in Chapter 7. I understand why you didn't include one, but I would have enjoyed seeing your take on how Jim felt/thought during Pam's infamous speech. Sorry this is so long and scattered, I haven't yet had time to sit and think about my reaction to this series clearly, this is written in a flurry of pure enjoyment. By far my favorite that I've read here (and that's a lot). Absolutely can't wait until the last chapter is added!!!!! Awesome job!!!! Please keep writing
Author's Response: Wow. You just completely floored me. I cannot believe this story was enough to prompt you to go through the trouble of registering but I'm extremely glad, and flattered that it was. I'm still re-reading what you said in disbelief to be honest. I'm new to The Office and I fell in love with this pairing pretty much instantly. I have so many ideas for fics but whenever I sat down to write I couldn't seem to start. When I did, this style came out and luckily it worked out perfectly for the story. More than anything, the story started as a way for me to go through, look back at the episodes and understand the pairing better. I decided to share it on a whim and I'm so glad people have enjoyed it and found it believable. As for chapter seven, I really wanted a Jim POV too but I decided a while back that it should be all Pam in the way that Casino Night is all Jim. Still, I promise you'll find a bit of Jim reflecting on Pam's speech in Chapter 8. Again, thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to leave me a comment, and such a long one as well. I can't tell you how much it means to know that people are reading and enjoying. Thanks :)
9 [Report This]Date: December 23, 2007 05:36 pm Title: Phyllis' Wedding
"Still Jim underneath the new suits and the new life and the lies he tells himself every morning."
This sentence is just beautiful.
10 [Report This]Date: December 22, 2007 05:50 pm Title: Beach Games
Yes, an end to the angst! I was thrilled to read this chapter's summary and see no (Goodbye). :)
Aah, so many good insights in here, as always.
The way you write Pam's epiphany here is exactly how I see it. I loved the realization in this line:
She can’t imagine why she ever thought the truth could be worse than the lies she’s been telling herself.
I love it because yes, it's a seemingly-sudden moment of change for her, but at the same time it's something that's been building for a long time.
And her loving the man Jim used to be, and knowing that he's not happy being the man he is now either, and her realizing the parallels of desperation between the two of them -- so great. I'm excited for the conclusion. :)
Author's Response: Thanks thirtypercent. Believe me, I was so glad to write this chap without a (Goodbye). I'm glad you found Pam's epiphany believable because it was really difficult to write, in fact I was probably more nervous about tackling it than I am about writing The Job. As ever, thanks for reading :)
Date: December 21, 2007 08:43 pm Title: Beach Games
yay ! no goodbyes ! :) this chapter makes me so happy for pam. I'm glad that she finally is strong enough to tell the truth :)
Date: December 21, 2007 08:03 pm Title: Beach Games
Oh I'm so excited! This was such a great chapter!
Date: December 21, 2007 07:33 pm Title: Beach Games
Beautiful Pam POV. Took me right back to that episode and that particular scene. So well done.
10 [Report This]Date: December 21, 2007 06:30 pm Title: Beach Games
Really strong chapter. So looking forward to your take on The Job.
Date: December 21, 2007 05:45 pm Title: Beach Games
And for the first time, she realizes why.
It wasn’t about bravery, or hope, or selfishness, or any of the things she’s let herself think it was.
It was desperation.
These lines made ME understand, all these months later, the greater significance of the coal walk. Thank you for this.
10 [Report This]Date: December 21, 2007 03:01 pm Title: Beach Games
Magic. You are clairvoyant, I swear. The way you get inside Jim and Pam's heads and translate what they are saying to what they are feeling is just magic. Can't wait for the big finish!
Author's Response: Thanks so much! This is my first fic in this fandom so I'm absolutely thrilled to see people enjoying this. Thanks for reading :)
10 [Report This]Date: December 16, 2007 10:16 am Title: The Negotiation
"Suddenly he's trembling and alone, crying silently because that life, that life with her, is all he's ever wanted."
Hands down the most beautiful line I've ever read in a fanfic. This story is amazing.
8 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2007 08:10 pm Title: The Negotiation
"He ignores the knowledge that any moment with Pam, even the bad ones, feels more real than a thousand moments with Karen." Beautiful line. I just love the way you're writing both Jim and Pam's POV of the same scenario. And the angst is so much easier to read knowing there's a happy ending to S3.
10 [Report This]Date: December 14, 2007 06:57 am Title: The Negotiation
Wow! Powerful stuff. You really did a great job illustrating what Jim and Pam were thinking and feeling during that break room scene. (I still have a hard time watching it..too painful.) Even though it was depressing, it was real and beautifully written. Can't wait for more!
Date: December 14, 2007 05:45 am Title: The Negotiation
Wow. And Ow. These two lines just leveled me:
He wishes all those things weren’t so inexorably tied up with loving her so he could have held onto them.
Sometimes he wishes losing her hadn’t meant losing himself along the way.
Gah! That is the sad story of S3 Jim in a nutshell. Nicely done.
8 [Report This]Date: December 10, 2007 09:49 pm Title: Phyllis' Wedding
There was so much to love about this chapter, but I think this was my favorite line:
"The last coherent thought he can manage is that it always seems to be in parking lots that his heart falls to pieces."
Date: December 05, 2007 06:42 pm Title: Phyllis' Wedding
“Oh, I’m pacing myself,” she says, with a smile.
He wants to say she’s been pacing herself for years and it’s about time she stopped it.
He wants to offer her his hand and a dance and maybe, just maybe, his heart (again).
He wants to do something, anything, to give her a sign that he’s still here. Still Jim underneath the new suits and the new life and the lies he tells himself every morning.
He wants to give her a chance.
And after this, I shut off the DVD, thank you very much. Wanted to wring their necks after this episode. Another Valentine's Day down the drain. Dammit. Jim better propose on the next Valentine's to make up for these last two we've had to endure.
10 [Report This]Date: December 04, 2007 08:13 pm Title: Phyllis' Wedding
Oh jeez. Oh my heart, it hurts. And my stomach, and my arms. Gah, Phyllis, your wedding sucks.
Ok, I think I've gotten that out of my system. For the moment. Anyway... I thought you did such a great job here. You really captured that killer aspect of the episode -- dashed hopes and misunderstandings on both sides. And you explained their thoughts so well. Oh, Jim's thoughts at the end. AAAH. I can't wait for you to get to the end of season 3.
She can’t look at him because when she sees herself reflected back in his eyes, she sees a coward.
Ouch. Such a good line.
Author's Response: Phyllis, no offence, but yeah, your wedding SUCKED. Sorry about the various body parts to which I've caused pain by making you relive the ep.rnrnThis episode was actually really difficult to tackle since there's not much contact but there's a lot of separate moments that say a lot. rnrnThanks so much for reading and reviewing :)
Date: December 04, 2007 02:30 pm Title: Phyllis' Wedding
She wishes she could stop pacing herself, wishes she could take the handbrake off her heart and let the truth pour out.
...reminding him that he has a girlfriend and a new life and an almost, sort of, slightly, haphazardly, patched up broken heart that really shouldn’t be entering into any strenuous activity just yet.
Beautifully symmetrical lines. Great job with this!
Date: December 04, 2007 12:39 pm Title: Phyllis' Wedding
You really seem to have their voices down. I am really enjoying this. Looking forward to the next installment.
Author's Response: Thanks! I'm still feeling out this fandom so it's nice to hear people find this believable :)
Date: December 04, 2007 10:17 am Title: Phyllis' Wedding
Ow. Make me relive Phyllis' Wedding why don't you? I suppose we need to hit bottom before it hurts enough to climb out. Dammit, where are those writers with my happy (for Pam & Jim anyway) S4? Oh, right, out picketing to get a fair deal. Nicely done SS.
Author's Response: Sorry for making you relive the utter horror that was that episode! I can't promise the next chap will be any better since I'm planning on tackling Cocktails/The Neogtiation. However I can promise a happy ending :) Thanks for reading!
Date: December 03, 2007 04:04 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
"He goes home and thinks about how, despite everything in between, he was happier this time last year than he is now. There was heartache and pain, but there was her."
That was just beautiful. Sad and heartbreaking, but beautiful.
Date: December 01, 2007 08:37 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
This story is simply fabulous and I'm glad you found this fandom. So many excellent lines. Mine are listed here:
She can’t stand the thought that she made him hate the man he was, not when that’s the man she loves.
It’s a new sort of pain, smiling and laughing with Karen and knowing that the poor girl has no idea of the mess she’s walked into, has no idea of how the shy receptionist is pining after her boyfriend. She wonders if this is how Jim used to feel.
He tells himself that the new him doesn’t hurt as much.
I also love how you mention their New Year's resolutions. Pam wants to become more confident; Jim wants to let himself love Karen. The writers so often mentioned S3 as Pam's parallel journey to Jim's in S2 and you have definitely captured that theme in this story and especially this chapter.
I can tolerate the sadness knowing that nowadays, Pam is shopping at the Steamtown Mall, picking out a saucy red teddy to surprise Jim with on Christmas eve. No lime green undies for Beesly. :)
Looking forward to the rest of your story.
Author's Response: Thank you! I'm glad I found this fandom too, and it's a such a brilliant one for fic writing since we see so little of the actual relationships in the show. rnI love the idea of Pam having a sort of parallel journey in s3 to s2 Jim. That always gets me when I watch s3, my little comments switch from 'Oh, Jim' to 'Oh, Pam."rnAnd yes, these days Pam is having a wonderful Christmas and looking forward to many more to come.rnThanks for reading :)
Date: November 29, 2007 05:18 pm Title: A Benihana Christmas
Oh my god! I've got parallels coming out of my ears (in a good way). I never realized that there were so many ways they intersect. Fantastic insight, as always, especially: And after all, she did pick his teapot.
Author's Response: Thanks :) I actually hadn't thought of the parallels myself until I started to write this chap and I couldn't rewatch any clips (youtube left me high and dry) so I read the MTT ep guide for the s2 and s3 Christmas eps. The parallels just wouldn't go away. Thanks so much for continuing to read and review, it means a lot to see people are following this story.