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Nov. 18th, 2007 04:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blamebramptonI always liked the White Rabbit in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I thought he was funny, running about constantly, buffeted by the fates and tardiness. No one mentioned that he was just representative of adult life ...
This month has been a bad one for many. For me it has been medium-sized grievances that I will deal with. But others on my flist are having serious problems that are hard. And I only know a few of you well enough to know what to say. For the others I feel deep sympathy, and wish I could do something useful. In the absence of a huge fund of money to fix problems that can be fixed with cash or buy presents/hoidatys for those whose problems can't, I come bearing fic recs. Because escapes for a short while can help, too.
Corridors of Power, bybyblythe was recommended to me by anthimaeria. I think. Since, as you may have noticed, I have the memory of a slightly vague stoat*, I could be wrong (again. I previously thought that jadzialove had recced it.) ETA: It WAS anthimaeria! I thank her a great deal as it was a very great joy. The Ministry decides that it needs stronger connections within the Muggle bastions of power. Who better to send than two of its most charismatic young wizards? That's right: Harry and Draco in Westminster.
Depicting Harry as a hardworking MP and Draco embracing the most decadent traditions of the Lords, this boded well from the first paragraphs. (My first laugh came from Harry's party affiliation: Liberal Democrat.) With a keen eye for procedure and a finely honed sense of voice, Blythe's style is perfect for this tale of young wizards in power. For any reader who has ever thought the Potterverse needed a good dose of FU or Humphrey Appleby, here is the perfect answer. And for those to whom the last sentence read as Ancient Greek trigonometry, Blythe tells a story wherein our two heroes cross swords in debates and PR challenges, stay awake through Question Time and leave off their growing longing for some more solid engagement in time to respond to division bells. Over 10 medium-length chapters plus an epilogue.
Blythe's greatest genius lies in her easy mastery of details (often explained for Americans in hilarious footnotes). She is also a dab hand with the smouldering and her Epilogue of Great Sauciness was a wonderful ending (mmmm, cycle lanes!) My favourite part of all will be immediately apparent to any Spectator readers, and when you consider there's also a brief Red Ken mention (I do love him so), it's no wonder that I can't stop raving about this one.
Intangible byladybracknell is a completely unexpected joy. She gives a meeting of minds between Sirius and Lily, who comfort each other while James rages over personal issues. Like the relationship that builds between the two of them, this fc takes a premise that should be illicit and makes it seem very right, even loving. What she writes most beautifully is the deep love that both Sirius and Lily have for James, even when slapping him would be a more intelligent solution. It's a shortish piece, 4228 words, but it resonates long after it ends. And for all there there is drama and sex, at heart, it's really about the important parts of friendship.
Welcome to the Broom Closet byjanicechess is one of two gay club fics I've loved in recent weeks. This may be because our local one is shut and I am missing the colour and movement ... Over two centuries ago Herbert was stabbed at the doors of his home after being interrupted with his gay lover on the street. After holding her dying son in her arms, his mother dedicates her home's future to protecting young men like him. Which is why nearly 21-year-old Harry Potter finds himself talking to the ghost of Herbert as he makes his first ever visit to a gay club, having been lured by a very persuasive advert. No prizes for guessing who he encounters there, but a series of casual encounters shifts over time. Beyond H/D, janicechess really excels with her side characters, from a smart and genuine Ginny, Ron and Hermione to the delight that is Herbert. Witty one liners and a warm and humane sensibility abound -- the perfect fic for a day when you need a spot of uplifting.
And finally, thanks to a certain beta, I have read Snarry, and now I have listened to one of my favourite writers and read some more. The Snarry_holidays exchange came to my attention throughsansa1970's recommendations and I couldn't agree with her more. Whispers, the other club fic for this month, is a highly original approach which plays with ideas of identity in very smart ways. Persona non Grata is a similarly smartly written story built around Harry's determination to protect Snape from himself -- and hordes of apparently scheming shopkeepers. Naturally, all is not as it appears. Both are well away from the power disparty of teacher/student relationships that stopped me from reading this ship when I first met fandom. Both are also funny and smart, well-written stories!
I don't expect life to sort itself out for another month at least, so please excuse the relative quietness. But I am still writing, just not quickly! I hope that those with more serious things weighing them down have a far faster improvement in their circumstances.
* Just a side note here, I actually DO have a wretched memory. One too many hits to the head with moving vehicles. (And yes, I have given up commuter cycling, cheers. But may move back to London if BoJo wins and further clubs the cars.) Never take it personally if I vague out at you; it's always my fault.
This month has been a bad one for many. For me it has been medium-sized grievances that I will deal with. But others on my flist are having serious problems that are hard. And I only know a few of you well enough to know what to say. For the others I feel deep sympathy, and wish I could do something useful. In the absence of a huge fund of money to fix problems that can be fixed with cash or buy presents/hoidatys for those whose problems can't, I come bearing fic recs. Because escapes for a short while can help, too.
Corridors of Power, by
byblythe was recommended to me by anthimaeria. I think. Since, as you may have noticed, I have the memory of a slightly vague stoat*, I could be wrong (again. I previously thought that jadzialove had recced it.) ETA: It WAS anthimaeria! I thank her a great deal as it was a very great joy. The Ministry decides that it needs stronger connections within the Muggle bastions of power. Who better to send than two of its most charismatic young wizards? That's right: Harry and Draco in Westminster.Depicting Harry as a hardworking MP and Draco embracing the most decadent traditions of the Lords, this boded well from the first paragraphs. (My first laugh came from Harry's party affiliation: Liberal Democrat.) With a keen eye for procedure and a finely honed sense of voice, Blythe's style is perfect for this tale of young wizards in power. For any reader who has ever thought the Potterverse needed a good dose of FU or Humphrey Appleby, here is the perfect answer. And for those to whom the last sentence read as Ancient Greek trigonometry, Blythe tells a story wherein our two heroes cross swords in debates and PR challenges, stay awake through Question Time and leave off their growing longing for some more solid engagement in time to respond to division bells. Over 10 medium-length chapters plus an epilogue.
Blythe's greatest genius lies in her easy mastery of details (often explained for Americans in hilarious footnotes). She is also a dab hand with the smouldering and her Epilogue of Great Sauciness was a wonderful ending (mmmm, cycle lanes!) My favourite part of all will be immediately apparent to any Spectator readers, and when you consider there's also a brief Red Ken mention (I do love him so), it's no wonder that I can't stop raving about this one.
Intangible by
ladybracknell is a completely unexpected joy. She gives a meeting of minds between Sirius and Lily, who comfort each other while James rages over personal issues. Like the relationship that builds between the two of them, this fc takes a premise that should be illicit and makes it seem very right, even loving. What she writes most beautifully is the deep love that both Sirius and Lily have for James, even when slapping him would be a more intelligent solution. It's a shortish piece, 4228 words, but it resonates long after it ends. And for all there there is drama and sex, at heart, it's really about the important parts of friendship.Welcome to the Broom Closet by
janicechess is one of two gay club fics I've loved in recent weeks. This may be because our local one is shut and I am missing the colour and movement ... Over two centuries ago Herbert was stabbed at the doors of his home after being interrupted with his gay lover on the street. After holding her dying son in her arms, his mother dedicates her home's future to protecting young men like him. Which is why nearly 21-year-old Harry Potter finds himself talking to the ghost of Herbert as he makes his first ever visit to a gay club, having been lured by a very persuasive advert. No prizes for guessing who he encounters there, but a series of casual encounters shifts over time. Beyond H/D, janicechess really excels with her side characters, from a smart and genuine Ginny, Ron and Hermione to the delight that is Herbert. Witty one liners and a warm and humane sensibility abound -- the perfect fic for a day when you need a spot of uplifting.And finally, thanks to a certain beta, I have read Snarry, and now I have listened to one of my favourite writers and read some more. The Snarry_holidays exchange came to my attention through
sansa1970's recommendations and I couldn't agree with her more. Whispers, the other club fic for this month, is a highly original approach which plays with ideas of identity in very smart ways. Persona non Grata is a similarly smartly written story built around Harry's determination to protect Snape from himself -- and hordes of apparently scheming shopkeepers. Naturally, all is not as it appears. Both are well away from the power disparty of teacher/student relationships that stopped me from reading this ship when I first met fandom. Both are also funny and smart, well-written stories!I don't expect life to sort itself out for another month at least, so please excuse the relative quietness. But I am still writing, just not quickly! I hope that those with more serious things weighing them down have a far faster improvement in their circumstances.
* Just a side note here, I actually DO have a wretched memory. One too many hits to the head with moving vehicles. (And yes, I have given up commuter cycling, cheers. But may move back to London if BoJo wins and further clubs the cars.) Never take it personally if I vague out at you; it's always my fault.
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no subject
Date: 2007-11-18 12:58 pm (UTC)The Cheshire Cat, not surprisingly, is my favorite Alice in Wonderland character.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-18 02:02 pm (UTC)It does not surprise me to learn that you liked the cat best. Who I like best changes far too often, I think today it may be the Duchess ... I'm in a mood ...
no subject
Date: 2007-11-18 02:08 pm (UTC)(parting thought: my favorite quote from AIW is [sic] "You're nothing but a pack of cards!")
no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 11:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-18 06:51 pm (UTC)I don't know what's come over me.
Also, I think the taxi might've hit harder than we thought---Persona Non Grata seems to be about Snape punishing himself with shopkeepers, not that other made up word you mentioned. hem-hem.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 07:39 am (UTC)I've been cheating on you with other Snarriers.
Its not my fault! I was cruising a friend of friends list and there was an urgent plea for an emergency beta. Being filled with the milk of human kindness, I volunteered, and it wasn't that painful. Then, before I knew what was happening, I volunteered again. I've beta-ed multiple Snarrys for strangers and -- and I liked it!
But I can't keep them all straight. And no, I'm not giving you any hints. And the flist won't help you, because I like to Snarry dangerously ;-P
I know this makes me a Snarry slut. I know that I should at least be able to keep my stories straight. I know that it's all my fault. But you drove me to it with your deep-voiced and midnight-haired hero, all strong and stern at the Harry I already loved. You paraded him in front of me like a prize bull and you knew what you were doing!
Oh god, I'm sorry, please don't leave me! I can change! I'll only beta for you from now on! (Er, and anthimaeria, dumbys-baby, sansa if she ever needs it and a few others that I really really like, but that won't be cheating, it'll be sharing!)
Ummm ... oh, look! Welcome to the Broom Closet and Coridors of Power! Good, aren't they? (I've fixed it now. Sorry!)
no subject
Date: 2007-11-18 10:38 pm (UTC)I read Corridors of Power for the first time recently too - I was put off for ages because I thought it was a non-magic AU - and it is entirely awesome. I fell in love.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 05:20 am (UTC)What I liked about the identity shifts in Whispers was that they at first seem very obvious with the masks, but then there is an echoing internal shift; costumes reveal inner truths. I think it may have been my commedia passion coming out, but in the case of Harry it worked well for me. Plus I love a good pantless Seamus joke.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 08:43 am (UTC)Really, what else can you do in a case like that?
I actually wasn't that convinced by Harry. I came away from that fic feeling a little unsatisfied. But it's undeniable that the idea was original.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 10:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 11:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 11:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 10:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-20 11:42 am (UTC)