kasche ([personal profile] kasche) wrote2005-03-15 07:08 pm

And today's suggestion is...

Really, I'm having troubles considering this a suggestion. Mostly because I'm having troubles thinking of someone (well, who is a S/R shipper) that hasn't read not even one of Minx ([livejournal.com profile] miraminx)'s stories. Heh, she could be considered like one of the ship's classics, I think.

Jokings aside, Minx's style is clean and dry: she's the proof that to give intensity to a story, there is no need to use redundant expressions, or flowery and generally excessive adjectivation. In few words, "just show, don't tell" (or something). So, when the stories get under your skin, you almost don't notice - and when you do, of course, it's Too Late. (My fingers are itching to make a Book Reference, here. A big huge kiss to those who know what I'm referring to.)

And... well, she writes about people. She gives to every character a personality, and not slight variations of the same one. (I don't know you, but I haven't seen it that often.) Which is probably why, or at least one of the reasons why she can tell stories from the point of view of other characters (Lily, Tonks, James... or a motorbike. Let us not forget the motorbike.) and render them so believable.

Here, I think I should say something on her wonderful Lost Feeling series, shouldn't I? Only, there would be so much to say about them that I honestly don't know where to start. All of them are pre-OotP. Other than that, if you hadn't read already, for all that's holy, go!

But she recovered well indeed after OotP, I have to say. Her Door to the River made me way less wary of Bring Black Back stories than what I was. Even if her masterpiece, anyway, is and remains Redeeming Time. For all she says that she isn't used to writing boys, god, if she did it well. It's just so - realistic. If you think about it, in canon the Shack Incident must have brought the Marauders to grow up, however it happened. Well, she showed exactly that. You see them changing, becoming more aware of themselves and of others. You also may happen to recognize in some of their behaviours people you know in real life. I know I did.

And be thankful, because I left out all another paragraph about the use of sex she makes in her writing.

Why are you still here? Go to read! Or reread, whatever. Go!




ETA: I'm stupid, and I haven't thought of mentioning Spellbound: a truly hilarious story. The summary says: "Snape and Harry have to have sex in order to complete a spell to Defeat Evil and Make the World a Shiny Happy Place Again. There’s just one little problem..." There are so many punchlines in there that I don't know which one to quote. In many ways, it's also a delightful parody of OotP. :D

I also added the link to Start Me Up. :D

[identity profile] jadis31.livejournal.com 2005-03-16 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Go to read? Or reread, whatever. Go!
Yes, master!

Really, you know I don't need an excuse to reread Minx's works... There are some of them I know most of the words to...

But you, my dear, have lovely taste in fic... and I love that you talked about it all without mentioning her (wonderfully hot and beautiful) smut. I think that sometimes people think of Minx's writing and are a little blinded by the quality of the sex scenes... they don't talk as much as they should about all of the other things that make her a great writer.

Okay, I am done with my silly fangirling. At least for a little while :D

Love and Smoke,
Jo

[identity profile] kasche.livejournal.com 2005-03-16 10:58 am (UTC)(link)
Oh my God, I so love it when people actually listen to me... *cries*

But you, my dear, have lovely taste in fic...
Hold that thought. I want to see if you'll still say that after the next one. :D (hopefully today. I started it yesterday, I should manage it... 'should' being the operative word.)

The sex factor was difficult to ignore, though :D Also because, honestly, in how many stories you can take out the sex scenes, or replace them with other ones, and they would work just as well? With Minx's ones it's not at all that easy.

Okay, I am done with my silly fangirling. At least for a little while :D
But let it be very little! :D

[identity profile] miraminx.livejournal.com 2005-03-17 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
honestly, in how many stories you can take out the sex scenes, or replace them with other ones, and they would work just as well? With Minx's ones it's not at all that easy

See? This is the kind of compliment I was talking about below. At least in recent years I've been striving for sex scenes that advance the plot or character development. So THANK YOU for saying this.

[identity profile] miraminx.livejournal.com 2005-03-17 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank YOU, too.

There are some of them I know most of the words to

Jesus. Wow. That's put a big stupid grin on my face.

Love and Happiness,
Minx

[identity profile] jadis31.livejournal.com 2005-03-17 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, did you forget I am the silliest Minx fangirl ever? I'm sorry... I thought it was a well documented fact. And really, I can recite the first few paragraphs of Dead Till I Be With him off the top of my head. I just thought that 'oh shit, thought Remus Lupin" was the best opening line ever... and I like the phrase 'horrified fascination' and his indecision... yeah, so I've read that part more times than anyone could think healthy.

Love and Wheels,
Jojo the exhausted

[identity profile] spacedye-vest.livejournal.com 2005-03-17 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Absolutely, best opening line ever!

And "horrified fascination" it´s pure genius.


Poor exhausted Jojo *hugs*

[identity profile] spacedye-vest.livejournal.com 2005-03-17 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I remember the first time Jojo called me on the phone, we talk about your fics for... at least half an hour, well, Jojo talked and I added: yeahs and wow and love it! and things like that :)
But then,that´s the extend of my spoken English.

[identity profile] miraminx.livejournal.com 2005-03-17 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh my gosh! Thank you. I'm (almost) speechless.

I am extremely lucky to have such a perceptive, intelligent reader who gives me *wonderful* and amazingly detailed feedback. You always compliment me on the things I was trying really hard to get right, which is fantastic.

Thank you SO MUCH.

[identity profile] kasche.livejournal.com 2005-03-18 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
*scratches head and blushes* Well... thank you. (That's heaven for us logorrheic people. And, in some cases, hell for the rest of the world population.) Even if, I'd like to remind you, I compliment you on them just because you did get them right... which makes me so glad, so, thank YOU. :D

And you're welcome. :)


Lj's spell-check didn't recognize logorrheic, which doesn't surprise me, but the reason why it suggests only "Lagrange" instead is beyond me.