Holiday Exchange RECS (mostly)
Dec. 6th, 2006 08:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
A wild mix of mostly Holiday Exchange Recs – result of trying to follow four communities and shamelessly peeking into two more :). Just a collection of what stood out most for me among the way-too-few fics I've got around to reading so far.
Tabby Cat by anonymous [Minerva, Harry, Dursleys, G, gen]
Summary: Cats have their territories. Privet Drive, in Little Whinging, Surrey, is claimed by a stray tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes.
Harry's early years among the Dursleys, observed and cheered up by a certain tabby... one of the most canonical, touching and saddening stories ever - gen at its very best (and catfic!gen is always lovely, right?) Do read - so good!Holy mother, I want to Niffle this! *So* badly!
Stars (Sparkle gets in your Eyes) by
fleshdress [James/Regulus, NC-17]
Summary: A mad AU starring Regulus as emo-rockstar Stubby Boardman, and James as Captain of the England Quidditch squad.
This is too good, too well-developed, *way* too sexy and with far too brilliant characterisation to call it 'crack'. But it's that too :). Most fics only manage sizzling attraction and sex *or* humor, but
fleshdress does the perfect blend. Don't run - read!
Of Ice Mice and Tickling Scarves by anonymous [Harry/Remus, NC-17]
Summary: The story of how Harry Potter survives Christmas shopping in Hogsmeade while also trying to seduce Remus Lupin (with an appearance of ignorant sales witches and meddling friends).
A sweet, romantic and funny story, endlessly inventive with little details about Hogsmeade at Christmastime, and superb, thoughtful characterisation. Both cute and definitely exciting when the pair finally gets it on :). It plastered the biggest silly grin on my face from the first to last line. Definitely an uplifting read!
Untangling by anonymous [Hermione/Luna, NC-17]
Summary: Hermione and Luna celebrate their anniversary.
This touched me more than anything else for the way it portrays a loving, long-term relationship through wonderful attention to detail and character, and just amazing interactions. It hit my buttons like nobody's business.
Noticed Him Fading by anonymous [Harry/Draco, mild NC-17]
Summary: Draco hates France, the Ministry, owls, and Harry Potter.
Draco turns to the 'right' side in the war, in his very own grumbly, petulant way :). A superb Draco-voice, and it has everything - fun, angst, un-smoopy sex and blood-thirsty barn owls...
Tabby Cat by anonymous [Minerva, Harry, Dursleys, G, gen]
Summary: Cats have their territories. Privet Drive, in Little Whinging, Surrey, is claimed by a stray tabby cat with spectacle markings around her eyes.
Harry's early years among the Dursleys, observed and cheered up by a certain tabby... one of the most canonical, touching and saddening stories ever - gen at its very best (and catfic!gen is always lovely, right?) Do read - so good!
Stars (Sparkle gets in your Eyes) by
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Summary: A mad AU starring Regulus as emo-rockstar Stubby Boardman, and James as Captain of the England Quidditch squad.
This is too good, too well-developed, *way* too sexy and with far too brilliant characterisation to call it 'crack'. But it's that too :). Most fics only manage sizzling attraction and sex *or* humor, but
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Of Ice Mice and Tickling Scarves by anonymous [Harry/Remus, NC-17]
Summary: The story of how Harry Potter survives Christmas shopping in Hogsmeade while also trying to seduce Remus Lupin (with an appearance of ignorant sales witches and meddling friends).
A sweet, romantic and funny story, endlessly inventive with little details about Hogsmeade at Christmastime, and superb, thoughtful characterisation. Both cute and definitely exciting when the pair finally gets it on :). It plastered the biggest silly grin on my face from the first to last line. Definitely an uplifting read!
Untangling by anonymous [Hermione/Luna, NC-17]
Summary: Hermione and Luna celebrate their anniversary.
This touched me more than anything else for the way it portrays a loving, long-term relationship through wonderful attention to detail and character, and just amazing interactions. It hit my buttons like nobody's business.
Noticed Him Fading by anonymous [Harry/Draco, mild NC-17]
Summary: Draco hates France, the Ministry, owls, and Harry Potter.
Draco turns to the 'right' side in the war, in his very own grumbly, petulant way :). A superb Draco-voice, and it has everything - fun, angst, un-smoopy sex and blood-thirsty barn owls...
no subject
Date: 2006-12-06 07:24 pm (UTC)Slash could have all this and more. It's a shame so much of it doesn't. And I enjoy slash as much as the next person.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 11:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-06 07:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 11:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-06 09:18 pm (UTC)I rushed over to read and it was truly wonderful.
(I cried)
OT, but I'm really making an effort to leave feedback for every single fic I read. It's an uphill struggle because I find it hard to be coherent sometimes, but painless_j tells me it gets easier through practice :) You do leave the loveliest reviews ever, and I can just imagine how much happiness you give to the writers.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 11:41 am (UTC)(I nearly cried too - manhandled a book in frustration.)
Wish somebody could teach me how to leave shorter feedback without feeling lousy :(. I'm still way behind on writing feedback, and if it were shorter, I'd sure be faster ;).
(and have I mentioned before how much I like your icon?)
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 05:00 pm (UTC)Thank you! painless_j made me this icon.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-06 09:53 pm (UTC)I owe you about a million jellybeans for your recommending Stars, which I somehow overlooked over the weekend.
It is now, officially, my favorite one-shot this year, if not ever. *Ever.*
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 11:44 am (UTC)It's totally brilliant, isn't it?
Hamster.....
Date: 2006-12-07 06:39 pm (UTC)Re: Hamster.....
Date: 2006-12-07 07:03 pm (UTC)And I felt actually a tad evil to use the image - considering that my mum had a rather extensive root canal yesterday, and did *seriously* look like a hamster this morning ;).
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 04:33 pm (UTC)I'll defer to you then. :)
Untangling didn't hit my buttons, I'm afraid (even though as femmeslash I suppose it theoretically should -- and I am trying to find an occasional slashfic to Niffle) :( It just seemed much the same as any other brief-intro-then-onto-the-shagging NC-17 oneshot. Mind you, I'm always chary of shipfics which blithely handwave away the canon ships in a consequence-free way, especially when they're altering a canon sexuality to do it.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 04:57 pm (UTC)Don't yet... I've a paranoid suspicion here that might disqualify me if true, and land it right in your lap again :).
Untangling didn't get me for the sex, just for the interaction, and for very subjective reasons too - hitting immensely close to home ;).
I'm not very convinced of any canon sexualities/ships among the HP teens though - they're too young to know for sure yet, or to form long-term relationships. Now Arthur Weasley suddenly discovering a mad passion for Lucius (or Remus, for that matter)...? That would need a lot of convincing power :).
no subject
Date: 2006-12-13 01:44 am (UTC)I've subsequently read Stars -- very funny, although on that borderline where it's hard to say if this is an AU or a story about vaguely similar characters with the same names. :) (Especially as we know sod all about Regulus really.)
I'm not very convinced of any canon sexualities/ships among the HP teens though - they're too young to know for sure yet, or to form long-term relationships
I'm never very convinced by either of these arguments, really, at least not as a general thing -- I get the impression that most teens have a pretty good idea who they fancy, although I'll grant you there's scope there, with some extra setup. :)
As for long-term relationships, well, early commitments used to be the norm, after all. Some teens also have a pretty good idea which specific person they want to be with, especially when they've been through a lot together like the main HP characters have. Doesn't have to necessarily work long term, but that's a separate thing.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 08:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-08 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-08 11:08 pm (UTC)Say, I want to send you a Christmas card so can I get your address? I'm sending a few out but you're on the top of the list! Email me it, k? Or leave it on my newest post (it's screened). ms_sdak at hotmail dot com.