Jess Recommends
Sooo, yeah. I'm going to try something new. As most of you do, I read a shit ton of fan fiction. So much so, in fact, that I find myself slacking woefully in reading updates from the f-list. That being said, sometimes, I come across a story here and there that some of you might not read because it's from an author you don't recognise or because you just never gave it a second glance. I'm here to share what I consider to be gems that I would recommend to anyone. I might even do this weekly, so who knows.
For my analysis of the story, I will include five dimensions of literature that are important to a story and what makes it go. These are CHARACTERS, THEME, PLOT, SETTING, and STYLE. I would like to thank inverarity for posting a stellar tutorial on such an analysis a while back, because it actually helped me sort out my SPEW reviews, as well.
Story: What Lies Behind
Author: C_A_Campbell/thegirllikeme/Chante
Beta: CoolCatElly/Elené
Category: Dark/Angst
Rating/Warnings: 6th/7th years - Abuse, Character Death, DH Spoilers, Mild Profanity, Violence
Length: 9871 - One-shot
Summary: It is true what they say about your life flashing before your eyes just before you die. As Theodore Nott, Death Eater like his father before him, stands on the battlefield in what is surely Hogwarts and his final hours, he remembers all that lays behind him: his father, the Dark Lord, the one girl he ever loved, and the thing he has forced himself to forget.
But you remember, don't you, Theodore?
Please tell me you remember me.
CHARACTERS
Theodore Nott Jr - The main character and focus of the entire fic is Theodore Nott Jr from Harry's Hogwarts class. He is portrayed as a loaner and as someone who doesn't care about much of anything. His best friend is his chess board, and he is content to play by himself. He doesn't interact with his housemates any more than necessary, but they don't bother him or anything. He's almost a nonentity.
Lisa Turpin - She is a major character that drives the plot. She is a nerdy Ravenclaw girl who sees Theodore playing chess one day in the library and proceeds to check mate him in two moves. She is on the Chess Club. She is also a Muggle-born, and hence, Theodore's poorly-chosen love interest.
Evelyn Nott - She is Theodore's mother. It is obvious from her very first appearance that the only thing in her life she cares about is her Theo. Theodore never talks about her, and he can hardly remember her, as she was out of his life at the tender age of three.
Theodore Nott Sr - He is Theodore's father. He is also a Death Eater. His personality is geared toward one thing, and that is how he can best impress the Dark Lord, which included grooming his own son to be a Death Eater alongside him. If ever there was a truly hate-able character, this man is it.
More minor roles are played by Voldemort and Draco Malfoy, but in general, there really aren't any others mentioned by name.
THEME
The theme is really, to me, about how one lives up to expectations from others, most notably Theodore Jr to Theodore Sr. You get a sense early that Theo Jr is afraid of his father, and for good reason. Expectations of servitude to the Dark Lord were drilled into his head from a very young age.
PLOT
The plot is fairly simple. Theodore Jr is born into a Death Eater household and is expected to follow that path. He doesn't want to, but he doesn't have the motivation it takes to cross his father. He drifts through school without ever facing crucial or tough decisions. During fifth year, he meets Lisa, who is neither pretty nor ugly, but she has a sharp mind for chess. Chess is what Theodore cares about. He invites her to play a game with him, and they become fast friends. Then, Theodore turns seventeen, and he is forced to choose between the destiny that was laid out for him and Lisa.
SETTING
The story is happening during the Battle of Hogwarts, but several satellite events in the form of recollections and such occur, adding more and more to what you know of Theodore. The events aren't in sequence chronologically, but they are set in such a way that they don't have to be. They are revealed in order of importance of the story, starting with one that seems the most disconnected with the present voice to the one that is the most relevant to Theodore and where he was and what he was doing.
STYLE
Despite my proclamations otherwise, this fic is an extraordinary second-person, but unobtrusively so. The voice is fresh and the 'you's are not repetitive and mind-numbing as they can be in the hands of a novice. The reason second person was chosen becomes more obvious later in the fic, and after reading, you will know without a doubt that it would not have been nearly as striking had it not been in this particular POV.
As for tense, it is in present tense limited narrative. It follows Theodore strictly. Both the flashbacks and 'real time' (during the battle) are in this format, but it doesn't get confusing. The flashbacks are in italics for ease in reading.
STRENGTHS
There are so many. First off, the expert use of second person is completely unparalleled. I have simply never read anything so striking and at-ease with such an easy-to-butcher voice, not to mention present tense, which in itself is a bit of a story-stumbler. The dialogue and interaction between the characters is fantastic. They sound like real people and talk to one another like real people do.
Also, with the descriptive style and emotive writing, you will feel like you're transported into the story, which is the true purpose of second person. Even if it had been in third person, you still would feel this way, because of the way it's written and how well.
WEAKNESSES
You know, I honestly couldn't think of any. I don't think there was one out-of-character moment in the whole story. I felt like I knew the character and how they felt. The plot was good and it wasn't contrived. The idea of the Slytherin loving the Muggle-born girl is a bit...used, but it feels fresh in its presentation because it's not the stereotypical 'fiery Gryffindor girl' who is falling for a Slytherin, and the Slytherin in question isn't some sort of sex god or wealthy nabob.
MY VERDICT
This is easily one of the top five best fics I've ever read. From start to finish, it held my interest. I didn't even notice that it was in second person for most of it, which speaks to the quality of the prose. I'm not saying it changed my life, but it might have changed my mind about second person. If I can get through nearly 10K of second person, then it has altered my perspective. I give it a 9.5 out of 10, and I completely intend to nominate this for a Quicksilver Quill next year. And I think it could handily win it, too.
For my analysis of the story, I will include five dimensions of literature that are important to a story and what makes it go. These are CHARACTERS, THEME, PLOT, SETTING, and STYLE. I would like to thank inverarity for posting a stellar tutorial on such an analysis a while back, because it actually helped me sort out my SPEW reviews, as well.
Story: What Lies Behind
Author: C_A_Campbell/thegirllikeme/Chante
Beta: CoolCatElly/Elené
Category: Dark/Angst
Rating/Warnings: 6th/7th years - Abuse, Character Death, DH Spoilers, Mild Profanity, Violence
Length: 9871 - One-shot
Summary: It is true what they say about your life flashing before your eyes just before you die. As Theodore Nott, Death Eater like his father before him, stands on the battlefield in what is surely Hogwarts and his final hours, he remembers all that lays behind him: his father, the Dark Lord, the one girl he ever loved, and the thing he has forced himself to forget.
But you remember, don't you, Theodore?
Please tell me you remember me.
CHARACTERS
Theodore Nott Jr - The main character and focus of the entire fic is Theodore Nott Jr from Harry's Hogwarts class. He is portrayed as a loaner and as someone who doesn't care about much of anything. His best friend is his chess board, and he is content to play by himself. He doesn't interact with his housemates any more than necessary, but they don't bother him or anything. He's almost a nonentity.
Lisa Turpin - She is a major character that drives the plot. She is a nerdy Ravenclaw girl who sees Theodore playing chess one day in the library and proceeds to check mate him in two moves. She is on the Chess Club. She is also a Muggle-born, and hence, Theodore's poorly-chosen love interest.
Evelyn Nott - She is Theodore's mother. It is obvious from her very first appearance that the only thing in her life she cares about is her Theo. Theodore never talks about her, and he can hardly remember her, as she was out of his life at the tender age of three.
Theodore Nott Sr - He is Theodore's father. He is also a Death Eater. His personality is geared toward one thing, and that is how he can best impress the Dark Lord, which included grooming his own son to be a Death Eater alongside him. If ever there was a truly hate-able character, this man is it.
More minor roles are played by Voldemort and Draco Malfoy, but in general, there really aren't any others mentioned by name.
THEME
The theme is really, to me, about how one lives up to expectations from others, most notably Theodore Jr to Theodore Sr. You get a sense early that Theo Jr is afraid of his father, and for good reason. Expectations of servitude to the Dark Lord were drilled into his head from a very young age.
PLOT
The plot is fairly simple. Theodore Jr is born into a Death Eater household and is expected to follow that path. He doesn't want to, but he doesn't have the motivation it takes to cross his father. He drifts through school without ever facing crucial or tough decisions. During fifth year, he meets Lisa, who is neither pretty nor ugly, but she has a sharp mind for chess. Chess is what Theodore cares about. He invites her to play a game with him, and they become fast friends. Then, Theodore turns seventeen, and he is forced to choose between the destiny that was laid out for him and Lisa.
SETTING
The story is happening during the Battle of Hogwarts, but several satellite events in the form of recollections and such occur, adding more and more to what you know of Theodore. The events aren't in sequence chronologically, but they are set in such a way that they don't have to be. They are revealed in order of importance of the story, starting with one that seems the most disconnected with the present voice to the one that is the most relevant to Theodore and where he was and what he was doing.
STYLE
Despite my proclamations otherwise, this fic is an extraordinary second-person, but unobtrusively so. The voice is fresh and the 'you's are not repetitive and mind-numbing as they can be in the hands of a novice. The reason second person was chosen becomes more obvious later in the fic, and after reading, you will know without a doubt that it would not have been nearly as striking had it not been in this particular POV.
As for tense, it is in present tense limited narrative. It follows Theodore strictly. Both the flashbacks and 'real time' (during the battle) are in this format, but it doesn't get confusing. The flashbacks are in italics for ease in reading.
STRENGTHS
There are so many. First off, the expert use of second person is completely unparalleled. I have simply never read anything so striking and at-ease with such an easy-to-butcher voice, not to mention present tense, which in itself is a bit of a story-stumbler. The dialogue and interaction between the characters is fantastic. They sound like real people and talk to one another like real people do.
Also, with the descriptive style and emotive writing, you will feel like you're transported into the story, which is the true purpose of second person. Even if it had been in third person, you still would feel this way, because of the way it's written and how well.
WEAKNESSES
You know, I honestly couldn't think of any. I don't think there was one out-of-character moment in the whole story. I felt like I knew the character and how they felt. The plot was good and it wasn't contrived. The idea of the Slytherin loving the Muggle-born girl is a bit...used, but it feels fresh in its presentation because it's not the stereotypical 'fiery Gryffindor girl' who is falling for a Slytherin, and the Slytherin in question isn't some sort of sex god or wealthy nabob.
MY VERDICT
This is easily one of the top five best fics I've ever read. From start to finish, it held my interest. I didn't even notice that it was in second person for most of it, which speaks to the quality of the prose. I'm not saying it changed my life, but it might have changed my mind about second person. If I can get through nearly 10K of second person, then it has altered my perspective. I give it a 9.5 out of 10, and I completely intend to nominate this for a Quicksilver Quill next year. And I think it could handily win it, too.