474: Bigbang 2011 Recs [mixed recs]
title. The Order of Things
author.
anna-lei
characters. Jared/Jensen
rating. N-17
words. 40000
summary. On the cusp of what could potentially be the most defining summer of his young life, budding artist Jared Padalecki has just made a decision that could send his carefully constructed world into tailspin. Five years after running away, he’s going back home. Back to Rhylee, Texas - back to everything and everyone he’s been steadfastly avoiding for the last half a decade. Except now, with his first solo art exhibit fast approaching, a newfound case of painter's block, and reminders of his past around every corner - Jared's beginning to realise that maybe, it isn’t Rhylee that he’s been avoiding all these years. Maybe it's the secrets he left there. A story about love and friendship and growing up. About not only learning to find your place in the world, but realising exactly who should be standing beside you when you do.
read this. This is as much a story abut a group of friends and the things that bind them together as it is Jared's story of growing from a youth to a man. All the charachters shine with distinct personalities and I found it easy to be drawn into their world. Fabulous tension and pacing and a sense of place so strong you can smell and taste it.
title. Windfall for the non-believer
author. glovered
characters. Sam/Dean
rating. R
words. 35000
summary. After Sam's first Hell flashback, he and Dean work a job that means posing as a couple in a planned community.
read this. Full of shiny things to love; pretend boyfriends, domestic moments, boys scuffling and bantering, a neat case with a surprising and humorous twist, and much more. This was a smile-inducing read with humor sprinkled all the way through and spiced with mounting sexual tension, yet it is far from fluff. The prose is often lyrical and visceral and the voices in this are spot-on, including Castiel's, Rufus's and Bobby's; the relationship dynamics bring a does of reality and hard work that is emblematic of how strong bonds evolve.
title. Something So Close
author. ikemiker
characters. Sam/Dean
rating. NC-17
words. 23000
summary. Demons lie. Angels lie. Sam and Dean know this. But when they meet a woman who can see the truth about what’s hidden behind the wall in Sam’s mind, it will change their lives forever.
read this. I adored the OFC in this fic - not just for herself - she is awesome and kickass - but because of how she sees and what she brings out in Sam and Dean. I really loved the aspects of the boys we got to see in a new and unusual light. Full of sexual tension, boys being insecure yet co-dependent and some truly heartwarming moments as well as terrific OCs. The author is masterful at foreshadowing without giving away what's to come and it is a lovely surprise.
title. The Piper
author. gretazreta
characters. Sam/Dean
rating. R
words. 45000
summary. They've left hunting behind and settled down to small town life, but it's not easy. There's a plague of rats in the wheat-field and the town's in crisis. It's probably not their kind of gig, but that won't stop Dean from getting to the bottom of it, even if it means burning their house down in the process. Sam's memory is full of holes. He's having dreams, another thing he can't talk to Dean about, and he can't shake the feeling that Dean's not telling him everything that's happened.
read this. Brilliant prose that pulled me in and painted the story in vivid images in my head. A thoroughly creepy read that made my skin crawl. An enjoyable novel take on folklore that melds naturally into the SPN world. The pacing and flow are exquisite with the love story and the case unfolding and interweaving in all the right ways. The love between Sam and Dean is so palpable that I felt everything right along with them. Don't miss this one!!!
title. The Convergence of the Twain
author. fairygrrl45
characters.Jared/Jensen
rating. NC-17
words. 36000
summary. Jensen doesn't really understand why this kid's so special, and Jared can't really explain what it is about Jensen that makes him want to be happy, but neither of them can walk away from this. Because Jared needs someone to see him, and Jensen needs someone to hear him, and who would've thought they'd find their whole in another half that's just as broken. Jensen is an anchor in Jared's storm, Jared is a light in Jensen's darkness, and neither of them wants to give up on what they've never thought they could have. It's a meeting that shakes the foundation to two worlds indelibly, this convergence of a twain.
read this. This totally sucked me in with it's broken boys and the struggles they go through to be together. Both Jared and Jensen struggle to be whole and strong and are better able to find that through their interactions with each other. The author does not back away from a realistic portrayal of how the hearing impaired can be left out of mainstream solutions or may find themselves being socially ostracized or bullied because of their condition. The story has a lyrical, almost fairytale feel to it and while it ends on an unresolved note, I did not feel unsatisfied, rather I was left hopeful and curious, which for me is a sign of a story that took and kept my attention and moved me emotionally.
title. To Wake a Captive Dreamer
author. sophie-448
characters.Jared/Jensen, Chris/Steve
rating. NC-17
words. 27234
summary. Once upon a time (ten years ago to be precise) something terrible happened to Jensen. He’s been dealing with it, or failing to deal with it, ever since. His best friend, Chris, takes care of him and Steve takes care of Chris. They’re one precariously balanced little family who also happen to play in a band together. When Jared becomes their new bassist, everything changes. An unorthodox retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
read this. I was swept away by the strength of the author's voice in this modern take on a very old tale. The structure of the fic is not only unique, but works to put an emotional spin on the tale that I can only describe as leaving me verklempt. Emotional, angsty, endearing and Chris as Jensen's protective best friend shines!
reccer's note. i'd encourage everyone to check out spn_j2_bigbang. These recs barely scratch the surface of the wonderful offerings from this summer! I encourage you to look through the community for more great reads!
author.
anna-lei
characters. Jared/Jensen
rating. N-17
words. 40000
summary. On the cusp of what could potentially be the most defining summer of his young life, budding artist Jared Padalecki has just made a decision that could send his carefully constructed world into tailspin. Five years after running away, he’s going back home. Back to Rhylee, Texas - back to everything and everyone he’s been steadfastly avoiding for the last half a decade. Except now, with his first solo art exhibit fast approaching, a newfound case of painter's block, and reminders of his past around every corner - Jared's beginning to realise that maybe, it isn’t Rhylee that he’s been avoiding all these years. Maybe it's the secrets he left there. A story about love and friendship and growing up. About not only learning to find your place in the world, but realising exactly who should be standing beside you when you do.
read this. This is as much a story abut a group of friends and the things that bind them together as it is Jared's story of growing from a youth to a man. All the charachters shine with distinct personalities and I found it easy to be drawn into their world. Fabulous tension and pacing and a sense of place so strong you can smell and taste it.
title. Windfall for the non-believer
author. glovered
characters. Sam/Dean
rating. R
words. 35000
summary. After Sam's first Hell flashback, he and Dean work a job that means posing as a couple in a planned community.
read this. Full of shiny things to love; pretend boyfriends, domestic moments, boys scuffling and bantering, a neat case with a surprising and humorous twist, and much more. This was a smile-inducing read with humor sprinkled all the way through and spiced with mounting sexual tension, yet it is far from fluff. The prose is often lyrical and visceral and the voices in this are spot-on, including Castiel's, Rufus's and Bobby's; the relationship dynamics bring a does of reality and hard work that is emblematic of how strong bonds evolve.
title. Something So Close
author. ikemiker
characters. Sam/Dean
rating. NC-17
words. 23000
summary. Demons lie. Angels lie. Sam and Dean know this. But when they meet a woman who can see the truth about what’s hidden behind the wall in Sam’s mind, it will change their lives forever.
read this. I adored the OFC in this fic - not just for herself - she is awesome and kickass - but because of how she sees and what she brings out in Sam and Dean. I really loved the aspects of the boys we got to see in a new and unusual light. Full of sexual tension, boys being insecure yet co-dependent and some truly heartwarming moments as well as terrific OCs. The author is masterful at foreshadowing without giving away what's to come and it is a lovely surprise.
title. The Piper
author. gretazreta
characters. Sam/Dean
rating. R
words. 45000
summary. They've left hunting behind and settled down to small town life, but it's not easy. There's a plague of rats in the wheat-field and the town's in crisis. It's probably not their kind of gig, but that won't stop Dean from getting to the bottom of it, even if it means burning their house down in the process. Sam's memory is full of holes. He's having dreams, another thing he can't talk to Dean about, and he can't shake the feeling that Dean's not telling him everything that's happened.
read this. Brilliant prose that pulled me in and painted the story in vivid images in my head. A thoroughly creepy read that made my skin crawl. An enjoyable novel take on folklore that melds naturally into the SPN world. The pacing and flow are exquisite with the love story and the case unfolding and interweaving in all the right ways. The love between Sam and Dean is so palpable that I felt everything right along with them. Don't miss this one!!!
title. The Convergence of the Twain
author. fairygrrl45
characters.Jared/Jensen
rating. NC-17
words. 36000
summary. Jensen doesn't really understand why this kid's so special, and Jared can't really explain what it is about Jensen that makes him want to be happy, but neither of them can walk away from this. Because Jared needs someone to see him, and Jensen needs someone to hear him, and who would've thought they'd find their whole in another half that's just as broken. Jensen is an anchor in Jared's storm, Jared is a light in Jensen's darkness, and neither of them wants to give up on what they've never thought they could have. It's a meeting that shakes the foundation to two worlds indelibly, this convergence of a twain.
read this. This totally sucked me in with it's broken boys and the struggles they go through to be together. Both Jared and Jensen struggle to be whole and strong and are better able to find that through their interactions with each other. The author does not back away from a realistic portrayal of how the hearing impaired can be left out of mainstream solutions or may find themselves being socially ostracized or bullied because of their condition. The story has a lyrical, almost fairytale feel to it and while it ends on an unresolved note, I did not feel unsatisfied, rather I was left hopeful and curious, which for me is a sign of a story that took and kept my attention and moved me emotionally.
title. To Wake a Captive Dreamer
author. sophie-448
characters.Jared/Jensen, Chris/Steve
rating. NC-17
words. 27234
summary. Once upon a time (ten years ago to be precise) something terrible happened to Jensen. He’s been dealing with it, or failing to deal with it, ever since. His best friend, Chris, takes care of him and Steve takes care of Chris. They’re one precariously balanced little family who also happen to play in a band together. When Jared becomes their new bassist, everything changes. An unorthodox retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
read this. I was swept away by the strength of the author's voice in this modern take on a very old tale. The structure of the fic is not only unique, but works to put an emotional spin on the tale that I can only describe as leaving me verklempt. Emotional, angsty, endearing and Chris as Jensen's protective best friend shines!
reccer's note. i'd encourage everyone to check out spn_j2_bigbang. These recs barely scratch the surface of the wonderful offerings from this summer! I encourage you to look through the community for more great reads!