Lark Rise to Candleford Fic: A Life Worth Living, Chapter 3

[mrstater]

Title: A Life Worth Living, Chapter 3: Liabilities
Author: MrsTater
Fandom: Lark Rise to Candleford
Characters/Pairings: James Dowland, Sidney Dowland, Queenie Turrill, Pearl Pratt, Ruby Pratt, Minnie, Dorcas Lane, Clara Thompson (original character); James/Clara, past James/Dorcas
Rating: PG for innuendo
Format & Word Count: WIP, this chapter weighs

Comments

[tdu000]

I'm enjoying this. I do hope we get the second series soon. The first series repeats start on Thursday. I wasn't going to bother watching but your story is getting me in the mood.

[mrstater]

Yay, I'm so glad you're continuing to enjoy, as I continue to have fun writing it. :)

Surely a re-airing of series one means series two is on the way? I re-watched last week while spring cleaning -- love that sexy schoolmaster so much, and wouldn't complain if he ever came back and wooed Dorcas again. ;)

[tdu000]

I would like to think that a repeat will lead into series 2. However, it's on UKTV (cable) and they repeat ad nauseum so it doesn't necessarily mean anything. I'm sure we'll get it sometime. I'm just impatient with all the comments on LJ.

I liked the teacher too.

[nattysxm]

I am enjoying this as well!! I want James to have some happiness!!

[mrstater]

He deserves some happiness, doesn't he, poor man? You have made me very happy by reading and letting me know you're enjoying this. Thanks very much. :)

[nattysxm]

yes he was treated badly! I really hated Dorcas...James didn't deserve to be treated like this! Thanks for writing, you do it so well

[gilpin25]

The opening paragraph of this makes me think of the boyish, unaffected and very likeable James we glimpsed with Queenie in the series, and it's lovely to see him becoming that man more and more throughout this chapter. It's rather wonderful to see him waking up to the fact that wealth and prestige blinded him to the reality of who he really is and what means the most to him - realising true grace when he sees it, is a lovely way of phrasing it and how he sees Clara.

I loved the whole conversation he had with Clara, and how he slowly and gradually admits the truth, bit by painful bit, almost without meaning to when he starts out. And, even better, that he doesn't spare himself along the way, or be sparing with the truth, like he was to such disasterous effect with Dorcas. (Though I still think building a clock for someone is a wonderfully romantic gesture, lol, and should have been more appreciated!) When he says That I built the hotel because my life is empty, and I am trying to fill it up, it reads like a real turning point for

[mrstater]

You are definitely not alone in thinking a clock is a deeply romantic gesture. If I were Dorcas, I wouldn't care how show-offy James was being about his wealth -- that's some major symbolism! Yet she couldn't even have the decency to be his escort at the ceremony

[nell_aria]

Yes, I like the way James has managed to 'audit' his behaviour towards Dorcas. It wasn't so dreadful, but it was clumsy, and a bit lame, and at times dishonest. Dorcas, bless her, would never have allowed for dishonesty from a man courting her, no matter what his excuses, but it was a pity she couldn't see how fragile his heart was too, and though there was some deceit, his love for her was genuine

[mrstater]

Wow, I just want you to know, this review totally made my night when it turned up in my inbox!

Your comments are so thoughtful, it's really nice to know that the little details I'm putting into it are helping to create just the kind of story I wanted to tell. Throughout series two, I was so struck by the pastoral images of James on horseback, or James walking through the fields, touching the wheat with his fingers, and of Queenie's "Lark Rise boy." It just seemed to me that that was James, quite literally stripped off all his city finery as he walked about in his shirtsleeves, and that if he could just stay there, he would find his happiness. I agree with you, I don't think Dorcas was really the way for him to find that, and while I would be happy to see them reconcile and settle down together on the show, I would personally like to see him get back to his country roots -- hence this fic. :) But I don't typically think of myself as much of an atmospheric or descriptive writer, though I'm certainly working to improve, so I'm so

[shimotsuki]

I probably ought to feel at a disadvantage reading this without knowing the series (and I probably am at one, lol), but it really doesn't feel that way to me, since you flesh the characters and situations out so fully. I certainly feel for James with all the realizations he is making about his life -- especially the one in this chapter about how he is trying to fill up his empty life with his big hotel.

Clara is a fantastic character, with her blunt forthrightness but also her sympathy and her willingness to give James the benefit of the doubt. I like crusty Mr. Thompson, too -- given the circumstances, he has every right to be suspicious of James, heh.

I look forward to seeing where you go with this story!

[mrstater]

It is so fun that you're not having any trouble following this for not having seen the series! And I'm especially pleased that not only that, but that you're enjoying it. In a way writing this is a bit more like original fiction than fanfiction, so it's very encouraging that you feel I've taken a flawed character and am helping him to grow and change and realize things about himself in a believable and meaningful way. Thanks again for your words about Clara! And Mr. Thompson -- I do like writing crusty fathers. ;)

Hope to have an update soonish, though I've had a nasty sinus infection all week which hasn't been helpful. :(

[shimotsuki]

I think you're right that this must be more like original fiction than fanfiction. Actually, that's why I decided to try this out (and I'm glad I did!) -- when I saw that it was a futurefic and involved an OC in an important role, I thought it might not depend so much on knowing the series.

Sorry to hear about the sinus infection, though. :( I hope you're feeling better soon!

[mrstater]

Thanks, I do, too! I've been coughing and hacking and snorting and sniffing and otherwise making unladylike noises with no relief since Tuesday, and I would really like it to end!