Fifth book anniversary

Today is the second-year anniversary of the fifth book's birth into bookstores all over the world.  (Or it will be in less than an hour - give me some slack.)  I'll always remember it because eight hours after we picked it up at midnight, my parents were married.  Or actually, that's a lie - five days ago, I just remembered their anniversary because the fifth book's anniversary was coming up, and I had a Yahoo!reminder sent to me.

Anyway.  I am a faithful reader of daily_snitch, and I've read a lot of essays and rants and discussions and things on...a lot of things about the books.  Not necessarily just the fifth book.

But on this anniversary of the fifth book, and as we pass into the final month before the sixth book, I would like to conduct a little survey.  Especially relying on how many of us are re-reading the fifth book, in preparation for New Canon.

What are your favorite passages, quotes, scenes, etc. from the fifth book?  What you liked the best, thought were the most profound, thought were the best written.

*bows out, and goes to put the finishing touches on a certain anniversary gift*

nightmare-story on fanfictionDOTnet delays, and reviews

Right.  I did say...somewhere, at some point in time...that readers on fanfictionDOTnet could come here, to this journal, to see what was up when I haven't updated in a while.  A few days ago, I got an email from a certain Amanda (*waves*), asking quite properly why I hadn't updated in the last four months.  Ai, many apologies, I had no idea it had been so long.  It is my firm intention to put together another chapter (it is written, no worries, just scattered here and there) and update it in the next couple of days.

In another news: reviews!  I've received several that I want to comment on.

I have got to say, bravo. You've written something so wonderful I go giddy thinking of it. I can't believe how great this story is! I read itall in one sitting! I'd always though Lily and Sev had a thing going on before James. You've just made my entire week.

Thank you so much, I seriously appreciate your time and effort on this. It is beyond excellent.

PS - About that post by anonymous down below...I think whoever wrote that is a sad little heathen who can't tell an excellent story from a hole in their head, and should be shot for not only seeing that, but the fact that they repeated "fornicator", "sodomise" and various things over and over again. Not to mention that run-on sentence at the end. I was a little embarassed for them, reading that. They must have a sad and pathetic life. Don't let them get you down! You rock!

Every now and then, I get something like that for She Had the Perfect Life.  And as much as I know that this proves people will praise anything, and I have no right, and really should not enjoy such a review for such a story...I can't help but be warmed anyway.

Second, I've received something that I've only heard about recently.

The prejudice is that the rule above all others is that Slytherins don't cry. Yay! i win! Don't smack me...;') oh and I have some new stuff I put on so you might want to check that out. my favorite is a one shot called Understanding...you might like it I don't know. c u!

No, sweetheart, you don't win.  That's not the prejudice, and I'm not much inclined to check out your fic.

To continue reviews on fanfictionDOTnet...

what a horrible story. god it's bad

When I first saw this review, I wasn't surprised or anything - just passed it over onto other emails.  Later, though, I saw it a little more closely, and was surprised.  It wasn't for, as I first assumed, nightmare-story.  It was for Put a Light in the Window. 

Though surprised, I'm not bothered - of course not.  It's obviously a flame.  I've pissed off some people, I suppose.

Last and most remarkable, from dracoandginny.com, to the epilogue of Plew:

Just lovely. I was sitting here, hesitant to leave a review because I really couldn't capture my response to this story in a coherent fashion. Then I realized what I loved about it so much. It is your Emily Dickinson like economy of words. Every word has a specific use, a meaning, and a purpose in this fic. It is the masterful understatement that drew me in and held me, tight, throughout the whole beautiful, angst ridden tale. Your Ginny feels very close to cannon to me, falling for such a tortured and eventually broken Draco, and being willing to give up everything for what shreds of a relationship remain. I also appreciate the fact that this fic rides on its own through the strength of your weaving and writing alone. There are no unexpected plot twists or unbelievable happenings or supernatural occurences. It's a simple but stunningly choreographed old-fashioned love story. Those are the kinds I love the best. The epilogue was well done. I especially loved the poignant closing scene. I'm also glad you wrote the epilogue because it allowed me the opportunity to catch this wonderful fic the second time around. I can't believe I missed it on its first go round. Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts. Hope to hear more from you in the future.

...oh, God.  Oh, no.  WHY.  Why do people send me things like this?  It's so, so wrong.  I'm not that good, I'm not, and you shouldn't tell me I am when I'm not...one day, when I'm that good, write me things like this and I'll know I finally deserve it - and it's wrong, wrong for me to be so thrilled by this because I don't deserve it now....

*cries, in a helpless sort of way, because she can't help valuing the review*



Oh, wait, I lied - one more.  Right after that above review, on the same site, came another:

Good story! Although I have one suggestion- at the end, it ended REALLY abruptly. And instead of kissing on the cheek, I would have had a quick peck on the lips. Just cuz the kiss on the cheek seems more friendly and makes me wonder. . if they really love each other. And obviously they do and everything, but just saying. But good job!

You know - I think for the first time, I've gotten a disagreement about a certain detail in a story of mine, and I can honestly disagree back and say I think how I did it was right.  I like the kiss on the cheek, better than a kiss on the lips.