A Christmas Carol in Recs
Dec. 27th, 2009 10:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
therealsnapeThese recs are OOC, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. It's as OOC as Merlin's beard. Merlin, alleged Greatest Wizard of His Time, being locked up in an oak tree by a mere chit of a girl simply because at an exceptionally mature -nay, ripe- old age he was still not thinking with his brain but rather with his ... shall we say 'wand'?
Let me therefore repeat, emphatically, that this entry is as OOC as Merlin's Beard (I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly OOC about Merlin's beard, for the beard is about the one thing that links the old goat to other great wizards such as Albus and Gandalf, but the wisdom of the ancestors is in the simile; and as I type 'old goat' I can suddenly see their point).
Its OOC-ness must be clearly understood, or you'll start wondering whether some other author has broken into my journal.
There are various good reasons for it. As the flist knows, the Humbug Season invariably causes these funny attacks - although they will agree that in the turkey posting I was still recognizably myself.
But today ...
Just one day after what we in Holland call 'second Christmas day' (we don't do things by halves, here), the magic still works.
Yesterday my cousin came to dinner; with his wife, in-laws and various others we sat down eight and had a lovely evening.
So the three Spirits still strive within me (Who said, "Mulled wine, port, and Burgundy"? I heard that. Very funny. Ten points for whatever house you're in.)
Here's the rec for Christmas Past. It's a Next-Gen story, called Hugo's Christmas Gift.
The author may not quite have reached JKR's standard of ponctuation, but he/she far exceeds her in the portrayal of boys. Hugo is perceptive, sensitive, and funny. And, the main reason for the rec, Ron, while perfectly IC, is not the emotionally clueless oaf JKR depicted. There'a a wonderful moment of father/son bonding at the end that is a delight. Go read it, you'll be warbling carols again before you can say Tiny Tim.
And the second one, for Christmas Yet to Come, Illustrations to 'Home Studies', is a combination of art and a story. Read the story first, the link is provided by the thoughtful artist.
In the first section, on 'Transfiguration', the word 'table' itself should perhaps have been Transfigured a couple of times, but do read on. The story goes from strenght to strenght. Snape discovers a new scope for his potion skills, but remains wonderfully Snapish throughout. There's a very believable MM/HG friendship and an adorable cameo of little Rose. Yes. Another Next Gen moment. The story ends with a bedscene that is written realistically, tenderly, and with admirable restraint.
The artist did wonders, too, especially with little Rose and the bedscene.
Enjoy. And no fear, I'll be back to normal soon! As Christmas Present simply isn't on on December 27th, I've no further excuse to procrastinate any longer and I'm off to do the washing-up.
Let me therefore repeat, emphatically, that this entry is as OOC as Merlin's Beard (I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly OOC about Merlin's beard, for the beard is about the one thing that links the old goat to other great wizards such as Albus and Gandalf, but the wisdom of the ancestors is in the simile; and as I type 'old goat' I can suddenly see their point).
Its OOC-ness must be clearly understood, or you'll start wondering whether some other author has broken into my journal.
There are various good reasons for it. As the flist knows, the Humbug Season invariably causes these funny attacks - although they will agree that in the turkey posting I was still recognizably myself.
But today ...
Just one day after what we in Holland call 'second Christmas day' (we don't do things by halves, here), the magic still works.
Yesterday my cousin came to dinner; with his wife, in-laws and various others we sat down eight and had a lovely evening.
So the three Spirits still strive within me (Who said, "Mulled wine, port, and Burgundy"? I heard that. Very funny. Ten points for whatever house you're in.)
Here's the rec for Christmas Past. It's a Next-Gen story, called Hugo's Christmas Gift.
The author may not quite have reached JKR's standard of ponctuation, but he/she far exceeds her in the portrayal of boys. Hugo is perceptive, sensitive, and funny. And, the main reason for the rec, Ron, while perfectly IC, is not the emotionally clueless oaf JKR depicted. There'a a wonderful moment of father/son bonding at the end that is a delight. Go read it, you'll be warbling carols again before you can say Tiny Tim.
And the second one, for Christmas Yet to Come, Illustrations to 'Home Studies', is a combination of art and a story. Read the story first, the link is provided by the thoughtful artist.
In the first section, on 'Transfiguration', the word 'table' itself should perhaps have been Transfigured a couple of times, but do read on. The story goes from strenght to strenght. Snape discovers a new scope for his potion skills, but remains wonderfully Snapish throughout. There's a very believable MM/HG friendship and an adorable cameo of little Rose. Yes. Another Next Gen moment. The story ends with a bedscene that is written realistically, tenderly, and with admirable restraint.
The artist did wonders, too, especially with little Rose and the bedscene.
Enjoy. And no fear, I'll be back to normal soon! As Christmas Present simply isn't on on December 27th, I've no further excuse to procrastinate any longer and I'm off to do the washing-up.