Reviewer: SunshineSally (Signed) · Date: May 14, 2015 02:32 AM · On: Closing the Door
I am an emotional wreck, he did it, he faught his demons and he WON! They didn't beat him - he survived and he told her to her face. I only wish Jack was alive to have listened to that!
Reviewer: 7wildwaysup (Signed) · Date: December 28, 2014 04:09 AM · On: Closing the Door
Wow! I'm so proud of Brian for standing up to Joanie after all these years...
I'm also proud of Justin for standing up to Craig. I know they'll both be stronger people for expressing their inner feelings, letting go of the past...
Great Story ~ Kathleen
Reviewer: Murgy31 (Signed) · Date: August 31, 2010 12:00 PM · On: Closing the Door
I read the whole story tonight and I was going to wait until the end to comment, but this chapter was amazing. This story is brilliant!
Reviewer: Minoloushe (Anonymous) · Date: February 09, 2010 07:26 PM · On: Closing the Door
You already know most of my thoughts about this chapter and chapter 54 from the message I sent you ages ago *is shocked at how long ago that was*. So this review (and the one I’ll leave for 54) are really just going into my additional thoughts :)
I found Joan very IC in this chapter. The impression I always have of her from the show is an intensely cold and emotionally repressed person; those characteristics come through very strongly here. Her willingness to enter into a surface “debate” with Brian while never really listening to what he says also resonate and capture the same attitude I get from her canon. The “Joan” lines that really stand out for me are: “And apparently it didn’t help him at all, because he’s more lost now than he’s ever been” and in the following sentence “I don’t understand why this is so important to him now”. That really sums up her attitude, insecurities and priorities. I can’t help thinking she has just as many “issues” as Brian, only instead of someone like Justin in her life she only had Jack…
In some ways I find Joan’s behaviour more understandable than Craig’s, because I see Joan in as a much more complex and damaged person. She clings to religious faith as a kind of lifeline and shield against having to face the truth of her own behaviour and it’s consequences. It seems to make life and its disappointments bearable for her. Craig on the other hand has transitioned from someone who could and did love, to rejecting Justin because he doesn’t fit into Craig’s image of the perfect son. Not that it’s a competition between which of them is the worst, but still…
Brian being able to confront Joan and express his hurt is a huge step forward. Because for all that Brian rails against Joan and rejects her in canon, his own problems in identifying and expressing emotion aren’t so far removed. Brian’s statement “It’s everywhere, it’s in me and it’s in my life” is so powerful and beautifully expressed. I think we're seeing an empowered Beautiful in this chapter rather than a repressed Brian.
Author's Response: I was definitely trying to give Joan some depth so that it was clear that she was (and had dealt with) dealing with lots of issues of her own. And she was more or less protecting herself with her lies about Brian's childhood; it was too painful to consider how she had actually let her son grow up, and so her denial was strong then and is strong now... bolstered by her apparent desire to "save" him...
Craig it harder to understand because he's such a single-issue hater. I mean -- the chapter, "Sins of the Fathers" or whatever it was -- in which Brian ponders whether maybe having a father only to lose him over your sexual preferences might be harder -- I think he is not far from the truth... And it casts the rest of his relationship with Justin in such a light that it ends up false at best and a blatant lie at worst...
I love your characterization of "empowered Beautiful" rather than "repressed Brian." !!! :) That is exactly who'll we'll be seeing in Ch. 56.
Sorry that it took so long to review this -- I thought I had but then found that I hadn't...!
Reviewer: BluvsJ (Anonymous) · Date: January 26, 2010 05:37 AM · On: Closing the Door
I think Joanie was exactly IC...the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz has more heart than she does... it was very realistic and went about as well as I expected it would.... But... if it in any way helps Brian to heal and finally move on from his NIGHTMARE of a childhood... than it was definetly worth every minute of it..
Author's Response: I think it helps him a great deal because he knows now that he can face her; that he can own his pain without being overwhelmed by it; that he now knows more about why she did what she did (or more about her own mental problems, essentially). I think it ultimately helps him fill in a more complete picture of his childhood while affirming that he is far away from it all now (thank god!).
I'm so glad that it seemed IC; writing Joanie was sort of tricky! Thanks for hanging in for the chapter! :)
Reviewer: MissMoe (Anonymous) · Date: January 26, 2010 04:19 AM · On: Closing the Door
Haven't done the quote thing in a while, but wow, this one really made me melt!
“Beautiful,” he said softly into my ear, “you’re going to do this and you’re going to feel really good about it. I’m going to be right there with you. And when you’re done, you’ll never have to do this again.”
Along with that, wow, that chapter was intense!
It seemed realistic to me, but at the same time unexpected. I've read many stories where IC Joanie would of spewed her beliefs and just stormed off. Rather than listen to Brian's spiel of, what I think she could of interpreted as, criticisms. However, she was by no means too warm of a person to not be IC. Joanie is a kind of complicated character, imho, because we didn't exactly get as much as we could from her as a character within the show due to her appearing more of a minor character. As well as some perceptions we've had of her ,from canon(the show), were from Brian's POV.
Wow, I've left a long review, haha. Anyways all in all I think it went well. In the end Brian got to say what he needed to say. Which I would think could give him some sense of closure because at least he took that step. Oh, I'm so happy I'm, for once, awake during the day to read AND review :) yay!
Author's Response: Aww, I love it when people choose quotes. I was uncertain about this quote; I am glad you brought it up because now I feel a lot better about it.
I did want to show her as somewhat more complicated, at least human and not pure monster. I'm glad she wasn't too far OOC. I love your reviews whenever they're written, but for your sake I'm glad your awake during the day! Sunlight is good!! :)
Reviewer: twoells (Anonymous) · Date: January 26, 2010 03:18 AM · On: Closing the Door
great stuff! I was really looking forward to this chapter and you didn't let us down - Brian is stronger than he knows, forcing his mother to face a few 'home truths' . . . can't wait for the next chapter :) :) :)
Author's Response: Thank you so much. I was a little nervous posting this chapter because so much had led up to it; I'm grateful for the feedback that it didn't disappoint. I hope you liked the following chapter as well!
Reviewer: Kitty_Ballou (Signed) · Date: January 25, 2010 08:42 PM · On: Closing the Door
I forgot to log in just a few minutes ago... But I'm still that Kitty Ballou you know.
Just wanna tell you... *hugs*
Author's Response: *smiles*
Believe me, I'd know your reviews anywhere, because no others are so heartfelt!
*hugs back!*
Reviewer: Kitty Ballou (Anonymous) · Date: January 25, 2010 08:41 PM · On: Closing the Door
You want input?
You'll get it...
*cries*
It's just a day like today when I hated my parentes! Like Brian did! I hated them for don't caring for me! And I hated them because they gave me so much! But not that I wanted! I needed! I just wanted their love, their understanding!! And they fucking gave me material things! I never wanted that! And they knew it! And that's why I started eating! I ate and ate and became fat und fatter... And I couldn't talk with my parents because both of them are dead. Died on cancer. But I am still alive! And goddamned - I will survive! Somehow.
*coughs + sighs*
And believe me, Tiffany: Brians emotions are definitely flowed well and realistic... Because I wish I have someone near me who'll take my hand + tell me that he loves me. Be here for me. And sorry for my own feelings that came out so hard in this review...
Author's Response: *hands over kleenex*
Oh Kitty...you don't have anything to apologize for!! I just wish there was some way I could tell you how much your reviews mean to me, and how much I hope that the story can help in some way, that I can help in some way... Just know that I do care about you....
Love,
Tiffany
Reviewer: HalfTime1030 (Signed) · Date: January 25, 2010 07:24 PM · On: Closing the Door
Wow.
I've literally been sitting here for 5 minutes trying to figure out how to tell you how perfect this chapter is, how brilliant. I think everything about this part flowed well- Brian's emotions, Justin's reactions, Joanie's self-centered, self-righteous attitude.
I'll have to come back and revisit this once I've had my morning coffee because there's so much here and I am far too under-caffienated to do it justice.
Author's Response: Thank you so much. You are far too kind and I am very happy that you liked the chapter so much and that I did the events some justice. It was such an important chapter and in many ways "resolved" lots of loose ends. Thanks again for your thoughts and support!
Reviewer: templeton_ma (Anonymous) · Date: January 25, 2010 03:34 PM · On: Closing the Door
I hope you have been having a great 2010 so far! It's really touching that you still remember me :_ ) Sorry that I have been a bit MIA. My Italy trip was great. But coming back to square one (no job) needed some getting used to since I seriously didn't even want to come back to real life. I had to adjust my mindset and finally now have a short-term schedule to do some studying for language exam and for a professional re-certification while I keep an eye on the job market.
"his precious pomegranate juice"... I haven't tried this type of juice yet. But tell you a secret. I started drinking guava juice after QAF =D
Joanie in a mink coat?! That already gives me the creeps :-)
Joanie thought Brian was dying of AIDS and his many since have finally caught up with him?! Gosh, that woman is really a monster.
"Why didn’t you ever help me?” My heart was breaking :_(
"You hurt me" It took 53 chapters for Brian to say this to his mother. Talk about a long journey...
I am just speechless. How can a mother be so heartless?
Yeah. I am very proud of Brian. You definitely handled him well. Joan was IC to me. She basically just distanced herself emotionally and physically from Brian.
Author's Response: I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed your vacation! And it sounds like you have a good plan to find a job. I'm an expert in not wanting to come back to real life -- it happens to me every Monday!
I picked the pomegranate juice because it is supposed to have a ton of health benefits and it struck me as a Brian-ish drink. :) I can also see that my characterization of Joanie had the desired effect!
It was a sad chapter in many ways, but also a triumphant one. I'm delighted that you enjoyed it so much!
Reviewer: Buffytess (Anonymous) · Date: January 25, 2010 03:28 PM · On: Closing the Door
GREAT update!!!! It was really good , both Justin and Brian needed to do what they did with there "parents" if yo could call them parents att all. Looking forward to read more.
Hugs Byffytess
Author's Response: Thanks so much!! They sure don't act like parents, do they?! But at least Brian and Justin have done what they can to put the past behind them. I'm thrilled you enjoyed the chapters!:)
Reviewer: edom (Signed) · Date: January 25, 2010 01:46 PM · On: Closing the Door
Oh, wow, Joan really is delusional if she only remembered the things she said. And the fact that she didn't want him to get hurt Sometimes just makes me want to pummel her, bitch.
She really is in denial if she didn't realize that what Jack and her were doing to Brian didn't help him, only made him resentful and closed of.
I think you did a wonderful job with this, it was very believable and now I'm looking forward to the healing that will hopefully start in the next chapter.
Author's Response: *smiles* I'm glad that my characterization came out this way. I wanted to try to make her sort of complex, but still with that repulsive quality. Thank you so much for your thoughts and support!! :) :)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Anonymous) · Date: January 25, 2010 01:25 PM · On: Closing the Door
great.
Author's Response: Thanks so much!
Reviewer: sjmpets3 (Signed) · Date: January 25, 2010 01:19 PM · On: Closing the Door
bravo brian. as painful as that was for him it was good for him. as long as joan knows that whatever her and jack did didn't break him, that he's happy and loved and can love then that's all there is.
great job.
Author's Response: Yeah -- that was the biggest message, when Brian says, "You didn't win. I've won." That was the moment that made it worthwhile. Thanks so much for your thoughts and support; I'm so glad you liked the chapter! :)
Reviewer: snow (Signed) · Date: January 25, 2010 09:22 AM · On: Closing the Door
It was amazing. Wow, everything was very realistic. I could picture every emotion on their faces.
I had no expectations before reading it, so I can't answer you question ("was it what you expected?") but I can say that this was a phenomenal chapter.
Author's Response: Thank you so much!! I am thrilled that the scene could be pictured so well; sometimes I worry that the "visual" side of the story is neglected.
Thank you again for your wonderful feedback, I really do appreciate it!
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