Name: Dojh167 (Signed) · Date: 14 Jul 2019 04:37 AM · For: What We Talk About When We Talk about Death

Me: “let’s find a nice happy gay story” also me:chooses a story about death

 

At least it’s an OC I don’t know that’s dead? No, I don’t even like talking about dead characters like that.

 

The fact that even before Rose said anything a gloom came over the room just by her walking in knowing what she did is really grim.

 

You have a large cast of characters here, but you do a good job of giving each of them a distinct reaction to the news.

 

Oh, James Potter with anxiety is interesting to me. Oh no, that went from interesting to ouch really fast.

 

The narration at the beginning and the end of the story has a very distinct style, ore tonally elevated from the rest of the story. It made me wonder if one of the characters was a narrator of sort that wasn’t clear, or if that becomes clear in one of the other stories in the series.

 

This was certainly an interesting place to start with the series, and I am partially interested in continuing with Misguided Ghosts, and partially not sure if I can deal with so much heavy material. Whether or not I get to it, I think you’ve done a good job.

Name: sunshine_locks (Signed) · Date: 06 Apr 2019 11:13 PM · For: What We Talk About When We Talk about Death

This was a small story but you managed to fit a lot in it. 

 

The announcement of Willow Nott's death seemed very anticlimactic, but that only serves to the end of showing how in shock the whole group is. I understand that shock. 

 

At first, I was actually really angry that Rose wouldn't consider that maybe Willow did commit suicide. I was essentially thinking, "Why is it so hard to believe?" It's sad, but death by suicide does happen too many times.

 

Then I considered, maybe this was the beginning of her grieving process. Maybe she's in denial that Willow's dead. Or, she's just wondering on repeat about what the hell could've driven Willow to suicide--because, after all, grieving a death because that person commited suicide comes with it's own host of problems and thought processes. 

 

What I found especially jarring was James' admittance of his anxiety, mostly because, this shit could happen to anybody. The happiest people could struggling with shit you don't even know about, and truth be told that fact kind of scares me, but also acts as a motivator the check up on my friends more often than I already do. 

 

I don't know man, this story was a lot to take in. I love the YLYL universe so far, because so far I've seen it deals with some really mature but important topics in a very honest and inoffensive (or... not, depending on how you see it) way. 

 

I'm especially interested in seeing Willow and Dorian Nott's story, so I'll probably be on that if you ever decide to upload it, tbh. 

 

Thank you for writing this. 

Name: starbuck (Signed) · Date: 13 Mar 2019 05:41 PM · For: What We Talk About When We Talk about Death

here for EvS, team emerald!

 

i found it quite intriguing that you decided to write about death (suicide) and show it through a lens of just one conversation between friends. the whole intro is definitely ominous and obviously prepares the reader for the inevitable death that occurs (occurred?) in the story.

 

and yet, somehow, when we actually do find out who died it seems almost anticlimactic – i’m not sure if that would be the right word to use but there’s this big lead up…and then willow’s friends are simply shocked and don’t quite know how to react.

 

and they all react differently which i thought was a great way in displaying how different people grieve or even face death. some are in denial, some, like rose, can’t believe their friend committed suicide (probably because she thinks she would’ve noticed something…sadly, we know that’s often not the case :I ) and some, like james, are triggered and relive their own trauma.

 

i also think that through that one conversation you managed to show so much background into these characters and their lives. it’s amazing, how much you manage to say in so few words and to pack so much into one conversation is…really great. i’d love to know more about james as well (i already said i want to know more about willow and dorian :P)

 

kris

Name: TreacleTart (Signed) · Date: 21 Jan 2019 01:24 AM · For: What We Talk About When We Talk about Death

Hey Joey!

 

I'm back with another review for the Magical Menagerie review event as well as the Gryffindor Red vs Gold event for January 2019. I'm just going to slowly make my way through some of your AP if that's alright with you.

 

This is such a delicate subject to broach and you handled it so precisely. At first, it isn't clear if Willow was killed or took her own life, but by the end it seems fairly likely that she willingly jumped off of the cliff. I think allowing the reader to come to that conclusion along with the characters was a smart move. It sort of helped ease the blow a little bit.

 

James' revelation at the end is very sad. All too often, the Potter boys, particularly James, are portrayed as perfect, idealized versions of Harry. I like that you opted to go for a different route. I like that you made him damaged and vulnerable and much more three dimensional.

 

I thought keeping this short was a good idea too. It's a really heavy subject and going on for thousand of words about it can cause the emotional impact to sort of numb out. Here you use your small quantity of words cleverly to create maximum emotional impact.

 

I do wish I had just a tiny bit more background on Willow herself, but I suppose I'll just have to read some of your other stories to find out more.

 

Good job!

 

~Kaitlin

Name: facingthenorthwind (Signed) · Date: 18 Jan 2019 06:38 AM · For: What We Talk About When We Talk about Death

So this is the fic that I quickly read just after I started reading YLYL because YLYL felt so much like… well I think it feels more like an epilogue than a prologue, even though I called it a prologue in my review. XD I've had more time to think about it now. :P Anywho.

 

I don't know if this was deliberate but I definitely had a moment of "OH GOD" when you were like "Rose looked both ways before she crossed the street" and I was like "Rose is going to be hit by a car and then everyone's gonna be mourning her!!!!!!!" but it didn't happen. Thank goodness. I mean, it's not much better that Willow is dead, honestly. :P

 

There's something off about this line but I can't work out what? 

“I have terrible news,” says Rose, eyes focused on the ground. “Willow Nott is dead.” 

Obviously that's the least helpful feedback in the world, but hmm. God I have no idea, I'm so sorry. Feel free to ignore this. :P

 

I love Rose's insistence that it was a murder versus Lysander and Albus thinking it was suicide. Obviously the circumstances are ambiguous, but it feels very much more likely that it's suicide than murder, and it comes off like Rose is in denial and idk, I just think it's really effective and shows how Rose is struggling with the news.

 

Even in her grief, she's still worried about James, mindful of his anxiety and goddd I love her, I love how well she knows James. And I love that James is using breathing exercises because it's so rare to see characters who like… are shown using techniques to calm themselves, imo? And James telling everyone who got as far as writing the note was heartbreaking, but I'm so glad everyone is there to support him.

 

This was a wonderful fic with your characteristic poetic kind of vibe, Joey! 

Name: MegGonagall (Signed) · Date: 13 Jan 2019 12:38 AM · For: What We Talk About When We Talk about Death

2019 HC Magical Menagerie Review! 

 

Joey! Joey, Joey, Joey! It’s SO good to see your stunning work on the archives. I think I read this about 4 years ago, when you posted it, but it’s been so long, it was basically like reading it for the first time, since I have the memory of a gnat lol. 

 

I forgot how raw and heavy and emotional your writing is. But I remember why I loved it so much, and why you were always one of my top favorite authors. It’s a short piece, but it’s not lacking. You really get the feel that these people in the story were all close, and that the death of one of their friends hit them very hard. It’s natural that you don’t want to believe that a friend took their own life. You wonder what you could have done, how you could have helped, and you feel like you’ve failed as a friend. Which is why the anger that especially Rose felt, felt so real. She’s not angry that it was suggested, she’s angry at herself, because she felt that Willow was fine. Which means that she feels she obviously didn’t pay attention to warning signs, and feels that Willows death was partially her fault. It’s not explicitly stated that she felt that way, but that’s how I took the anger that she felt. 

 

And the part with James... man. :( I imagine that had to have been super triggering for him, which is what caused the panic attack. It was good that Fred got him out of the room, because the last thing that you’d need during a panic attack would be a group of people questioning by you, or trying to reassure you. That would only intensify it like crazy. 

 

The talk about death, and it being inevitable, yet we try not to think of it much, or just push it into the back of our minds telling ourselves not to worry until we’re old, was heavy. It’s a scary thought. That one day you and everyone you know will just not exist. Very, very heavy topics in this story. 

 

Joey, your writing is stunning, as always. I’m so, so, so glad to see you back!! *squishes*