I have to admit, I had to keep myself from making a very, very, very bad pun out of the story’s title and the current heat conditions here in Germany (we are at 33° C or above 90° F). That must have been said heat which keeps me from thinking straight, really (and that when I’m sitting in university 8 hours a day -.-). But enought of my ramblings, to the story. First of all the vital information: Available at AHA and FF.net (although FF.net is currently one chapter behind), rated T at the moment, modern P&P with Darcy and Lizzy in their teenage years (for the majority of the story at least). Blurb runs as following:

It rains and it pours and he can think of nothing but Lizzy Bennet and the handprint she left on his heart. A story about loss, love, rain, and how the three changed William Darcy.

It’s a WIP and currently the updating scedule is a bit irregular (you all know that thing called RL, right?), but every chapter is worth the wait. Although, at the end of the latest chapter I sort of wanted to tear my hair out!

It’s all described from Darcy’s point of view and boy, he’s hurting! He has just lost his mother and his father (who gives “emotionally distant” a whole new meaning) decided to move to the states to build a new life there. And you really feel Darcy’s sadness and the grief and the feeling of loss. The way everymonday portraits it, is heartbreaking! This story is simply so much more than the average Darcy-and-Lizzy-as-teenagers-in-highschool-story, with all the emotional baggage they are carrying. Because Lizzy has seen loss, too (and I feel that she’s very matured compared to the ordinary 17-year-old) and she might just be the one the help Darcy healing, but they are both so stubborn.

And then there is chemistry between those two – wow! At certain points you could just feel the tension and the passion of these two very strong characters. And I dread the huge row that is going to come, because we know from chapter 7 that there will be a break-up inevitably, which will take some years (in my guess at least). But everymonday promised a happy ending – I will hold on to that.

I can’t really guess where the story might be leading because the foreshadowing has given the story a whole new perspective, this will not be resolved while they are still in high school. So, they will split up when young and I dearly hope that they will meet in the future/present time. And you could see from the few paragraphs in chapter 7 that Darcy has matured quite a lot. Still pining for the girl he fell in love with when he was 17! Those two definately don’t have an ordinary romance!

a modern Darcy with glases.

That’s all.

All right: Currently you can find one it in Boogima’s Thirteen Days and Karen A’s Creep.

So, with three entries, orchidvines is (currently) the most often mentioned authoress here on this blog. She is the only reason why I plunge into the chaos that it FF.net as her writing leaves me speachless with both awe and envy. She is really extremely talented and simply has a way of pricturing Jane Austen’s characters in a modern setting that feels so natural and so extremely close to canon. And I think that I’ve sung enough praises of her extreme cool style of writing, so I’ll come straight to her story: Red Light, Green Light, which I not only like, because it’s by orchidvines and therefore well-written, but also because it’s a modern take on Emma and a that’s a really nice change among the great variety of P&P-fanfictions (not that I’m complaining about that ). I don’t really know what to write else as the story is extremely close to the original Emma-storyline (I’m a fan of Emma btw., despite all her faults in the original) and to add that you can never do wrong with a story by orchidvines.

Which is why I will also mention that she posted a P&P one-shot called Mercy, Mercy me (modern, non-canon), which I have also come to adore.

Yeah, I guess, we will hear about orchidvines more often on this blog (that is, if she continues writing – and I pray to God that she will!)

So, in the back of my very uncooperative brain I have a complete WW-II-fanfiction figured out, but it just refuses to come out, so it has to wait. (Not that I have any other stories, that I could write…). I imagine my story to be quite heroic, dramatic, sentimental etc. – in short, everything Mari A’s wonderful Blackout (posted at DWG) is not. All right, it could be called all that above but in a more hushed down way. First of all, because not – as probably expected – Darcy is the “hero”, but rather Caroline Bingley is the “heroine”, and a great one I might add. Because the blurb says:

One evening changes a lifetime for a former socialite in a country at war.

I like stories with a transformed Caroline and this one is really touching. The way Mari describes the circumstances that lead to a whole new perspective for Caro is so moving. I really felt for her, because suddenly everything was turned upside down. Suddenly Caro is so level-headed and so “normal” and not a bit arrogant or haughty. I loved reading every single sentence of this story. And of course there is a “love interest” for her – but I won’t give away anything from the plot.

The story was finished a few weeks ago and it’s completely safe to read.

So, KarenA is posting her story, a modern WIP called “Obsession” at AHA and I have to admit, the suspense is literally killing me, because I have this nagging feeling, that some things are about to explode soon!

I really suck at summarizing this story, because it has so many twists and story developments and I’ll just say that Elizabeth Bennet and Georgiana – Ana – Darcy are friends from medical school and house mates. As Darcy gets to know of his sister’s friendship with the Bennet sisters and her subsequent move out of the dorm into a shared house he’s afraid that the two unknown Bennet-girls might be bad influence for his baby sister, Darcy decides to visit. Of course, Darcy and Elizabeth initially have a very rocky start, but soon get to know each other better and of course fall for each other. Currently, we are at a state of the relationship where both are aware of their love for the respective other, but both are too afraid to admit their feelings to each other. *sigh* However, we know from the original that there are some hindrances before these two actually become a couple and I have the nagging feeling, that in this particular story there will be angst galore!

My guesses are that there will definitely be a Wickham-Lydia-story line but I’d bet that KarenA has more on her sleeve than a “simple” story line that would simply be a modern equivalent to the elopement in the original. I’d guess that of course Lydia is involved but, as far as I can tell, his plan to get to Darcy are by far more evil and elaborated and there are more people involved.

Oh, and apart from the absolutely and gripping story line there are of course other features that make the story absolutely recommendable. First of all the style, the story is told from the first-person-perspective, however the narrators are mostly  Elizabeth and Darcy but actually we also get to know the thoughts of the villain in this story, when Wickham tells things from his perspective.

KarenA has a very strong style, her descriptions are excellent, very visual, and you feel very close to the respective narrator and his/her feelings as well as his/her observations. You also get to know that there is a lot of sexual frustration involved This is simply brilliantly done in this story, I envy her of her ability to write with a first person narrator. I also like her portrayal of chacaters in this story, especially Ana – I like it when Darcy’s sister is not the shy little mouse, but instead has more self-confidence – and strangely enough Mary, although she’s only a minor character…

I really like reading this story  and as mentioned above I’d wish that I would develop faster, but I guess I simply have to be content with each new instalment, which will bring us inevitably to bombshell that is about to be dropped.

So it’s me again.. after another absence and Angelika’s wonderful work so that the blog is still activ I return…

Normally I rarely read modern Austen fics I have to confess… most of the time I prefer Regency. I don’t know why, but that’s the way it is.

Some days ago I stumbled over The Luxury Gap by sharlamc (Modern/Adult), originally posted at the HG and I got totally sucked in. Part I is quite a lot and I read about 2 days, even before going to bed I used my netbook t read at least a chapter before going asleep (usually it ended with me reading at least 5 chapters and then after looking at the time being totally surprised but awfully tired )

Thanks a lot to the girls at AHA who mentioned it in the Recommendations section… you gave me a marvellous read!

Blurb: A modern retelling of P&P set in Seattle. Elizabeth is a costume designer and Darcy one of the richest men in the country. Charles and Jane (who is a cousin of Elizabeth in this fiction) try to bring them together but both “victims” see their intention… and nonetheless fall for each other. Of course there are certain obstacles to overcome, Wickham throws his weight in to seperate them – or at least stir something.

Part I is – as I said – finished and it is a read you should not miss! Wonderfully written

Unfortunately Part II is still just one chapter but I really, really hope that the authoress will continue. Btw… should she or some whom she knows read this…

I beg you to relieve this suffering and continue writing this fabulous story!!

So this week the whole thing about my not-so-secret second identity as Amerna at FF.net and some small commotion about Sag niemals nie (Never say never again), one of my at-the-moment-only-available-in-German-stories, made me actually look (and sort of update) my profile at FF.net again. I’m not that active at FF.net anymore as I prefer other sites (as you may know ) but it also had its advantages because I recovered an old favourite of mine: Love and other accidents. It’s the only story I have in my “Favorite Stories” section at FF.net.

It’s a modern take on P&P with Darcy being a rockstar and Lizzy a student (and a former model, although everybody is surprised about this ). It’s very close to the original with them having (of course) a very rocky start and things going downhill from there on. There’s Hunsford and then Pemberley and of course – after some angst – a happy ending. The only changes are in the family dynamics, Mary and Kitty don’t exist and Lydia is a cousin instead of a sister, Mrs. Bennet has a minor role as Jane and Lizzy (fraternal twins) have moved out.
Another change concerns the hero’s name. At first I was a bit confused that Darcy is called Darlington (and as you may remember from my previous post I don’t take changes in names so well ) but this is part of the story – a very good twist, I might add.

So what else makes this story so worth reading?

First of all the style. Lizzy is a photographer and the authoress manages to describe the shots Lizzy takes very well. It’s very visual and you have the picture Lizzy takes in front of your eye. This is very cool – after all, isn’t writing fiction about conjuring images in front of the reader’s mind? Additionally her dialogues and the descriptions of people’s reactions are very well done. Some of them were simply “right”, some of them made me laugh out aloud – it’s been a pleasure to read.

Another thing: The characterizations. Lizzy and Will are – though modernized – perfectly in character and I was almost ready to bild a shrine for Richard who is really cool (and unfortunately very married ) in this story. Compliments also for the portrayal of Mr. Collins! I love it! I was laughing all the way through this part of the third chapter.

There are also other little details for example Darcy’s family constantly taking Lizzy for a groupie or things Lizzy suggests in jest really happening later on. Or the references to modern pop culture. With VH1 and stuff.

I’m really glad that I “recovered” this story and I read it again today. Strangely there was one scene I remembered as soon as I had read the title and the blurb. It was the scene where Darcy, who’s a big star in America but unknown in the UK, was recognised by a American tourist and Lizzy, currently visiting the UK (and Pemberley among others ) “saved” him.

I think it’s a pity the authoress paperclipz doesn’t have any more stories! I would have liked it very much to read more JA fanfictions. But you cannot help it. I have to be content with Love and other accidents – not that I’m complaining.

I’ve already recommended one of orchidvines’ stories back in April and now she’s posting a new story (although updates are a bit irregular) which (of course) has me hooked already!

I’ve already praised her talents into the skies the last time, so I won’t bother you with my obvious appreciation of her talents and come straight to the story.

Will Darcy had absolutely everything. Until the accident. In a glimpse of what could have been, he wakes up beside Lizzy Bennet, the artist he was supposed to dump ten years ago. The fork in his path. Still, what the hell happened to his Armani suits?

It’s called “You, Me and the Bourgeoisie” and as you may have guessed from the blurb it’s a modern take of P&P crossed with the movie “The Family Man”. (Sadly) It’s only available at FF.net

I love this premise already, it’s very interesting to read, how Darcy, the epitome of arrogance and success, is suddenly thrown into another life, where he is married to Lizzy with two kids and “simply” runs the bookstore Mr. Bennet had to give up after a heart attack. And now from simply one glimpse to another he has to deal with all these changes. My guess also is that his “adaption” to this new life is not the only obstacle Lizzy and Darcy have to overcome, because I have the feeling that there is also something in the past of Lizzy’s and Darcy’s relationship that will blow off sometime soon – and which Darcy of course will not remember. The reason I think this is that there is the mention of a “George” and my guess is that this is George Wickham as Charles Bingley is (sadly) not part of this story. I would like this to be George Knightley, but I don’t think so.

So, I’m curios what will happen next – I know the movie with Nicolas Cage of course but it’s quite difficult to imagine what will happen next. But I’d love to read the declaration Nicolas Cage makes at the end of the movie in this FF, because that would make me melt on the spot.

I’ll probably recommend orchidvines’ other stories here soon, because you can definately call me a fan of her work. So, you can do nothing wrong with reading “You, Me and the Bourgeoisie“

I’m writing this entry at 1:40 a.m. in the morning (so please excuse my incomprehensible ramblings) after I’ve just finished reading Belen’s fantastic “Obstacles to overcome” and after realising how incredibly boring I’ve become. First of all I should compliment Belen on her fantastic story, which is a modern adaption of P&P with the protagonists having a background from the equestrian world – Darcy is, as we will get to know while the story progresses – England’s hottest horseman (great line!). An absolutely terrifc read, which is why I’m still up at such a relatively late hour.

I read the whole story in a rush – I found it quite by accident via the JAFF index – and I didn’t realise how engrossed I had become in reading that I simply forgot the time. And my next thought was how often this had happend when I was still at school and how this had ceased to happen now that I’m off working and studying at the same time (which, as I’ve probably mentioned before, is sucking my life right out of me). One could argue that now that I’ve read so many stories, there are less long finished stories available I could read in a rush, but I think, that’s just one side of the coin.

To tell the truth, I’d suddenly came to my mind how exhausted I’ve become. This has probably been the first time in months that I’ve stayed up after 1 a.m., even yesterday I went to bed at 9 p.m., because I was so wiped out from work and studying (BTW, I’m 20 years old, for God’s sake – I’m not supposed to go to bed so early on a Friday night!). When I come home from work, I mostly almost check the board for any updates on the current WIPs/PIPs, however, in the last few weeks there have been occurences, where I saw, that there was e.g. a new chapter of “Moonlightning” or “Their share of vexations”, but I simply lacked the energy to read them.

Fanfiction is a thing a adore, one could easily say, a thing I worship and in the past I didn’t have a problem following all the boards, even to such an extent that I became restless when stories where not as numerous as I was used, but now I’m less and less able to follow this hobby of mine, part of it due to the time constraints and part of it, because I willingly choose it, because I want to give all the fantastic stories the time they deserve. A new chapter of one of your favourite FFs is a thing you have to devour and nothing you can just squeeze into your scedule after working overtime and before starting to read another chapter in “Prospects for worker board-level participation in the enlarged EU”. I still haven’t found a balance between work, studies and free time and I guess it will still take some time and this stupid entry is probably something I will regret tomorrow, because it sounds so childish and immature and more or less like the complaints of a stupid teenager, but anyway… It’s something I had to get off my chest.

And now it came to my mind that with reading Belen’s story, I lost a few hours for working on the paper, which is due in two weeks time – so RL comes back with full force now. But I’d say, losing this few hours was very worthwile, because I spend these hours with Darcy and Lizzy and Georgiana and Richard and all the other charactars I have come to love and now it’s 2 a.m. and I’m heading of to bed.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhh, arghhhhhhhhhhh, arghhhhhhhhhhh was all I wanted to scream after I had read the latest chapter of Irene’s Cherchez la femme (rated A, available at AHA), which is a modern spy story (I know spy story sounds a bit clichéd, but it’s a great spy story!). Due to a very cunning intrigue Esther Brighton, 27, an unremarkable medical examiner in the office of the Los Angeles Coroner has two choices: Serving a longtime sentence in a maximum security prison or joining intelligence service. By chosing the latter Esther Brighton becomes Elizabeth Bennet and starts working for Center One, an organization tied to the CIA, where she is partnered with Darcy, a hardened CIA secret agent, with whom she will expierence adventure and happiness and try to solve the great puzzle behind it all.

This story has had me hooked right from the beginning (I do have a thing for spy stories… you know, I write one my own…) and I’m completely fascinated by Irene’s storytelling. This story is a piece of genius because it’s mystifying, I’ve read a lots of mysteries and sometimes I’m quite good at guessing how it will turn out in the end but in case of Cherchez la femme I don’t even have a clue how all this different levels can be linked together!  I do have the suspicion that Esther’s/Elizabeth’s origin may have something to do with it (she’s a orphan and doesn’t know her parents) but apart from that I’m completely at a loss concerning any part of the story (apart from Darcy and Lizzy ending up together of course ).

So, the thing that let me to blog about it was my own frustration because at the beginning of the week Irene posted chapter 18 and it has a cliffhanger that almost made me bite my desk! Arghhhhhhhh! I want to know what happens next – I want a new chapter – immediately! Immediately! (Some cliffhangers at the end of a chapter make me behave almost like a spoilt child, I want to stomp with my feet, scream, start crying and run around in my flat! Yeah, fanfiction probably brings out the worst in me…) Cliffhangers a purely torture! I know, they have to be there, otherwise a story would be less interesting and I use cliffhangers myself to torture my readers but nevertheless they are evil, evil, EVIL!

Well, before getting too carried away I’ll end this post with a thorough recommendation and a passionate plea to Irene:

I beg you, most fervently, to relieve my suffering!