Reading Room V - The Lads on Holiday - Week 1 - Since Eve Ate Apples by Callisto

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Title: Since Eve Ate Apples
Author: Callisto
Archive: The Automated Hatstand
Pairing: Bodie & Doyle
 

Since Eve Ate Apples by Callisto contains loads of wonderful, well known canonly things:

Bodie quoting poetry
Doyle ratty
Bodie patient (- or less so)
Doyle fickle
Bodie eating
Doyle sniffing and slurping

And then there´s the love, some misunderstandings, declarations, promises and sweet hot sex.
And Callisto´s wonderful way of making them NOT say all the sweet, soppy, romantic things they feel, but telling them with so many other words.

 Like Doyle telling Bodie “I love you!”:
“This is it for me, Bodie.No more birds, no more... games.”

 And Bodie´s answer:
“What did you see? You saw your hard working partner trying to get the last slice of broccoli quiche for the man he loves. That’s what you bloody saw, you daft git.”

 Aren´t they the sweetest guys ever? *g*    (Rhetorical question!)

I really, really like the way Callisto let´s us in on Bodie´s thoughts. She´s got a way I am sadly unable to describe, it´s more like watching him do all those things, kinda unattached to his feelings, but it´s still so obvious that he cares deeply for Doyle.
Is there a way of describing this kind of writing?

It took me at least three times reading this fic until I was finally able to relate this:

For every misty-eyed urge a view brought on to quote Byron at it, experience had taught him there was inevitably a cowpat somewhere around the corner, just waiting for your unsuspecting foot...

to this:

All human history attests
That happiness for man - the hungry sinner! -
Since Eve ate apples, much depends on dinner.
-Lord Byron, The Island-

(Which is entirely my own fault!)
And I think this is a perfect example for the way she´s able to twist the words so they wrap themselves around our hearts and warm our minds!

Let´s face it, in fact this story is all about food. About the food Bodie loves. About the food Doyle loves. About the food Tiddles – poor poor Tiddles! Paying with pain for breakfast….
It´s about cheese and pasties and trees. It´s about knowing the other and about the way Bodie takes to win Doyles heart.
It is funny and and makes the reader feel all warm and satisfied inside.
Because this story is although the continuing of a beginning.
Callisto only hints that their relationship isn´t yet settled, all the things the lads do are about getting together for real. Even though they already act like a married couple, the broccoli, or more like GETTING the broccoli quiche, make them realise, accept and act on being truly in love with each other.

So, if you think you might be able to find a flaw in this story, go ahead and comment, I promise to ignore it. *g*

 

Comments

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Such a thoughtful review, thank you. And this, yes!

And Callisto´s wonderful way of making them NOT say all the sweet, soppy, romantic things they feel, but telling them with so many other words.

I couldn't have put it better myself. I dislike slush and her writing always succeeds in being romantic and endearing without the slush which is very important to me and difficult to do.

For every misty-eyed urge a view brought on to quote Byron at it, experience had taught him there was inevitably a cowpat somewhere around the corner, just waiting for your unsuspecting foot...

I loved that bit. I hate analysing humour (it should never be done but I could never reist temptation...) for a split second we're lured down a seemingly serious path and then.... upended with the cowpat. I love the shock of that cowpat - bringing me back down to earth with a jolt - and I think Callisto excels at that kind of humour.

Even though they already act like a married couple, the broccoli, or more like GETTING the broccoli quiche, make them realise, accept and act on being truly in love with each other.

I wondered if this was a salute to the 'broccli test'?:

http://fanlore.org/wiki/Broccoli_Test

Thanks for this rec!

[And apologies for all the edits, I seem to have lost the ability to type.]

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, what a lovely, lovely comment!
I´m so glad I was able to convey what I love most about Callistos stories.

I totally agry with you on the cowpat!

I´ve never heard before of the "broccoli test"!
That´s just hilarious! And fits just perfectly!

Thanks a lot for pointing that out!

(No worries about the editing, I had to do that too. Must be lj acting up again..*g*)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I'm so pleased I could bring that little anecdote to your attention. I don't know that much about Pros history but I did remember that little snippet.

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Thank you for pointing at that lovely legend about the 'broccoli test'!
I never thought that there would be still things that surprise me so much... :-)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of you as I remembered the legend and hoped it would interest you! And reading that Fanlore entry I've only just realised that the person with Sandy Herrod was Maggie Hall and for some reason that makes me very happy.

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"I was thinking of you as I remembered the legend..."

:-)
That's very nice!

And I'm just reading Blue Skies and you were right with it! :-)

(and for some reason there are no e-mail notifications for this entry, it was pure coincidence that I came back here before I went to bed...)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

(and for some reason there are no e-mail notifications for this entry, it was pure coincidence that I came back here before I went to bed...)

Me, too, but I never rely on my emails and either go straight to the main pages of comms (especially if there's a new post and discussion) or check on my flist (which isn't as reliable as it used to be).

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

During the night there came a few emails, but again not the 'new' ones from below.
So we really have to check it out for ourselves.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Callisto is such a good writer. She can show the love without getting mushy and she has the lads down so well. I enjoy her stories very much. Thanks for the rec.

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she really makes it easy to read and rec. And fun, too!
Thank you for your comment!

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

This is a great story, and a wonderful rec! Callisto is so very good at writing the lads in love without making them too "soft" (not sure that's the right word!) And she does a wonderful stroppy Doyle. Thanks for posting this!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for your nice comment.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

She´s got a way I am sadly unable to describe, it´s more like watching him do all those things, kinda unattached to his feelings, but it´s still so obvious that he cares deeply for Doyle. Is there a way of describing this kind of writing?
Show, not telling? That's what it sounds to me like you're describing, and it's what I reckon the best writers do! They don't tell us "Bodie was enjoying being away from London on holiday, and he was feeling happy as he bounded up into the caravan", they show us what Bodie's feeling and how he's thinking: "Against every natural instinct years of city life had seeped into him, Bodie breathed in a lungful of bracing sea air. And another. He was whistling as he mounted the three steps to the caravan’s door. *g* Callisto doesn't tell us that Doyle was cranky because he was worried because he'd been injured and felt insecure about his recovery, and... she shows us all that in what he does, in the way that Bodie sees him. Similarly she doesn't tell us anywhere at all that Bodie was angry with Doyle for spoiling his mood - but we can see that he was, through what he did! That's writing, and that's what I'm always looking for... Hmmn, perhaps because it's more realistic - people don't come up to us and say "right, I'm angry with you, let me explain why", that's not human nature - we tend to express our anger in other ways (any one of a thousand ways, depending on who we are!) and so people see it, and then adjust their behaviour to deal with it, to calm us down, or stoke the flames or whatever... (Okay, that said, in tv shows and magazine articles therapists are always encouraging people to go and talk to someone and explain why they're angry - I've never found that very realistic, either!)

Anyway... *g* I'd forgotten this little story, and it's lovely - hits lots of my kinks too: the lads on holiday together, away from London; injured Doyle; concerned Bodie... ah, and just a wee bit of jealousy at the end, to cement them together even though they clearly know... *g* Very nice - good rec, thank you!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Yup, I think that´s just it!
She makes us watch them, and since we´re so very sensible poeple, we do know exactly what her stories are about!

That's writing, and that's what I'm always looking for.
You´re so right! Exactly what I tried to say...thanks for putting it into words!
And that´s so canon, too. They don´t converse, they just hint at things with a sarky comment or two, and that´s that. Lovely writing!!

hits lots of my kinks
Mine, too! All this familiarity with each other, the established relationship, knowing....
Glad I could remind you of this wonderful piece of Pro´s!

And I am although very glad that you seem satisfied with my reccing.
Thank you for this wonderful comment!

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Thanks for introducing me to a new story! You're all right about the 'show not tell' aspect of the writing, and the descriptions of the English seaside are very evocative.

Thanks, too, for inspiring someone else to introduce me to the Broccoli Test! I like that piece of fanlore!!

Flaws? We-e-ll, standing on the cat's tail, however accidentally, almost threw me out of the story. And as it happened near the end it was hard to regain the mood in time. But that's just me, being ultra-sensitive to animals, so you can ignore me. ;) Although I did wonder whether it was a reference to all the sweeter 'cat' stories, just as the broccoli might have been a reference to the 'test'.

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

You´re very welcome!
Isn´t the broccoli Test just fabulous?!! *g*

We-e-ll, standing on the cat's tail
Ah, here you got me. Since that was something that rankled in my mind, too, I won´t ignore you. *g*

Yup, I do agree that stepping on the cats tail wasn´t very nice, but as a cat owner I have to admit, that that happened to my cats at times, too, and I do think it helps the story along.
And Bodie would NEVER do sth like that on purpose! Hee.

You could be right about the references. But only one person could tell us, and maybe she´ll act on these comments?

Thank you for this very nice comment!

[unoriginal-liz.livejournal.com]

I loved this story :) You're right, Callisto really shows you exactly how the characters are feeling - makes you feel it with them. I loved the little detail of the two of them being rusty at the idea of properly being on holiday and off-duty, and consequently forgetting to bring their swimming togs :)

That broccoli test story is fantastic.

And, I don't know if I should admit this, but I...might have found Bodie stepping on the cat's tail extremely funny. I mean, since it was so obviously an accident, and that lovely 'electric howl' Tiddles lets out - it's such a perfect description :)

Great rec! :)

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Hee! Great that you admit finding a howling cat funny.
And that´s what I thought, too, it was an accident!

Lovely userpic!!
Thanks for your nice comment!

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

The Broccoli Test story is glorious, and I only wish I could claim to have been inspired by it. The truth is far more mundane:-) When my nephew was a wee 'un, he looked at his plate and solemnly informed his mother that he was not going to eat the trees.

In our family, they have been trees ever since, and I couldn't help but recycle that incident and give it to Bodie. I quite like adapting real life anecdotes into stories, as it gives me confidence because I *know* they are authentic.

I'm very touched and pleased that my show not tell worked for people here. byslantedlight is right, that is exactly what I was going for. It's hard bloody work at times, but it's why you won't find many adverbs in my stories - I'd rather try and set it up so that the reader 'hears' how Bodie might have said something, without my having to insert a 'grumpily' 'dejectedly' etc.

I have to be careful, though (which is where a fabulous beta comes in), as while I may hear it clear as a bell a certain way in my head, I may have been too economic and not made it clear to anyone else.

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

I loved the trees from the first time reading the story, ´cause I was able to make the little Maus eat broccoli by telling her it were miniture trees. Sadly it only lastet a year or so...

So I can relate to the real life anecdotes!

I'm very touched and pleased that my show not tell worked for people here.
I think that works in all your stories so well. Thank you for taking the time and doing the hard work to get the lads just right!!

And thanks for your comment!

Since Eve Ate Apples

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit too late now, really - but what the heck, it's no secret that callisto is one of my favourite writers of all time. She has an ear for the rhythms and accents and vocab and bloke-iness of their speech (and of the period) which is absolutely unsurpassed, imo - woman's a bloody genius in that respect, and she's funny and she totally gets the way they express love and passion without ever necessarily breathing an overt word of it.

Great rec, you put the key elements of this story very well. Thank you for an excuse (as if one were needed *g*) to re-read this gorgeous fic - again!

Re: Since Eve Ate Apples

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Better late then never!!

Thank you for putting into words what I love about Callisto´s stories so much, too! What´s really important in writing the lads.

you put the key elements of this story very well
*hugs you fiercely* Thanks a ton for pointing that out! I´m still very doubtful I do these stories justice with my recs.
And you´re very welcome, I was thankful for this excuse as well! *g*