Author Topic: Roots  (Read 41190 times)


Offline coffeecat33

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Re: Roots
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2006, 12:30:57 pm »
I'm so glad this story is complete. I have only read the first chapter, but I like it already. I still hope he finishes Widower one day, but meanwhile I'm happy to have this story.
Leslie

Offline bailey

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Re: Roots
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2006, 09:41:48 am »
Written by the author of Widower for One Year, 271Horses, is an amazing story about Earl and Rich.

The story posted here, is complete.

http://271horses.livejournal.com/1913.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/2206.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/2459.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/2647.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/2977.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/3097.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/3559.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/3706.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/3987.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/4306.html
http://271horses.livejournal.com/4401.html



I can't believe there aren't more replies on this thread.  "Roots" is the best bbm fanfic to date.  The writing, the subject matter, the development, narrative flow, authentic detail are all head and shoulders above anything else out there.  It's really not accurate to call it fanfic.  It's a sure enough novel.  I'd be green with envy if I wasn't so wrapped up in AJ's amazing work.  This one stands alone.  There is nothing else like it in the fandom.  It's the real deal.  I urge anyone that loves Brokeback to read this backstory of Earl and Rich's lives.  You don't know what you're missing.

bailey

Offline littleguitar

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Re: Roots
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2006, 03:42:27 pm »
Thanks for the recommendation guys! I'm going to start this tonight... can you believe I still haven't read "Widower"?? I keep hearing about it...

 :)
‘cause the truth is, I already give him everythin’ I got to give, more than I ever even knew I had; ‘n it all for him, all of it, him who is my brother, my father, my child, my friend, my lover, my heart, my soul; my Ennis.

-- del Mar Painting, Ch. 48 by b73

Offline coffeecat33

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Re: Roots
« Reply #4 on: December 03, 2006, 04:15:41 pm »
This story is beautiful, truthful, and believable. The love between these two men is so apparent you can almost reach out and touch it. Their sensuality conveys love better than any graphic sex scenes I’ve read in fan fiction.

Bailey is right - this goes beyond fan fiction. Everyone should read Roots.

one_of_one

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Re: Roots
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2006, 11:15:17 am »
Awesome and amazing are all I can say right now.  It's an epic novel stretching across, what, 50? 60? years.

Captivating and engrossing.  Such detail. 

I love it.

Offline Kazza

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Re: Roots
« Reply #6 on: December 04, 2006, 11:57:14 am »
I'm going to give this one a go.

Bit worried it's going to leave me weeping by the end, given the subject matter. Sometimes it's worth it though.

Karen

one_of_one

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Re: Roots
« Reply #7 on: December 04, 2006, 12:34:57 pm »
I don't know about anyone else but going into it knowing what happened to Earl made everything in Part I so poignant. 

Part II felt like that irreversible fall that Ennis went into on the last day on the mountain.  All paths leading to the inevitable conclusion.  And the aftermath of Earl's death was extremely well told.

In Part II I found the character of Elvon (Ennis's father) fascinating.  His development from a small boy to the man who dragged his sons to see the body of Earl in the ditch was so realistic, and so sad.

Tied up with the whole story of Earl and Rich was the bigger picture of the decline of the West.  And the story of both just came together like an elaborate tapestry. 

And how different Earl and Rich were to Ennis and Jack. It seemed so simple when the former decided to make a life together.  If only the latter had had more self belief and less self hatred.

Offline coffeecat33

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Re: Roots
« Reply #8 on: December 04, 2006, 02:35:15 pm »
Everything one_of_one said goes ditto for me - I just can't say it as eloquently.

I had reservations about reading this story, too, but I feel 271horses' writing is so worth the trip.

The love between Earl and Rich and how they express it is beyond words. No graphic sex scenes are needed - it's already very erotic. The scene where Ennis's dad looks at the windows at night will stay with me a long time.

It took me about three days to read this and digest it and I am still incoherent. Later I'd like to talk about the symbolism and spirituality in Roots, including the name of this piece.

cc33 / Leslie

Offline coffeecat33

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Re: Roots
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2006, 02:40:17 pm »
bump