Brokeback Mountain: Our Community's Common Bond > Brokeback Mountain Fan Fiction & Poetry
Can't Stand It - by nosunlight
mariez:
Have to say again what an enjoyable story this is. The writer doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, but she always manages to make me laugh, too.
Marie
Penthesilea:
chapter 50 is up:
http://community.livejournal.com/brokebackslash/1599513.html#cutid1
*** Spoiler ***
I love this story, it's well thought-out and very good written. But at the moment, I'm not happy at all with Jack. I think the more Ennis grows and changes and is willing to make even more steps forward, the more egoistic Jack gets and the more Jacks moves backwards. I think the conditions he sets for a hypothetical move (if he had the benevolence to agree to it at all ;)) would be not fair and make them unequal from the beginning on.
He wants to have everything: his (and only his!) farm, the Petersons, a good, respected position in the community, a close relationship to Bobby, lots of money and the good feeling of being generous with it. And Ennis would be the icing on the cake.
But Ennis would have to give up everything and would have nothing except Jack: his job (job-wise he would gain nothing with a move) and his close relationship with his daughters, he would lose the possibility to see them as often as they want. Additionally, Jack would have the say about everything, would be his boss and would (theoretically) always be able to dump and fire him from one day to the next.
Not fair in my book. I hope they will be able to work out something fairer once they get to that point of getting specific about a move.
mariez:
--- Quote from: Penthesilea on October 31, 2007, 02:41:47 am ---chapter 50 is up:
http://community.livejournal.com/brokebackslash/1599513.html#cutid1
*** Spoiler ***
I love this story, it's well thought-out and very good written. But at the moment, I'm not happy at all with Jack. I think the more Ennis grows and changes and is willing to make even more steps forward, the more egoistic Jack gets and the more Jacks moves backwards. I think the conditions he sets for a hypothetical move (if he had the benevolence to agree to it at all ;)) would be not fair and make them unequal from the beginning on.
He wants to have everything: his (and only his!) farm, the Petersons, a good, respected position in the community, a close relationship to Bobby, lots of money and the good feeling of being generous with it. And Ennis would be the icing on the cake.
But Ennis would have to give up everything and would have nothing except Jack: his job (job-wise he would gain nothing with a move) and his close relationship with his daughters, he would lose the possibility to see them as often as they want. Additionally, Jack would have the say about everything, would be his boss and would (theoretically) always be able to dump and fire him from one day to the next.
Not fair in my book. I hope they will be able to work out something fairer once they get to that point of getting specific about a move.
--- End quote ---
OMG, Chrissi - I'm relieved to see your post - I thought I was the only who was starting to feel a little uncomfortable about the last few chapters. I, too, love the story and agree that it's well thought out and very well written. But......I guess I have a "thing" about authors "favoring" one character over the other and maybe I'm too sensitive about it, but a few of the chapters have given me an unsettled feeling that that may be what's going on here. And then, last night, I was reading the thread over at ennisjack about this story, looking for some opinions, and I see this one post where someone who's just started the story asked whether she should continue because of a reply the author made to a comment in an early chapter. The author's reply being: "It's fun to make Ennis suffer a little." Yikes. I went back and looked and the comment was indeed there after Chapter 2.
I know she was probably joking but that doesn't sit right with me and, frankly, it's colored my view of the story now. So....when the author has Jack saying that it's not about "punishment" - well.......hmmmmm. In theory, I guess I can understand the rationale, but viscerally it doesn't feel right at all - and now that you've pointed out a few more things, I feel even more unsettled about it. You're right - there doesn't seem to be much in the way of compromise in the plan. And plus, that damn comment keeps running through my mind. I almost wish I hadn't read it now - but it's like unringing a bell - can't be done! LOL!
Well, anyways, enough rambling. Thanks for sharing your insightful thoughts.
Marie
cwby30:
Afternoon, Penthesilia and Marie.
*** Spoiler ***
Well, after reading your comments, I have to agree with you on some of the points. For so long Ennis held the reins, seeing Jack when he could make it. Then, when Ennis turned him away after the divorce, Jack decided to take the reins and cut Ennis out of his life. Then, when Ennis showed up unexpectedly, Jack lets Ennis back into his life, and practically begs him to move down. Then, Jack has second thoughts because of what people would think/say, and the possibility of losing Bobby because of what Bobby would think and say, and is paranoid enough to be squirreling money in a Swiss bank account and other 'secret' accounts. Reverse OS, anyone?
So, I don't like the fact that Jack wants to have his cake and eat it too, so to speak, and force Ennis into a situation that he is entirely beholding to Jack. Would rather see Ennis move down somewhere close, and establish himself separate from Jack, and they meet whenever they want to, whether outside of Kansas or in one or the other's place.
Maybe Ennis should buy a Super Lotto ticket at a convenience store on his way back to Wyoming, and hit it big, and have enough money not to be beholding to Jack. Where would that lead them? Would Ennis want to buy a half-interest in EJ's? Would Jack be willing to sell a half-interest to Ennis if he offered? That would be a real turning point in their relationship. If Jack refused, then Ennis could leave like Jack did, and find his own way even though broken-hearted, and see whether Jack ever backs down.
Guess all this means that I too think something's gotta give here, something rather monumental, something to make Jack reassess his 'terms and conditions', and Ennis to reassess them, too. Just seems like Jack's terms are a recipe for disaster, and that Ennis may be putting too much trust in Jack despite Jack's professed promise to be a good employer.
Also, just my personal tastes I guess, but Jack is pushing the sex a tad bit too kinky. Don't really think OS Ennis would go along with all of that, unless Jack was willing to do the same, and even then... Ennis has come a long way over the past months in the story, but even then... But this is AU, so...
Thanks again.
frantic65:
These last few chapters have really made me think hard about where J&E are truly heading right now. The no way you can ever be my biz partner statement threw me for a loop. I understand Jack's reasoning, but it seems to be a very cold almost calculating decision, where I would expect a more emotional reaction from him, leaving that possibility there-this just struck me as harsh. Ennis' reaction was just as disturbing-he kind of rolled over and said "ok, no problem" Add this to the money discussion & I'm starting to think of Jack as Mack Daddy Twist- ;)
It is getting difficult to see them obtaining an "equal" footing to allow that sweet life to succeed. Then when Jack is thinking about how he doesn't want to jeopardize his new "family" (Brenda & Sam), I am getting real concerned. I see Ennis in danger of becoming a dirty little secret that Jack will prefer keeping in Wyoming, with great vacations with the kids to Disney (etc) and monthly visits to some nice hotel for a weekend of hot kinky sex. (Not that I'm complaining about that part!) Am I reading more into this than I should be??
I know Ennis still has his own pride issues that are by no means easily overcome, but how could he ever exist as a foreman at EJ's & expect to be taken seriously if he is openly living with Jack? Of course, his being a biz partner gives them the same issues, but I feel the fact that Jack accepted him as a partner not an employee would make it a better situation. After all, if they were a het couple that got married, the woman would automatically obtain a vested interest in the business.
This is a very tangled mess right now & I can't wait to see how NS resolves things.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version