Rec-o-Rama

[kelly_chambliss]

The hp_yule_balls  reveals have gone up, and my fabulous gift At Arm's Length was written by the ever-excellent Miss Morland (I can't link to her name because of the hopeless, useless LJ code, but you can find her on my friends list if you want her page).   I knew she had written it; I knew it, I knew it.   But then, Slytherin that she obviously is, she faked me out by leaving a comment to her own story -- a very crafty comment that did not require her to squee over her fic, but was actually a cleverly-concealed remark about her motivation for writing.  Of course, this trick will never work again, not on me, anyway!  (Consider yourself warned, Missy M!)

I'll do this fest again -- it was well-run and produced a lot of femmeslash.  If some of the entries were a bit weaker than others, that's not a problem.  They were all enjoyable, in their own ways, and it seems clear that most people took time and trouble in creating their works.   Among my favorites:  A Hogmanay Carol (McGonagall/Hooch); Open Hand (Snape/Lupin); The Magic of Christmas (Remus/Bill/Snape) (The link on the masterlist takes you somewhere else, and I wasn't really convinced by the ending threesome, but the part about Snape working in a discount store as Father Christmas is a treat.)

snapelyholidays has finished posting its gifts and has given us its anonymous master-list.  I loved this fest -- such a wide variety of Snape-pairings and genres and tones.  The entries sustained a high level of quality, and the fest was beautifully-run.  Truly, some of these stories are going to become classics of my Snapely library.  My top five favorites:  (I've mentioned some of them in earlier rec posts):

**In Memory of Sigmund Freud -- (Snape/McGonagall, Snape/Moody) -- This story is without question the best Snape/McGonagall I've ever read, and I've read some stellar MM/SS.  Hell, it's one of the best fanfics I've ever read, period.  I'm almost positive I know who wrote it, and I hope they will let me friend them, because I don't want to miss a single syllable they've ever written or will write. 

Subtlety Personified -- (Snape, Slughorn) -- This version of Slughorn has become canon for me; I love him, in all his crafty, subtle, funny, heart-tugging, comfort-loving, ever-so-efficient, endearing ways.  Not many stories bring me to tears, but this one did.  One reviewer said in her LJ that this story was smart -- yes, exactly.

By the Clock -- (Snape/Dumbledore) -- Charming in the best of senses, with a nosy busybody of a wonderful Minerva, too.  Adored this.

The Caretaker -- (Snape/Filch) -- Grumpy-old-man-romance at its finest; Filch's voice is a triumph.

Illustrations for Home Studies -- (Snape/McGonagall) -- "Home Studies," a story by bethbethbeth from 2005, is one of my favorite MM/SS stories, and for the fest, an artist created a series of five excellent illustrations for it; they capture a lot of the spirit of the story, and I just love Snape's look.  The last picture, in its home-sweet-home sort of frame, is a delight.  (The artist thoughtfully provides a link to "Home Studies," in case you haven't read it.)

Also really good --

A Place Between Sleeping and Waking -- (Snape/Harry) -- Most of my flisties know that I'm not much of a slash person in general or a Snarry person in particular, but I'm really an equal-opportunity reader when it comes to quality fic.  This story is very nicely-written, with characterizations of both Snape and Harry that I find IC and effective.  In terms of plot, it's clever and compelling.  I enjoyed this story thoroughly.

Joined-Up with Jobberknolls -- (Snape/Lockhart) -- A really strong, un-silly, yet IC depiction of Lockhart makes this fic a fine read.  And Snape is wonderfully himself, too.

Out of This World -- (Snape/Hermione) -- Snape lives and becomes a monk.  It works.  Really.  Very atmospheric and thoughtful.

Let's Play! -- Snape/Lupin paper dolls with little stories and drag-queen outfits.  I trust I need say no more.

A Way Out -- (Snape/Lupin) -- An inventive story with an excellent Snape; it's like an HP Waiting for Godot, but funnier.

Comments

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

It won't work on me, I tell you! I've been vaccinated against it now /g/