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Post by Turquoise (Ree) on Feb 21, 2019 23:44:04 GMT -8
This month, our long fic for Book Club is Thursday's Child by Zab Jade. Probably the only mpreg series I can enjoy. TC takes some rarely-used concepts (and some common but usually very badly done ones) and interweaves them beautifully. I also liked seeing Tara in a prominent role. |
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Post by blackoberst on Feb 22, 2019 2:09:25 GMT -8
I'm still in the process of re-reading it, but let me just say, the beginning is kind of claustrophobic, traumatic, and intense, like a good thriller. At the same time, I want to cuddle them for what they're going through, and yell at them for being so obtuse, and be outraged at how they're treating Spike (who is the victim in the whole mess). I'll come back with more thoughts as I progress.
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Post by petitpalmier on Feb 23, 2019 3:08:14 GMT -8
I've finished my re-read, and it was as good as I remembered. It's not only one of my favorite Spuffy fics, but one of my favorites period. Ree is absolutely right saying that it uses some concepts that have usually been very poorly executed and gives them a very thoughtful treatment.
The mpreg for one, something that in theory should be about challenging gender norms or recognizing that some men can and do get pregnant, is often just used as a "ti-hi, look a guy acting like a girl, how silly". Here Spike's masculinity is never threatened by his pregnancy, he still acts like himself and not like the caricature of a pregnant person often seen in media, and he fights for and ends up making his own reproductive choice. I also really liked that part of Buffy's therapy was to reflect on the gender conventions she's been trying so hard to follow and finding her feminity out of the norms.
Also, the way Zab handles rape in this story might honeslty be one of the best treatement of rape I've seen in any media. The way media in general handles male rape is horrifying (almost always as a joke), and the way it handles female rape is only marginally better (while it's generally recognized as bad thing, it's often used as a trope or to advance another character's development). BtVS in particular is always terrible in this regard. So thanks Zab for doing such an amazing job there, with Spike and Buffy and Xander. For giving Spike and Buffy their agency back, for letting them work through their trauma and centering their feelings. I often say that you shouldn't write rape in a story unless you really have something important to say about rape and survivors. TC is one of the very few stories that actually does.
On lighter subjects, Zab writes my very favorite characterization of Spike and one of my favorites of Buffy. Also my favorite Xander. And the only Ben I've ever liked, which I'd never have thought possible. I also really like the story's take on what a soul is and does, its relative importance, and the reasons Spike chooses to get his at the end.
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Post by blackoberst on Mar 1, 2019 9:55:24 GMT -8
So I'm finally done with the story, and I have to say it's one of the best fics I've read. I have to wholeheartedly agree with Petitpalmier. Great, great story.
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