This chapter made me snivel quietly into a hankie. Not, in point of fact, because of the subject matter (though that was sad enough) but because of the handling of the subject matter. The writing style remained fluid and elegant, the sparsity of portions of the prose complemented by the descriptive passages in between. The simple elegance of the language served extremely well to characterise the very different emotional responses of each of the individuals, whilst allowing for empathy for everyone. Given how very different the various personalities are, that took great skill.
Your writing style also allowed me, as a reader, to make my own emotional response, rather than forcing one on me by using some sort of baroque melodrama (which would have been an easy thing to slip into, given the subject matter). That restraint is highly laudable, and the sensitivity shown in writing it is tremendous.
While I still hold out hope that Hojo has a living Cloud in his clutches (and I can't believe I just typed that!), this chapter does complement the rest of the fic's showcase of your writing virtuosity; from comedy to action, suspense and romance to, now, tragedy. And all handled with a deft skill, and attention to creative detail. The contrast between Shinra's production-line memorial service (an impersonal nod acknowledging that, yes, it's-a-dangerous-job-and-people-die) to the wake-like mountain tradition, where the hardy, pragmatic Nibelheimers still acknowledge the happier portions of life with warmth and joy.
Many thanks for the read, and I look forward to more.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-12-14 11:26 am (UTC)Your writing style also allowed me, as a reader, to make my own emotional response, rather than forcing one on me by using some sort of baroque melodrama (which would have been an easy thing to slip into, given the subject matter). That restraint is highly laudable, and the sensitivity shown in writing it is tremendous.
While I still hold out hope that Hojo has a living Cloud in his clutches (and I can't believe I just typed that!), this chapter does complement the rest of the fic's showcase of your writing virtuosity; from comedy to action, suspense and romance to, now, tragedy. And all handled with a deft skill, and attention to creative detail. The contrast between Shinra's production-line memorial service (an impersonal nod acknowledging that, yes, it's-a-dangerous-job-and-people-die) to the wake-like mountain tradition, where the hardy, pragmatic Nibelheimers still acknowledge the happier portions of life with warmth and joy.
Many thanks for the read, and I look forward to more.
N.