ladynorbert | a fan letter

Rather than a regular review, I got an actual fan letter. This is...weird. Moving. Startling.

Slight editing to maintain privacy and correct a few small writing errors.

Hello Lady Norbert,

I was just informed of your lovely stories recently and finished reading all of them yesterday. My sister pointed me in your direction. In fact, I believe you were talking to her last night. Her AIM is [kept private] and her name is [also kept private]. She conveyed a short message for me last night as I was working on a paper and am not as forward as her to just IM someone that I do not know. Anyway, seeing as I feel the need to review all of the journals at once, I decided that e-mailing the review would be a better idea then attempting to review at ff.net. So on to my review, I guess.

First of all, I love that Bess is almost as far from a Mary Sue as you can get. When [my sister] told me that it was about Allan's daughter, I wanted to bang my head against something hard. Generally, when you hear that, it is screaming "MARY SUE!" at the top of its lungs. However, once I actually started reading the Journals, I got passed that view quickly and love Bess. I especially like when she says that there is nothing extraordinary about her at all. That all she can do is sew (or something along those lines). She is a very believable character and at times I forget that she is not canon. She seems like she belongs there with the League, which is very hard to do with a non-canon character. Now on to the rest of the League... but I may jump around a bit.

Nemo... what can you say about Nemo. I love the fatherly role that he has taken on towards Bess. She really needs the father figure that she never had. I, also, like that he did not demand a leader position or what not just because it is his boat. That would be very out of character for him. All and all I just like his character and the way that he participates in many things that he's not used to. Thanksgiving, Christmas... ect.

Mina... my favorite vampire. Actually, not my favorite character by a long shot... but still. I have to comment on her. I am so glad that you had her end up with Henry instead of Tom. I can not picture her and Tom together at all. They just do not work together in my head. She and Henry make a much better pair. They compliment each other and can deal with each other's "quirks" much better than Tom could deal with Mina. He's not right with her.

Henry... He's perfect. I love that the two sides of him can agree on things and work together and that neither is ever completely repressed. He would not be who he is without both parts of his personality. I am glad that you did not suppress either one. He is just too awesome with both working together. I love the way that he proposes too. It is so awesomely romantic and in a gorgeous spot. I can really picture it.

Tom.... what can I say about Tom? Well, first I am so glad that you did not go the cliche way and make Bess end up with him. In the first journal, reading it those parts seemed slightly forced. It did not just flow the right way. I was reading them and talking to my sister and told her that it did. She laughed at me and told me they don't end up together. I was very pleased. The sibling thing works out a lot better. He is a very good older brother for Bess and will definitely take care of her. Those two together that way seems perfect. Not forced or anything. Also, I love Tom in America, taking over on his home turf to an extent. Also, I like that the friendship between him and Becky [survived and they] get along so well. I can not see Tom holding a grudge or anything like that.

And now to my absolute favorite... Skinner. I love Skinner... in case you couldn't tell. Especially in these journals, I love Skinner. He is so complex and yet on the surface does not seem to be. I really don't know what to say other then I love the invisible shield. I will admit that I like him a lot better invisible than visible, but I can see the point of "curing" his issue. He will hopefully remain the same Skinner that I know and love. Also, his "journal" was by far my favorite if only because we get to see more than what Bess sees. And I just plain love Skinner I think.

And now, for the final part of my longest review ever.... the Bess Skinner relationship. From the first journal I told [my sister] that I wanted Bess and Skinner together and that I thought that they would end up together. I think that even when you were not trying to write it, parts of it snuck in because the muse wanted it. But I just love how it is portrayed and I can completely relate to it. The whole "dance" that they play through the first four journals of brother, friend, love interest maybe, does he even like me, no I was wrong. It was too perfect. I swear you had a camera in on my life for the past year. My boyfriend and I did that same dance for months and we were both oblivious to it long after our friends had figured it out. I love it. Then, nervous Skinner is just too cute for me to comment on. I can't put it into words. Oh and the comment about not knowing how to go from friends to more. Did I mention that I think you have a camera in on my life? You definitely know how to write relationships well. You did it with Henry and Mina and you most certainly did it with these two. It is written so believingly (don't think that is a word).

My sister and I have been coming up with theories about the next diary and I can't wait to see if we are right. I generally can predict these things so it will be fun to see if I am right and I am curious as to wht will happen if we are wrong.

Anyway, I will stop boring you now and return to mundane college life... yeah right. I wish it was mundane at times. My final comment is that I love your writing style and hope to see more soon.

Rochnariel