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crack_van2004-01-11 11:27 pm
justacat.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2004-01-11 11:27 pm
All the Comforts of Home and Chicago Tales, by Denise Raymond (NC-17)
Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Ray Kowalski/Benton Fraser
Why this must be read:
I have a special fondness for long, involved, post-Call of the Wild stories, particularly when they deal with established relationship issues - hence my first rec, Busted and Tapestry by anonymous co. The All the Comforts of Home series by Denise Raymond is another of the stars of this genre, and certainly it's one of the most original.
First, it's a completely unique premise. Ray Vecchio, whose marriage to Stella Kowalski is on the rocks, comes to Canada looking for Fraser, and who should he find but Ray Kowalski - who's less than happy to see him, and not just for the reasons you'd expect. I'll leave it at that so as not to give too much of the story away, but it's definitely an original and intriguing premise. In addition, it's written from three different points of view: Ray Vecchio's, Ray Kowalski's, and Fraser's. This could be a setup for disaster, but it works because Denise has a great command of the voices - each is distinct and true - and the emotions. And the portrayal of Ray Vecchio is particularly well done, especially for a Fraser/Kowalski story.
The story is engrossing and well written, with great dialogue and depth of feeling, perfect pacing, an interesting and beautiful setting, and wonderfully developed secondary characters. There are occasional flashes of humor and many moments of great tenderness, sweetness, and sensitivity - in particular, in both this and the sequel, the author deals unusually well and thoroughly (for a fanfic) with some of the issues that men who enter m/m relationships later in life might actually face - like homophobia, intolerance, and the acceptance (or lack thereof) of family and friends. All the Comforts also manages to be hot, hot, hot, even though Ray K and Fraser spend most of the story separated. The scene with a shirtless, frustrated Ray K violently chopping wood has become a classic in the fandom!
Chicago Tales, the sequel to All the Comforts, is equally original, but in many ways it's quite a different story. Like All the Comforts, Chicago Tales is long, engrossing, and full of emotion - though with more hot sex than the first, which is only a plus in my mind! - but it's also much plottier and angstier. Though it generally gets rave reviews, and I love it myself, there are a few people who are huge fans of All the Comforts but not quite as fond of this one. There's no doubt, though, that it's a must-read in the fandom. In the words of one reviewer, together the stories create "a beautifully composed portrait" of the deep friendship between Fraser and Ray Vecchio and the once-in-a-lifetime, for-a-lifetime love affair between Fraser and Ray Kowalski.
Though the stories are reasonably complete in themselves, Chicago Tales begs for a sequel, and apparently the author intends one. There are countless dS fans - myself included! - who await this with bated breath. There's no need to wait for it to begin reading, though - All the Comforts and Chicago Tales can be fully appreciated as they stand; another will simply be icing on the cake.
- Ray Saved From Drowning (the very short prequel, which helps set up the premise for All the Comforts of Home)
- All the Comforts of Home
- Chicago Tales
Pairing: Ray Kowalski/Benton Fraser
Why this must be read:
I have a special fondness for long, involved, post-Call of the Wild stories, particularly when they deal with established relationship issues - hence my first rec, Busted and Tapestry by anonymous co. The All the Comforts of Home series by Denise Raymond is another of the stars of this genre, and certainly it's one of the most original.
First, it's a completely unique premise. Ray Vecchio, whose marriage to Stella Kowalski is on the rocks, comes to Canada looking for Fraser, and who should he find but Ray Kowalski - who's less than happy to see him, and not just for the reasons you'd expect. I'll leave it at that so as not to give too much of the story away, but it's definitely an original and intriguing premise. In addition, it's written from three different points of view: Ray Vecchio's, Ray Kowalski's, and Fraser's. This could be a setup for disaster, but it works because Denise has a great command of the voices - each is distinct and true - and the emotions. And the portrayal of Ray Vecchio is particularly well done, especially for a Fraser/Kowalski story.
The story is engrossing and well written, with great dialogue and depth of feeling, perfect pacing, an interesting and beautiful setting, and wonderfully developed secondary characters. There are occasional flashes of humor and many moments of great tenderness, sweetness, and sensitivity - in particular, in both this and the sequel, the author deals unusually well and thoroughly (for a fanfic) with some of the issues that men who enter m/m relationships later in life might actually face - like homophobia, intolerance, and the acceptance (or lack thereof) of family and friends. All the Comforts also manages to be hot, hot, hot, even though Ray K and Fraser spend most of the story separated. The scene with a shirtless, frustrated Ray K violently chopping wood has become a classic in the fandom!
Chicago Tales, the sequel to All the Comforts, is equally original, but in many ways it's quite a different story. Like All the Comforts, Chicago Tales is long, engrossing, and full of emotion - though with more hot sex than the first, which is only a plus in my mind! - but it's also much plottier and angstier. Though it generally gets rave reviews, and I love it myself, there are a few people who are huge fans of All the Comforts but not quite as fond of this one. There's no doubt, though, that it's a must-read in the fandom. In the words of one reviewer, together the stories create "a beautifully composed portrait" of the deep friendship between Fraser and Ray Vecchio and the once-in-a-lifetime, for-a-lifetime love affair between Fraser and Ray Kowalski.
Though the stories are reasonably complete in themselves, Chicago Tales begs for a sequel, and apparently the author intends one. There are countless dS fans - myself included! - who await this with bated breath. There's no need to wait for it to begin reading, though - All the Comforts and Chicago Tales can be fully appreciated as they stand; another will simply be icing on the cake.
- Ray Saved From Drowning (the very short prequel, which helps set up the premise for All the Comforts of Home)
- All the Comforts of Home
- Chicago Tales