Fuzzy Frisks FiMFiction 8/31/14 · 6:50am Aug 31st, 2014
Hello everyone, and welcome to Fuzzy Frisks FiMFiction!
'Cuz I'm bored and think people should know what I'm thinking about, I decided I wanted to try my hand at fic reviewing. It works as a way for me to clear out my Read Later List too. If I like it, I might just keep doing these. Also, I've been writing a lot recently, so this gives me a way to get some reading done and feel like I'm still being productive! Let me know what you think in the comments.
Now, before I start, let me go ahead and say, yes, I know the format for the review looks pretty familiar. I'm still figuring things out myself, so for now these are going to look a lot like John Perry's and Present Perfect's review formats(it works for them, so hey, why not?). As I go this will probably change as I work out the kinks and feel my way around the review circuit.
So without further ado:
Sharing is Caring by Jonesly
Why I read it: I read this because it’s Jonesly’s first published standalone fic (he’s a fairly prolific contributor to the Twilestia collab with solid skills) and because it’s in a contest I myself am participating in.
What’s the deal: Luna's good experience with dating leads her to want to share her happiness with Twilight Sparkle.
Going into this, I had a good idea what I was in for: Twilight/Celestia shipping with a dash of all too happy for them Luna. And puns. Glorious, glorious puns. Jonesly doesn’t disappoint on either subject, nailing the feel of a manically happy, out-of-sync-with-society Luna and Celestia and Twilight’s reactions to her and the ensuing damage control while pretty seamlessly interjecting wordplay style puns.
If something doesn’t make immediate sense to you, I suggest reading it out loud. Wordplay like this works best as a spoken medium. That said, it still works fantastically well here in print.
Not everything is is sunshine and rainbows however. The fic is short, and though it chooses and uses its words well to deliver smooth rapid-pace comedy, it just doesn’t do much else. There is no great epic sweeping tale here. It is a few funny scenes that take place over the course of a few minutes time. There is no real conflict or resolution(since there is no conflict) outside Twi and Tia running interference on Luna’s cockamamy plans.
The reveal at the end is a nice touch and played for cutes, but otherwise, this is essentially a short story about that one time when Luna got a zany idea and refused to talk about it like a normal pony and tried to set her sister up on a date. There isn’t a moral lesson to be learned really or anything too deep to think about but it will hold your attention for a little while and give you a chuckle.
I also thought Jonesly missed out on a meta-level joke by not titling the the chapter itself.
It’s cute without being saccharine, funny without being dumb, and shippy without being too shippy.
Is it worth your time: If you’re looking for a short sweet comedy, I can’t recommend this enough. If you like deeper introspection or graphic content with your ponies, this is not for you, but it’s still worth the time to read(like it should only take you a few minutes at most with less than 2K words.).
Why I read it: I’ve eaten marmite all of once and I don’t want to repeat the experience. Ever. But this is Blueshift we’re talking about, so maybe I can get through a read?
What’s the deal: A pony from Trottingham brings the delicious taste of Marmite to Ponyville. Is Ponyville ready for the greatest British food of all time?
Going in, I’m not sure what to expect. Blueshift is a great author and does all kinds of story concepts/genres so it’s hard to pick out where this about to go and those Comedy tags are notorious liars. Once I’m over the threshold, however, I’m very pleasantly surprised by a solid comedy that manages to balance dry and decidedly moist humor.
There’s a new pony in town and he’s a business-stallion on a mission. Sadly, he is doomed from the moment of go and it just goes downhill from the very start. I’m tempted to say that this story isn’t a Murphy’s Law comedy, but it sort of is, because the things that go wong are the worst things that could go wrong for a specialty food store.
I don’t think it’s spoilery to mention that all this revolves around the titular “food”, marmite. If you’ve ever had the displeasure of trying marmite for yourself, then I’m sure you can guess how things roll. The real comedy here isn’t marmite’s qualities, so much as the subtle/unsubtle jabs and comparisons of British and American snack foods and Ponyville’s reaction to them. The overcompensation Twilight uses to get the town to give Marmite Shower’s shop a chance is hilariously in character.
After this point there is a quick shift in the comedic tone and it hits you pretty hard. I can see something like that being a big turn off to a lot of readers, but believe me, it is the kind of out-of-left-field turn that makes you want to keep reading just to see what’s going to happen next.
Is it worth your time: This is very worth your time if you have ever giggled at any sort cultural misalignment. It’s quick and packs a punch and even has a good moral to teach you while simultaneously trying to gross you out. And that’s special.
Stay Classy
-Fuzzy
Thank you for the recommendation of "Sharing is Caring". A funny little pick-me-up in the morning, just what the doctor ordered.
And I can only agree that "Marmite Showers" is hilarious. Especially if you are from neither the States nor from the UK.
2416254
You're welcome.
Should you ever get the chance to try out marmite, pass it by. Trust me.
This is like the third time, just this morning, that I've seen my name mentioned at the start of a review journal. c.c I cannot explain how weird that is.
I'm finding I like the structured review formats like what you're doing here more and more. As opposed to, y'know, mine where I just vomit opinions all over the page and stick a letter after it. :B But now I have a style and I can't ever change it. D: Woe.
Anyway, I'll let Griffin at City of Doors know you've joined the club. :D
For the record, I've been thinking about it and if I named the chapter it would have been "Chapter? I barely know her!"
2417032
That's the spirit! Never pass up an opportunity for cheese!
2416393
I've had that weird experience of finding myself to be a subject of conversation on the site a few times now, even when I'm not involved. So I know that feel. But you and Perry were big influences to me to get off my ass and do some analysis while also cleaning up my read later list.
For what it's worth, thanks!
2417112
No, thank you. :) Once upon a time, all we really had was Chris, and now there's over a dozen active reviewers in the fandom! More voices means more takes on stories, not to mention more stories getting spotlit! :D
2416393 Well, we can't explain how weird you are, so turnabout is fair play, I guess.