Curious!

[lady_karelia]

Okay, I'm curious.

There are some SSHG stories that I've read several times because I love them. I do have an all-time favourite, which I've read at least eight times or so, and I have yet to get tired of it - it was one of the first ones I discovered. Then there are others that I initially loved, but upon re-reading quickly lost interest for all and sundry reasons. Then yet others I loved following as a WIP, but when I went to re-read once it was complete, it couldn't hold my attention.

So, I'm curious about your favourites: Your all-time favourite, the one you can read and re-read and read again, without getting tired. The more recent one you need to re-read because it's so good. And the one you love(d) following, but can't read in one sitting. And the one WIP you're currently following and expect to read again and again. Oh, and while we're at it, how about your current favourite WIP?

I'll tell you mine:

All-time favourite: Ordinary People by Hayseed. Although I must admit it's closely followed by Quillusion's Soul Searching.
The more recent one needing a re-read because it's so good: His Draught of Delicate Poison by Subvers
One I absolutely adore following as soon as a new chapter is out, but haven't managed to re-read from the start: Phantom of Hogwarts by Good_Witch
Despite knowing better, I'm following a few WIPs. Now, to follow WIPs, they must be outstanding as far as I'm concerned. There are some I read the first chapter and then put it aside and wait till it's completed. With a few, however, I have to know what happens next because I get sucked into the story from the word go. Those are:
Flight of the Prince by southernwitch69
Where Your Treasure Is by zeegrindylows
dickgloucester's A Fresh Start, which has now been updated to Chapter 7
Strega Letteraria by notsosaintly
Seven Preposterous Things by yanniconny

I also have the honour of beta-reading Denial by little_beloved. No list of recommendations would be complete without mentioning her works.

And then, there is my need to liken fanfic authors to composers...

Beethoven: bambu345 because I happily read anything she writes, and it's always classy.
Bach: Melissande because her writings might make me cry, but the ending is always happy and hopeful.
Mozart: subvers no matter how much I deny it, I enjoy it thoroughly, and the end is always thoroughly and oddly satisfying.
Rachmaninoff: southernwitch69switching almost abruptly between pianissimo and forte, and that's what makes it utterly gorgeous, that unexpected change, yet afterwards, you ask yourself, "Oh, why didn't I see that coming???"

So, what are your favourites?

Comments

[sbrande.livejournal.com]

Okay here are mine...

Ordinary People (love that one)
Guard... Check... Mate... (another classic that never gets old)
Damaged Goods (torture but I love it, it is on Ashwinder)
Strong Enough (on Ashwinder)
Cloak of Courage
The Old Ways (classic Snape vampire fic)
Hunted (HG/FG story)
Abyss (HG/LV story - really well written)
Hinge of Fate
The Incident in the Great Hall (love this story)

WIP's:

When a Lioness Fights
Anguissette
Be Careful In The Dark
On the Road that I have Taken
Ascent (conclusion to 'Abyss' I love this story)
She Was Beautiful to Him (absolutely brilliant ;))

I really hate starting to read WIP, and like you I usually wait until they are finished.

There are many, many others but these are the ones that spring to mind automatically when asked which stories are my favourites. And sorry but not all of them are SS/HG stories...

Love Sonia :)

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, I knew I'd left out a few! Thanks for those! Would you mind providing the links for the non-sshg ones? I'd love to compile all of them in a list of sorts if enough people reply. I can find the sshg ones on Ash, TPP etc, but have no idea where to look for the other ones.

[sbrande.livejournal.com]

Abyss can be found on FF.net: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2074249/1/Abyss

It's next bit, Ascent can be found on FF.net: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2333072/1/Ascent

They are both Hermione/Voldemort but the writing is just... WOW and so very believable.

Hunted is on Granger Enchanted and is Fenrir/Hermione story: http://grangerenchanted.com/enchant/viewstory.php?sid=185

Both stories are not for the faint of heart and if you hate violence or torture I would suggest not reading them.

'When A Lioness Fights' is on FF.net as is 'On The Road That I Have Taken.' Both are WIP's that get updated regularly.

Be Careful In the Dark is on the restrited section and was updated the other day. It is another one full of violence but Hermione is kickass in it.

Anguissette is one that I fear has been abandoned (cries at the injustice of it all) and it can be found on Jezzie's LJ: http://community.livejournal.com/sufferbitch/
It is another one that is not for the faint at heart. I mean it! It takes a lot to get me upset but this might be a little too much for some of our delicate petals out there. Not that there is anything wrong with that, as Jenny my twin sister is like that, I'm just warning you, and anyone else out there reading this, that most of my recs have violence and/or torture in them but are BRILLIANTLY written.

I hope this has helped you!

Love Sonia :)

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you muchly! This way, I can include the links in the eventual "Friends said these are worth reading"-list!

Personally, I'm touchy when it comes to violence or rape fic, but I know some people like it, and I want to get a broad spectrum of recs. And I remember reading some of Jezzie's and I liked them. Shame if she abandoned it!

[sbrande.livejournal.com]

Yes it would be a shame though I fear she has as she last updated (Ch 10) back in Nov 06.

Damaged Goods is another one that is violent and the story that picks up straight after Damaged Goods, 'Mosaics', is another WIP that I fear has been abandoned.

Damn it, I want to know what happened.

Love Sonia :)

[melusin-79.livejournal.com]

I agree with what you say about fics that you intitially love not standing up to re-reading and there are also wips which I followed avidly and were subsequently unable to grab my attention when I tried to read from the beginning.
A couple that have stood the test of time for me are Bambus' Guard...check...mate (anything by Bambu is great and I'd put the Summoning up there with my favourite wips). Quillusion's the Gift Horse and More Real than This, by Grainne. And anything by Shiv. The wips I wait patiently for updates for (apart from your's) are Pet Project, A Law to Herself, A choice of Roads and the Secret Keeper.
I rarely follow new wips these days, because I've been so disappointed in the past when they fall by the wayside - and I won't touch anything that involves the MLC and non-con. There have also been other fics which started amazingly well only to turn Hermione into a teenage mother - at which point I hit the back button - sharpish. I am hoping that the new canon will give rise to some original story lines and new adventures for our favourite couple.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Definitely anything by bambu345, I agree.

Oh, I totally forgot about Pet Project - it's updated so rarely, I tend to forget about it.

I'm with you on the MLC and non-con in general, although strangely enough, one of my favourite ones (that stands up to re-re-reading) is His Draught... by Subversa, although it's very different from the typical MLC fic I guess.

[veradee.livejournal.com]

I don't really re-read stories, and DH has pretty much dampened my enthusiasm for fanfics. Among the stories I would re-read are Hayseed's Ordinary People, a couple of fics by bambu345, like Guard... check... mate and Morning Has Broken, and a couple of classics, like Grasping at Normality and The Fire and the Rose.

There aren't many WIPS that I follow and actually look forward to right now. One of the "old" WIPs is Caeria's Pet Project, and the only new story I read is Where Your Treasure Is.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I don't have much time to read these days, but I find when I do, I tend to prefer something proven rather than wasting time going through umpteen stories that won't hold my interest.

It's a shame how much DH has dampened the enthusiasm for fanfics. I just hope it's that temporary lull we've had after each book release rather than a permanent shrinking...

[zeegrindylows.livejournal.com]

Ohh, thanks so much for the mention! I'm always so surprised and flattered to see these sorts of things. You have no idea how much I appreciate being read and recommended by people. :)

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. :-)

I'm known for being blunt, so if I like something, I'm rather vocal about it, LOL.

[anijade.livejournal.com]

Mine are Breeding Lillies from Dead Land by Areola and Bitter Hearts by Rilla ( I actually cried reading that one) Both can be found on Ashwinder

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I remember Breeding Lilles...! Thanks for reminding me.

I like Rilla's stories because they're written very well. I'm not so sure about the ambiguous or even sad endings, lol. :-)

[southernwitch69.livejournal.com]

It's really hard to say. Lately, I've not really had time to pleasure read. :( When I think of favorites, I always think of "The Panther and the Lioness" (an old MLC story by Valenque on Ashwinder).

I don't really care to read any other "Old Classics" because they are just way out the box (characterwise and canonwise). My tastes change with each book it seems. So, something I liked long ago may no longer appeal to me.

Hmm. I've read Valenque's Gigolo fix a few times. Snerk. Can't think of the name offhand though. That was good. Maybe I just like her stuff, eh? Hahaha.

I plan on reading that "Snape the Home-Fries Nazi" one again soon. ~grin~ Go Snarry. Go Snarry.

For now, I can say that I enjoy Anogete's work, so I click to read anything she uploads (well, I bookmark it to read when I can anyway). The same goes for Delayed Poet. I'm liking her stuff, too.

Hmm... Damn it. Why when asked this my mind goes blank? ~should cheat and look at mah faves list~

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Heh, I don't think I've read The Panther and the Lioness! I have read others by Valenque, though, and totally agree with you.

The "Old Classics" got me into the fandom in 2004. I had very mixed feelings then about reading fanfic, LOL. I enjoyed The Fire and the Rose, but had trouble with Pawn to Queen, that pretty much squicked and fascinated me at the same time, and it wasn't a nice fascination, either *snerk*.

Thanks for pointing out Anogete and Delayed Poet. I've put them on my to-read list.