TW books review: Almost Perfect

[rm]

God this was fucking marvelous.

It doesn't seem like it will be at first. It seems choppy and then obvious and then like the big issue is that Ianto's a woman of a sudden.

But no no no it's actually about people making peace with what they've got and includes this amazing moment of Jack dealing with his feelings for the Doctor! It was very poignant especially in light of yesterday's news.

Also, various folks in fandom have said this book definitely confirms that Jack either loves or does not love Ianto, depending on who you talk to. Both readings work. It's very ambiguous despite teh presence of a seemingly definitive statement (well two, that contradict each other, but that's not even why it's ambiguous). But you definitely see Jack stepping up to be responsible towards, I think, regardless of what reading you take of their relationship.

It also has a lot of unkind things to say about gay dance club culture, and I am waffling whether to say I'm uncomfortable with that or if those things struck me as totally right the fuck on, having spent a LOT of time in that culture and not as a fag hag (I was just there -- it's a long story). I think that will read differently to different people, and is perhaps more problematic when thinking of a straight reading audience who doesn't get how it is and isn't true than a queer reading audience who can nod and move along. There are gender moments that also sort of hit me the same way in that they could be better, but hi, this book is for straight people (although I would be surprised if the author were).

We also have the closest thing I've seen to a sex scene in TW novel -- all dialogue, but not hard to picture in its way.

Amusingly, contains confirmation of Kali and I's theory that Ianto has been to raves.

If you are a hardcore Jack/Ianto romance shipper, you still want to read Twilight Streets if you only read one of these. But if you are interested in Jack/Ianto in a working through their issues together and awkwardly way, this is the one you have to read. It's also probably the best in terms of being a book in its own right outside of tie-in candy.

Totally worth a read.

Comments

[better-late24.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, how'd you interpret Jack's feeling for Ianto? Love or no?

I actually seem to have missed most of the commentary on this and haven't read the book, so uh, I'm kind of out of the loop as far as what's being interpreted in what way.

I have a hard time paying for fiction when I have a tendency to enjoy fanfiction for free much more. I'd have to pretty much know I was going to love it to consider it.

[capulet-rose.livejournal.com]

Now I'm really jonesing (no pun intended)for this book!

I must have read the quotes that hinsoullai posted about a million times.

I've only just been able put in my order at bookdepository.co.uk (hurrah for pay-day!). Is that where you ordered your copy from? If so, how long did it take to ship?

*passes over microphone*

[shipchan.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to read this. It sounds funny and sad and very well written. I've heard a lot of different stuff about Whether Jack loves Ianto or not, and I'm gonna hold off on forming an opinion before actually reading the book. But, I will say this: would it be hard to believe if Jack both loved and didn't love Ianto in that weird, fucked up, Jack way?

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

I agree - I think this book is a cut above the others in terms of the quality of the writing, and the questions it brings us. It's by no means perfect, but it's stayed with me, which is more than any of the others have. The only other one that sticks with me is Twilight Streets, and that's purely for Ianto's little rant about being bisexual which just utterly slayed me, and was far more perceptive than anything I would have expected from a frickin' tie-in novel (especially one for a show wherein sexuality is never an issue at all).

What I loved most about Almost Perfect is how big a character it shows Ianto to be that he won't ask the alien whatsit to "fix" Jack for him (regardless of whether the said alien whatsit can be said to be a reliable witness in the matter of Jack loving or not).

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yup. And we really see Jack's lonliness and why its hard for him to connect to anymore. We also see where Ianto is culpable for their incredibly fucked up dynamic.

As to the alien being reliable or not -- I'm tempted to say not, because like advertising the thing is a bully and prays on insecurities. Which doesn't mean that Jack _does_ love Ianto, just that I wouldn't take the alien's word. Personally I walked away from the book feling like the Jack is in love with Ianto, but in a very human way an that Jack no longer feels entirely connected to his humanity, and, as such, isn't present or totally engaged with those feelings nor does he think he should be.

[rm.livejournal.com]

It shipped immediately and I got it in about 5 days. Those quotes are, by and large, the least interesting of what's going on between them. That user posted with much cleverness.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Not hard at all.

And it's very, very sad. Especially if you are a Jack fan.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I think Jack's in love with him, but I think it's a very sort of human, small, practical love (which doesn't make it less -- I just think Jack's got his epic quota already), and Jack doesn't feel very human, small or practical these days -- so I think he's scared of it, I think he think's it's unfair to Ianto, I think he doesn't know how to do it. This book really supports that view in my mind (although it also, in my opinion, presents him making a very mature choice to commit to it that's all to the good). The book makes it very clear that Ianto is in love with Jack, but also makes it clear how culpable Ianto is in their fucked up dynamic.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

I suspect that two things are happening.
Jack now knows in his bones that everything he loves is a passing swallow.
And Jack may well already know how everyone in Torchwood is going to die.
Mortal love meets immortal life.
Sad and wonderful.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, very much on Jack and Ianto - I think Jack being Jack, it makes it really hard for him to deal with normal humans and the mundanity of a normal relationship. There's also the enormous difficulty of being an immortal who's with a mortal person, and a Torchwood operative at that. I'm also not 100% sure how Ianto feels - I'm sure he loves Jack, but whether that translates to wanting those fanon cliches of kids and marriage and forever and ever, I'm not sure on that. He's not stupid, he knows who Jack is, and he knows what working for Torchwood is. I think there's a lot of uncertainty on both sides. I almost kinda feel like they're both marking time until tragedy strikes. Which bless them, makes it a lot more interesting.

I agree to that the alien was probably picking up on Ianto's insecurities, but the fact that Ianto didn't use it to get his happy ending - that's part of what makes me think he has a realistic expectation of what his relationship with Jack entails.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. I think Ianto is in love with Jack and when he isn't thinking pragmatically feels like he "needs" him. But I also think Ianto feels happily ever after for him died with Lisa, and is so content (for lack of a better word) to be really passionate and involved with the idea of Jack, but also at peace with being annoyed and frustrated by it. This is his life now -- extraordinary and also totally fucked -- and he's more or less okay with that.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

But I also think Ianto feels happily ever after for him died with Lisa

Spot on, IMHO.

[capulet-rose.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

" Those quotes are, by and large, the least interesting of what's going on between them."

*is intrigued*

I have a feeling that this one's definitely going to fuel my literature-induced insomnia.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

Okay. I can't read this post because I haven't read the book, so I'm doing this amazing "in denial of text" business as I type.

However, once I have read it, you should remind me that this post exists so that I can respond to your commentary.

[cruentum.livejournal.com]

Like bodlon I had to wait until I was done to read your post.

I read it, just finished actually. And agree, that it's actually a really good story. With quite some great images towards the end there. I was pleasantly surprised all in all, by the quality of the writing and by the story, the ideas used throughout ... the chapter titles.

The Ianto as a woman aspect I could have done without, and still think it was not necessary for the story. But I enjoyed the details that went past that, the small details of the working relationship of Jack and Ianto, the dynamics throughout, the tension between them that went past the actual words. Nicely done, there, indeed.

The love/not love. Intriguing, yes.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

I just finished it too - clearly I need to do better than pre-ordering on Amazon, because you had it six weeks before I got it!

This is definitely the best tie-in I've read to date (not just best TW tie-in, any tie-in - because I really do find them mostly inferior to good fic). I'd almost compare it to some literary fiction, which is NUTS.

I enjoyed Jack's rather crass enjoyment of Ms Jones' appearance, and also how sweet he is with Ianto's fear and confusion over the whole thing.

I don't believe the alien machine for a minute as far as Jack not loving Ianto - but I suspect it knew Ianto was very willing to believe that.

I think Jack loves Ianto, but isn't putting that name to it, for his own scrambled reasons.

I loved Jack's and Ianto's thoughts and observations of their relationship - but I also liked Gwen's a lot. At one point she doubts they actually have sex, but only stand there naked and pout at one another - and I can see that sometimes. Gwen is terribly envious and catty about Ianto's new look, but it doesn't stop her from helping him out. I found it very sad that he started out wearing Lisa's clothes.

I had some conflicts over the gay bar as improved by the Perfection - a lot of stereotypes going on, but that could be because that's what the P. have in mind when they think of perfect, and they are just a little bit tacky. Is there such a THING as opera karaoke?

I've seen speculation over whether they slept together before Ianto changed back to his original form - how could they NOT?

I knew what voice the machine would use with Jack.