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Words and Their Digestion
For someone who can't even think the word 'triangle' without giving into his compulsions, a love shape-that-can't-be-thought is quite possibly the worst place to be.
Words: 11,361 Complete
Words: 11,361 Complete
34 pages, Online Fiction - Complete
First published August 27, 2011
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 29, 2012
4.3 stars
Tanner is a young man suffers from -- uhm, I don't know what he suffers from actually. Some sort of compulsive disorder? All I know is that some words "hurt" him; for him they are pointy or prickly, and Tanner has Rules and Things to make his world in balance. He only has two friends, one of them is Japheth -- who recently brought his boyfriend, Roz, to meet Tanner. The thing is, Roz seems to understand Tanner and if he is not, he's willing to 'learn'. And he makes Tanner feels something he never feels before ....
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It is such a relief to know, that when I almost can't find any published MMs to feel anxious to read (at this moment), I can find a free short one, thanks to GR friends. I have only read one story by seventhswan before (I think it was "Drunk Text" -- but I don't remember anything about it). This oneshot (only 11,361 words) is so much better than the last couple published MMs I read.
I love Tanner's disorder -- again, it is so refreshing to read a character who is NOT flawless. AND, even when he does feel like there is something different about Roz, Tanner never crosses the line. He hates it when Japheth and Roz are fighting. He makes dinner for them. Tanner cares for both and I feel so much for him. I want him to find his HEA.
Although I feel sad about Japheth (since he is Tanner's best friend and Roz's boyfriend first), but there are times that two people are not meant to be (in this case Japheth and Roz). And I believe that Roz can take care of Tanner, and that Roz is good for him.
It's a VERY good story, a little complicated and messy (but I love messy stuffs), not simply love at first sight or lust at first sight -- and no sex scenes. Very, very, satisfying indeed.
Tanner is a young man suffers from -- uhm, I don't know what he suffers from actually. Some sort of compulsive disorder? All I know is that some words "hurt" him; for him they are pointy or prickly, and Tanner has Rules and Things to make his world in balance. He only has two friends, one of them is Japheth -- who recently brought his boyfriend, Roz, to meet Tanner. The thing is, Roz seems to understand Tanner and if he is not, he's willing to 'learn'. And he makes Tanner feels something he never feels before ....
------------------
It is such a relief to know, that when I almost can't find any published MMs to feel anxious to read (at this moment), I can find a free short one, thanks to GR friends. I have only read one story by seventhswan before (I think it was "Drunk Text" -- but I don't remember anything about it). This oneshot (only 11,361 words) is so much better than the last couple published MMs I read.
I love Tanner's disorder -- again, it is so refreshing to read a character who is NOT flawless. AND, even when he does feel like there is something different about Roz, Tanner never crosses the line. He hates it when Japheth and Roz are fighting. He makes dinner for them. Tanner cares for both and I feel so much for him. I want him to find his HEA.
Although I feel sad about Japheth (since he is Tanner's best friend and Roz's boyfriend first), but there are times that two people are not meant to be (in this case Japheth and Roz). And I believe that Roz can take care of Tanner, and that Roz is good for him.
It's a VERY good story, a little complicated and messy (but I love messy stuffs), not simply love at first sight or lust at first sight -- and no sex scenes. Very, very, satisfying indeed.
July 30, 2016
3.5 A good and fascinating read about a young student who gets through life with -- or despite -- obsessive compulsive tendencies and possibly a form or autism. I enjoyed the storyline and the fact that the author didn't wrap up each and every thread in a sickly sweet manner. Although I love short stories, in this particular case I thought those 25 pages were unsatisfyingly short. What I missed here was a little more depth and layers. It was a bit dry overall; several situations (the date, sex-next-room) would have lent themselves for a dash of humor.
Highly recommended. But if you haven't already read this... Be careful of the careless spoilers in some other reviews!
Highly recommended. But if you haven't already read this... Be careful of the careless spoilers in some other reviews!
August 27, 2012
4.5 stars. No sex, just sweet. Just as good as seventh swan's other works. Hence why I am reading at 1.30am although I have to get up for work in five hours.
February 4, 2013
3.5 stars
I really liked this. Tanner's voice was no unique.
What dropped the rating for me was the resolution: I would have liked to see it end differently. The ending was very realistic, but sometimes I don't want realism. Sometimes I want everyone to get a HEA.
I also would have liked to see Japeth's POV.
I really liked this. Tanner's voice was no unique.
What dropped the rating for me was the resolution: I would have liked to see it end differently. The ending was very realistic, but sometimes I don't want realism. Sometimes I want everyone to get a HEA.
I also would have liked to see Japeth's POV.
September 6, 2012
Very good short m/m romance about a college student who's probably somewhere on the autism spectrum and whose roommate is one of his few friends. And then his roommate gets a serious boyfriend...
January 16, 2013
I only meant to check this out, find out how long it was, and see if I'd like it. But once I started, I really couldn't stop. The writing is so beautiful, and the characters to perfectly flawed. It was just so utterly sweet and endearing. I loved it.
February 4, 2013
Beautiful.
I really liked this one. Tugged on my heart.
I really liked this one. Tugged on my heart.
February 3, 2013
4.8 stars
December 10, 2016
This is one of those stories that has no reason to be as good as it is other than the fact that the plot is so unique (yes you grammarphiles there can be grades of uniqueness)and the writer is absolutely brilliant.
My philosophy on love has always been that it is not about not seeing their faults it is about the fact that those flaws in anyone else would drive you batcrack crazy but you will adjust and work around them for that person you love. That is how you see Roz's love develop and honestly even the love Japheph and when the love is dying that is when even the person's breathing is annoying.
Just loved this story so much for all of the newness and freshness of the plot.
Thanks Ami for the rec.
My philosophy on love has always been that it is not about not seeing their faults it is about the fact that those flaws in anyone else would drive you batcrack crazy but you will adjust and work around them for that person you love. That is how you see Roz's love develop and honestly even the love Japheph and when the love is dying that is when even the person's breathing is annoying.
Just loved this story so much for all of the newness and freshness of the plot.
Thanks Ami for the rec.
February 15, 2014
4.25
I loved this!!! I really did. I loved Tanner, his relation to words, his personality. I loved how everything was phrased in this story - there's a lot of talent, of instinct in the writing. There isn't one scene or even one sentence I found unnecessary and that is saying something.
For me, it has the perfect length too, and the perfect ending - I don't think that this would have worked as well if it had been longer. But the shortness still made it hard to fully engage yourself into the story and that is the only shortcoming I see.
Thanks for the rec, Anke, I so enjoyed this!!
I loved this!!! I really did. I loved Tanner, his relation to words, his personality. I loved how everything was phrased in this story - there's a lot of talent, of instinct in the writing. There isn't one scene or even one sentence I found unnecessary and that is saying something.
For me, it has the perfect length too, and the perfect ending - I don't think that this would have worked as well if it had been longer. But the shortness still made it hard to fully engage yourself into the story and that is the only shortcoming I see.
Thanks for the rec, Anke, I so enjoyed this!!
November 24, 2012
Sweet endearing story. Beautifully written. Such a shame it’s so short. I would love to read an extended version.
My loving this book is a huge thing because the subject it deals with is a difficult one.
It’s not perfect, it could use some development but has that special something that makes you just FEEL it!
My loving this book is a huge thing because the subject it deals with is a difficult one.
It’s not perfect, it could use some development but has that special something that makes you just FEEL it!
December 26, 2013
Got to give it up for Tanner, he manages to function fairly well considering there are some pretty severe triggers in average daily activities. He soldiers on even when his crutches start to disappear. There's an anxious tone that underlies the sweetness that emerges.
Psst! Normal people do not wear mismatched socks. There is something disturbing about it.
Favorite passage:
Tanner starts to stumble back into panic. He can't teach the rules. They're not—they wouldn't make any sense to someone like Roz. Someone who can wear two different socks and say the word 'Carnival.'
Psst! Normal people do not wear mismatched socks. There is something disturbing about it.
Favorite passage:
Tanner starts to stumble back into panic. He can't teach the rules. They're not—they wouldn't make any sense to someone like Roz. Someone who can wear two different socks and say the word 'Carnival.'
August 29, 2012
3.5 stars.
A good story about a young man with a strange disorder which makes seeing, hearing, or even thinking about some words uncomfortable or even painful to him. He also struggles with some obsessive compulsive tendencies which are very believably depicted. I actually enjoyed reading about the main character better than I liked the romance, which left me feeling conflicted.
A good story about a young man with a strange disorder which makes seeing, hearing, or even thinking about some words uncomfortable or even painful to him. He also struggles with some obsessive compulsive tendencies which are very believably depicted. I actually enjoyed reading about the main character better than I liked the romance, which left me feeling conflicted.
February 8, 2014
Great read! I was captivated from the first page and couldn't stop reading til the end. I have to confess that I thought the story would move in another direction -all three of them ending up together - but the way in unfolded was perfect.
September 6, 2016
4,5* upgrade because this is free and I paid money for worst books.
November 3, 2014
Aww... that's nice.
It was really sweet. I actually can see some of the Rules (at least the word ones).
What can I say? It was sweet.
I am, however, more than a little perturbed Tanner's loss of one of his two friends.
Actually, wait. Both of his two friends.
I mean, yeah, he's got Roz, but I just...I just don't like it that it seemed he got Roz at the expense of his "only...two friends in his whole life."
For that reason, this only gets a 4 star instead of the 5 I was originally going to give it.
Much later ETA:
Aaaand look what I found:
It was really sweet. I actually can see some of the Rules (at least the word ones).
What can I say? It was sweet.
I am, however, more than a little perturbed Tanner's loss of one of his two friends.
Actually, wait. Both of his two friends.
I mean, yeah, he's got Roz, but I just...I just don't like it that it seemed he got Roz at the expense of his "only...two friends in his whole life."
For that reason, this only gets a 4 star instead of the 5 I was originally going to give it.
Much later ETA:
Aaaand look what I found:
December 12, 2014
Bittersweet love story; short but very well written with a unique and somewhat fascinating main character.
December 14, 2017
Intriguing concept.
Some Favorite Quotes:
What it didn't prepare him for was the whole business of people
looking forlornly at his left hand, which has not been shaken. It stings and feels very empty until Japheth reaches out and gives it a quick squeeze. "Better?" he murmurs. Tanner nods. "Alright." He smiles encouragingly and winks.
Some Favorite Quotes:
What it didn't prepare him for was the whole business of people
looking forlornly at his left hand, which has not been shaken. It stings and feels very empty until Japheth reaches out and gives it a quick squeeze. "Better?" he murmurs. Tanner nods. "Alright." He smiles encouragingly and winks.
August 24, 2018
3.5*
oh what a nice read. I loved Tanner's Things and quirks.
oh what a nice read. I loved Tanner's Things and quirks.
September 17, 2012
Tanner is a fascinating character and his affliction is written so beautifully well...how could anyone not love him? And the story (not wanting to give anything away by being specific) is one of the best representations of this particular theme I have read. I wish this were longer. I would love to see how Tanner functions in the "life after college" world.
September 7, 2012
Sweet little story about a college student (probably somewhere on the autism spectrum) his roommate and the new boyfriend.
The narration was wonderful, it really seemed from the main characters point of view, awkward but endearing.
A good way to get a little reading done after lunch.
The narration was wonderful, it really seemed from the main characters point of view, awkward but endearing.
A good way to get a little reading done after lunch.
February 10, 2019
One of my favorites.
October 11, 2013
Excellent. Impressive. Beautiful.
April 24, 2015
This was amazing, especially considering how short it is. I wish there was more. I really loved Tanner and Roz. Even Japeth, though he takes some likability hits (it's understandable though).
March 29, 2016
3.5 awwwww cute
August 21, 2014
Where are those 10 stars when I need them? AMAZING!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews