Loads of Recs, from vino to fic

[stoney321]

Wine I tend to like old school, powerful reds. French, mostly, and some of the super Tuscans. California wines can be tricky if you're not familiar with their processes, because a lot of vineyards gather up a bunch of random grapes and toss in pieces of oak in metal vats instead of properly casking them. I don't like a powerful oak taste in US wines because this is usually what it means. OR it's because they use brand new American oak, and that makes it taste of turpentine, and no me gusta. Having said that, I try and look for wines that are in used oak barrels (or French oak) and that DON'T have a vanilla/sweet note. I don't care for sweet wines.



Silver Oak is my US standard for not ridiculously priced wine. Specifically from Alexander Valley, not Napa.
Raymond Reserve, CabSav, 2008 - perfect for a red meat night, or even a good cheese board.
Charles Krug, CabSav, 2008 - great with most dishes that aren't overly spicy. This one is about as sweet as I'll get (it's not very) I typically drink this for my "regular" wine.
Penfolds 128, Coonawarra Shiraz - freaking delicious. Spicy, not too astringent, not sweet, goes with your face.



Cheese
Humbolt Fog cheese - I have eaten a ridiculous amount of this lately. Soft goat cheese made like Brie, with ashes woven in like a vein. Spicy, I don't know why, but it almost numbs your mouth. This + roasted almonds + figs = my kryptonite.



Random stuff
Magic Erasers. What sorcery is embedded in this product? I don't know, all I know is that they are magic. This is what got the blueberries out of my deck. <3
Gladys Knight - I've had her on repeat for weeks, now, and she never fails to make my day better. Good god, I love her. I even forgive her for becoming Mormon. Kinda.
Bamboo sheets. Jesus jumped up Jorge, those are what saved us in 110+ degree temp. And then they'll do the same in winter. I don't know how it knows to keep the hot side hot and the cool side cool, but it does. They're every bit as good as high-end silk/actual linen sheets.



Fic - Kurt/Blaine centric
LONG list, under the cut. Building off of this beginning of a recs list.

Understand that as I have less and less free time, I'm less willing to put up with things in fic. I don't want OOC, I don't want steady male sobbing, there are phrases that for me are complete deal breakers, and most importantly, I am not interested in SEEING TECHNIQUE. I know we all try that early on when we start writing fanfic, but man... I get why my creative writing teacher in college sent me a note: "You're not ee cummings." LOL. But look! I can make grasshopper in a new.. what? But-?

Be sure you can tell a STORY without tricks before you try tricks. I say this, and yet there are a few stories I'm going to rec that aren't perfect, that have things that bug me, but the story telling was great enough that I'm willing to overlook the flaws. (I'll tell you when it's coming.)

Writers

flaming_muse - obviously the top of my list, and not just because we're friends. This is how I see Kurt and Blaine (and everyone else.) She writes them thoughtfully, without prejudice, and she remembers how it felt to be in love for the first time. She also writes amazing Burt. She can do funny and hot and sweet, and this is my go to for fic. Notable fic: Hammock, the story that got me into fandom (no, really) Reflection, which deals with the issue of "do people hate me because I'm gay? Or because I'm me?" in a painfully honest and moving way. And SUM, which is getting a varying POV written, and I'm super happy about that. List of all fics here. Highly recommend.

robotsfighting I'm fairly new to this writer and am systematically going through all of their fics. Solid, thoughtful writing. Also does a great job of capturing the innocence of first love. Notable fic: When You Find Your Way Back Down, Blaine is drunk (BIOTA) and Kurt isn't. But Blaine can't shut up. Oh, achy and excellent. UST! I've copied a good 10 fics to my Kindle for company today, but so far, I'm really pleased with how she writes with sensitivity and a real sweetness. Highly recommend.


lookninjas Another person I've recently picked up on, and oh, how I've loved everything I've read so far. Love. She has a series where she explores Klaine from Blaine's father's POV (OC) and while it's not precisely my personal head canon, it totally works. Very touching, a wonderful concept (mother with detachment issues, father torn between the two and distant himself.) She calls it her Ben!Verse, and you need to read all 12 (short) stories together, they work well as chapters. MASTERLIST And notable fic: Unexpected, followed by Messy. This is a part of a series, they're linked (thank you, author!) and YMMV, but I enjoyed them. Highly recommend.


skintightsocks if you're in Glee fandom and don't know these writers (yes, it's two) then holy crap, are you in for a treat. They are the dirty smut writers. Everything is gold. EVERYTHING is gold. And just about everything is R and up. Master list, I wish I was you, reading these for the first time. :D Highly recommend

pushplaytobegin The big story that's getting recced is one I'm waiting on because I have WiP fear. BUT. I peeked at the opening, and it's going to be good,unless something horrible happens and she stops writing the way she does. So. If you don't have WiP fear, jump on I Put Away Childish Things. The fic that led me to her writing, Homage, very sweet future fic. Her masterlist. I still have her list to go through, but the few I've read, I've enjoyed.


cimmerians One of the first writers in Glee I found, and realized there was some great stuff in here, even things I swore I wouldn't read again. (RPF) Speaking of, Love and Affection is a delightful (in many ways) RPS where Darren whisks Chris away for sexy lake times. Writes kink and smut, and does it well.


rainjoyswriting - she's British and doesn't convert things to US terminology, so be aware of that. I'll be honest, that throws me off a lot of the time. But she can tell a good story. There are times things are a little dark, a little too weepy, but still, there are those times you're looking for angst and dark fic with boy-lovin', and she has a massive catalog. Notable stories: Close and Fix (a bad-boy Blaine AU, and one of the better ones out there) Her masterlist (and really, I love when authors do this.)



Specific Stories
idoltina Literal Liminality I just came across this one the other day, and AU can be really hard for me. Canon or bust is usually how I roll. But this is still in character and fun, even though I laugh a little at the time line. (But hey, I'm invested in the characters, I can believe in love at first sight.) Sweet story.


This story written in a Glee Kink Meme, where Puck says (BIOTA-esque) that he's totally go gay for Kurt. Funny and cute little short.


...and yes I said yes I will YES by ohquixotica - fun smutty fic, for people already invested in the pairing. A phrase or two that made me wince (but then, with all the fic I've read over the years, there are just some phrases I'm tired of, so I'll keep it to myself) but I smiled and squirmed as is appropriate. :)


And even though I recced her in the author section, this just came through and it's so sweet. (A common refrain with this pairing, I know. Which is why I love it.) Nobody, Not Even he Rain by robotsfighting I have a thing for rainstorms and heart-felt conversations, so this did nicely.



I have about 28 fics on my Kindle that I need to collect links for, so here's some to get you started. (Most are from the above authors.)

Not comprehensive, I know, but this has kept me occupied happily.






FEEL FREE TO REC (and why you rec them) IN COMMENTS.

And last but not least, I highly recommend Hey, Don't Judge Me for all of your recap, review, snark needs. (Newly up today: Just Desserts, X-Factor, and Jersey Shore) And I highly recommend you share with others how awesome those girls are. And then buy a shirt. :D

Comments

[gottriplets.livejournal.com]

Wow. I am convinced that we are somehow related. All of the authors you rec'd are authors I've read. And still read. And look forward to more from...

Magic erasers => Sent from heaven. Got nail polish off an oak table.

I shall order a t-shirt as soon as there is a Klaaaaainnnne one!! I pinky swear!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I think we def. share similar likes about the pairing, FO SHO. (Did you see I wrote fic yesterday?)

MAGIC ERASERS. They are outstanding.

(And girl, we're good. I know I'll squeeze some dollars from you eventually, lol.)

[gottriplets.livejournal.com]

I did read it...it was sweet!! Someday we shall rule the world and institute a Hudmmel/Klaine only channel....

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

And I realized that I sounded like I was begging for comments, I just count you among my Burt Hummel lovers. :D

I WOULD SUBSCRIBE TO THAT CHANNEL, zomg.

[moosesal.livejournal.com]

I LOVE Humbolt Fog. We sold it at the wine store and I would eat a little bit pretty much every afternoon with dried pears and a half glass of a semi-sweet Muscat Canelli that we carried. Fancy snack. :)

I have so much fic reading I need to do. I didn't need more recs. But I won't turn them down.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

It's just so crazy good!! Especially when it's room temp and all runny?

I finally remembered that AO3 makes it possible to dl fic, so my Kindle has pages of fanfic. YAY.

[moosesal.livejournal.com]

I do the same thing to put fic on my Nook or on my iPhone (I actually love being able to dl direct to the phone which I could not do on my previous phone). It's so great.

[gottriplets.livejournal.com]

There is a windows program I found that does the same thing for Fan Fiction...
It has filled my iPhone...it's called Fan Fiction Downloader

[firesprite1105.livejournal.com]

OMG! I need to download this program immediately!

[gottriplets.livejournal.com]

It's freeware and has filled up my iPhone and iPad nicely!! Private message me if you can't find it and I'll send a link...

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

You have excellent taste in authors, and I say that despite the fact that I'm on your list. :) No, really, the first authors I ever recced in the fandom were skintightsocks, lookninjas, and robotsfighting. And robotsfighting has a great memories section (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=robotsfighting&keyword=Glee%20Fic&filter=all) for Glee fics in which I've found gems I'd not seen anywhere else.

And you listed not one but two fics I haven't read! \o/ (Oh, no, just one. I was wrong. Still. Yay!)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Ha! I totally have great taste in authors. :D Oooh, thanks for that link to her recs - I tend to go that route, people that I enjoy like things I will also enjoy. :)

I DID?! I was sure that I wouldn't have anything. I mean, I could rec you BAD fics that you've not read all day long. They'd all involve people telling Burt Hummel his son is a WHORE. (lol forever.)

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

It was just the little short, BUT STILL. :) And you hit on odd fics I like like the moving one and that lake RPF and happy happy happy things that make me want to re-read them all. :)

Um, thank you, but as I'm not a person who likes bad fics for fun, I'll pass on those recs. Although I'm sure you'd rec me the best bad fics ever!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I don't like them for fun anymore, either, and I used to LOVE that. But nothing is so crazy awful that it's unwittingly hilarious, they're just tedious and boring or OOC with me wanting to flick people's ears for lazy shortcuts.

SO YES. I love you enough to not force them on you. :D

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Try fabfemmefic's stuff. He's very good on the Kurt POVs and does some delicious kink that still comes across as believable for their age and experience. I haven't read his big 1950s AU, but everything else of his that I've read has been great.

Also, I'm there with you on Humboldt Fog -- have you ever tried it with Italian Mottarda (sic?) di Frutta? It's nearly as good as figs. *G*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

FM recommended his fics, too, I've just not had a chance to get to them.

Right now I'm all about the figs until they go out of season, then it's all the other delicious accouterments, the honeys and condiments like Mostarda. (Which is FABULOUS, agreed.)

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Ooh, Chestnut honey with cheese (though I like it better with hard cheese than soft or blue cheeses).

I nearly whimpered the first time I tasted Mostarda of winter melon on Taleggio. *happy sigh*

[yellowcrayons.livejournal.com]

Gladys Knight is Mormon??

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

CLEARLY YOU ARE THE WINNER FOR PICKING UP THAT MOST IMPORTANT BIT OF INFORMATION. Yeah, she converted a few years ago. I just... I STILL can't get over it.

[minstrel666.livejournal.com]

It's like me and Blackie Lawless becoming a Born-again Christian. How can you NOT sing "Fuck like beast!" at a W.A.S.P. concert? HOW?

[prophecygirrl.livejournal.com]

Wrap some mission figs in prosciutto with a dollop of humbolt fog cheese inside, broil it until the prosciutto is just slightly crisp, and put on a balsamic vinegar reduction, and you'll swear off sex for life.

Um...maybe not. But pretty damn close!

Thanks for the other recs! I missed Glee this week, and will now pursue online forthwith!

[ryokomusouka.livejournal.com]

OxyClean and Magic Erasers have saved more than one marriage, I swear.

[minstrel666.livejournal.com]

Interesting tidbit: do you guys know what my parents bought on their trip to Spain? Cleaning supplies. Because apparently the ones in Poland are watered down.

[pushplaytobegin.livejournal.com]

I have never heard of bamboo sheets. I'll have to check them out! I could really use temperature-smart sheets. And oh, reading this made me ache for a trip I took once through Amador County, where I had some of the best (red, NOT pink) Zinfandel I've ever tasted. (I think the elevation made phylloxera spread more slowly there, so some of the vines are really old.) Lost those bottles in the Rodney King riots.

Thanks for the rec! I think you can skip most of my stuff, tho. Homage was a birthday prezzie for flaming_muse, so it was deliberately fluffy. Except for Gonna Give All My Secrets Away and Childish Things, I think everything else I write is explicit porny porn.

lookninjas's Messy is one story I go back to again and again and again, along with Knowing and Being Known. They are my favorite Needy!Blaine stories ever.

Love your analyses and plainspokenness

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

holy crap, bamboo sheets. Target used to carry them, but I think places like Bed, Bath/Linens and THings also carry them. They are UH-MAY-ZING.

I love red zin, too. It got a bad rap with all of the crappy pink sin out there, but the old school stuff is delish. I'm not saying I'm a wino, I'm just saying that I love to drink wine all the time. Lol.

Oh, I'm not going to skip your stuff, as you can see that I DEF. enjoy porn. Um, that sounds creepy. My earlier recs list was all "adult" - skintightsocks, etc - so I look forward to seeing what you've got! I'm relatively new to participating in fandom beyond writing recaps/a cocktail book based on Glee, so I'm having fun finding awesome fic through writers I trust. <-- how you came up. :)

[chrryblssmninja.livejournal.com]

Magic erasers are mysterious yet effective.

[mapoflove.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm being stupid, but, how does one get fic onto ones Kindle? xxx

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

You have two options: drag a file (mobi, azw, or txt) onto your Kindle when it's plugged into your computer,
or email your kindle a file. (You can go to Amazon's Kindle page, log in, and it will tell you how.)