A Circular Path
Bambu26 Reviews | 6.5/10 (26 Ratings, 0 Likes, 14 Favorites )
A brief encapsulation of Hermione's life post-war (in honor of her birthday.)
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About Bambu
Author
Bambu
Member Since 2005 | 27 Stories | Favorited by 542 | 117 Reviews Written | 1,029 Review Responses
I have loved the written word since watching my mother’s fingers trace the lines of a book, luxuriating in riveting tales and well-turned phrases. Many a night I read until dawn, a plastic flashlight hidden under the covers to light the pages as I raced the rising sun to finish my latest must-read.
Since joining the HP fandom, I've been privileged to receive more than 50 awards, including Best Author (Quill to Parchment Awards) and Best Classic Author (Most Potente Passions). Among others, my stories have won awards for Best Hurt/Comfort (Spoils of War, Morning Has Broken), Best Novel Length (Calling Card, Guard…Check…Mate), Best One Shot (A Beach in Ireland), Best WIP (Saving a Death Eater, The Summoning), Favorite Overall Story (Complexities), and Readers’ Choice (A Quest of Paladins).
Aside from a judicious polish for formatting and egregious typos, I don't plan on revising my early work. Those stories are the stepping stones of my writing journey. Please note some stories contain adult content. None is more graphic than equivalent scenes in the television shows True Blood or Game of Thrones, and age appropriate warnings are posted.
I no longer write fanfiction prolifically. Like many fanfic authors, my focus has shifted to original work. A member of the Romance Writers of America and the Southern California Writers Association, I write under my name: Lin Thornhill.
My original story Verisimilitude published in Thoroughly Modern Monsters (Story Spring Publishing, 2013) reached the top 100 fantasy anthologies and broke into the top 10 in the UK the first month of release. Ben and Christine’s story will continue in 2016.
Fixation, my latest short story, slated for publication in J. Aldis’ anthology Immanence, with a winter 2015-2016 release, is particularly exciting as it anchors the Messengers of Inari novel series I’ve been developing for the past year.
9/2015
Reviews for A Circular Path
A lovely story, swiftly told, with no frills, and all the more achingly lovely for it. thank you.
Err, I meant 35, so much for double checking :)
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::laughs::In all honesty, I appreciate your sense of humor and kindness in owning up to the ... er ... we'll call it ia typo!Thanks again.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::laughs::In all honesty, I appreciate your sense of humor and kindness in owning up to the ... er ... we'll call it ia typo!Thanks again.
I love this little birthday tribute but I think you forgot the 1 in front of 37...? Yes, I double checked, you sure did.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
It's a really good thing I read your second review, as I've just been re-reading the story to see where I screwed up. ::laughs:: Now I get it.Thanks. It's not that I forgot the one, it's that there's still a century ahead of them to be this happy!
Response from Ljpjcg (Reviewer)
Oh ok I get it! They're obviously not dead yet. What is wrong with my brain?
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Perhaps your brain was tricked by the broad-spectrum Confundus JKR cast on the readers of her seventh book as to SS' near-death experience!
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
It's a really good thing I read your second review, as I've just been re-reading the story to see where I screwed up. ::laughs:: Now I get it.Thanks. It's not that I forgot the one, it's that there's still a century ahead of them to be this happy!
Response from Ljpjcg (Reviewer)
Oh ok I get it! They're obviously not dead yet. What is wrong with my brain?
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Perhaps your brain was tricked by the broad-spectrum Confundus JKR cast on the readers of her seventh book as to SS' near-death experience!
It's a damn good thing wizards live so long. It took 19 years to get rid of Weasely. However, 37 years with Severus isn't nearly enough. I've been married 32 years and we have a good 20 more to go, at least. (At least I hope) 37 years is just long enough to be married longer than you were alive before you were family and only long enough to give up any idea or hope of training them and you're finally really OK with that. It really doesn't matter anymore.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Hermione's a pretty loyal thing, but when she finally makes a move it's decisive. I agree, 37 years isn't long enough with Severus. She needs another fifty to make up for the Ron debacle!Thanks as always for enjoying my story.
It sounded like happy but slightly scandlous Hermone Granger gossip concerning her life after the war. In a nut shell. She must deserve better. I'm to sleepy to be creative in this comment. nigh, night, love.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
You are a very gracious reviewer, and I love reading each and every one. Thank you!
awesome simple yet so full of feeling.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
What a lovely thing to say; and even if I'm late to reply, my thanks are no less full!
I love it. The way you tell the story is pure genious. The only left to say is Happy Birthday Hermione.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
What a wonderful compliment. Thanks so much.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
What a wonderful compliment. Thanks so much.
lovely. short and sweet, but somehow you covered two lifetimes. : )
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
What an insightful thing to say. I do think Hermione's ideal for Snape, but I prefer that to be when she's had more life experience (not just in wartime.)Thanks so much for leaving me a review.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
What an insightful thing to say. I do think Hermione's ideal for Snape, but I prefer that to be when she's had more life experience (not just in wartime.)Thanks so much for leaving me a review.
Ohh! *wants to cry* What a lovely vignette it is. That letter is priceless. Just excellent. And the scorchmark on Dumbledore's portrait is a thing of genius. *smirk* Wonderful story, as always.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::curtseys::Thank you, thank you, thank you, my dear Rhi! I'm so tickled you enjoyed it, especially the scorch mark.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::curtseys::Thank you, thank you, thank you, my dear Rhi! I'm so tickled you enjoyed it, especially the scorch mark.
sweet! I love how you managed to keep it in canon.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
I'm always pleased when I can anchor a story in canon and still make it come out the way I prefer. Thank you very much for taking the time to review.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
I'm always pleased when I can anchor a story in canon and still make it come out the way I prefer. Thank you very much for taking the time to review.
Good one! Says everything without all the embellishment. :)
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Sometimes I'm quite intrigued by writing sweeping panorama with a minimum of words. This was one such occasion, and I'm very pleased you enjoyed my flight of fancy.Thank you.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Sometimes I'm quite intrigued by writing sweeping panorama with a minimum of words. This was one such occasion, and I'm very pleased you enjoyed my flight of fancy.Thank you.
Just lovely!
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Thank you very much.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Thank you very much.
Dearest Bambu:I knew when I saw your name, I Had to read this story. And I am so glad I did!I keep a special folder of stories, entitled simply "Post DH Fics". It is composed of those stories that especially help to heal my heart, after the savaging JKR did to her most noble charater in the series.Your latest takes a place of honor among them.Deepest kudos, my dear!
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Dearest
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
,You are most gracious and I'm honored that a story of mine has any place in a special folder of yours, especially one which saves Severus Snape from the ignoble end his author gave him. Thank you.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Dearest
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
,You are most gracious and I'm honored that a story of mine has any place in a special folder of yours, especially one which saves Severus Snape from the ignoble end his author gave him. Thank you.
I like his advice and the way she takes it.I also like that she continues to take it when it would have been convenient to continue with the status quo.I like the lack of starry-eyed romance between them at their meeting, just practicality regarding the heat (from a man who spent all of his time in the cold dungeon) and a cat's safe return (from a woman who was always rescuing some defenseless thing).And I absolutely love that the how of why he lived was never a part of the story because it is irrelevent. You write with an overall excellence in word economy - no extras, none wasted, no more needed.Thank you for writing this.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
What an absolutely marvelous review. Thank you very much.I'm utterly thrilled you liked my characterizations of these two, and understood that she trusted him well enough to let him live without interference ... and that she learned what it meant to live in return.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
What an absolutely marvelous review. Thank you very much.I'm utterly thrilled you liked my characterizations of these two, and understood that she trusted him well enough to let him live without interference ... and that she learned what it meant to live in return.
Ahhhhhh... Very nice.Good job, Bambu.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::curtseys:: Thank you, thank you. I'm very pleased you enjoyed it.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::curtseys:: Thank you, thank you. I'm very pleased you enjoyed it.
Just how things ought to have been... Hermione and Severus together at last. Glad you didn't let Hermione give up on "making certain Severus Snape was alive and recovering remained at the top of your long list of things to do..."Well done! I loved it!Beth
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Thank you so much. I think she's a bit tenacious, and I couldn't imagine she'd ignore his disappearance.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Thank you so much. I think she's a bit tenacious, and I couldn't imagine she'd ignore his disappearance.
Thank you for a wonderful little story, I especially appriciated Hermione hurting Dumbledores protrait:-))
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::grins:: I'll confess that I especially enjoyed writing Hermione hexing Dumbledore's portrait!Thank you very much.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::grins:: I'll confess that I especially enjoyed writing Hermione hexing Dumbledore's portrait!Thank you very much.
You know, Bambu, you have the most intriguing take on that blasted epilogue. Well, of course, you know, what with the post-DH stories you have written.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::curtseys::Why thank you very much! I'm so pleased they've intrigued you. Please, actually, is a little weak; I'm thrilled.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::curtseys::Why thank you very much! I'm so pleased they've intrigued you. Please, actually, is a little weak; I'm thrilled.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this...it truly is lovely!
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
You've made my entire day. Thank you.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
You've made my entire day. Thank you.
"remained at the top of your long list of things to do (in all its variegated color and cryptic runic symbols.)"And this is one of the many reasons I love you. Thank you for an utter delight of a tale from beginning to end and the perfect Happy Birthday present for all of us!
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::giggles::Yes, well, it was Hermione! I'm so pleased you enjoyed my birthday tribute. Hermione is a much-loved character, and she's brought me many hours of happiness. Could I do less for her?Thank you so much.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::giggles::Yes, well, it was Hermione! I'm so pleased you enjoyed my birthday tribute. Hermione is a much-loved character, and she's brought me many hours of happiness. Could I do less for her?Thank you so much.
Delightful! I can't stop laughing that she ends up on Guernsey! 
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::glee::I just KNEW you would react to that. But doesn't Guernsey seem right for both of them?I'm thrilled you enjoyed it. Thank you.
Response from Keladry Lupin (Reviewer)
I'm no expert on Guernsey, having only read the novel, but based on that, yeah. It does seem to be a fitting place for both of them to end up.I neglected to mention it, but I also loved how she laughed when she saw him.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
I'm not an expert on Guernsey either, but ....Thank you, thank you. I'm thrilled you thought her reaction worked.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::glee::I just KNEW you would react to that. But doesn't Guernsey seem right for both of them?I'm thrilled you enjoyed it. Thank you.
Response from Keladry Lupin (Reviewer)
I'm no expert on Guernsey, having only read the novel, but based on that, yeah. It does seem to be a fitting place for both of them to end up.I neglected to mention it, but I also loved how she laughed when she saw him.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
I'm not an expert on Guernsey either, but ....Thank you, thank you. I'm thrilled you thought her reaction worked.
Love it! As usual, I mean always, you are magnificent.
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
And you're so kind. Thank you so much for giving it a read!
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
And you're so kind. Thank you so much for giving it a read!
What a great story. I really like the POV here. Dumbledore's portrait deserves scorch marks if you ask me. It's a shame she married and it didn't go so well, but I like to think that perhaps she was able to appreciate her second marriage even more because of it. Very nicely done.
Yea! Thanks for the smile!
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
::grins::It was a little throw-away I ended up loving! I'm so glad you enjoyed it too.
Concise and heartwarming, thank you!
Response from Bambu (Author of A Circular Path)
Thank you very much.