Here's the link.
What's up, everybody? Is anyone still here? It's been 33 short months since the last installment. Given that wait, I feel like whatever I cooked up was bound to be underwhelming -- short of Daenerys sitting on the Iron Throne and Jon Snow hooking up with Gendry, which definitely happens.
I've also been avoiding e-mails and comments recently, in order to make sure that any feedback didn't distract from my efforts to hammer this out. I skimmed through them today, and thankfully no one was too threatening or frustrated. Sorry if I've left you hanging, but, you know.
The next chapter will be graduation, so I expect a lot to happen. How much actually gets resolved is harder to say. I expect three or four more installments altogether. Thanks as always.
DUDE! That was fucking amazing. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteweird feeling being back in this world. but good. maybe a year ago i thought this was never coming back. thanks for delivering. it really does mean something to me to see how this ends.
ReplyDeleteOh man, that was so great. I had to read it so slowly to make it last longer after all the anticipation from almost 3 years of waiting. I love that Joe's thesis is about characters undone by new self-knowledge. And somehow I'd always assumed his last name was Campbell so I loved that he referenced Joseph Campbell. And your Proustian evocation of nostalgia was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the next chapter and sad to think there are only 3-4 more. I hope you'll keep writing when this story is finished.
By the way, I read this article recently and it made me think of Joe - https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/01/lost-in-the-meritocracy/303672/
This was well worth the wait! I’m happy it’s cheerier at the end.
ReplyDeleteLoved the new chapter. Been waiting for what seems like ages for it, and it was well worth the wait! Hope you consider getting it published once it’s all done. I for one would buy it, seeing it’s been one of my favorite stories to read.
ReplyDeleteYay!!! Great as always. Welcome back, JPM!
ReplyDeleteLoved it, so worth the frustrating long wait! Thank you for not letting the story die.
ReplyDeleteWow! Words cannot describe how thrilled I was to swing by nifty and see a new installment of Joe College was there! I did a double take. I haven't read it yet; after all this time I want to make sure I give it the attention it deserves. I'm just commenting now to say thanks, and that we never gave up on you or your fantastic story. Love you!
ReplyDeleteWow!! Your alive and still writing. I was browsing thru Nifty the other night and saw that you posted another chapter. I have read the said chapter and even though you left us (and I do mean a lot of people) hanging, you still can write!! Glad you were able to pick up and continue the story.
ReplyDeleteI really like you writing style and prose. Vocabulary is variable intellectual. Hell why am I critiquing you.
I was surprised that I am the first to comment on your latest posting. But being gone for almost three years, hell I retired while you were on hiatus. It should be interesting to see how long it takes for some to come across you latest post and how many new followers you will get.
I look forward to the following chapters. Thanks for a good story.
Pete
Thanks for the update. Surprised (and happy) to see a new chapter after such a long delay. I have liked the story, and the new chapter is good. Just hope we don't have to wait too long for the next installment.
ReplyDeleteHmm, so after nearly three years, I have to start over at the beginning because otherwise I would never remember the context, the background and the history. Actually -- I don't mind. I've just re-read the amazing Part 1, and I look forward to moving forward. But: if you do this again for Part 33, I might get seriously, seriously bothered :(
ReplyDeleteDamn, forgot how much I'd been missing this. Thanks for all of it. Can't wait to binge watch the Netflix Originals version....
ReplyDeleteThere is at least one person still here... thank you for your time and awesome work! =)
ReplyDeleteThere is at least one person still here... thank you for your time and awesome work! =)
ReplyDeleteI've been checking at least once a month for the past 3 years lol. So happy to see you back and excited at the prospect of eventually getting to the end. Thanks so much for sharing your excellent writing with us!
ReplyDeleteHi JPM,
ReplyDeleteI stumbled upon this story sometimes last week. This story is so good that I happened to binge read all of it in like three days. Imagine my surprise when I got to the end and found that the story was not actually finished. I was just starting to go into withdrawl when you posted this.
I usually don't do this but I thought I should drop a line anyway since no one has seemed to. No matter how long it takes, you will always have at least one loyal reader who is already waiting patiently(mostly) for the next chapter.
Thanks everybody! Google wasn't e-mailing me your comments like it's supposed to, so I just saw them all at once. It's good to be back. Thank you for your patience. Right now, the next chapter has 4,668 words written -- about half the length of Chapter 32. A lot will happen, and I feel like I have the wind at my back right now.
ReplyDeleteI was so happy to see this next installmemt when I randomly checked nifty after (almost entirely) giving up hope. I too await the Netflix Original series, but even more anxiously, the next chapter. This chapter spoke to me especially strongly as I look forward to spending a weekend gathered with the most amazing and beautiful friends I made 30 years ago at university and who bring every bit of richness and love to my life as my partner (and friend) of almost 23 years and my family do.
ReplyDelete33 months is nothing. Joe will tell you when it's the right time to finish his story. Have fun and do life in the meantime. Just remember we love you, and we'll be here when the end comes (death or homelessness notwithstanding). I can't wait to see the finished product on my bookshelf someday!
ReplyDeleteThis is more niceness than I know how to process. Thank you!
DeleteI could sort of see Chris ending up homeless.
DeleteThat would be quite a plot twist!
DeleteJoe's saga has gone on even more slowly than real time: I began reading this as a scared, closeted teenager, and now I'm nearly 30 and about to get married to a dude. I feel like I've grown up with him.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for the last few installments - finish up strong!
Congrats!
DeleteI just realized that this story started *ten years ago*. God, where does the time go?
DeleteJust watched this video about 500 Days of Summer
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI2i96G6Kwk
It made me think that Chris is like Joe's version of Summer. This isn't a love story - it's a coming of age story.
I've come to think of it as a Platonic love story -- which is weird given the prevalence of graphic sex.
DeleteOMG! I can't believe you're back. I really thought you were done. It was fabulous as well. Woo hoo! I suddenly feel elated.
ReplyDeleteI am so invested in this story. Jesus Chris
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're back! I was really worried that something happened to you. Great chapter!
ReplyDeleteHi, I just wanted to say that I've been following this story since 2011, checking for updates every now and then. Sometimes I'd forget about Joe College for a year or so, but it's one of those remarkable reads that stuck with me and often bubbled up in my thoughts. I'd hear the name 'Joe' and think...I wonder whatever happened to Joe and Chris? It only just occured to me that it's been 8 years and I've never said an encouraging word or thanks for sticking with the story after all this time. In any case, just want you to know that no matter how long it takes, I'm always delighted to see an update and have thoroughly enjoyed everything you've written so far.
ReplyDeleteJPM,
ReplyDeleteI was so much like Joe College...Thank you. I just finished binging all you have written... You saved me several grand in therapy... lol unpacking some of the shit that went down during my undergraduate years. I am 50, I went to a respectable, but not so elite Midwestern State University...I graduated HS in 1987, started in Fall 1987 as a life guard instructor, with 54 sem. hours completed from summer programs and CLEP.. It still took me 6 years to graduate with my 2 BA degrees... partially because of my own issues with 'coming out', partially, because of the issues of my version of your family of choice, and my own reading disability... (Yes, you can be a learning disabled honors student, but it will take you longer Lol!) Strangely, I did it stone cold sober(medical issue, NOT a moral, judge-y one!) Don't try that at home, I'm a professional.
You would think, that things would have been easier in 2001...for you, than for me... but... guess what, clearly... not so much!!!
Like you, I found that I was best at being a college student... so I have worked at a State University since 1996 in student services and volunteer as advisor to an LGBT organization for much of that time--I was on my own, and I don't want my students to feel like they have no one. I know the likelihood of someone who felt like you did talking to me is unlikely on average, but... I found that occasionally because I was out, and a calm, strong, helpful person in my non-LGBT paying gig, that somtimes I have been trusted to listen and reality test for students like you who would never do more than walk by my student group's meeting.
Your writing style is amazing. I know writing of this quality takes time and emotional effort. Take the time you need, but let us know that you are still alive and kicking...
After 32 chapters, we've come to like you, gentle author... And even if you don't finish, you have already done a lot of good here!
Much brotherly and mad love to you!!!
Daveymars13@gmail.com
Thank you, JPM. I've emailed you a few times, but I thought I would comment here. Your writing is exceptional, and I find myself hanging on each and every word. Your cast of characters is intriguing, and I feel I know them. Chris churns my emotions. His flaws make me sad and frustrated, and I so much want to see him in step with the world around him, but it seems unlikely. Joe's inner monologue is always fascinating, and at times he seems as lost as Chris. Congratulations on another great chapter... I continue to be engaged with this story despite the time between installments, and that is a testament to the quality of your writing. Cheers... Gary
ReplyDelete