The Eternal Rocks Beneath by BenMac (a.k.a. Cameron MacElvee, Bold Strokes Books) is an alternative universe work of literary fiction in The L Word fandom, spanning the years 1976 to 2000. At the core of this coming-of-age epic saga is the passionate and sometimes gut-wrenching, rocky relationship between Bette Porter and Tina Kennard, reminiscent of Emily Bronte’s doomed pairing of Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. The twist: it challenges Bronte’s narrative of a toxic romance.
Bette and Tina befriend as young girls and become lovers as teenagers, developing a deep, unbreakable bond. Bette is well off, cultured, and self-centered, while Tina is poor, uneducated, and resilient, but both are profoundly damaged, having been abandoned by their mothers. Dark emotional baggage from their pasts pulls them apart, and over twenty-four years, they endure abusive relationships outside of their special bond. But these twin flames return to each other time and again, more broken than before, falling back on their shared passion and friendship for brief bouts of solace until their pasts pull them apart again. They are doomed to meet the same fate as Catherine and Heathcliff unless each can become their own champion and savior.
The story has a split setting. Its first half, during Bette and Tina’s young and teenage years together, centers on summers at Bette’s aunt’s, Miriam Porter’s modest home in Athens, Tennessee, and Tina’s treehouse built on Miriam’s property. The woodsy setting along Oostanaula Creek, where they formed their bond, serves as the girls’ place of refuge during turbulent times and is the site of many heartbreaking revelations. In the second half, when Bette and Tina are adults, the chaotic city of Los Angeles becomes their focal point, mirroring their tumultuous connection and coming more in line with The L Word’s original story. In these later years, BenMac introduces more characters from the show, giving readers a wider and familiar supporting cast.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
The story’s first section, Summer of 1976 (Chapters 1-7, 66,000 words), establishes the purity of Bette and Tina’s relationship, rooted in loyalty and devotion. The entire story is beautifully written with excellent narration and dialogue, but this section is spectacularly magical.
The descriptions of the Tennessee woods and reservoir are vivid, transporting the reader there among the smell of the coneflower and the sounds of chirping crickets. Tina’s authentic Tennessean accent and fortitude, despite unbearable conditions, melt my heart every time I read this piece. Bette’s emotional transformation over the summer is simply heartwarming. Also, Tina’s innocence of youth and Bette’s subtle adolescent sexual awakening are a potent mixture, creating the basis of genuine love. Bette and Tina’s connection becomes the backdrop for every high and low, every elation and heartbreak throughout the rest of the story. Finally, BenMac introduces an element of mysticism during their first summer together to symbolize TiBette’s fated eternal love. She threads it throughout, reminding the reader that their bond is irreversible, unbreakable, and simply meant to be.
Each section (Summer 1976, Summer 1982, August 1991, and 1999) is filled with tension and weighty burdens, but the well-developed characters carry the story over the finish line. BenMac carefully injects unique personalities and voices into the entire cast, adding twists to the television show’s original characters, which in many ways is an improvement on Ilene Chaiken’s initial vision.
BenMac started posting chapters in August 2013 and completed the piece in June of the following year. Nearly a decade later, it remains one of the site’s most read and re-read stories, having developed a widespread following among visitors.
Here are some memorable comments from those diehard fans.
“It will forever be my favorite book, even if it never gets published, and little things in my everyday life will often remind me of scenes that are permanently etched in my memory; every deer reference, every Dolly Parton song, every ‘fusion’ restaurant, every ’76 Impala, especially if it’s white, and even the mention of apricots all trigger some sort of chapter flashback for me. It haunts me as much as it comforts me, and that’s probably why I’ve read and re-read it 5 or 6 times now.” – Diane
“Nearly 10 years ago, I read it for the first time and still re-read it at least once a year. Wouldn’t do it if I didn’t know I’ll get laughter, tears, lots of feelings, drama, and a damn good love story every time I take the ‘eternal journey’.” – @kiwipit1
I cried, I laughed, I was scared, full of anticipation, I was angry, so full of joy, and I cried some more. We would all be so lucky to have someone we could invite into our treehouse, our safe space, to love and be loved in return forever… I was someone before Eternal Rocks and someone different after, and if that sounds dramatic, good. It should, it was.
– @courtneylsl2
Eternal Rocks has touched me in a way no other fiction book has, and it’s made me want to become a better writer and a better person. – Marie
Cons And Heads Up
This is an early work of BenMac (a.k.a., Cameron MacElvee) before her Goldie winning days and before learning the rules of point of view, so this story is ripe with head-hopping, which is dizzying at times.
The story is over a half million words, requiring a considerable time commitment. On the positive side, it is so riveting that the time will fly.
Trigger warnings: themes of child abuse, racism, alcoholism, mental illness, abandonment, and self-harm. Mention of animal abuse, incest, child rape, and suicide. One graphic scene of child abuse.
Conclusion
If I could choose only one piece of literature to take along on a deep space voyage, The Eternal Rocks Beneath is it.
This moving story of heartbreak, passion, despair, and hope pulls the reader into an unforgettable alternate TiBette world that is more dramatic and satisfying than the original television series. One chapter after another will make you angry, laugh, cry, sob uncontrollably, and gasp for air in shock, all in one sitting. Your chest will ache at reading “The End.” And the story might very well comfort and haunt you for years, as it has me.
This story stands alone without watching the show.
Excerpt from The Eternal Rocks Beneath by BenMac
The girls took hands and Tina walked Bette to the Cadillac that sat idling waiting for her. She opened the door and made a flourish and bowed. “After you my sweet Angel May.”
Bette giggled and mussed the already disheveled hair. “You’re teasing me with that nickname,” Bette said.
“Ahh, but it fits you, don’t ya think?” Tina smiled and winked.
The little girl stood back now and went to the porch and stood next to Miriam who put a loving and protective arm around the child’s shoulders. They stood and watched as the car backed out and turned around. Bette was sitting in the front seat with her father and she waved and smiled as Melvin pulled away.
Tina stood there waving and crying with Miriam waving too. They would stand there until they could no longer see the car on the dirt road.
Finally, as the dust settled and a dull rumble of thunder echoed in the distance, Tina looked up at Miriam who had been watching her.
“I’m gonna miss her something terrible, Miss Miriam. My chest, right here,” Tina said pointing to her heart, “It hurts.”
Miriam nodded and smiled sadly, “I know child, I know.”
Then as the heavy clouds finally released their store and rain began to pour, Tina burst into tears and buried herself into the older woman’s arms.
Find the full story here
(Navigate by page to read each chapter. Click on “Next Post by Author” for subsequent chapters)
Bits And Bobs
Fandom: The L Word
Length: 529,000 words
Author: BenMac
Rating: M
Photo: (leave this blank)
Rating Guide: G= General, T = Teen and up, M=Mature, E = explicit
If you enjoyed this fanfic then try this book
This was a guest review by author Stacy Lynn Miller. If you enjoyed this recommendation then make sure to follow Miller online.
