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A Took by Any Other Name by Lindelea	9 Review(s)
Dana	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/24/2005
Oh. Oh, but this was an incredible ending. Author Reply: So glad you made it all the way through! And glad to have your note, as well. h7gs

Cuthalion	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/30/2005
Dear, this is one of the most remarkable tales I've ever read. Wonderful characters, a magic worlds of details, and you ripped my heart out of my chest with the fever-scene in the bathtub (sorry that it took me so long to return and to read since my last review!). This is the work of a great storyteller... thank you so much, Lin! Cúthalion Author Reply: Aber danke! And I know how it is, about getting back to a story. I have a number on my reading list, that I last commented on some time ago. Here I am again, with almost no time to read. But then, I suppose it's better than having a boring life.

Saoirse	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/11/2005
My... What a wonderful ending to another wonderful story. It is nice to see Pippin getting along with Diamond in your stories (as I've always pictured his marriage with her to be rather bad). It seems that Pippin has come into his own here, and although the road ahead for him may still seem a bit foggy (and rocky), at least he's wandering the path. The ending was just perfect. How could Paladin not have the heart to add his grand-lad's name into the Yellow Book? At least there Pippin can see that his father was indeed thinking of him and his family, and despite cruelties and misunderstanding, loved them all very much. Wonderful job :) Author Reply: Well, thank you! Appreciate the encouragement. I always get depressed when finishing a story--perhaps that's why some of them go on and on. Anyhow, yes, Paladin did love his son very much, though he did not know how to show it very well. But someday, perhaps, I'll shock everyone and write a Pippin-getting-along-with-Paladin story. LOL.

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/11/2005
Enjoyed Eglantine in this chapter and I loved how Pippin thought that his visit with Merimac had been while the hobbit was alive. Was sorry to see Pippin feel so responsible, as always, for Ferdibrand, at the end of this one though. Paladin did so much damage to Pippin with that. I do like the image of Pippin wander about the Great Smials at night thinking and visiting with others. A lovely tale! Author Reply: It is nice to write Eglantine at peace, even though she's grieving the loss of her beloved Dinny. She has confidence that she'll be reunited with him some day not far off. It's funny, but that image of Pippin wandering the tunnels of the Smials first came to me while writing this story, yet it seems as if it would be the natural thing for him to do. Wonder why I didn't think of it sooner? LOL Thanks!

Beruthiel	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/10/2005
Aww, that was so sad! But did Paladin cross out Pippin's name or not? That isn't quite clear. And you got names mixed up here: "Before Ferdinand arrived to feed late supper to his father . . ." Poor Pip and Paladin. Didn't someone suggest Paladin or Eglantine maybe keeping a diary or something? You should consider something like that. Perhaps Paladin left him a letter written shortly before he died, knowing he'd never have another chance to speak to Pippin? It's just so heartbreaking that they never completely made up. Author Reply: Thanks for the catch! I so often mix up similar names; it's a bane of mine. Have re-written the part where Pippin read his own name in the Book. Is it clearer now? Hmmm. I could see Paladin writing a letter to his son. Will think on that. Thanks!

Connie B.	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/10/2005
That brought a tear to my eye. You keep reminding me that Paladin really did love his son, but that he had become too burdened with the resposibitlities of be Thain to take time to show it. He was so focused on the job and the fact that Pippin was to follow him in it that he lost sight of the fact that Pippin needed to grow into the person who could follow him, not be forced into someone else's mold. Poor Paladin allow his cercumstances to turn him into a bitter old hobbit, and that is just so sad. Too bad he was never able to see through his anger to realize what a fantastic person his son had become. I would say that from your description you are right, Paladin's failior to keep his temper in check may have contributed to his demise. Uncontrolled anger does raise the blood pressure and cause other physical problems. He probably did have several small strokes over the years which didn't help his cause any. Stress and his deminished mental capacity probably just made matters even worse. He was in a situation that was spiraling down to disaster. Thank goodness Pippin learned at a much earlier age to curb his impulses and his temper, or he might have ended up much as his own father did. Thanks for such a great story. I'm sad to see it end. Connie B. Author Reply: This is one of those I'm sad to see end, too. I find myself at a loss, though it will be good to take the weekend off and sort of stretch out the kinks. Very good analysis of Paladin; spot on. And your observation about Pippin rings trueas well. You're most welcome, and thanks for going through the story with me and leaving your thoughts.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/10/2005
Two stubborn Tooks, each as stubborn as any Baggins, loving one another across the miles in spite of themselves. Wonderful, wonderful ending. Not the relationship I've dreamed, of course, but still the love has been there. And Merimac's vision is still--sort of--remembered after all. Bless the old Hobbit. Author Reply: Agreeing with you; a part of me would like to write another whole set of stories in which Pippin and Paladin have a close, warm, and loving relationship like I've seen in some fanfic. But there's no time for that, and it would mean abandoning Ferdi, or much of the shaping of his life, anyhow, as well as Pippin's. I'd have to come up with a whole new timeline and idea of character development, from Quest to Thain... And I'm up way past my bedtime, so such a task sounds even more daunting. Or perhaps daft. So I'll just stick with what I've got for the moment, and imagine Paladin, fully healed, at the Feast, finally reunited and reconciled with his beloved son and reaching full understanding and open communication. Whew. Thanks! (And appreciate the reviews you're leaving in other stories as well.)

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/10/2005
A wonderful epilogue, and a fitting ending to the tale! I love Pippin's combination of confidence and doubt--you show that so well, in his early days as Thain, and it really comes out here. I am glad that Eglantine recognized the moment that Paladin had "seen". There is a hint that part of Paladin's personality change came from what could have been a stroke after Pippin refused to return. Is that what you were trying to indicate? It's true that is not unheard of. Best of all, the ending, where Pippin finds Faramir in the book. Very well done, indeed! Author Reply: Thanks so much! You're right. Have been thinking on Paladin's change, considering how much was the result of bitterness, how much might have been organic in nature. I don't want to think any character beyond redemption, which is why I started to lean towards the idea of a stroke. After research I have found that, as you say, such a change in personality is not unheard-of.

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/10/2005
I was so glad that you let Paladin's dream be fulfilled in this story! It must have been strange for Eglantine to see it as well, and a bit sad as well. Pippin talking to Ferdinand and hearing he was to be given a message. I also liked that you wrote about Merimac talking to Pippin about the name Faramir but not remembering when they had spoken about it. There very end was so sweet! That Paladin set aside his pride to some extent and put Faramir's name into the book, very sweet! Well I guess this is the end, it was such a lovely story I hate to see it end, hopefully we'll have more from you soon, though ;) Author Reply: It was interesting, that the Epilogue tied Paladin's dream and Merimac's vision together, and of course Saradoc was a part of it, though unspoken, for his having given Pippin a chance, and Ferdinand was involved as well. Sort of the last gathering of the four friends together, in a sense. Thank you so much! I'm planning to take the weekend off (have some RL writing projects to finish) and then see what beckons to be written. I'm sorry that "Thain" is taking so long, but though it's being painfully difficult we have no plans to abandon that story. In any event, after the weekend you're likely to see a new chapter of Rosemary's story, or "Thain", or perhaps the start of a new story told from Woodruff's point of view. That one is outlined and I'm just starting to draft it out. So you see, there is more. Thanks for the encouragement.

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