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Dreamflower's Mathoms I  by Dreamflower 12 Review(s)
Celeste Lucretia BlackReviewed Chapter: 36 on 5/15/2021
Oh, Pippin 😁

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 36 on 2/12/2013
Nice to see Pippin at his best and most constructive, and love the bits about Lobelia and Lotho. I, too, would have paid good money to see Frodo bloody Lotho's nose! Heh! Been a while since I read this.

HalrohirReviewed Chapter: 36 on 12/20/2007
Greetings, Dreamflower:

I had the chance to read more than several of your Mathoms, and I was particularly moved to comment on this one.

You created a very authentic conversation between the members of the Fellowship, in a humorous situation. Humorous, in that the hobbits can maintain their optimism and cheerful nature in even the most awkward and embarassing things - as Boromir found to his surprise.

Thank you so much - I go now, to read the rest!

HALROHIR

Author Reply: Oh, thank you for letting me know! It is always delightful to get a review for a story that has been around a while. Your comments are much appreciated--especially saying that the conversation sounded authentic. I do try very hard for a "book-verse voice" for the characters, and I'm glad to know you think I succeeded.

Thank you again for coming by to comment!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 36 on 3/18/2006
I could have sworn I reviewed this when I first read it, but I guess I didn't. It's still as delightful to read now as it was then. I love all the hobbit-talk and Boromir's embarassment at being the center of attention because of his misstep and Pippin's pride at having done something useful.

Author Reply: I thought you must have, too. But it's good to know that it stands up to repeated readings! I had a lot of fun writing this one.

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 3/3/2006
This was cute! Yet another way for the Shirefolk to prove their worthiness (thought we already knew their "worthiness"!) Loved the many ways the young hobbits used bramble bushes to shield themselves from thier own mischief. :-) LOL, and Frodo wielding his attempts at the Maggots' mushrooms like a trophy was just comical. Loved it!

Pippinfan

Author Reply: *grin* This is another of those stories that started with a throwaway line from another story. I had barely mentioned Pippin getting Boromir out of the bramble bush in "A New Reckoning", and it just cried out for a story of it own.

My idea is that in a world full of peril for small hobbits--hawks, foxes, dogs, and unpleasant relations, they would instinctively learn to hide in the safest of places, rather like Br'er Rabbit. They would know that they could put up with a few prickles at the cost of saving themselves.

Yes, that rather tickled me, his boasting of his mushroom raids...You will notice, however, that his younger cousins kindly did not burst his bubble, nor rub it in that they had never been caught.

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 36 on 2/9/2006
Ah yes, the talents of the Tooks! I love this! You know, when I think of thorns and LOTR, I immediately think of Mordor, but I'm glad this didn't take place there. I love it when the hobbits get to help the larger folk out of a scrape. :)
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: *snicker* Yes, those nimble fingers come in handy!

Well, of course there are thorns elsewhere in M-e, as poor Boromir found out! I love to let the hobbits have a chance to shine as well!

GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 36 on 11/17/2005
A thorny problem, indeed!

I can see Pippin having the nimble fingers required for just such a "talent." He's smaller than the rest of the hobbits, plays various instruments where he has to use his fingers, resilient, and with the amount of trouble he and Merry get into, this would be a most useful ability.

The hobbity chatter while Pippin worked was most enjoyable - very hobbity. I can imagine the hobbits using bramble bushes to avoid the hated S.B.'s as well as Farmer Maggot's dogs a la Brer Rabbit. The lesser of two evils, as it were. But ... they painted the Boffins lads' faces? I hope one of them was not Folco!

"There was a brief silence, and then the oaths began again. They were remarkably inventive.

The hobbits and Gandalf had turned to listen.

“Boromir,” said Frodo primly, “do, please, watch your language.” Sam was blushing furiously, and Pippin was taking careful note.

Merry rolled his eyes. “Don’t be such a Baggins, Frodo!”

Pippin sniggered."

lol! I like how you put it about Boromir's language being so inventive and everyone listening, especially Pippin. But Frodo can be such the serious, protective older cousin at times! Naturally, Merry would chalk it up to a Baggins characteristic, though we've not seen that from Bilbo.


"Frodo blushed. “No, I am sorry for saying anything, Boromir. I tend to forget that I am not in the Shire, and that some young people are not so young as they were.”

“Thank you for that observation, Frodo,” said Pippin, moving away a long section of vine. “I do think you could remember that more often."

Now that is just like the Pippin in the books - a confident, cheeky remark.


"“Did you hear that Merry? Gimli was impressed!”"

Also very much in keeping with Pippin's character. That little hobbit just soaks up praise. It means almost as much to him as food.

I really enjoyed this one!

Author Reply: This story rose out of a little throwaway anecdote in "A New Reckoning"; when Marigold Challenged us to do a Fellowship story, I couldn't resist expanding on it.

I actually was thinking of Brer Rabbit when I wrote the parts about the dogs and about the S.-B.s. As hobbits are small burrowing creatures much like rabbits, I'm sure the adults would have taught the children to hide in places like bramble bushes, in order to escape predators.

It's funny that this comes up, after I posted my "cussing" essay, LOL! But I don't think it harms Boromir's reputation to admit that he did cuss, as long as I don't reveal what he said.

My Frodo tends to be an eensy bit priggish, which I attribute to his Baggins side--not Bilbo assuredly, who was anything but, but I think Drogo might have been, especially with his one chick. And I am quite sure Dora and Dudo were. They just strike me that way.

I like a confident cheeky Pippin! And you are right, it's very canon.

He does love to be praised and noticed. And *that* comes from being the baby of the family, and the only boy, LOL!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 36 on 4/20/2005
Ah, bless the Tooks indeed. And I love the idea of Frodo bloodying Lotho's nose once. Yes, I am certain he deserved it fully!

Author Reply: Yes, those clever Tooks.
In "A Place for Gandalf" Lotho made the mistake of picking on Merry in front of Frodo. He never even saw it coming.

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 36 on 4/5/2005
I must say the thought of the big man of Gondor landing in a thorn bush made me giggle. :-)) I also loved the idea of the hobbits being able to rescue him. Nice to have a non-incompetent Pippin for once! Very nice, and I can imagine he and Merry using brambles to hide from the S-Bs.

Author Reply: When I first came up with the idea in "A New Reckoning" I was simply trying to think of Boromir in a ludicrous situation that would make young Bergil boggle at the thought of. I didn't realize at the time it would someday turn into its own story, LOL!

I have never thought of Pippin as incompetent--young, and not always knowing *how* to do something, but I think he would be a quick learner. He might, being still a tweenager with the typical adolescent lack of confidence, *think* of himself as incompetent, but that's a different matter. This is a youngster who spent most of his growing up hanging about with hobbits a great deal older than he. It would be very surprising if he did not have a good many useful skills. And for some reason, I have always thought he would be particularly good with his hands.

The hiding in the brambles, I must confess, was inspired by the "Brer Rabbit" stories. They would be thought of almost instinctively as a safe, if uncomfortable, place by creatures as small as hobbit children would have been.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 36 on 4/5/2005
So, that is the story behind the remark back there in "A new reckoning"? That was really cute! Loved it - especially Pippin's reason why he knows how to entangle someone from brambles! But they should have thrown the S.-B.'s in the bushes instead of themselves ;-)

Author Reply: I figure Merry and Pip were probably a bit too young to tackle Lobelia and Lotho on their own at the time. A briar patch probably seemed a good spot to get away from them!
Yes, I see that you recognized the anecdote: that's the story behind the tale that Bergil overheard.

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