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| The Choice of Healing by Larner | 10 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/17/2006 |
| Oh! I would say it's beautiful, but that doesn't describe it enough. I love the light talk and banter, and seeing Frodo being a Hobbit again. It really is as if Sam and he were halves of one soul, and both are needed to make that being whole. And the image of the two of them dancing among the stars, dancing away out of Arda itself, is just breath-taking! And the carol captures the feeling perfectly. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Oh, I'm so glad you appreciate it, my Lady. Frodo at the end is able to be himself not just as he was but as he was intended to become as well; and I do agree the two are halves of the same whole in many ways. And I think that for Frodo the ability to dance among the stars would be his ideal way of leaving Arda. Thanks so much for letting me know what has moved you most. | |
| Endaewen | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 2/18/2006 |
| Beautiful. This fits so well with your other stories. Author Reply: I am so glad you liked it, Endaewen. To want to do something ineffible such as dancing among the stars as one passes seemed so in keeping with Frodo's nature; as well as the companionship of Sam here. And am honored you've read so much so quickly. | |
| Inkling | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/8/2005 |
| Ah Larner, this was so joyous and beautiful! And the touches of hobbit humor were perfect too! I can’t imagine a better ending to your splendid tale! Though I know it’s not quite the end yet, but still… So interesting to read this story after “Light.” That had a certain intellectual detachment, springing, no doubt, from that fact that it was cast as Frodo’s self-analysis in his journal, reflecting his characteristic restraint. And the ending, though beautiful, did not much comfort me, seen as it was from such a distance. But this was so intimate, direct, and joyful. This time, I could let Frodo go…and be happy for him. Inkling Ps—I’ve always loved that carol! Author Reply: Yes, I know. That Sam and Frodo would be given the same gift as Aragorn--to know their time had come and thus have some control over how they would offer back their lives in peace and content and pleasant anticipation I have felt was imperative, a part of the reason the two were granted the grace to go to Aman. That they would do it laughing, choosing a place where they could feel the spiritual kinship they knew with Aragorn most strongly, knowing he would someday follow their example as he was allowed, also seemed to follow. With the coming of Sam the last wounds of the Ringbearer have been healed. He never got every good thing he ever wanted; but in the end all the good he'd known and sacrificed for others to know fulfillment was fulfilled for himself. And for all he'd lived a rather monkish life on Tol Eressea, he yet died a Hobbit, surrounded by the love and beauty he'd always known and sought and evoked in others. Am so glad you love the carol--it was so right for this chapter! Hope you enjoy the last chapter, too. Author Reply: Yes, I know. That Sam and Frodo would be given the same gift as Aragorn--to know their time had come and thus have some control over how they would offer back their lives in peace and content and pleasant anticipation I have felt was imperative, a part of the reason the two were granted the grace to go to Aman. That they would do it laughing, choosing a place where they could feel the spiritual kinship they knew with Aragorn most strongly, knowing he would someday follow their example as he was allowed, also seemed to follow. With the coming of Sam the last wounds of the Ringbearer have been healed. He never got every good thing he ever wanted; but in the end all the good he'd known and sacrificed for others to know fulfillment was fulfilled for himself. And for all he'd lived a rather monkish life on Tol Eressea, he yet died a Hobbit, surrounded by the love and beauty he'd always known and sought and evoked in others. Am so glad you love the carol--it was so right for this chapter! Hope you enjoy the last chapter, too. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/14/2005 |
| I can't read the last chapter without giving you first a review on this one! But I must admit, that I do not find words to describe what I feel. It's sad and beautiful altogether. Particularly, I would like to thank you for the little hint to the most beautiful song (in my opinion) in "The Lord of the Rings": Sam's Song in the Orc Tower: [...] And swaying beeches bear The Elven stars as jewels white Amid their branching hair. Thank you! Author Reply: Oh, I agree about that being the most beautiful song in LOTR. I wrote my own tune to it, and sing it often. But the stars meant so much to both Frodo and Sam, I always felt. Thanks for enjoying this story so much. | |
| Eruanna | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/13/2005 |
| *sigh* I love this chapter. It's so gentle and peaceful, and at the end my own longing to dance is almost irresistable. :) It reminds me a bit of C. S. Lewis' 'Perelandra' (which is a very high compliment), especially the description of the beautiful patterns of the dancing stars. I've never heard the carol before, but the words are simply lovely. >>You know, Sam, I’ve always wanted to dance among them.<< What a very beautiful way to express the inexpressible. Thank you for such a profound story. Blessings, Eruanna Author Reply: "Love me my brothers, for I am infinitely necessary for you, and for your delight was I made!" My favorite quote from The Great Dance in Perelandra. Hadn't even thought of that when writing this, but certainly see it now that you named it. Thank you! Lewis has been one of my inspirations for decades! Still one more chapter to go, btw. | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/13/2005 |
| Holy mackerel...I was just thinking about that song the other day! Don't quite remember what put me in mind of it. Used to sing it in college choir and always loved it. Sure beats the heck out of "Jingle Bells", what?;) There's going to be more? whooooaaaaaaaa...... ~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@~~~{~@ Author Reply: Just one more chapter. Hope you appreciate it. I heard it first in college, but learned it a few years afterward when I was active in my church in Seattle. Glad you found it appropriate. | |
| finafyr | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/13/2005 |
| you are a wonder.. here I sit with tears in my eyes all from your story.. I have looked foreword to reading it every day from the beginning.. I loved Kings commission... and wish to know more.. and I love this.. there are a few aethors that get Tolkiens owrld soooo right.. you are one of them.. to my mind you have joined the ranks of the greats like Shirebound and Lindelea.. to name just two.. I eagerly await the next words written from your most eloquent pen.. I would dearly love to hear more.. to read more.. to cry more.. to walk on the plains and shores of middle earth that you so richly expand.. can I ever get enough of middle earth.. I think not.. I thank you.. you are a blessing.. and a treasure.. Author Reply: Thank you so much--to be compared to two such greats is indeed an honor, although you have me blushing. Thank you for reading, and I hope you love the last chapter--tomorrow. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/13/2005 |
| Well that's about the loveliest, gentlest, most glorious Passage I can imagine. I'm just speechless. Author Reply: I've seen a few other gentle ones, such as the one where Frodo goes out into the Sundering Sea to give over. But I liked the idea of Frodo capable of laughing again, finding himself now doubly whole because Sam has come to share his life in Middle Earth with him while Frodo is sharing his in Tol Eressea with Sam--the two of them are the halves of one whole, both finally together. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/13/2005 |
| This is magnificent, so perfectly fitting! For some reason, it makes me think more of CS Lewis than of JRRT, but that is a compliment as well from me! Just beautiful! I loved the medieval carol you ended the chapter with, as well! PS: Have you heard from the MEFAs yet? I nominated "The King's Commission", but I noticed that the nomination is still marked "incomplete". Author Reply: No, I'd heard nothing, and am uncertain of the URL to go to. I learned the carol for a Christmas service we sang for in Seattle when I belonged to the choir at the church I attended. And as I've loved the idea of Frodo being skilled at dancing ever since I first saw Elijah Wood as Frodo doing a particularly nice step to the admiration of the two Hobbit lasses on each side, I thought this would be the type of leaving he would prefer. As for fitting Lewis more than Tolkien--in LOTR Tolkien did his level best just to hint at the cosmology and spirituality involved in the story, I can understand how this would more reflect his friend. I hope you will like tomorrow's chapter as well. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 4/13/2005 |
| Well. (letting out long-held breath) How in the world do I find words to review *this*? Perhaps later. For now I shall revel in the wonder of it all. Most unique perspective, my friend. Most unique and creative and original, indeed. Author Reply: Oh, I had so hoped you would like it. I gave a small overview of this in Filled with Light as with Water, and thought I'd see it through here. Hope you like the last chapter--tomorrow! Love to the Munchkins. | |