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Remembering Anew by Pearl Took	10 Review(s)
Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/27/2007
Wow - the original Red Book. Very neatly purloined. It's interesting how it's become a treasure to possess, but not one to be read - and how that has changed the understanding of events. Oral history - which changes - and written history, which is crystallised. I don't blame Jebbin for feeling uneasy about writing the revelations. He is right - being a voice for change is really not easy. He is risking not only his own future, but that of his whole family. Although the possession of family ghosts egging them all on, is probably quite a spur. Interesting - very interesting. Lots of thoughts here about standing up for truth and having the courage of your convictions. Author Reply: Hi Bodkin :-) and thank you for reading and responding to this story! This whole concept/story line took on a life of its own and I feel very much like I'm simply writing it as it unfolds. It is ending up making a statement that way, yes. You'll have to be a watchdog and let me know if it gets too preachy as that is not where I want it to go ;-) Time and people's ideas can change a lot of things. Thank you so much!

PIppinfan1988	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/24/2007
"It really is rather a strange feeling as where we are most of the time, in that far green country I suppose it is, there we’re just as we were here. Just as we were when we were alive here. We eat. We embrace one another. Although,” he got a bemused look on his face, “we are able to talk without speaking, if we so choose, and we can wish to be somewhere in the realm and suddenly we’re there. And, as we can see, apparently we can travel between our two realms which you cannot. All of which is quite different from life here. Yet, we also talk and walk about as folks do here in Middle-earth.” That is so fantastic! I love your idea of how life continues on in the Far Green Country. Wonderfully done! I am both impressed and delighted with this beloved tale, and I'll tell you why in a pm. You out-do yourself with each new chapter. The details are brilliant and it all flows so smoothly and nothing is out of place. As you well know, I just love the encounters between Jebbin, Other and the Ghosts, and this one was just as fun. I'm hardpressed to say which part was my favourite because all of it was, lol. The scenes that are at the top of my thoughts, however, are Merry handing the log to Marjy and Jebbin's "paternal" temper surfacing when he discovered his younger brother had "appropriated" THE Red Book. Oh, this is wonderful and I can't wait for the next chapter! MEWD my friend. :-) PF Author Reply: Wow! Thank you so very much :-) A MEWD! Thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying Jebbin and Other. So far, the Ghosts have been in nearly every chapter, which hadn't been what I had expected at all. We'll have to see if they stay around so much or take a sabatical. Hehehe Thank you, m'dear PF!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/24/2007
Ah! I had a hunch it was the original!! I do love that even though dead, Merry and Pippin remain very much themselves. I like the way they still banter fondly, tell embarrassing stories, and enjoy teasing their somewhat staider descendants. I'm thinking that yes, they do have certain of TPTB who are nudging events along, much as Bilbo was nudged to pick up a little Ring long ago. And perhaps it's very possible that one of those is once again called Olorin, who used to be known as Gandalf/Mithrandir. crosses fingers while inching out on limb How amazing it must have been to Jeb and Other to realize just what they held in their hands. Author Reply: Hehehe! You sound like me, Dreamflower! I often have those hunches when reading a story! If we are who we are, and that's the part that goes on after we "shuffle off this mortal coil", how could the dear lads change too much? LOL I think they have a bit more wisdom and insight though. I've no idea on the others who want this book written. Pippin just said it, Merry responded and now I'm stuck with it. Jebbin, Other and wives aren't supposed to know - maybe we won't either. I don't know at this point :-) Thank you so much for reading and responding :-)

Daynawayna	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/23/2007
Yay! More Chapters! :D And leave it to Other to find THE Red Book! OMG! How hobbity-freakin'-awesome is that!?!? Of course, barring a miracle (or twelve), the book will most likely be discovered missing. And if not, I would pay to be a fly on the wall when Other tries to *return* said book! LOL I'm loving this more and more Pearl. I'm so glad you continued with it! Author Reply: I'm glad you're enjoying it, Daynawayna! It would have been weirder had he known ahead that it was the original, but yes, it surprised me too. As to it getting discovered, or when/if he returns it . . . we'll all just have to wait and see ;-) Thank you for responding :-)

poppymuddyfoot	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/23/2007
Oh! Oh! You're continuing the stories! Thank you, thank you! I adore your characters almost as much as I do Tolkien's. I have wondered what it would be like for Jebbin and Other when they started to tell the truth. I am so glad that we're going to find out. The support of their wives and parents is marvelous. And I love the way Pippin and Merry are helping them. (To be honest, I just love seeing them doing just about anything though.) And the Red Book! Oh, I tried to imagine what I would feel if I could actually hold that book myself, and it gave me goosebumps. I imagine Jebbin would feel it even more strongly. I am REALLY looking forward to reading more of this story. Thank you, THANK YOU for writing it! Author Reply: I'm glad to see you, Poppy. Thank you for reading and responding :-) Yes, there were so many readers wanting the rest of the story that I dove in. "I adore your characters almost as much as I do Tolkien's." Thank you! There is no higher compliment, I'm honored. I'm glad you like my Jebbin and Other so much. You are very welcome, and thank you for the kind words and support :-)

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/23/2007
The Original Red Book!!! Dear me, what a surprise! Was it only luck or is there some other force at work, I wonder. However, the ghosts of Merry and Pippin seemed as surprised as anyone else. Very interesting! I loved the bells in your story. Of course Pippin liked them, he always had :) Author Reply: A surprise indeed! For me as well as them :-) I think this is all "meant to happen" just as the events of the War of the Ring were, but who is behind it . . . I don't know, even though it is hinted at in the story that Merry and Pippin aren't the only ones wanting the record set straight. My thanks to GW for letting me borrow the bells. Yes, they are happy little things and little Pip did enjoy them :-) Grown up Pip likes happy things too! Thank you for reading and responding, Andrea!

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/23/2007
I can feel the tingling in my hands. What would it feel like, to hold the real Red Book of Westmarch? To see the spidery writing, and the flowing script, and be in the same room with the book that Bilbo carried with him? The book where Frodo painfully scratched out the story of Cirith Ungol, the book that Sam probably cried over on his return from the Grey Havens? Vicarious thrills, Pearl, that's what you're giving us. But now that the real book has been (re)discovered, what will Jebbin and Other do to finish the story the way it should be told, and some way that modern hobbits can accept it? Frodo was very sparing with the details of his own thought in the last third of the story - will Merry and Pippin tell a fuller version? And who else, exactly, is in the wings also wanting to hear the tale told aright? I am enjoying this story, and looking forward to more. Author Reply: Wow! That's beautiful writing, FantasyFan! Thank you :-) You've also posed some good questions, the answers to which I do not yet have. As I've said in some of my other answers to reviews, I really have very few ideas of where this story is headed - which is odd for me. I'm as eager to find all of this out as you are :-) I'm glad you're looking forward to more. Thank you!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/23/2007
How heartbreaking that the original Red Book would be forgotten and neglected after so many years! But I think it has found its way into the right hands at last. Author Reply: Yes, it is very sad but also true to the way things sometimes go. I hadn't thought of it at the time I was writing, but your saying this made me think . . . It's like "Antiques Roadshow"! "I paid 50 cents for this book at a yard sale. They said it was just some family relic." "Well, Mr. Brandybuck. This is the original Red Book of Westmarch and it's priceless." Thank you so much for leaving this response, shirebound!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/22/2007
I love the fact that Pippin still blushes even as a ghost! hehehe I also love what you did with the bells. It is darling the way they accepted the watch chains and the way Pippin actually enjoyed his. I was stunned that Other had actually managed to nick the original RED BOOK! That was a very interesting surprise indeed. But Pippin's line: (“Sometimes things aren’t as bad as the dreams show them to be.” Pippin paused a second, then added, “Although, sometimes they’ll be worse.”) That was so very Pippin that I just had to laugh out loud! Author Reply: Thank you, GW :-) I'm so glad you like my Merry Ghost and Pippin Ghost! I'm enjoying writing them. There's more to come on the Red Book. It's nice to have had something like that pop into the story. I'm glad that bit made you laugh. Along with Other just having to tell Jebbin about the dreams and pinching the book - I'm having fun with my Tookish Tooks and Brandybucks.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/22/2007
Ooh! Cool! THE original, found and read after all this time. Talk about straight from the horse's mouth! Wonderful! Oh, I'd be all but genuflecting. They are SO lucky! Am thrilled. Author Reply: Thank you, Larner :-) I was excited too when it showed up - I love how these things just pop into my head as I'm writing.

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