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Neath Anor, Ithil, and Gil  by Larner 10 Review(s)
VirtuellaReviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/5/2008
Very clever!

Author Reply: Thank you! It was an interesting experiment to find a way of taking such an additive poem as "The House that Jack Built" or "For the Want of a Nail" or "Green Grow the Rushes" and adapt it to Middle Earth.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 16 on 4/13/2008
Neat poem - the way you wove everything together over and over with a new layer of the story on top. Gives life to what Sam said about being in the same story as all else that went on before them. Love the last stanza the most. Wish it could end with their reunion blessed and free, but maybe you've already covered that elsewhere. I am still trying to catch up here.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: I'm not certain just why "The House that Jack Built" was working on me, but it obviously did. And this is what came of imposing its structure on Middle Earth! Heh!

Now, to do my own version of "I'll Sing you One-O." You've tried your hand at it, after all; now it's my turn.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/12/2008
Well done, Larner! It was fun to read.

Author Reply: Thank you so much, Kitty! This one started nagging at me the other night. Took three rewrites to be satisfied with it, but it got itself written! Glad it gave you pleasure.

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/11/2008
*laughs* Very clever! Do I hear echoes of a certain familiar rhyme? (What is it? I want to say "The House that Jack Built," but I could be wildly off on that since it's been quite a while since the youngest members of my family took an interest in such things.) You certainly have a knack for this sort of thing. My mind goes back to your rhyme in The Acceptable Sacrifice ("One, two, eyes of blue..."), which I know off by heart because there was a time when singing it (and adding some very silly and elaborate hand motions) would entertain my youngest sibling for a considerable amount of time, considering he had an extremely short attention span, and it was quite handy on long car trips...we'll just overlook the fact that it--or my little tune I set it to--drove my parents and other siblings crazy. Haha!

The last verse of this one is poignant, coming at the end as it does. Just out of curiosity, how long did this take? I think I would have either lost track less than halfway through, or done a whole lot of copying and pasting. :D
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Yes, "The House that Jack Built" was the inspiration. This one began bugging me Saturday night and was written out Sunday after I got done with my morning client. I'll admit that I did a fair amount of cutting and pasting, then rewriting of certain lines. "Mary Had a Little Lamb" inspired "A Hobbit's Tale" while "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" did inspire "One, Two, Eyes of Blue."

And that last verse is indeed intended to be poignant. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

And I can imagine you driving your parents crazy keeping the little ones from whining with boredom!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/11/2008
This is so clever I loved it!

Author Reply: I rejoice that you do. Thank you, Linda!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/10/2008
O very nicely done indeed!

Wish I had time for more but I'm on minus minutes now...

Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked it. I'll see you next week, then. Love to the Hobbitlings and the hubby!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/9/2008
This is excellent! I love the use of the structure of "This is the House that Jack Built" to tell the story of the Ring--it really is perfect for that use. And you built it up so well to the final conclusion! Great job!

Author Reply: Thank you so much, Dreamflower! Am so glad you felt it was properly done. I do seem to be working on nursery rhymes, don't I? Heh!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/9/2008
Very well done.

Author Reply: Thank you, Shirebound!

eilujReviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/9/2008
Two thumbs up from this children's librarian!

Author Reply: This former elementary teacher thanks you!

Theresa GreenfalconReviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/9/2008
I liked this one - and I can barely remember the "this is the house that Jack built" poem I learned as a child that *must have* inspired this! Good job!

Author Reply: Indeed, that was the inspiration. Glad you like it!

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