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| Moments in Time by Larner | 14 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| poppymuddyfoot | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 9/2/2009 |
| Oh, Larner! The image of Frodo sitting all alone and empty on a day when so many others rejoice and honor him just breaks my heart. His pain brings tears to my eyes. Beautifully written. Author Reply: Oh, I so agree, Poppy. At least we know (or have the hope) that it turns out well in the end! Thank you so! | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 12/17/2008 |
| Oh! Poor Frodo! In the far north, however, the one they praised more greatly this day even than their new King did not hear the echoes of the songs sung in his honor in Minas Tirith and Dol Amroth, from the seaports on the western shores of Langstrand to the new settlements already being founded ’neath the shadows of the Ephel Dúath. His health did not reflect the wishes offered for it by Rangers from beyond Deadman’s Dike to those who kept their watch in the guarded lands north of the River Poros. No scent of blooms from White Trees or mellyrn lifted his heart--this day he seemed not even to scent the early daffodils and hyacinths blooming in bright blankets all about the farmhouse where he sat, rubbing at the deep ache in his shoulder. The goblet of wine brought to him by his friend’s beloved tasted as sour as vinegar upon his tongue. He knew no vision of the brightness gathered about the Man he loved as a brother and that one’s star-blessed wife that day. He felt no warmth about him, even though his hostess offered the softest, warmest shawl from her blanket chest to him to wrap about his shoulders. That's heartbreaking. Author Reply: Yes, heartbreaking, but what I suspect was the way of it. He gave up so much that others might hold the world's joy. This was written for the first anniversary of the LOTR GenFic Community, and it was an honor to write. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 11/6/2008 |
| This is just heartrending that Frodo,the one who made the joy on this day possible is unable to share it. Author Reply: I so agree, Linda. Those who have faced the threat of Mordor directly rejoice, and Frodo feels diminished. It was at a horrible cost the war was won. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 10/21/2008 |
| Oh, this is so sad! Everyone is happy and celebrating, enjoying the fruits of peace, except for Frodo, who more than anyone made it all happen; he pays the price; and there is nothing that anyone who is celebrating, and happy in their Sauron-free lives can do about his pain at least this side of the Sea. Well done, as always; wonderful exercise in contrasts. Author Reply: Thank you so, Raksha. You are so right! Thanks for the feedback--and I am working on your birthday present! | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 10/14/2008 |
| Wow! So sad, but beautifully written! His questing fingers were at first disappointed, then relieved to find instead the white gem given him by the Queen. He held it almost desperately, and felt at least a slight lightening of the grief. Frodo's longing for the Ring is almost physical and it's a good thing that instead of It he finds the gem there. He still tries to hide his condition from his friends, but he must know already that he hasn't much time left. Maybe it was that very moment that he finally decided to leave. Author Reply: I'm certain that this in the end had a certain weight to add to the decision to leave. However, in his letters Tolkien indicates it was the illness that ran during the time when Elanor was born that convinced him he could not remain in Middle Earth. He also tells us in the letters that the desire for the Ring continued after Its destruction, which added to Frodo's distress. Am so glad this moves you, Andrea. Thank you! | |
| Socrates399 | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 10/14/2008 |
| Unfortunately, you won't find anything...I've become so un-melodramatic as to be stuffy, and confine myself to literary criticism...(besides, I've never been particularly creative!) :-) Author Reply: Oh, don't be so certain you're not creative--and some very effective writing is done by straight-forward folk! Anyway, thanks again for the feedback, and welcome to SoA. | |
| Socrates399 | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 10/13/2008 |
| That was beautiful (though sad). Having finally left my melodramatic not-yet-grown-up stage (you may remember that I once wrote an EXCEEDINGLY melodramatic reunion of Frodo and Sam story a while back) I really appreciate the things that you have written, which have drama, but effective (and affecting) drama...not just teen angst...which I was plagued with for so long. Anyway, I appreciate all your stuff, but I wanted to finally leave a review! -Keb Author Reply: Ah, but you never read what I wrote as a teenager! Teens tend to think in terms of angst, I think. Anyway, thanks so much for the comments, as I do love to write my share of pathos and angst. And I'm glad you remember my comments on your story. Now I'll probably go seek it out again. Let's see what you are doing now! Author Reply: Ah, but you never read what I wrote as a teenager! Teens tend to think in terms of angst, I think. Anyway, thanks so much for the comments, as I do love to write my share of pathos and angst. And I'm glad you remember my comments on your story. Now I'll probably go seek it out again. Let's see what you are doing now! | |
| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 10/13/2008 |
| Enjoyed? I feel greatly honoured. Your stories are a special treat for me, as you made me understand Frodo and his situation much better. Author Reply: Thanks again, and I rejoice you like it! | |
| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 10/13/2008 |
| Gah! That's so sad. :( You know, not being much of a Hobbit writer (although I do love the little ones dealy), I never thought about what the Quest might have done to Frodo... before I started reading your stories. Now I will see him through your eyes for a very long time. Author Reply: We know that on the thirteenth Frodo was ill, and that he stated that the world was empty now that It was lost and gone. We know he didn't keep the role of deputy Mayor for more than a few months, and that he appears to have become retiring. Sam especially appeared upset to see how little respect his Master received there within the Shire. We know he wore the Queen's gem constantly and that he was often seen fingering it. We know how he was seen rubbing at his shoulder in October and again when Elanor was born. Many folk have seen the anniversary illnesses and subsequent retreat from general society and final leaving of the Shire as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and certainly that was what I first thought of when I read the books at age thirteen-fourteen, although they called it "shell-shock" then. His behavior matched that of characters in other books who'd barely survived the two world wars and that in Korea. I was equating him with John Kenton in Merritt's "The Ship of Ishtar" and some who'd survived Nazi concentration camps whose books Mom had bought or that she'd read to us out of magazine articles. The kind of trauma Frodo had experienced had to have left a mark on him, much as Tolkien saw in himself and in friends and colleagues in the years after both the first and second world wars. Something, after all, led to Tolkien starting to write obsessively once he found himself in the trenches and during his time in hospital when he was invalided out. I suspect he did his best to appear normal when he must appear in a public place, that he went to fewer and fewer parties or celebrations or public functions, that increasingly he hid himself away trying to write out his demons, and finally left with as little fanfare as he could manage. But inside I suspect he was aching more and more as time went on. Some like Tolkien are able to accommodate to life again; others can't seem to do so. Anyway, hope you enjoyed your birthday present. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 10/13/2008 |
| Indeed that would be a heavy cross to bear, depression, perhaps even heavier than the burden that caused it. And any bit of relief would be most welcome. Our poor dear... Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Tolkien's own indication that Merry and Pippin moved together into Crickhollow away from their families indicates they, too, probably had their own recoveries to make; and Sam doesn't appear to have demurred any when Frodo asked him to move in with Rosie. But there's no question Frodo was the one most deeply and indelibly injured. But I doubt he would ever wish others to have to appreciate how badly he felt, and especially on the anniversaries. Thanks so, Antane. | |