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| Passover and Pilgrimage by Larner | 13 Review(s) |
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| Kara's Aunty | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/24/2009 |
| Hello Larner, felt like reading a wee story amd came across this delightful tale. It's well written and beautifully descriptive (as ever), giving a poignant and very touching look at the main characters' reflections and memories of the events of the latter days of the Ring War. And how lovely to see the Eagles - I was thrilled! M ;) Author Reply: I am so pleased the presence of the Eagles has pleased so many. And thanks so for the feedback generally--you know how much it is appreciated! | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2009 |
| I love the idea of memorials to honor the Ringbearers, and the statues sound lovely indeed, worthy of their subjects. A visit from the Eagles - that's something to see for everyone there, I'm sure! Merry would feel left out, to an extant, having missed it all. I had to chuckle over Sam's worst case scenario had all the Gamgee children attended them on their journey! And Aragorn's explanation of why a scholar and a gardener overthrowing the greatest evil in the world meant so much to everyone was touching. Author Reply: Each chapter does tend to get a bit packed in this story, so am glad so many aspects of this one struck so deeply. As for the Gamgee/Gardner children--it was fun to sort of reference "Why Mums and Dads Leave Home"! Heh! | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2009 |
| Interesting treatment of the progress of the story of Frodo and Sam, as they pass from real individuals to legends and inspirations, even during Sam's lifetime. Author Reply: Isn't that how it works so often, Raksha--that the legend and inspiration takes over even before those involved are gone? At least this time it's a positive thing. Thank you so! | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/13/2009 |
| I didn't know you were a Ricardian! I have not walked Bosworth Field myself - lucky you! - but I was a member of the RIII Society for years before I left the Middle Ages for Middle-earth. So nice to meet you in a whole new way! I wrote a paper on the fate of the princes if you would be interested in reading it. I looked at that Holocaust sculpture again and saw that I didn't remember it right and it is in fact even more moving - a younger man is trying to protect his family, a frightened boy has his arms around his grandfather seeking protection, the eyes of grieving mother of the dead child are screaming Why?! Why?! How could this be? For a 'silent' sculpture, it speaks more eloquently and forcefully than words could. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Oh, yes, I have been a Ricardian for many years--for at least forty-five years, since Mom first read "Daughter of Time" to us, right around the same time as I first read LOTR. I have seen the church where his body was taken after the battle, and from which Henry's men dragged it, hacking it further before throwing it into the nearby river and using his stone sarcophagus as a trough for horses. I've seen the towers his brother George and he built at Warwick Castle. I've seen the place where the two children's bodies were found under stairs in the Tower of London. Richard has always held a place in my heart, and always will, I suspect. As for the memorial you describe--yes, I can see how it would speak so to you. Visiting Dachau did much the same for my whole family, and coming to terms with the fact that the Nazis killed as many of their own as they did Jews. It was a most sobering pilgrimage to make, believe me. | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/12/2009 |
| I love the concept of this! And can't wait to follow Merry's obvious decision to 'do something.' Bless his little heart. I loved the eagles too - very nicely done! Author Reply: Am so glad you've been able to appreciate this, and Merry's desire to fully appreciate what Frodo went through, with the unexpected consequence of seeing the land renewing itself as a result. Thank you so! I, too, love the Great Eagles. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/12/2009 |
| That's neat about the eagles appearing. And Aragorn is right about memorials to be only to a few people to have more impact. On the lands of the library that I live behind there is a Holocaust memorial of a old man trying to protect his family and a grieving woman holding a dead child. That is pretty powerful! So Frodo and Sam memorials would be for the War of the Ring. Love Sam here. Also read recently that some people used to wear small heavy objects under their clothes to try to get a feel of what it felt like to Frodo to carry the Ring so understand why Merry would want to know what it felt like for Frodo - something he could truly never know just as those carrying objects could only feel the physical weight of the burden but not the spiritual torment. Very true that Frodo would not want anyone to feel that and that was the very reason he took the poison within himself so others would be spared. I look forward to continuing with everyone on this pilgrimage. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I have spent much of the last week standing by one who has heard voices of torment in her heart, so begin to appreciate the more just what Frodo must have experienced both during the time he carried the Ring and afterward when Its echoes sounded in his heart. And I've stood in Dachau, looking at the three memorial chapels--Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish--to the thousands who died there. Six million Jews died, and at least that many who were not Jewish as well. Let us remember them all! And I think that the Great Eagles would find this project most interesting! Thank you so! | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/11/2009 |
| Great beginning! Sam found himself looking at Merry’s hands, noting how Frodo’s cousin tended to hold things much as Frodo himself had done. I always thought that Merry and Frodo were much more alike than for example Frodo and Sam. Frodo was always there for Merry throughout his life. So, naturally Merry wanted to help Frodo on the quest. But in the end he was not there . He cannot be blamed for that. He was far too weak after his encounter with the Black Breath to go to war. But he blames himself! And that's the problem. Besides, it is another characteristic he shares with Frodo. Let's hope this pilgrimage will give him some peace. He really deserves it! Author Reply: It's all too likely that Merry would indeed have felt a level of guilt, much as Frodo himself probably did. And I suspect that Merry learned to write and to use his knife from Frodo, so his grip should remind others of his older cousin. I'll be adding onto this story in a few days, so we will see what will be seen then! | |
| Celeritas | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/10/2009 |
| I got really excited about this story as soon as I'd seen the summary, and I'm glad to see my expectations fulfilled now that I've gotten around to reading this first bit. I like the idea of the pilgrimage sites--they're a lovely transition for Gondor in the Fourth Age since they evoke the high Middle Ages and the many, many people who would travel uncounted distances and face untold dangers (the road was not a safe place!) just to feel closer to a saint. And there's lots of Merry, and lots of Merry missing Frodo and coming to peace with that, which is a refreshing change of pace. I'm looking forward to see how this broadens the rest of your oeuvre and my appreciation of LotR. I really think you're on to something with this one. Author Reply: Yes, indeed, I would look for much the same setting you describe! And Merry, too, must have deeply missed his cousin! Thanks so--hope the remainder does indeed add to your appreciation! | |
| Inzilbeth | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/10/2009 |
| This is quite wonderful, Larner. I've not read anything covering this visit to Gondor before and this seem very appropriate. It's good to know what Radagast has been up to as well. I look forward to more. Author Reply: I suspect that it was here in the aftermath of the Ring-war that Radagast truly came into his own. This isn't particularly long, so you will be seeing more soon enough. Thank you so, Inzilbeth. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/10/2009 |
| Faramir’s description of Denethor visiting the wounded rings quite true – can *so* see Denethor feeling uncomfortable under the circumstances! Really like Aragorn’s explanation why this way for a pilgrimage was created. Yes, I can see people thinking like that. And at the same time, it’s a nice way to remember what happened and to honour all the people who went to sacrifice themselves. Sam’s litany of why he could not bring the other children as well left me giggling, though he has a point. Reminded me somehow of that ‚Not gonna happen’ crossover with Nanny McPhee ;) I have the feeling Merry needed this journey to finally come to terms with the loss of his older cousin and his memories. Glad he’s with people who know and understand. Oooh, that memorial is fascinating! What a great idea to depict the great Eagles together with Gandalf bringing Frodo and Sam out of Mordor! And that the Eagles themselves came by to greet the party and to have a look at their monument was just perfect. Wonderful, Larner! Author Reply: I've rather based Denethor here on my grandmother, who would be tense for a time until she found someone she could talk to. People do find themselves wanting to understand those who went through the worst--and the best; I've walked Bosworth Field and the route about the walls of the house where Elizabeth I was held in Hertford by her sister's orders, and later within the Tower of London where she followed so many others, and was followed by still more, some of whom died ignominously and some of whom were released, as well as visiting the site of the concentration camp at Dachau; we need such reminders of what others have been through! And it is usually easier to focus on a particular individual or two than to try to imagine so many who suffered! Indeed, I did have "Why Mums and Dads Leave Home" in mind as I had Sam explaining what his children are like. I see them as very much strong-minded individuals, each with his or her own quirks. And it was fun to revisit that little crossover at least a bit! Yes, Merry is needing this more openly than the others, but I suspect all are finding it both disturbing to a point, but also healing. Am so glad you like this memorial! Thank you! And it was wonderful to find a way to work the Great Eagles into this tale. Thank you so, Kitty. Hope the rest continues to please. | |