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| Another Moment of your Time by Larner | 9 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 5/10/2011 |
| How delightful. Lobelia portrayed in a more human way than Tolkien himself could manage in the little space she was given in the books. The end, the letter and the beautiful dress, made me smile. Author Reply: We know that Lobelia, at least, had a true change of heart during the Time of Troubles, and that she not only returned the deed to Bag End to Frodo, but made certain that much of Lotho and her own fortunes were made available to Frodo so that reparations could be made. That these thoughts might be running through her head in those last moments of captivity--the realization that her son indeed was a first rate cad while Frodo Baggins was one of the most gracious and sincerely giving individuals she'd ever known--just seemed so very likely. And that she had a secret love of true beauty and her own femininity she felt free to express only after her release from both the Big Men's captivity and her hatred of the Bagginses seemed in tune with her change of heart. And any letter sent her by Frodo at this time I believe would be so very gracious. Am so very glad you appreciated this one! Thanks so! | |
| Tari | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/20/2010 |
| What a beatiful and touching tribute to Lobelia. I'm sure her time in lock up was the biggest help in turning her life and attitude around. She finally saw the error in her thinking and that Frodo was truly a loving, kind person to everyone. Her last days would be the happiest of her life, thanks to one she had previously considered her enemy. Well done! Author Reply: I am so certain that you are right, Tari. Lobelia's turnaround in character has always moved me, I find, and I'm certain even she was glad of it! | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/19/2010 |
| A neat gapfiller and how wonderful to see how considerate Frodo was in his dealings with Lobelia with Otho's death and after he returned to the Shire. They found freedom together and both because of suffering. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes, I do believe that to have been true, Antane. At least Lobelia didn't finish her life as the bitter thing she'd been before Frodo left the Shire. | |
| Elena Tiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/13/2010 |
| Oh, Larner, this is just so touching! I'm glad that Lobelia found the kind of freedom that she so needed at the end, but the part that I found the most heart-wrenching and revealing was this: Raised by the oh, so practical Bracegirdles of Hardbottle, Lobelia had never admitted—until now—that she had a deep and abiding hunger for sheer beauty for beauty’s own sake. I share that yearning, and cannot imagine how twisting it would be to be raised in a family that did not allow such "frivolousness"... vaguely similar to turning an Elf into an Orc. Very nicely done, Larner! Even though in the book she wills what's left of her money to the poor of the Shire, I have never before felt so much sympathy for Lobelia as this story has engendered. - Barbara Author Reply: I always found Lobelia's redemption to be particularly meaningful, and wanted so to explore how it might have come to be. And the idea that in being taught to stifle her own love of beauty to the process of turning Elves to orcs--*SHUDDER!* I appreciate the similarities of the situation! And I do believe there was a sympathetic side to the old Hobbitess! Thanks so. | |
| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/13/2010 |
| See what you've done? You made me cry! It's so beautiful, how Lobelia finally found the freedom to let go of greed and hatred and... and loneliness. I hope she got the chance to wear the pretty dress for a couple of years yet. Author Reply: It's too bad that Lobelia didn't live more than a few months after that, according to Tolkien, as he says she died in the next spring. But I, too, hope she wore her prettier dresses before she went into her final illness. And it's so heartening to hear I've been able to move people by what I've written! Thanks so, Soledad! | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/13/2010 |
| But Lobelia Sackville-Baggins knew that the freedom she knew from envy was far more important a freedom than she’d ever known before Freedom from envy! I like that very much! What Lobelia really longed for all those years were not Frodo's title or Bag End or the view from his room, I think. It was *his* freedom. To do what you like and wear what you like without the constraints created by a family like the Bracegirdles or the S.B.s! Lobelia might be responsible for many things, but part of the blame can be rightfully placed on her family (including husband and son, of course). Author Reply: Yes, you have it exactly, Andrea! Too bad she wasn't raised in a more positive environment, or that she didn't marry someone less selfish than Otho--although I suspect she was just as instrumental in encouraging his selfishness as he was for hers. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/13/2010 |
| This is a lovely story. Tolkien gave many of his 'bad' characters a chance for repentance and metamorphosis - Sharkey, Gollum, even Sauron himself - and so few took that chance. Lobelia's story is one of the few successes. I'm glad to see here that she almost immediately begins to reap the rewards in a lighter heart and a chance to appreciate the beauty she's always craved. Author Reply: Every single character Tolkien wrote appears to have been tested in some manner or other--I'm just glad that in the end Lobelia did choose the light! Thanks so very much for your feedback! | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/13/2010 |
| The freeing of Lobelia in so many ways.You are so good at showing people working their way towards the light. There is hope for us all. Thank you for such an uplifting moment in my day. Author Reply: I'm so glad you appreciated this story, Harrowcat. Yes, there is hope for all of us, particularly when the likes of Lobelia Sackville-Baggins can know redemption. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 9/12/2010 |
| Oh Larner! I think you have probably caught just the thought processes that Lobelia must have gone through, awaiting her retreival from the Lockholes! That she'd begin to realize how petty she'd been all her life, and how unscrupulous Lotho truly was would also lead to a realization of Frodo's true generosity of heart and forgiving spirit. And the idea that the very Hobbits who’d oh, so politely expressed their dismay that they would not be able to accept her invitation to tea Mersday next would then have to bring their petitions to her for their share of enough flour to see them through the next week had pleased her greatly. That her son’s foresight would be generally referred to as theft and illegal appropriation by her neighbors had surprised her. Why, she’d insisted, it was merely a matter of shrewd business…. “Face it, Lobelia,” she admitted to herself, “it wasn’t a matter of business at all, but was instead satisfaction that they’d be forced to face you on a regular basis; be forced to grovel at your feet just to get by.” So very revealing. I really think that the best part was at the end, when she finally realized that her true freedom was in finding freedom from envy. Thank you very much, dear! This is a wonderful story. Author Reply: I'm so sorry I had to wait so long to post it here, and am thrilled you appreciate it. Thank you so! Yes, freedom from envy was the greater freedom she knew in the end! | |