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| Prelude to a Midsummer's Eve by MJ | 7 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/30/2010 |
| Forewarned is forearmed, and she at least knows all will go best now for their beloved Master Frodo. Nicely done. Good to see Gandalf in proper helper mode! | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/30/2010 |
| This is such a wonderful story! I love Gandalf's explanation about how he has become such a good cook. I love also his angelic heart that you show here so well - not only does your own life for him shine through - but his love for his hobbits and his understanding of Sam's heart which soon will be broken so badly when that loving soul must say goodbye to someone as beloved as the one he will be returning to. Not only will he arrange that Merry and Pippin accompany him on the way back, this dear wizard is making sure Sam has a loving reunion with the other half of his heart and soul assured of. Rose was indeed a special one to understand her Sam's heart so and to love Frodo herself. Thank you and I look forward to reading your novel in MEFA. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/30/2010 |
| Wonderfully done! I especially liked Rose's concern for Gandalf's well-being when she was a hobbit lass and her gladness about his "transformation". It was very thoughtful of Gandalf to prepare Rose for future events. Not only did he tell her how to react to Sam's request, he also told her *why* Frodo had to leave. No-one can do this better than Gandalf who might have known even more about the nature of Frodo's pains than Sam. Last but not least: I liked little Elanor's fascination with Gandalf's beard :-) Author Reply: Thanks, Andrea. I've long thought that Rose was special in her own way, and deserved to know why Frodo would ask Sam to go off again, even on a short trip — including the reasons that Frodo himself might be reluctant to reveal. Gandalf was good candidate for spilling the beans, especially given that we know he spilled them to others. And I couldn't resist the bit with Elanor and the beard! | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/29/2010 |
| I do think we never regret trusting to love instead of fear, even if there is also pain. (Pain is a constant in life, but pain with love is better than pain with fear.) It was copnsiderate of Gandalf to feed Rosie before the heavy talk. Shows he knows something of hobbits. And his long-thought allows at least one person to know the truth in enough time to actually process and do something about it. He's really a good being. Author Reply: That's probably an excellent rule of thumb when dealing with hobbits, serving potentially bad news with good food. Thanks for the review! | |
| Erulisse (one L) | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/29/2010 |
| Oh, this is quite lovely. The understanding that is brought by both parties to the question of Frodo and Sam leaving for the West is examined in detail, but not analytically as much as emotionally - something that is rarely done. I am looking forward to anything that you write, you are a skilled teller of tales in this universe. - Erulisse (one L) Author Reply: *blush* Thanks, Erulisse. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/28/2010 |
| This is just lovely! I have never seen a story in which Gandalf has a conversation with Rose, and yet thinking about it, I feel that just such a thing *could* have happened! I also love not only this portrayal of Gandalf, but also what it shows of Rose, how even as a child and not really knowing him, she felt pity and compassion for him. That is such a hobbity trait. It makes me think of what Gandalf said about the Long Winter, and that what moved him to befriend hobbits was their Pity for others, their compassion. Considering the sort of being he was, that trait would indeed stir his own feelings. Rose is a wise and perceptive hobbitess. And this is just a lovely story. I see that this story is described as "complete", yet I find myself wishing to know more of this particular unheralded visit from Gandalf. Author Reply: Thank you, Dreamflower. I always felt that there was more to Rose than the little of her that met our eyes in LotR. It took strength and understanding to wait for Sam, against the advice of others, and compassion to be willing to move into Bag End when she certainly must have known about Frodo's condition. I figured that if it was in Gandalf's nature to warn Merry and Pippin about Frodo's departure so that Sam would not have to ride back to the Shire alone, he would have seen a similar need in Rose, and addressed it. If my writer's block ever melts enough, there is a story about that Misummer's Eve that I intend to write, based in part on a mention in an earlier version of LotR, in which it is said that Gandalf was in the Shire on that day. Only time will tell... Thanks again for your kind review! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/28/2010 |
| Conversations between Gandalf and Rose are rare, and this is a very thoughtful one. "the Sam who returned to her would not be the Sam who had set out..." It wouldn't be the first time that happened, but he would return to loving home and arms, and that's all that really matters. | |