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A Small and Passing Thing by Lindelea	4 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/21/2023
Returning to innocence will be a difficult but necessary job. (Or as much innocence as is possible.)

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/2/2003
There's quite a fine line Merry is trying to walk here. Frodo is going to write their story in the Red Book, and he hopes that the Hobbits will know and remember what happened, in order to love their freedom all the more. But Merry sees the danger in the hobbits losing their innocence, internalizing evil by dwelling on it. Merry's view eventually prevails, and the rest of the Shire neither knows nor cares about what Frodo has done for them. Here, Frodo understands and agrees with what Merry is trying to do - Pippin is young and has already seen more evil than is good for him. He will eventually occupy a position of great influence, and more than anyone else he will have to balance the authority and power of the Thainship with hobbit sense and humility. He's already had more than a taste of terror, he'll end up with a fair bit of adulation, and the young are always in danger of idealistic zeal. Merry wants to hear pity and mercy from Pip, but he sees bitterness here, which probably dismays him more than the outrage. You've spoken a bit before on the idea of the innocence of Hobbit culture. It's quite interesting here to see Merry (and to a degree, Frodo) making a deliberate decision toward preserving it, similar to the protective attitude of the Rangers. The innocence, however, comes at a price. Frodo ends up bearing that burden as well. In the light of all of this, Sam ends his story for the younger Fairbairns without a happily-ever-after. The rest of the story comes tomorrow. Will he make his history vague for them? When he's finished his tales, he'll be gone to the Havens. What does he want to leave as parting wisdom? He's going to leave the Red Book for Elanor. It's so sweet that he wants to take a little time with it before he goes - spending a last few hours with Mr. Frodo - even though in his heart he hopes (knows?) he will be reunited with the real thing very soon. Author Reply: It is a fine line, and I'm not sure Pippin is mature enough to understand it, yet. I honestly do not think Frodo minded bearing that burden, in the interest of preserving the Shire. Tolkien said that "he quietly dropped out of all the doings of the Shire" or something to that effect.

Miriel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/2/2003
I'm in agreement with Merry on the matter. I wonder why Pippin disagrees. Um, quick question. If Sam and Fastred and Elanor are reading from the Red Book, would Merry and Pip's POV and conversation be in there? Or is this simply the finishing of the tale? I do love reading this. Update soon, please! Author Reply: To answer your quick question, Tolkien often assumed the voice of the omniscient narrator even as he purported to be writing the Red Book. (Doesn't that sound fancy? I got it from a commentary on Tolkien). The assumption I'm working from is that Frodo interviewed everyone he could, to get their thoughts and feelings as well as their actions. A nice picture of Frodo doing this is in Jodancingtree's story, "Sam's Rose", where Merry and PIppin visit Bag End in order to share their memories with Frodo, so that he may write them down.

Hai	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/2/2003
You are into the recovery of the Shire right now, eh? I must say these are really good and I guess I never thought of it in this depth, what they actually had to come back to recover from and try to forget, or mostly the other hobbits who watched the Shire fall apart. I hope to see more of Lobelia! I love how you wrote the Ruffians being afraid of her! Lets you like her more then in pre-Quest stories. Looking forward to more! Thank you! Author Reply: You're welcome! I appreciate the encouragement. This is an interesting time period, and I have only written it in parody before ("Going, Going, Gone"), so a serious effort is like opening up a whole new world. Whew! (O and there will be more Lobelia in future chapters.)

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