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| Cities and Wilderness by Larner | 3 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/1/2025 |
| "far lovelier and less crushed" made me laugh. How many dandelions with half-inch stems did I try to arrange in a small vase over the years...? I find Tolman eminently logical and observant and understanding. He sounds precious. (And precocious.) The echo of Frodo reading to young Sam on that same bench brought a lump to my throat. I laughed with Merry at the gifted spoons but was brought up short to see the Ring appear. The book reminds me of A Child's History of the World or the children's version of Ivanhoe that we read aloud together during our homeschool years. (I also read the unabridged version of Ivanhoe to get the full story, and, frankly, I remember preferring the children's version.) I love that Tolman's gift from Gondor offers a tribute to his father and Frodo. Tolman's question and Sam's answer brought tears to my eyes. Alas, poor Frodo. Coming to the end of the story... as I said, Tolman is eminently logical. (And it seems that Frodo is looking in on Sam and his family once more in the middle of the celebration. It seems quite fitting for him to be there at the party, seeing as he and Tolman share a birthday!) This is the story I mentioned to you last night, about Pippin wanting to give his mum "the kitty's purr": The Mathom. ...and now I feel increased urgency to get my Ring Day story finished in time for Ring Day! (I don't know yet if I'll manage, but I'm motivated to try, at least.) Author Reply: Sorry that this is so belated, but am battling a new modem that is less than satisfactory and that is most likely going back this coming week. I would think that Tolman would be far more careful than most Hobbit faunts in both his choice of blooms and how they were handled before presentation, most likely due to watching his father and in being guided by the experience of whichever sibling oversaw his choosing of gifts. The book sent by Princess Melian was fun to imagine, and I've tried to do that first illustration but need to do it over with a better easel. Yes, the spoons do make quite the contrast with the Ring, don't they? I expect that the Valar saw to it that Frodo got a glimpse of this party, the first Faunt's gifts to his family and guests. I hope to get to read The Mathom soon. Have been reading through Jewels, but haven't beeh able to respond much, what with the new modem intermittently taking time off to buffer information. Not as advertised, believe me. Not does it look as if it will work with the VOIP so that I can get the home phone to work again. Why is it I am doomed to go through intervals when such problems crop up after years of relatively reliable service? | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 8/31/2025 |
| There are few things I love more than the joy of hobbits. Thank you for posting this wonderful chapter. “Seeds is t’pant, right?” “Wead it, peese!” Awwwww. :) Author Reply: I remember my little sister talking about her "Bebee," and my baby brother and his demand for his "botta," not to mention our littlest asking if Daddy had a "tiny of his lunch left over to share" when we picked him up after work. Children's speech can be so delightful. And I love their logic. Thanks so, Shirebound. | |
| Fimbrethil | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 8/31/2025 |
| But you likes pantin’ things,” the youngest of Sam and Rosie’s children told him. “Seeds is t’pant, right?” Ooh!” he said. He held it out to the Dwarf, asking him, “Wead it, peese!” (His baby speech.) Tom’s birthday is September 22? I hope Frodo-lad isn’t jealous. “It did happen, one day safely long ago, that the esteemed Burglar Bilbo Baggins decided it was time for him to retire far away from the Shire, and left all his possessions (except for some things intended as gifts to his friends and relatives) to his beloved younger cousin Frodo, whom he’d adopted as his heir.” LoL. I take it the gift was not parentally approved? “And so the story unfolded of the four friends who’d left the Shire to keep it safe, taking with them the simple gold Ring that Bilbo had given to Frodo, and that Frodo in the end took on to Mordor to destroy It, accompanied ever by his friend and gardener. The story was far from complete, of course; certainly the grave injuries each of the Hobbits had suffered were rather glossed over. But there was no question that the younger fry were enthralled by the tale.” Oh, it is the whole thing? Perhaps soon it will be compared to the Red Book? “Tolman looked up at him with that expression Frodo had become familiar with in his younger brothers and sisters, who all seemed to look up the same way when they felt the answer to a question was far too obvious to need answering, but they would answer it at least just this once to have it over with. “Well, Unca Leg’las is a wood-Elf, right? So him has lots and lots of trees. And Unca Gimli don’t need more stones, does he?” Heehee. Author Reply: I have always loved the logic of small children. When I was young we used to watch Art Linkletter, and he loved to have conversations with little kids during his shows. His favorite question to ask was "What did your mom or dad tell you not to say?" The answers were delightful, and sometimes would be released in volumes entitled "Kids Say the Darnedest Things." (I know that this dates me, but so what?) One day I will reproduce the Princess's gift, I hope. We know that Tolman was born while his parents and oldest sister were visiting in Minas Tirith, so in another story "The Ring-day Fete" I indicated he was born that day after the children of those who worked in the Citadel performed a play they'd put together of Frodo and Sam's climb up Mount Doom. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! | |