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Time to Make a Change  by Pervinca 8 Review(s)
GravReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/29/2004
Oooh, where to start! First of all, I love the idea of this story, painful as I know it's going to be to read (I can only imagine what it was like to WRITE!). Also, I love the way you've woven in Bungo's proverbs. Wonderfully done. And the Gamgees? sigh. But I feel better knowing that Bag End got its children, even if they weren't quite Bagginses in name.

HaiReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/25/2004
I loved how you added the Gamgee's in there to some sort! There aren't that many stories about Bilbo out there and you did a wonderful job catching the Baggines' traits!

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/25/2004
Well done, little sis! A good and touching Bilbo story. And I like bringing that Gamgees in, a nice touch. This is an interesting idea for a series of stories. I'm looking forward to all of them.

Pearl Took

calenoreReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/23/2004
This is very sweet and sad. I love the Bilbo you've fashioned for this story. Can't wait for the rest!

Author Reply: It is very sad - and to be honest, I don't know what inspired me to write it. But at the same time, it's enjoyable to write stories for simple things like dates (however, it has become somewhat difficult to decide on the manner in which the characters die!). Frodo and Sam are already written and should be up soon. Merry and Pippin shouldn't be too far behind.

Lyta PadfootReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/23/2004
Your depiction of Bungo is wonderful. He has many of Bilbo's qualities without being an exact copy. The interaction between Holman and Biblo wonderfully foreshadows that between Frodo and Sam.

Author Reply: Thank you for that. I was beginning to worry that Bungo was *exactly* like Bilbo, which I was trying to avoid. Tolkien gave us so many named hobbits to give characters to, it can sometimes be quite difficult to make a different, yet believable depiction of a name!

TatharReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/23/2004
Ohh, what a beautifully written story! I do enjoy reading stories about Bilbo's younger years, and I especially loved his friendship with Holman -- what a wonderful foreshadowing. This part here I really loved:
“There’s no need to thank me! For starters, I suppose it’s a part of me job, helpin’ out like this. And for seconds, there’s naught I wouldn’t do for you, Mister Bilbo.”
I enjoyed "meeting" Bilbo's parents, as well, even though it was all so sad. I hadn't thought about it before, but Bilbo did use his father's sayings several times in "The Hobbit," didn't he?
I can't wait for the rest! :)

Author Reply: It wasn't until I was halfway through the story that I realised I could use Bungo's sayings. Actually, I was re-reading "The Hobbit" while I was writing this, and noticed how many times "as my father used to say" appeared! This is what happens when I play the video game of "The Hobbit" far too much! I thought it made sense to have Bilbo and Holman being friends, since they're quite close in age, and the Gaffer seems to suggest that he and Bilbo are also friends. Glad you liked the story, and I will try to get the rest out soon!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/23/2004
What a treat to read something about young Bilbo and his parents, Pervinca! This is beautifully written.

Author Reply: I'm glad Bilbo's chapter went down well. I originally wasn't going to include him, but then I started reading "The Hobbit" again, I knew I'd have to! I definitely enjoyed writing young Bilbo, so I am glad you enjoyed reading it.

JULES6Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/23/2004
Well, I must say I have learned a lot from this story. I have no knowledge on Bilbo's background or his family - thank you for writing this first giving me some insight to what happened before the RING and other things.

Looking forward to the next Chapter with Frodo. I have no doubt that will be just as good.

JULES

Author Reply: I'll be honest and tell you that a large percentage of this story was completely made up. The parts that existed originally were the names of Bilbo's parents, the year Bungo died, Bungo's love for proverbs, and Holman being the gardener at Bag-End. Everything else came out of my twisted little imagination! But I am glad you enjoyed it! (Frodo's chapter will be the easiest to write, since I won't have to make up a cause of death for his parents!).

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