News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| The Dare by Dreamflower | 12 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/26/2005 |
| The sad thing about this is that it wasn't all that long ago I heard on the news about a lad dying because of a similar fraternity "prank". Author Reply: It's very often in the news, and is one of the reasons I chose to explore this theme. It has a very sad sort of relevance. | |
| Gryffinjack | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/19/2005 |
| Shame on Pippin! He knew better than to drink his father's wine and brandy with permission. Sure, he's as curious as a Took comes, but right now he's not only acting like a Fool of a Took, but like a disobedient one. For all that he's my favourite Tolkien character, I am quite disappointed with him right now, and I don't care how much his cousins put him up to it. He knew better. It's the Brandy Hall tunnels all over again with just as much possibility that he could lose his life. He's such a little thing that it's not going to take much alcohol to become toxic to his system and potentially lethal. Merry is going to be ticked! Now, just because I'm disappointed with Peregrin does not mean that the Banks brothers are off the hook. They knew exactly what they were doing and what would happen to their younger and smaller cousin. While I don't think they mean to really injure or kill him, I'm sure they would be quite happy if Pippin ended up with the hangover of all hangovers in the morning. They, or at least Clovis, probably think it will teach him a lesson for going off with that Brandybuck. I'm also disappointed with Pippin for going off with his Banks cousins in the first place. He should have known they were up to nothing but trouble. However, I guess that's to be expected, considering that being Pippin, he wanted everyone to like him, even his cruel Banks cousins. It's not fair when a very trusting soul must pay for having such a good quality. And Clovis and Cado are cruel enough to take advantage of that. I do not envy those Banks brothers once Merry finds out whose fault it was in the first place. Nobody hurts or endangers his Pip and gets away with it. I'm just glad that Frodo is there to help Merry deal with the situation. Merry's going to need him. This is a very important story. The dangers of alcohol abuse, especially among minors, is all too real. Author Reply: Really, this is *not* one of Pippin's finer moments; it is the beginning of his tweenaged years, and his adolescence is a rocky one. I suppose that it's a bit of RL for me getting in there: my own son suddenly went from an impulsive but sweet child, whose scrapes were more or less amusing most of the time, to a moody and impulsive teen who got into apalling situations and butted heads with his dad at every opportunity. He gradually grew out of it as he neared adulthood, but for a good long time we wondered would he survive, or us, that long. So chalk that experience up for Pippin. The Banks brothers are really awful. Merry's litany at the beginning of the story, and Frodo's comparison of them (especially Clovis)to Lotho pretty much nails them. They are hoping to see Pip with a nasty hangover, and possibly in trouble. Of course, since they are not the brightest candles in the box, they fail to consider their own trouble that will follow. Pippin is easily bored; and he was still making an effort to get along with them. He wants to like people and he wants them to like him. He is also at this stage of his life, very much a follower, not a leader, and so prone to falling into trouble if he's in bad company. This comes from always being the youngest, and it will take the Quest for him to find his own leadership abilities. Clovis and Cado know they are taking advantage of it. Of course, part of the reason that the brothers did this was not only for the amusement of tormenting Pip, but to get back at Merry for getting the better of them that afternoon. Frodo will be there for his Merry, and for his Pip, whenever he can. I was very gratified a few weeks ago, when a young person who had read the story told me in another story's review, that "The Dare" had made her decide never to take any dares related to drinking and alchohol--I had hoped it might make some think a little, but I never expected it to have that much of an influence. | |
| PIppinfan1988 | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/24/2005 |
| Oh, my! This doesn't bode well for my wee hobbit; I've known cases such as this to be fatal. I hope his recovery won't be too painful. I just hope that Cado and Clovis get their just reward. LOL...have you ever tasted Ginger Beer? OY! That stuff is *strong*! At least, the brand I tried long ago was. I thought it was *much* more potent than our Ginger Ale...just thinking about it now nearly gives me indigestion! See ya tomorrow; and maybe with more chapters--I read this one in about ten minutes. I like to savor the flavor. ;-) Pippinfan Author Reply: Well, they will *eventually*, anyway! No, I haven't tasted it, but I know that's what they have in England, so, ginger beer instead of ginger ale. It's really that much stronger? Whoa. I'm really bad about inconsistency with my chapter lengths. I've been known to have one chapter with about 800 words, and the next with about 3,000. But I don't go by length. I just go until I get to a logical stopping place, LOL! | |
| good_one_pip | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/24/2004 |
| Oh my gosh! Poor Pippin!!!! good thing Merry got there in time! Merry's right, sometimes pip's gotta stick up for himself, even if it means being kind of mean to someone! Author Reply: It's hard for Pippin to be mean. He truly doesn't *have* a mean bone in his body, so he really has to work at not liking someone. And the few he doesn't like are not the ones who give *him* a hard time, but are those who give a hard time to his loved ones. | |
| RogerGamgee | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/21/2004 |
| Dreamflower, I knew it...those Banks boys proved me right. If I were Merry, I'd be on the verge of killing those hobbits for what they did to Pippin. I can just imagine what's going to happen when Frodo finds out. You've done a masterful job here...I've seen folks who had too much alcohol in them, and you've captured the effect well. Good job! Author Reply: Merry's pretty angry, to say the least. I'm glad you thought I struck the right note on the drunkeness. I myself am not a drinker, but I did a *lot* of research on this one before I wrote it, for just that reason. | |
| pipwise brandygin | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/21/2004 |
| Wow, this is wonderful. You capture Merry and Pippin's relationship so well, and I love how protective Merry is of him. This is a really lovely line: "sometimes I wish he didn’t have such a large heart. He’s got room in there for everybody, but not everybody deserves to be in there.” Poor Pip, I just want to give him a hug! I really hope he's not too ill, just enough to get plenty of loving care from his *nicer* relations. I'm so glad I didn't read chapter 3 on PippinHealers before reading these two - but I can't resist going to read it now! Thank you! :) Author Reply: Yes, poor Pip. He's learning the hard way that not everyone can be trusted. But as Frodo said, if he was any other way he wouldn't be the Pip we know. By the way, thanks for resisting the temptation. I still can't believe I did that! | |
| Hai Took | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/20/2004 |
| Now we are going to get to find out when and why Merry threatens the Banks brothers! I'm glad that Merry and Frodo are there to look out for Pippin but obviously they can't be there all the time! A couple of cruel cousins Pip has, I'm looking forward to how things turn out! Author Reply: Yes, now we find out. It's a good thing he has such good cousins as Merry and Frodo to spoil him--imagine if those Bankses were the only cousins he had! | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/20/2004 |
| Really good,can't wait to hear more... Those cousins of pip's need a good kicking... I hope pip is alright,and merry and frodo can help him...He is sure to have one headache when he wakes up.... Author Reply: 8-D Well, he *does* survive to go on the Quest, so he'll be all right eventually. Headache? I should say so. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/19/2004 |
| Cado's not so guilty - not his plan, and it sounds as if he was pretty drunk, too. But Clovis is a total louse - although surely he didn't intend to kill Pippin! I'm glad that Merry and Frodo have Lone Rangered along to the rescue. I would be worried about Pippin - except he has to survive to go off questing. Author Reply: Cado did get tipsy a bit--you'll notice he swallowed more than the suspicious Clovis, and he's younger and smaller. But even though Cado is a bit smarter than his older brother, he seldom makes any effort to stop him, and usually enjoys the trouble they've caused. Clovis is a total louse (good description) who rarely thinks through the consequences of his actions. I'm sure he had no intention of killing Pippin--he's not really bright enough to realize that he could have--but he definitely intended to get him roaring drunk and have a miserable hangover. *Not* kind behavior at any rate! 8-) One advantage to writing pre-quels: you do know how they have to turn out! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/19/2004 |
| What a place to stop! Poor Pip. I hope Merry or Frodo know what to do or who to call for help. Looking forward to more. Author Reply: I'm sorry about the cliffie, truly I am...(bats eyes sincerely) You know Merry and Frodo will take care of their Pip. | |