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Rain  by A! Elbereth 5 Review(s)
estelnalissiReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/6/2005
Dear A! Elbereth,

Those of us who have suffered grief will recognize many of it's agonizing elements as Frodo mourns in, "Rain." The vacancy you describe in Frodo's home mirrors the vacancy in his heart. He is both comforted and tormented by memories of his mother. He's experiencing the rain as a form of the ruthless river which poured its water in to his parents, forcing their life out. It's as if the river has followed him home. Even his watery tears mock him. At this point all he can feel is loss so his actions are aimless and random. He can't conceive anything beyond his pain alone in a dwelling which is no longer a place he can count on to provide security.

Poor, poor Frodo. You've made my heart ache for him. Bilbo can't get there fast enough.

You wrote very perceptively. I'd say you made my heart too heavy, but Bilbo is almost there.You did well to end your story on this hopeful note, not abandoning a child to his misery.

Sincerely, Estelnalissi

BudgieloverReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2005
I have read this elsewhere, and was amazed then at the power of this short story. You capture the mourner's grief so well, his helplessness to change or prevent what happened, his despair. You have us wondering who he is, and the way you tell us, without ever naming Bilbo, is masterful. At the last, you turn the story to an orphaned child with such skill that I am just in awe. This is a stunning good piece of writing.

Author Reply: o_O

Thank you so much! I never thought anyone would appreciate what I write the way you just did. :D

KarriReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/7/2004
A wonderful piece. Very intense. :-)

MerlynnodReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/14/2004
How terribly sad... Well written story, capturing those moments of grief that hurt so badly you think you'll be torn into tiny peices by it...
And the setting, Frodo alone in that house...all alone at night in a storm...it's so very, very sad, but also perfect for the story you were telling. (if that makes any sense... ;)

Lovely story, in it's own painfully sad way. Very, very true to "life" such as it is.

:)

JULES6Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/9/2004
Very nice - lots of great emotion and pain for our young hobbit. I actually like the way it ended - almost as though it didn't and could continue.

Great work - keep it up. Although it may be short - often these little pieces are just as effective as long and epic stories.

Thanks for writing.

JULES

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