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| Poppies by Lindorien | 11 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Jule | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/27/2004 |
| I like this Faramir. This is a wonderful story that really seems to capture whoo I think Faramir is. Yes he's a scholar but he is also a soldier and was the Captain of the Ithilian Rangers. His brother, his men and he himself spend most of their lives fighting. For the Corsairs to demand back ships they sent to kill Faramir's people is an insult to all who died and those who still live. Faramir is to strong and to honorable to show the Corsairs they can bully Gondor with threats. Aragorn might as well agree because Faranir will burn those ships himself. Thanks for writing Jule Author Reply: What a lovely review, Jule! Thanks! Yes, Aragorn might as well agree. Faramir will burn 'em and scuttle and likely declare a national holiday when he does. The umbars demand back the ships. Not the Corsairs. There's the rub. But, in war, governments make all kinds of strange demands. Thanks so much for reading. Lindorien | |
| lwarren | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/26/2004 |
| oh my, that was powerful! I so very much admire Faramir's stance here, and quite understand it, given the amount of fighting he did to protect his city and its people. What a beautiful and poignant ending, to fade from story to poem, too! Well done! Author Reply: Why thankyou, lwarren! I am so happy you enjoyed this and it touched you. I look at a fellow like Boromir, holding off who knows how many Uruks singlehandedly to protect Merry and Pippin and I think - his brother would do no less. So, yes, Faramir would definitely be adamant. Thanks for reading. I truly appreciate your review. Lindorien | |
| teresa | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/26/2004 |
| Short and to the point, an unusually powerful bit of dense prose, and yet perfectly tuned to the music of the swaying poppies. Sounds as if the author had heard Charles Yves´ song In Flanders Fields. There is definitely a musical quality to this little story. Thank you, Lindorien. Once again, I am impressed. Author Reply: Charles Yves? I shall google. I am old, it is possible I have heard and cannot remember. I am really pleased you enjoyed this, Teresa. I made a few small edits, ran it by my husband for a little editing. I am so happy you picked up the 'lilt' I was going for. I am happy. Thanks. Lindorien | |
| ErinRua | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/26/2004 |
| My Dear Lindorien ~ I just happened to come across this story, as I've not really had a lot of time for reading, lately. What an absolute gem this is! I *very* much liked this view of Faramir. Quietly, politely, calmly, diplomatically ... formidable. Oh, very nice indeed! Yes, he prefered peace, but we must remember he spent the first part of his adult life at war - and he was a commander whom his men and his city adored. Here we see the cool steel of the soldier, as well as the man of thought and keen understanding. If you'll forgive me saying, it is splendid to see a Faramir who knows his footing, as opposed to angsty!Faramir whom fan fiction so often gives us. This is the man as I've imagined him to be. Well done! Oh, well done. And that poem always brings a lump to my throat. It reminds me of a song of that era: "Well the sun, now it shines, on the green fields of France / There's a warm summer breeze, it makes the red poppies dance / And look how the sun shines from under the clouds /There's no gas, no barbwire, there's no guns firing now - / But here in this graveyard it's still no-man's land / The countless white crosses stand mute in the sand / To man's blind indifference to his fellow man / To a whole generation, that was butchered and damned./" Umm ... that was a tangent. Anywho, I really really enjoyed this! :-) Cheers ~ Erin Author Reply: Erin, I am so pleased you enjoyed this! Formidable. That is a good way to put it. I've always seen him as formidable. From a 'volume' standpoint we don't really see much of him in LOTR, but what little there is speaks of a very strong and competent man. I'm glad Blue Iris came up with this challenge idea to me opportunity to show that side of the character. Might I impose upon you to send me a link for that song in email? I would so appreciate it. I write a lot about war and things like that song are always of great interest to me. Thanks for reading. Lindorien | |
| Kitt of Lindon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/26/2004 |
| Faramir's natural diplomacy is intriguing to see. It is beautiful how you slide out into 'In Flanders Field', and how it is connected to Middle-earth. Pathetic review, I know. Author Reply: It is a LOVELY review, Kitt. Thanks so much. What's important is that it touched you in some way and that is what an author likes to know. Thanks so much for reading. Lindorien | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/26/2004 |
| This is beautiful. It is so good to see Faramir, the natural diplomat, showing both his core of steel as man of principle together with the poet. The link between the WW1 poetry and the characters works so well, too. How about Rupert Brooke's The Soldier and Sam, or Wilfred Owen's Futility and Theodred, or . . . Author Reply: Thanks so much, Bodkin. Actually, this challenge is going to fly, I think, so keep your eyes peeled, for there will be other fine writers making contributions. I'm glad you enjoyed the complexity I tried to demonstrate in Faramir's character. I might do another one of these. They are a little addictive. Lindorien | |
| Ariel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/26/2004 |
| You know, I could definitely see Faramir as the more militantly indignant of the two. He'd lived no where but with these people all his life. Aragorn loved his kingdom, I am sure, but I can definitely see Faramir being more emotional about such matters. Nicely done. Author Reply: Thanks, Ariel. The story does seem to strike a chord with people. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I likewise see Aragorn being just a little more lenient about it all. This isn't his 'home'. I'm so glad you read this! hugs, Lindorien | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/25/2004 |
| Humbly accepted and read. Absolutely beautiful, and quite in line with Faramir's character. This was his city, his people, his family first, and the loss is so very personal. His adamant attitude is commendable, and the poem fitting. Author Reply: Thanks so much, Nilmandra. I simply couldn't see him capitulating to a demand such as that. Yet, Aragorn has good points regarding warring over boats. I tried to make it obvious that if they continue to war, it won't be over those boats. The boats are a small thing, what they represent is not. As with the poppies. | |
| Blue Iris | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/25/2004 |
| Brava and Well Done! You capture the spirit of the poem in your portrayal of Faramir so very well. Your characterization takes risks, and that is incredibly admirable. You are portraying the patriot and the soldier, a Faramir who is very formidable indeed. There is no illness or weakness in the man. I like this very much! Thank you for taking the challenge. For some reason I cannot access the HASA site right now. If it is posted there, I will review there as well. Author Reply: Faramir is a highly capable character. Look at his father, look at his brother -- not the types to buckle easily. In the end, they did, but consider what it took to cause it to happen. Faramir is NOT going to be cowed because the King of Umbar wants his ships back. I haven't decided yet how Faramir plans to do the deed. No doubt he's been keeping those ships all nice and pretty for the purpose of choosing his moment. Probably plans to sail them to the harbor at Umbar and set them aflame... I'm glad you suggested the challenge. Its the freshest thing I've seen in a long time and captured my imagination immediately. So good show to you for the idea! I might do another one. Thanks, lindorien | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/25/2004 |
| I've always liked that poem. And who would ever have expected that Faramir, who loves the sword not for its own sake but for the sake of that which it protects, should be the one to be so adamant here? His heart is so obviously with those who sacrificed and to hell with diplomacy. Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked this, Daw. I am very moved by this poem and have based more than a little of my writing on it, so I'm pleased this touched you. Here's the way I figure it: Diplomacy doesn't mean 'giving in'. That is all Faramir is doing. We can negotiate, but not over the ships. Let's face it, takes a little hubris to ask for the return of the ships sent with the purpose of levelling one's city. Faramir is a capable man. Hell will freeze over before he returns those ships. If Aragorn were to persist, I can see Faramir telling the man, "Then clap me in irons now, for I mean to sink them." "This is diplomacy." | |