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| Birthday Present by Lindelea | 8 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/23/2004 |
| Ah, clever Merry! I've always thought he and Sam were good friends, and this is just the kind of thing he would have done. I can just see the wheels turning in his head! Beautiful. (And he *is* going to take Pip fishing, isn't he?)8-) | |
| esamen | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/15/2004 |
| Indeed, all my fingers found was a yellowing paper, carefully folded, bearing Pip’s crooked script. Who ever finds this MUST take me fishing! Oh, too fun. Yes, those are our beloved hobbits . . . couldn't miss 'em anywhere. But do hurry back to Frodo . . . he's my favorite of them all! Can't wait til the next chapter! Happy writing! Author Reply: Well, can't hurry back to Frodo *quite* yet, but he'll pop back into the story soon, I promise. Thanks! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/15/2004 |
| Merry is so clever isn't he? I love the post office tree and I may have to replace my mail box with one of my own now. Hope there is more of this one soon. Author Reply: Must admit I got the idea of the post office tree from Louisa May Alcott. There ought to be more next week. Thanks! | |
| RogerGamgee | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/15/2004 |
| Lindelea, What a delightful little tale! I was a bit surprised to hear that the Gaffer didn't want Sam to keep the book Bilbo used to teach him his letters. I was under the impression that the Gaffer approved of it. Or am I wrong in that? In any case, it was a wonderful story. I admire Merry's clever little way of allowing Sam to keep the book by stashing it in the tree. Ingenious thinking, that! Well done. Author Reply: Thank you! I got the impression that the Gaffer wasn't thrilled about Bilbo teaching Sam his letters in his little speech in "A Long-Expected Party": Mr. Bilbo has learned him his letters--meaning no harm, mark you, and I hope no harm will come of it. Meaning no harm? But too ignorant to know better? (Often run across this attitude on the part of the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century members of the working class towards the gentry, if you read enough of the stuff... Wouldn't my Honors English prof be pleased to know I'm finally applying the knowledge I garnered all those years ago?) | |
| Connie | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/14/2004 |
| What a neat idea Merry had to hide the book so that Sam could look at it from time to time, and still not truly be defying his father. Merry has such a good heart, and is so clever. How hard it must have been for Sam to be to interested in the intelectual pursuits and not be allowed to participate because his father thinks it's a waste of time. My ex-husband had the same problem. His dad didn't see the value of education and therefore twarted his attempts at higher education. How sad. Of course in the society of the Shire, the working class was not as a rule "book learned". But every society has to have its people to break the molds. I think Sam was meant to be one of those people. Thanks. Connie. Author Reply: Sam certainly did break the mold, when you think of it, given the responsibility for finishing the Red Book, and reading it to his children rather than letting it sit, a dusty memorial on a shelf. I'm of two minds about college. It can be valuable if you apply yourself, but for so many people I knew in college it was such a waste of time and money (sort of a very exclusive social club full of eating, drinking, and pranks, with the occasional bother of a paper or examination). Perhaps college has changed over the years, and has more value now than it did in my day? I know quite a few "self-educated" people who, without benefit of university, read widely and ended up much wiser than many grads of my acquaintance. Of course, if you're looking to enter a profession such as medicine, engineering, or the law, I suppose college is the only course to take. | |
| jodancingtree | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/14/2004 |
| Oh, this is delightful, Lindelea! And young Samwise is just right, I think. I'll have to keep following this one... jo Author Reply: Thanks, Jo! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/14/2004 |
| I love 'your' Merry! So perceptive and quick-thinking and compassionate. "It wasn’t defying his father, not really; it was a request from Mr. Frodo’s cousin, one of the gentry, and so an obligation he was required to honour." Wonderful. Author Reply: Well, he's much of the same sort as your Merry, I hope, as we're both drawing from the same well. (Sudden attack of insecurity... must go and re-read Shirebound's works to verify veracity of opinion just expressed. What if it was Budgielover's Merry I was thinking of? No, wait, hers is also perceptive, quick-thinking and compassionate. I think. Had better toddle off and brew first cup of tea for the day, much belated I'm afraid.) Thanks for reviewing. Stop by anytime. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/14/2004 |
| I like the first person Merry POV. Good scheme to save the book - but what a stiff selfish old idiot (just spent two minutes rejecting most of the more descriptive words that occurred to me) the Gaffer appears to be. He gets lots of presents, but won't let Sam give houseroom to one book! It's a wonder Sam turned out so well balanced - and no surprise he adores Frodo, who is kind, considerate and generous. Good chapter. Author Reply: Well, if it had been a *practical* gift, rather than something so "useless" as a book, I'm sure Hamfast would not have objected. He probably figured he'd gotten enough presents, and practical ones, for his whole family, anyhow. A book now... why encourage the lad to put on airs and sit around reading (dreaming?) when there's work to be done? Thanks for reviewing. | |