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| The Drunkard of Bag End by jodancingtree | 5 Review(s) |
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| Calime | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/29/2004 |
| Please forgive me for being in such a rush that I do only one review for the whole story, but as you know I'm reading FTOW and thought I needed to take time out for this. As it turned out I didn't need to since it wasn't directly connected, but the side trip was well worth my time. It was quite unique seeing the same events through such different eyes. I really can't decide on a favorite, but I think I might go with Rosie. I, too, believe she had to have come to understand and love Frodo during their time together; Sam wouldn't have have married someone who could have been cold-hearted to his master. Your Rosie is a no-nonsense lass, but reveals her softer side in a satisfying manner. I love the way she measures Sam and Frodo's love for each other by the tears they shed. Once she knows that Frodo really loves Sam she is able to love him fully as well. The hill/smial chapter took me a bit to understand who was speaking but it turned out ingenious. Its attitude reminded me of the citizens of the Shire--grudgingly admitting that Frodo did something but honoring the others far more. I really enjoyed this little story, with all its emotional impact--just the kind I like best. | |
| Ailsa Joy | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/21/2004 |
| Absolutely beautiful. I loved the different perspectives you gave on one event, intertwining it with the Ringbearer's past and immediate future. You handled it so delicately and skilfully (heh, I'm extremely envious) and that last chapter...it took my breath away. Bag End itself as a living thing. The last line too summed up your story wonderfully. A.J x Author Reply: Thank you, Ailsa Joy. I have to admit, I enjoyed looking at the same event from the four different viewpoints - I'm glad it worked for you, especially the very odd last chapter! Thanks so much for reviewing - I love to hear that someone has liked one of my stories! jo | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/4/2003 |
| Very interesting perspective, to write from the point of view of Bag End. Tolkien wrote from the perspective of a fox once, but even he never did a hill. Quite novel, and a reflection of the aliveness and awareness of all of Middle Earth. And who would have thought Bag End would have had opinions of the masters? Poor Frodo, judged as naive as they come, and blamed by his own house for the Sackville-Bagginses. Interesting that the house doesn't count them in the list of masters. And also a revelation that even the smial could feel the malevolence of the Ring, and was happy to see it go. So, although Bag End doesn't have any more kind feelings for Frodo than anyone else in the Shire (except Sam) at least it can grudgingly respect him for the one accomplishment that actually matters - he removed the Ring. A nice though unexpected ending for this story (I had no idea who was going to be the voice in the last chapter). FantasyFan (ad3457 at wayne dot edu) Author Reply: Poor Frodo, indeed -- I was rather disappointed in Bag End for taking such a hard line on him! But at least it pitied him, when he was lying on the floor so close to death, and was glad to see him rescued. (I sound quite mad, don't I? But I don't "think out" my stories, usually they just come...) jo | |
| A! Elbereth | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/1/2003 |
| Oh, that last line rings so true! I used to have difficulty imagining Sam in Bag End, all that can be reminders of Frodo Baggins there yet without him, and without him there for Sam to take care of. You have Sam's voice, you have Rosie's and Frodo's voice. What a gift to speak out their minds like you were once in their head, or the other way around! Magnificent story! Author Reply: Thanks, A! Elbereth! Hard to imagine Sam, apart from Frodo's influence, isn't it? I've read that one of Tolkien's favorite themes was the "enoblement" of ordinary people -- if Frodo was enobled by the Quest (even though he came out so wounded), Sam was changed in some similar way, by his unselfish love for Frodo. jo | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/29/2003 |
| This is very touching, very well written. One can only imagine what torment Frodo still endured as he returned to the Shire and tried to heal a fea that was shredded by ravages of evil. The elves did see something - Galadriel, Arwen, Elrond - and perhaps Gandalf made it possible too - for Frodo to go west and be healed of his misery. This look from his eyes is so sad. One wonders what might have become of him had not these other arrangements been made on his behalf. Thank goodness the Wise did see what was needed for him. Author Reply: Yes, I always found it very hard to accept Frodo's leaving Middle Earth forever -- it was only after I tried to feel what he might have meant when he said he'd been "too deeply hurt" that I could accept that he really *had* to go. I wrote "Another Way of Leaving" to explore what might have happened if he had not had that escape route to the West. Thank you for the review -- I'm so glad you liked it! jo | |