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Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners  by Dreamflower 12 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/20/2016
My Dear Miss Dora (And Dreamflower! Sorry I've been leaving you out of this!!)

This Chapter on Being a Guest is something I must study Far more Intently. In the SCA, I shall Often be a Guest, if not for more than a Few Hours. Currently, I am Studying various Trades under certain Masters. I have not found one I wish to Pursue Exclusively, but perhaps Soon I Shall. Or I may just Learn Many Crafts. Whyever Not.

In Any Case, knowing how to Behave while at my Masters' and Mistresses' Homes is Extremely Important. Thank you for this Informative Chapter.

As ever,

Your friend and Reader,

kaylee

Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/3/2009
Dear Miss Dora,

I see I covered my response to Both Chapters in the Last One! I hope that does not offend. I will merely thank you Once More for the Excellent Advice on Being a Guest!

Your loyal reader,

Kaylee Arafinwiel

Author Reply: My dear Miss Kaylee,

Far be it from me to Take Offense at your Sincere Admiration for my Advice! I am Most Gratified, in fact! (Although in spite of what my Scribe has said, I am Not at All Puffed Up!)

Sincerely,
Miss Dora

For some reason, Miss Dora is a little cross with me.
Dremaflower

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/28/2006
Very wise, Miss Dora. A Hobbit who pays Attention to this Guidance will always be a Welcome Guest.

Author Reply: Yes indeed! I am sure much of her advice would apply to Anyone!

ElemmírëReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/23/2006
Very apt advice indeed and as always, Miss Dora.

Author Reply: Miss Dora Thanks You! 8-)

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/22/2006
Oh, can Miss Dora come and teach my younger siblings how to behave? :) Had to stop my cooking several times tonight just to break up arguments! I love all this advice, and the voice and style are just perfect! More, more! :)
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Oh, don't worry a bit! Miss Dora still has a lot more advice to go! LOL!

NestaReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/22/2006
This is quite delightful - what a lovely idea for a fic!

Did you have the beginning of 'The Hobbit' in mind when writing this chapter? It strikes me that the Dwarves and Gandalf break every one of Dora's rules and really ought to be whacked with her umbrella for their bad manners. The Dwarves may perhaps be excused as their social background is rather different, but Gandalf, as a frequent visitor to the Shire, ought to have known better!

Author Reply: For both the last chapter and this, much of what I came up with I extrapolated from The Hobbit and the first chapter of LotR.

Yes indeed! The Dwarves and Gandalf serve as excellent examples of how *not* to behave as a guest, LOL! As you say, the Dwarves were probably ignorant of their many social faux pas. Gandalf of course, was a law unto himself, and I think much of the outrageous behavior he condoned was simply part of him testing Bilbo to see if he really was the Burglar that was needed!

It's quite a blessing, isn't it, that Dora did not decide to make a brief Social Call on her Cousin Bilbo while the Dwarves were there!!

I'm glad you are enjoying this--it's a good deal of fun to write!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/22/2006
Lovely, proper advice indeed, particularly the admonition that arriving late may be considered fashionable but is indeed a sign of vanity and rudeness. Wonderful!

Miss Dora, I salute you!

Author Reply: Yes, Miss Dora is not the sort to be misled by what is "fashionable". Old-fashioned manners are attainable by everybody, and ostentation is to be deplored.

SlightlyTookishReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/22/2006
As always, Miss Dora is so wise. I've said it before, but I love her voice and writing style :)

Author Reply: I am so glad that you like Miss Dora; I'm quite fond of her myself! 8-)

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/22/2006
Helloooo Lobelia!

Miss Dora is certainly right that there is an art to being a good guest. I wonder what she thinks of Ben Franklin's rule, that fish and guests stink after three days. Or maybe Hobbits are like the Georgians in Gone With The Wind, where sometimes relatives would come to visit and. . . just. . . never. . . leave.

But whichever way she does it, Miss Dora definitely does things with British style and elegance. I have to admit, being about as American as they get, that reading about how people don't like to be "knocked up" in the middle of the night made me snicker. Though I understand what Miss Dora means, that phrase means something a bit different over here!

Author Reply: *snerk* Yes, I think Lobelia comes in for her share of Miss Dora's rebukes--even if she does Name No Names, LOL!

I think that it is somewhere in between, there. I'm sure as seldom as hobbits travelled that some visits did last for weeks. I'm also sure there were a goodly share of hobbit freeloaders--thus Miss Dora's advice in the last chapter to give them chores to do!!

I'm very American myself, but I've spent many, many years absorbing British authors and Briticisms, so some of it has sort taken by osmosis, so to speak. And when in doubt, I have someone who will Britpick for me.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/22/2006
Good advice for everone be they hobbit, man, woman, or dwarf.!

Author Reply: Miss Dora Thanks You!

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