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Fallow  by Ariel 7 Review(s)
MechtildReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/19/2006
You're doing a really nice job with establishing Pearl as a bit of a wild thing; she seems tamed only by her desire for her beloved father's good opinion of her. This seems very true-to-life for a few children I have known.

Your establishment of place has been splendid from chapter one, but this section treated me to a look at the rest of the scenery at the foot of the Green Hill country. I have loved my hike (run?) through it, following Frodo following Pearl.

Your Frodo is very easy to imagine from his book self, although we haven't seen much of his humour yet. But duty visits and being run ragged by a taciturn 'tween are not much inducement to witty remarks and general cheer.

Pearl really is most undomesticated, pulling her clothes off in front of a lad who must seem nearly a grown-up in comparison. She's a new adolescent; he's an established Older Lad (he even seems to think he's pretty grown-up, Mr. Bachelor-of-the-month and all, no?). I like so well the picture of her climbing heedless through the tree in her underclothes. Frodo, unable to decide if he is piqued or amused by her antics, makes me wonder. He sees her attractions, but seems concerned more for propriety, worried about what might be the consequences of this sort of behaviour, should she treat other lads to it. I am guessing Pearl's guileless charms will win him over.

Author Reply: *Makes mental note to remember his humor...*

Pearl IS most undomesticated - almost militantly so. She is at a very rebellious stage in her life (about 14 in human years), fighting against being subjugated to a society that she doesn't easily fit in to, and against a mother who is trying to force her to fit. She will grow up and into a better relationship with her family, but at this stage, though she hears more of what they tell her than she'd like to admit, she's going to do things her way no matter what.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/18/2006
So--this is how the heir to Bag End falls--not to machinations but to guilelessness and uncoached loveliness. A worthy match, if it had ever come to pass.

Author Reply: She would have been, I think. In the end they will see this, but that end is not for a very long time.

InklingReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/10/2006
“take little Pearl out for a stroll” indeed! I think Bilbo’s the one who’s asleep here…

Author Reply: Well, he's over 100 after all... ;)

lovethosehobbitsReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2006
I couldn't remember if I'd reviewed already or not, but wanted to tell you how sweet and fun this story looks to be developing. I can't wait to read more of it. I haven't heard much from you lately and wanted to make sure that you're alright and that everything is going ok with you. Let me know, I love chatting with you and have missed your emails. tree

Author Reply:

Uh... sweet? fun? *checks later chapters* Well, wait till you've read a bit more before you decide on those adjectives. *snort* As you could probably expect, this thing is angst with a capital A!

I've missed you too! But I am still here, just running out of things to say!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/26/2006
I love Pearl's logic here. She is looking for a way to remain in charge of her own life and she thinks attaching herself to another female of power will help her do that. I also thought it simply wonderful that she picked those apples in her short clothes in from of Frodo. I think he is becoming charmed by her whether he will admit it or not. LOL

Author Reply:
Pearl is a fun character to write and though she's got faults and has been born into a society that doesn't accept her the way she is, she is strong enough that, even if she is baptized by fire along the way, she will 'make it' in the end, just like Frodo did.

Thanks so much for reading and letting me know you liked the story!

SurgicalSteelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/25/2006
Well, this is interesting. You can almost cut the tension between those two with a knife! Will be glad to see more!

Author Reply:
*Waves!*

Thank you for reading! While you excel at surgery, I fancy my claim to fame is angst; never gratuitous, but always intense. I hope you don't mind if I pile a bit more of it on! *grin*

LilyReviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/25/2006
Poor Frodo. He really was pushed into quite uncomfortable a situation.

I like your Pear a lot. A very strong character and yet so unsure about how to use it properly.

Author Reply: I like her too. ;) So many people have such a knee-jerk, compulsive hatred of Mary Sues that they either can't or don't write female characters at all. I've actually had people tell me they couldn't write a good female ?!?!?! For writers who are almost exclusively female, there's something decidedly wrong with that.

I think the secret to writing good characters of any stripe is to like them. Sadly, we live in a society that tries its darnedest to put women down in every quarter. Very few women like themselves and so probably find it hard to like a character they create. It's a crime how our gender is STILL treated in this world. Well, at least I can treat them well in fiction.

Well, 'well' is a relative term. Poor little Pearl is going to be going through some rather arduous hoops... ;)

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