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| In the Bleak, Cold Winter by GamgeeFest | 97 Review(s) |
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| nancylea57 | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/16/2008 |
| while i'm more than thrilled that you don't hurt your hobbits as a habit, when you do get an injured hobbit you pamper and cosset them extremly well. only wish i could have helped--i understand the guide is i'll wash to here and there and you wash all spots between here and there.... you would have people lining up at the smial door for days. Author Reply: Sam was going to be really banged up by an even worse fall than he ended up having, only because I couldn't contemplate hurting him to such an extent. It would make it harder to get to the comforting part. :D | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 7/27/2007 |
| Hi! I was really bored yesterday and thought I'd explore a new website for something to read, so I went to West of the Moon...only to discover I could have just looked right here on SoA on the page of one of my favorite authors for the perfect thing. :D At any rate, I read this there and loved it, and just came back here to review. I couldn't possibly tell you all the little lines and moments I loved without writing a review the length of one of the chapters itself, but here are my favorites: The coziness at the beginning. Or I should say almost coziness because Sam and Merry couldn't exactly be described as comfortable. Frodo and Sam's little..um...squabble. Not very pleasant at all, but what I loved was the making-up afterward and what it did for Merry. The inclusion of Willow. Poor Merry! If I wasn't absolutely for sure that he married Estella in the end, you would have had me seriously worried there. But such is life, really: how many people do you know that end up marrying the first person they date (or court)? I've known a few, but not very many. The "wintry" feel. It's *hot* here right now, so that was lovely. But the summer day at the end was even more so. :) The family love between the Gamgees (always a favorite) and the friendship of the Cottons. Lovely! That's one of the main things that makes me love your work. Oh, and I can't forget--Frodo comforting Sam and your so-beautiful lullaby! Always a treat to see I'm not the only one who tries to write them for one thing, but seriously the words were just *beautiful*! It made me get all teary-eyed, especially that last verse at the end that Primula added. Love it, love it! Oh, and I loved little Bell! Sooo adorable! *cuddles her* Also liked Sam's dream/memory of Fred sitting on him and his mother comforting him. I do hope you do a story with more than glimpses of Bell in it sometime. It would be a sad subject, perhaps, but I do so love your Bell! And the end was perfectly Hobbity! :D Your story brightened my day yesterday and allowed me to allow my muse a much-needed and invigorating break. Thank you! :) God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: Hi Queeny! Thank you so much for your high praises. I'm glad you found this little fic. I wrote it last summer during our monster heatwave, so that explains much of the wintry feel of it - I needed something to think about that would cool me down! ;) Seeing Merry and Sam's friendship going from rocky ground to solid was quite a joy for me while writing this. Putting Sam in a position where he was dependant on his betters for a change, and where he could see Merry's vulnerable side, was just what the healer ordered. ;) Likewise, Merry needed to see that Frodo does have his problems with Sam, that the class distinction is a very real barrier for Frodo and Sam as well. He has somehow convinced himself that it didn't matter, that Sam could put that aside in his friendship with Frodo, despite Frodo telling him otherwise. Now Merry knows the truth of the matter, he can go a little easier on himself when he comes up against this wall time and again. Willow came at me sideways and almost knocked this story completely off course. She wasn't about to take no for an answer but it became clear early on what the obstacles in their relationship were going to be: pretty much the same as in his friendship with Sam, plus a few others besides. But for the time they had together, they were happy and content enough, and Merry certainly learned a good deal from her that Estella will be reaping later. :) The Gamgees are such a wonderful, supportive and loving family. They would have to be, to produce such a hobbit as Sam. And it's not often we get to see Sam amongst his friends, and the distinction here between his behavior around his betters and his behavior around his friends and family is quite clear. This was my first lullaby and it was quite difficult to figure out. I believe I had to do just as much research on that as I did for the cast Willow used! I just didn't know what sorts of things lullabies should be about, but I found some good sites and was able to use those examples to write a hobbit-version of a lullaby. Little Bell was a darling. I can see why Hamfast dotes on her so much. Halfred is a great older brother, but he's still an older brother, destined to torment his younger siblings if they can't figure out the safety word! LOL! I've done a couple of Bell-centric fics but I have no ideas for anything longer at the moment. She certainly would have her share of stories to tell though, with all those children! ;) Thanks for reading, dear, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D | |
| halifax | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/11/2006 |
| I enjoyed the story, but it wasn't exactly a hurt/comfort, as the overview seemed to indicate. I was all ready for angst and anguish and fevers and - well, poor Sam never seems to get the TLC the other characters do. Author Reply: It might not have been a typical h/c story, but Sam *was* hurt and he *did* get comfort. ;) I admit it did rather divert onto another path for a while there - Willow took me by surprise - but I did manage to give Sam *some* comfort, even if it wasn't as much as he truly deserves. But then, that would have made him too uncomfortable. I was originally going to have Sam be really banged up, the fall was going to be much worse, but what can I say - I just don't like to hurt my Sam. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the story, despite it not being *exactly* what you expected. :D | |
| Periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/10/2006 |
| INdeed i enjoyed it very much! =) thank you again for your wonderful gift. :) <3 :hugs: Also--sorry fro thinking that it's Sam's "grand daughter" in the other review. ;) i meant "niece". ;) Author Reply: ((hugs back)) You're most welcome! hehe I figured you meant niece. I couldn't help teasing you a little. :) | |
| Althea | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/9/2006 |
| I am going to miss this story. It has certainly been a wonderful adventure. I am glad that Merry and Sam are more free around one another other now. I very much enjoyed reading this tale. I hope there will be more to come. Author Reply: If one good thing came of this ordeal, it was that Sam and Merry learned how to be friends again. It may not have been the ideal way to go about it, but it certainly allowed them to see different sides of each other they wouldn't have seen otherwise. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story! It was quite an adventure to write it! Thanks for reading. :) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/8/2006 |
| I'm glad to see that Sam is recovering. And that Merry and Willow aren't finding it too easy to get together! (Although courting her will probably make Merry much more understanding of strong lasses and be a benefit to Estella in the future!) Everything has settled down - for a while, anyway. And the difference between Sam and Furzy when it comes to dealing with gentlehobbits is noticeable! I think Sam is closer to friendship with them - and closer to becoming the kind of hobbit who could manage outside the Shire. Not to mention the kind of hobbit who would become Mayor. And the thought of strawberries and cherries - and a hot summer's day - is very appealing. Author Reply: Merry's in serious need of instruction when it comes to lasses! Willow provides just that lesson and happily so. If it weren't for all the obstacles surrounding them at every turn, they could have been the perfect couple. Sam's nearly fully recovered. He'll be glad when he can do away with the splint entirely but for now, he does as the healer orders. :) Furzy's a sweet lad but he has much less opportunity to interact with gentlehobbits than Sam does. It just goes to show that Sam isn't quite as 'proper' as he likes to think he is! Furzy is probably wondering what his friend is thinking to be chatting up the heirs of Buckland and Tookland like he is. ;) Funny that I wrote this story as taking place in winter because it was so blasted hot when I started writing it! Now I wouldn't mind a little bit of that summer heat. Thanks for reading!! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006 |
| Very nice contrast to the beginning, with the snow and ice of then being replaced by the heat of now. And I can see how Furzy would be as reserved as he is. He's a nice lad. And all ready themselves for what comes next as Merry begins to understand there is no future for him and Willow together. Love Pippin here. Author Reply: Not just the weather. Merry's much more confident with his tray-carrying skills. :D Furzy takes over Sam's old place here, being the shy quiet observer of friends in deep conversation. Without him, it would not have been as obvious just how close Sam and Merry had become. Thanks to Tolkien, Merry and Willow's relationship is doomed. We all know who Merry ends up with but even if it weren't for that, I can see this relationship having many such problems. Merry isn't ready to give up yet, but he had realized it is going to be much more difficult that he originally thought. Pippin is such a dear. I've missed him in this story. Thanks for reading! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2006 |
| No, Sam's cooking won't go to waste, although it might go to WAIST! Ah, our devious Brandybuck here! And love Sam's carvings. Author Reply: hehehe I knew someone would fill in that pun for me! Merry doesn't waste time, knowing how short his time with Willow is. Sam made good use of his time also and took advantage of his convalescence to get some whittling done. It's fitting of his nature that he would make things to give to his friends. | |
| Periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006 |
| awww what a nice scene to leave the story at! I do wonder a lot about Merry/Willow though and i see why you think that a sequel is necessary to expand upon that storyline! This was wonderful description: The late winter blizzard and the many spring rains had made the Shire green from one end to the other and everywhere he looked, flowers were in bloom, showing off their brilliance for all to see and enjoy. From the flowers that grew wild over the hillsides to the cultured flowers in the gardens of every smial and house, the Shire was alive with color and the sweet fragrance of blossoms in bloom. I can so see it and i like it a lot since i always try to emulate those who describe well. :) I love seeing Pippin in this! I especially enjoyed his question to Sam regarding his foot. :D One of the things that i like about your fanfic is your ability to write about OFCs and characters that do not get talked about much. THe storyline about Sam going to visit his niece, about his older brother and the place of Little Smithy is creative indeed. :) Thank you so much for this lovely story, gamgeefest! i enjoyed it a lot and hope to read more h/c from you! ;) :hugs: Author Reply: I don't know when I'll be tackling Merry/Willow and resolving that storyline, but I am working on something for Sam's visit to Little Smithy and Long Cleeve. Pippin has been dying to join this story. It was nice to give him the epilogue to run about and ask pesky absurd questions LOL. Consider it a cameo appearance. :D Thank you so much for your wonderful praise! I sometimes worry that I don't describe things enough, or I go overboard and describe too much. I try to find the happy medium and hope it's adequate for the reader. I'm so glad you've enjoyed your birthday present! | |
| Periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/7/2006 |
| “There’s my good lad,” Hamfast mumbled into Sam’s ear. “Darn bones kept me from coming sooner. Worst time for a snow storm if you ask me.” He turned his head and kissed Sam’s temple. I loved the Hamfast and the Sam reunion...very sweet! and the Marigold and Sam little bantering was wonderful to read too because i love sibling love and i love reading about Marigold and Sam's relationship. :) I loved the healer bit with checking Sam's condition with his foot and knowing that it's time that Sam could use crutches. Very nice details in writing that part. lol! i loved this part and really cracked up with this line: “My guess is slim to none,” Frodo answered. “Most likely, he’ll be cooking second breakfast, luncheon and dinner for a month to make up for the last eight days.” lol! awww~ indeed he will after his trip to see his new granddaughter--(provided that he's all healed. :) Author Reply: Hamfast is a real softy and I love these little moments when his gruffness is put aside. He adores all his children, and I believe Sam is probably his favorite, though he would never admit it. It was time to let him visit Sam, and honestly, I couldn't have kept him home any longer if I wanted to! Sibling banter is always fun, especially among the Gamgee clan. They relied on each other so much growing up that they are closer to each other than most other siblings are. Sam and Marigold have a very close relationship and are best friends, next to Tom and Rosie. LOL. I can just see Sam cooking like a mad hobbit to make up for all the attention and care that Frodo provided for him. Sam has a grandchild? However did he manage that? :P hehe | |