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Eleventy-one Years: Too Short a Time   by Dreamflower 3 Review(s)
AndreaReviewed Chapter: 34 on 12/7/2013
"You did those things out of order," said Dora

LOL! That's Dora as I like her ;-)

Rory (and Dora) did a great job and so I'm looking forward to see the party guests arrive. I'm sure there will be no complaint about the gifts!

On the other hand, Lalia comes, too...

Concerning spectacles: I'm nearsighted as well and have also reached the point where I have to take my glasses off to read small text. Let's wait and see where it ends ;-)

Author Reply: Yes, even this young Dora's a bit obssessive, LOL! And she's a lot more serious than in her later years, when she's developed a sense of humor.


LarnerReviewed Chapter: 34 on 12/3/2013
I see that Dora's tendency to do things By the Book is already making itself manifest, and had to smile over that. The gifts from his pupils each sounds proper to the individual giving it, and love that he saw the mushrooms and cookies shared with his guests. In my-verse, at least, Frodo finds himself fighting his own love of mushrooms with common courtesy on more than one occasion, as you know. And love the thought of Belladonna and Bungo with reading glasses. I'm at the point I now need to take my glasses off in order to read, when the presbyopia and the nearsightedness begin to vie for which is worse at the moment! Heh! Nearsighted and farsighted at the same time--who'd'a thunk it?

So glad that Isengar is there!

Author Reply: Yes indeed. I kind of imagine the younger version of her as being sort of like Hermione (in the first HP book especially)a little prim, a little smug, and a little bit of a know-it-all, but still good-hearted and well-intentioned. She also had less of a sense of humor in her early years than she gained in later years.

You'll notice that Bilbo allowed *one* apiece, LOL!

Originally it was just going to be Bungo that got the spectacles, and I thought of something different for Belladonna, but realized that both of them probably would need reading glasses for close work. A little research into the history of eyeglasses was enlightening; they've been around a LOT longer than most people know!

Even with my most recent prescription, I still sometimes have to take my glasses off and close one eye to read very tiny print. I'm *very* nearsighted, but also have an astigmatism.

Most of the uncles and aunts will be in attendance, though not all are staying at Bag End, in order not to overstress Bungo, who hopes to feel up to attending the feast.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 34 on 12/2/2013
"You did those things out of order," said Dora, as she filled her plate and sat down next to Bilbo and Rory. She looked disapproving.

LOL, I do love Dora!

What a busy, happy day. I never really thought about Bilbo's coming-of-age, and what it might be like.

Author Reply: Yes, even when she was young, Dora was a little obsessive and prim. (Much like I was at that age. Think Hermione, from HP!)

I've always felt coming-of-age was a grand occasion for most hobbits, especially those who were heirs to the Family Heads. The Baggins are not quite so high up on the list of Greater Families as the Tooks and Brandybucks, but they are quite close! (In my Shire they fall in fourth place behind the Bolgers and just ahead of the Boffins.)

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