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| A Celestial Conversation Caught in Passing by Larner | 8 Review(s) |
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| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/5/2022 |
| Niklaus summed it up well; Lotho was a spoiled brat who thought he was better than everyone else, just as his mother taught him. It feels as if he was more a status symbol than a child to her. Frodo, on the other hand, was someone who put the love of family and friends over everything else. Nice story. Though I agree with the conclusion that such a 'blessing' can be quite a curse as well - we all know how that turned out, after all. Author Reply: I've only been on sporadically for the past few years, so I've missed so many comments. Life has been chaotic and full of both frustration and delight, so both my writing and my responses have suffered. My beloved stepson is still, to my knowledge, riding a hard road of self-abuse that he has chosen to project onto me with me being the supposed one who has driven him into drugs rather than him simply sliding back into it when he is tempted back onto THC and then whatever else he can get his hands on. My late spouse's ex always blamed me as the "evil stepparent" for anything our son chose to do, so even though she's been gone for about a quarter of a century I still find her influence coming back to bite me on the behind. And I find I project much of her character onto Lobelia. I've seen so many of such children as Lotho during my teaching career, and almost always they blame everyone but themselves for how their children turn out. So good to hear from you again, and hope this finds you well. God bless, Larner. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/15/2021 |
| Sorry it took so long to get here but this got lost in my inbox. This is great and sad for the Saint is quite right - one child indulged in things but starved in love, one child filled with light and love so things are of less consequence than being with beloved people and basking in their love. Alas for all the indulged but neglected children - may they find the love they so desperately need. Hope all is well as can be with you in these increasingly crazy times. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: So it has been for one who so desires to be loved, not having received proper love from his own father and becoming stunted from the experience. At least Frodo knew love, and was so prepared by it he could and did offer his own for the Shire that sustained him throughout his life, until he needed to leave it to find his own healing. Hopefully the craziness is now done with, or so I pray. Illumination will help to root out the darkness we've been suffering with for the past five years. | |
| Galathil | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/16/2020 |
| Hi Larner I love this Christmas Story. Especially brining the Valar and Santa together. What a novel idea. Galathil ps we all know the special thing that's installed for Frodo and Merry. Also two other hobbits as well. Author Reply: And so we do. But fortunately Frodo's prescience doesn't tell him everything, or it would be too difficult for him to live for today. Saint Nicholas must shake his head at how we've taken his story and changed it as we have. So, why not make him friends with Namo, eh? Thanks so much for the comments. I so appreciate them. | |
| Erulisse | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/8/2020 |
| How delightful a tale this is promising to be. I love young Frodo stories, and just having an opportunity to see the love between Frodo and Bilbo, while also seeing the desert of emotion that was the relationship between Lotho and Lobelia - it's a treasure. Thanks for writing this, I'm going to really enjoy it. - Erulisse (one L) Author Reply: Unfortunately this is a single short story, but I am so glad that you enjoy it, Erulisse. I did write a longer tale two stories down--have only the author's notes to add. I hope you enjoy it, too. Am going through a hard time right now--mental illness in the family complicated by drug abuse is leading to family problems, and I hope that it is resolved soon. But having the election decided has helped to make me feel freer to write once again. Even this current state of my family is better for my creativity than the national state as it has been for the past four years. There was a reason why Frodo Baggins was chosen as the Ringbearer rather than his cousin Lotho, and I truly think it was because Frodo knew how to love while Lotho did not. I write Frodo as having been too heavily restricted by his mother's family while he was young, but I do not believe it was ever intended to do anything but to express the love his family had for him. As for Lotho--well, he was always one who knew indulgence rather than love, and it helped make him into the one desirous of becoming a tyrant. And there is no question that Frodo and Bilbo had the best of relationships, and for that I am so glad. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/7/2020 |
| Hi Larner, This is wonderful. Actually I have always felt pity for Lotho. I am glad that you wrote a redemption for his mother. I don't seem to be getting Author Alerts as I used to. I must remember to check in to the website more frequently.I hope the Season of Advent transmutes into a Christmas Feast of joy for you and yours despite the strange times we live in. Elizabeth Author Reply: Lotho has been making his way into several of my stories lately, as I find him to be reflective of our soon-to-be-past president. As we heal from the past four years we will be examining what has happened, trying to understand how it was such a failure in so many ways became the alleged Leader of the Free World even as he sought to milk the nation for his own benefit, much as Lotho did by making himself the Chief of the Shire. According to Mary Trump, her uncle was not allowed to develop empathy or compassion; so it appears to have been true of Lotho as well. While Frodo was surrounded by both. I hope you have the chance to read the other story I recently posted, which is two tales down in the list here. Do try it, too. I don't write many dedicated mysteries, but it was delightful to find myself writing a short one, one that I hope had enough of a twist to be enjoyable to others. Thanks so, and may your Chriestmas be joyful. I'll be spending it with clients and friends, as family ties remain iffy at the moment. | |
| eliza | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/7/2020 |
| Joyeux Noel Larner, Very charming story, lol yes I do believe Saint Nick would be a good person to ask, and isn't it interesting that some things are still true when it comes to child rearing. simple blessings are often the best. Author Reply: This is my second Santa story, and I am so glad it has been enjoyed by so many. Yes, the simple things are what can make the difference between a child who is a treasure and one who becomes a bully. Thanks so! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/7/2020 |
| I enjoyed this POV very much. "He is my beloved boy no matter how he dresses", especially spoken in Frodo's presence, truly highlights a difference between how these two lads are being raised. A lovely story. Author Reply: I am so glad you appreciated that quote in particular. And I hope your Christmas is beautiful and full of blessings. | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/7/2020 |
| Larner! This is wonderful. Such an fascinating and unique approach to the idea of why Lotho and Frodo were so different. I love the imaginative use of St. Nicholas! Overall an wonderful read. Thank you! Stay safe, mellon nin! ((hugs)) MM Author Reply: I am trying desperately to stay safe, although the Covid-19 is finally beginning to be seen in our area in greater concentrations than it has been before. At least we are all wearing our masks, so hopefully we won't have the incidence seen in larger cities in the state. I felt that Saint Nicholas Day needed something special this year, for he tends to get less emphasis for his reality rather than his alleged ties to Christmas. And there's no question that Lotho turned out far different than his cousin Frodo, and I can only imagine that this helps describe why and how it happened this way. Thanks so very much! | |