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| Cities and Wilderness by Larner | 31 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Fimbrethil | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/29/2025 |
| Larner! Another one! I have been waiting ever since the last one. Pippin fell in love with Diamond on business for Strider, did he? And nice glimpse of Frodo and Gandalf. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/19/2025 |
| I love this so much, every word of it and the whole idea. Dear Pippin, never losing belief that Frodo could hear him, and dear Frodo still so in tune (no pun intended) with his beloved Shire, relatives, and friends. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/19/2025 |
| This story left me smiling from the moment Pippin laid his palm against the silver bark of the mallorn tree until the moment we glimpsed Frodo beneath the White Tree. Using the trees as a connection between Shire and the Lonely Isle works quite well! But really, everything ties together so nicely, from Diamond giving Pippin a flute, and Pippin playing one of Bilbo's tunes on it, and Frodo singing along... Lovely! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 9/29/2025 |
| LOL! Reading this little gem made me laugh. Good for Pippin! (And Frodo, who "didn’t even allow me to order Sam about before we left the Shire, you know.") Some attitude adjustment is in progress, I think. Author Reply: I think that the attitude adjustment is beginning to take place more amongst the citizens of the Shire than in Pippin. I hope it is beginning to take place in Eglantine. Heh! Have been laid low by a nasty virus, and am only now beginning to recover. I've not been so sick since the sepsis that accompanied my last kidney stone some four or five years ago. Today I've been out for the first time in a week. Wish me well! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 9/26/2025 |
| This is marvelous. I can imagine Pippin's words being quietly shared and circulated amongs the hobbits (perhaps with a bit of puzzlement), and his real respect beginning to grow. Author Reply: And what a stir they will cause--if they aren't dismissed by the hearers as simply more of his usual (from before-quest) Pippin nonsense. Thanks so! | |
| Fimbrethil | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 9/25/2025 |
| Larner! This is actually rather more amusing than I thought it would be. But I have some questions: why isn’t Pippin talking with his father and the others in the first place? Secondly, where is Merry? In Buckland or with Frodo? Thirdly, who named Sam that? Gwaihir or Gandalf? A nice bit of humor after a busy day. Author Reply: Sorry to be so belated in responding. First, I was having to borrow time on a friend's modem, as mine was no longer serving. My attempt to acquire a hotspot failed to meet my needs, and it took me time to find a new modem that works--much less get the money to buy it. Frodo and Sam were both enobled for their service to all of Middle Earth as indicated by the acclamations given them on the Field of Cormallen (book-verse). They were both acclaimed and crowned with silver circlets of honor. We are not told who gave this order, but in my-verse I see it as having been given out by the Great Eagles, probably through Gwaihir as you've suggested. Since his return to the Shire Sam has been apparently subconsciously demonstrating a good deal of responsibility in seeing to the renewal of the Shire, planting new trees, offering aid in renewing farms and gardens, helping organize the rebuilding of homes and businesses as well as overseeing the renewal of the Quick-post and the like. I see the three proper leaders from within the Shire simply drawn to his new natural authority as if he'd always been more than just Bag End's gardener, discussing with him what had been seen as needs all of them now need to see to. In my-verse, Paladin hasn't yet accepted that Pippin is now an adult in all but age, so Pippin is listening and learning, waiting for the day when all will recognize him as the capable individual he has become. Frodo withdrew after refusing to be candidate for the Mayor's seat, nursing an anxiety-fed migraine and stomach upset. Don't know where Merry is, but he may be seeing to Hall business while his father is consulting with his fellows and Sam, who will be Mayor in seven years and has been raised by Frodo himself to equivalency to the Master of Bag End and the Hill. Hope this answers your questions. And may this virus I'm entertaining go away and leave me alone! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/1/2025 |
| "far lovelier and less crushed" made me laugh. How many dandelions with half-inch stems did I try to arrange in a small vase over the years...? I find Tolman eminently logical and observant and understanding. He sounds precious. (And precocious.) The echo of Frodo reading to young Sam on that same bench brought a lump to my throat. I laughed with Merry at the gifted spoons but was brought up short to see the Ring appear. The book reminds me of A Child's History of the World or the children's version of Ivanhoe that we read aloud together during our homeschool years. (I also read the unabridged version of Ivanhoe to get the full story, and, frankly, I remember preferring the children's version.) I love that Tolman's gift from Gondor offers a tribute to his father and Frodo. Tolman's question and Sam's answer brought tears to my eyes. Alas, poor Frodo. Coming to the end of the story... as I said, Tolman is eminently logical. (And it seems that Frodo is looking in on Sam and his family once more in the middle of the celebration. It seems quite fitting for him to be there at the party, seeing as he and Tolman share a birthday!) This is the story I mentioned to you last night, about Pippin wanting to give his mum "the kitty's purr": The Mathom. ...and now I feel increased urgency to get my Ring Day story finished in time for Ring Day! (I don't know yet if I'll manage, but I'm motivated to try, at least.) Author Reply: Sorry that this is so belated, but am battling a new modem that is less than satisfactory and that is most likely going back this coming week. I would think that Tolman would be far more careful than most Hobbit faunts in both his choice of blooms and how they were handled before presentation, most likely due to watching his father and in being guided by the experience of whichever sibling oversaw his choosing of gifts. The book sent by Princess Melian was fun to imagine, and I've tried to do that first illustration but need to do it over with a better easel. Yes, the spoons do make quite the contrast with the Ring, don't they? I expect that the Valar saw to it that Frodo got a glimpse of this party, the first Faunt's gifts to his family and guests. I hope to get to read The Mathom soon. Have been reading through Jewels, but haven't beeh able to respond much, what with the new modem intermittently taking time off to buffer information. Not as advertised, believe me. Not does it look as if it will work with the VOIP so that I can get the home phone to work again. Why is it I am doomed to go through intervals when such problems crop up after years of relatively reliable service? | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/1/2025 |
| It was so nice to see you last night! I regret that I was so tired, I could hardly rub two words together to form a sentence. Still, it was a lovely visit, and talking about fanfic with a fellow fan stoked my enthusiasm for reading and writing all over again. I love various hobbits' way with words in telling Sam about the imminent birth! "Big things happenin'" and "Took yer sweet time", LOL! (That last sounds just like I'd imagine Sam's Gaffer!) I also adore how Sam takes inventory. Yup, got all his fingers and toes. (I remember, with each new babe, marvelling at tiny, perfect fingernails. They never failed to amaze me.) I must admit, the first time I read this, I thought you were writing in movie-verse (where Frodo-lad has already been born before Frodo rides to the Grey Havens, for Rosie is holding him in her arms when she greets Samwise upon his return). But on re-reading, I realise that Frodo is visiting in spirit from his temporary home in the West. I love that Sam knows he's there in that brief but satisfying instant. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 8/31/2025 |
| There are few things I love more than the joy of hobbits. Thank you for posting this wonderful chapter. “Seeds is t’pant, right?” “Wead it, peese!” Awwwww. :) Author Reply: I remember my little sister talking about her "Bebee," and my baby brother and his demand for his "botta," not to mention our littlest asking if Daddy had a "tiny of his lunch left over to share" when we picked him up after work. Children's speech can be so delightful. And I love their logic. Thanks so, Shirebound. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/31/2025 |
| “Welcome, Frodo,” he whispered. “Welcome to life and to your proper place here in Bag End.” He looked up and caught amused eyes meeting his own. “Isn’t he a fine one, Mr. Frodo?” he asked. How lovely this is! | |