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| A Place for Gandalf by Dreamflower | 75 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 8/9/2008 |
| The S-B's do make quite the detestable family! Not that it will matter that much in the end--Lotho stays that way all his life, unfortunately. Author Reply: Well, nasty people do tend for the most part, to stay nasty, sadly enough. Fortunately, it's not universal, and some find grace, as Lobelia eventually did--though very nearly too late. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/9/2008 |
| The son, unfortunately, they deserve! Heh! Author Reply: Yes, sadly enough, the son they deserved. Nature or nurture? I think in Lotho's case, it was definitely *both*! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/9/2008 |
| Too bad that when it came they couldn't just give all over to simply enjoying the adventure. Author Reply: It was a shame! But I think the seeds of adventuring were already there for them--letting them enjoy the adventure was one reason I decided to write "Eucatastrophe: The Return". | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/9/2008 |
| Alas--growing up a bit fast. Yes, remember that stage! Author Reply: Yes, poor Esme! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/9/2008 |
| Excellent reasons for choosing Frodo, I must say! And with those two connections, the Mayor would have to be involved, and I sincerely doubt, also, that Will would go against Thain and Master! Heh! Author Reply: *grin* Right! And it was a bonus for Bilbo to realize just how *perfectly* Frodo fit the bill--my Bilbo had always planned to someday bring Frodo to live with him, but this bit of knowledge gave him the impetus to finally *do* something about it! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/9/2008 |
| Ah, so even then Sam said "Proper" a lot! Actually, I think I remember that, but it was a joy to read it again. And what better occupation for a Hobbit lad than playing in the dirt in the garden? Excavating and growing (then harvesting and eating) things are two of their most fundamental activities, after all! Author Reply: *giggle* Well, you will always see the future adult in my hobbit children--and Sam, I'm sure, heard "proper" from the Gaffer's knee! Playing in the dirt! That was a fun and delightful scene to write, and drew from my own childhood memories of similar fun with a cousin--though I was the older. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 8/9/2008 |
| Yes, splendid indeed. And Merry has his own intuitions this time will be different, does he? Well, he is twice great-grandson to the Old Took, after all! Author Reply: Yes, I know that some writers like to concentrate the Tookish insight on Pippin, but actually I believe there is canon evidence that all three of the cousins manifested it from time to time. Frodo, of course, is most obvious--though many writers think his prescience is merely Ring-induced, I do not agree. But both Merry and Pippin have flashes of foresight. All three of the cousins have prescient dreams in Tom Bombadil's house; and Merry has a rather strong and somewhat different reaction in the Barrow than the others. And Pippin has at least two canon occasions of prescience. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/9/2008 |
| Melancholia over his parents--I can see it, although I don't think that would be as strong as many write it. I know how my brother responded to our father's death when we were little, from what Mom, he, and other relatives have told me of the time. It will be devastating for Merry, but I agree--well worth it for the satisfaction of getting Lobelia where she lives! Heh! Author Reply: For my Frodo, it was *very* strong the first two years--until Merry came along. After that, as long as he remained in Buckland, it was more or less seasonal--reaching its worst during the spring between the dates of his parents' deaths and his mother's birthday a few weeks later. The rest of the time, he was mostly a pretty normal child, though unexpected reminders of his loss would sometimes give him a twinge. Once he moved to Bag End, and his springs were filled with visits from Merry and Pippin to occupy his time, he had less time to remember and brood, and few reminders of his tragic loss to trigger his melancholy. Poor Merry! Frodo's seeming desertion was the major trauma of *his* young life, I think. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/9/2008 |
| I'm starting this one over. I don't think I finished it last time, but that was when I was in constant technical difficulties with computers going bad for months. Yes, time to see to a proper room for Gandalf, and a bed and bedding to go with it! Author Reply: I remember when you were having those troubles! I'm glad you were able to resolve them! | |
| Imhiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 8/28/2006 |
| More interesting as the plot for a new room for Gandalf is certainly the plot around Bilbo adopting Frodo as his heir. I find the way you have developed and showed this is very good. I first thought it a little odd that Bilbo seemed to first have thought about it mainly as a way of spiting the S.-B.'s, but in the further course it shows that it is about much more than that. Valid arguments, the genuince concern of Bilbo, Saradoc and Esmeralad for Frodo's wellfare, particularly taking into account his depression and his attachment to Merry. I'm also quite fond of that nice lawyer. This made me chuckle evilly: "It couldn’t be much longer to wait, he was ninety-nine after all, and then they could do as they wished. But if they antagonized him too much, he might do something drastic." Heh-heh, too late for that! "But he was ever and always a guest. But this--this was a place for *him*, made for him with love and care and a deal of thoughtfulness. This was as close to a home as he could know until his task was done and he returned across the Sea. Tears stood in his eyes." Well, in mine, too. Gandalf's thoughts mirror exactly what I thought at reading the description of the room. It's so sad that this will be the last time Bilbo will be seeing Balin before he goes to to Moria and dies there. Author Reply: Oh how nice to get a review for this! I love to get reviews for my older stories! Yes--spiting the S.-B.s was what spurred Bilbo to action, but as you see, not only was Frodo the only legal possibility, but Bilbo had many other reasons as well. He just needed something to make him move forward and *act*. I'm glad you like Mr. Grubb! He's an old sweetie, isn't he? And his grandson is Frodo's lawyer years later, and cut from the same cloth. Yes, Otho should have kept a better handle on Lobelia and Lotho, shouldn't he? All this came together for me in the idea that Gandalf and Balin might have visited that year Frodo was adopted. I got the notion when I realized that Frodo's grieved reaction at Balin's grave seemed a bit more personal than if he'd never met him. It is very sad--Balin should have listened to Gandalf... Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! You really made my evening! | |