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In the Greening of the Year  by Lindelea 51 Review(s)
Connie B.Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/24/2004
I just had to laugh at Eglantine's bluntness. Now we know where Pippin gets a lot of it from.

That nightmare of hers was frightening, and so were the crows.

I hope they really do stay put and let help come to them. People are a lot easier to find when they're not out try to find the the searchers.

Thanks.

Connie B.

Author Reply: LOL--yes, Eglantine is plain-spoken. Do you suppose it's a Banks characteristic, or did the Tooks rub off on her?

You know, I hadn't thought of the fact that it's easier to find lost people when they stay put, but you have a point. I don't think she's going to leave Tolly, though.

You're welcome, and thanks for commenting!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/24/2004
Well done, Eglantine. And you've surprised Tolly. He'll stay alive for Sweetie and the little'uns if he can. The idea of being trapped and unable to help yourself while carrion birds peck at you is horrific.

I have my fears for the ponies, though. But if one has escaped, they might raise the alarm. With luck.

Author Reply: Horrific, a good word for it. Yes, Eglantine managed Paladin for years, and learned something about motivation.

My goodness, in two stories simultaneously you're picking up on plot clues. Very sharp!

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/24/2004
Oh, this is good!! I eagerly await the next chapter :) I like that you had Eglantine not being a bossy pain to the nice farm family, and I like she and Tolly each being "stubborn Tooks". VWD!!!

Author Reply: Thanks! Eglantine was a farmer's wife before she was the Mistress, after all, and she's got a good head on her shoulders, so I can't see her being a pain, thankfully! (Actually in my mind's eye I can see her hunkering down with the wives for a good gossip over their teacups...)

The next chapter is in the works. I wish my timing were better; it occurred to me that the ending might have made a good Thanksgiving story. Ah well. Will just have to keep on writing anyhow.

Glad to hear from you, Pearl, and hope to hear more! (Hope your writing goes well.)

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/24/2004
Well, just what have we here? A touch of the Scottish play? The woods coming to meet them? Looks like the rain has stirred up something more than the river. I wonder if a landslide can stop Eglantine. She's a bit of a landslide herself. This gets more interesting all of the time. Love the idea of a birthday breakfast, btw. Sounds like a nice tradition.

Author Reply: Now where's MacDuff when you need him? If he were wearing bushes he'd be on the spot to rescue the hapless hobbits... OTOH, it's been so long since I read The Play I'm not even sure if MacDuff is a character, anymore.

Eglantine, a bit of a landslide. Lovely picture!

Thanks!

estelnalissiReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/23/2004
Your Eglantine is definitely no, "Coddle me, I'm old," matron. Uncomplaining and undaunted, she'll have her way and get where she wants to go and the winds,rain and muck may as well step aside for her. It's hapless Tolly who's stolen my heart. Did anyone hear me laughing at your master stroke of understatement when Eglantine asked if they should stop and ask for tea and Tolly properly replied, "As you wish, mistress."? In my mind I heard him blurting, "yes, yes, yes! Please, please, please, pleeeeeeze!! The automatic hospitality, of Bert's family, given in equal measure to Tolly and Eglantine, was a gem showing the inate goodness of hobbitkind. One more thing. Don't feel compelled to keep it short. I guarantee their'll be no complaints if this story grows in the telling.

Author Reply: LOL, it is so much fun to read between the lines!

Glad to hear there'll be no complaints. I cannot tell you how long this one will be, but the outline hints at roughly ten chapters, which is *short* for me.

Thanks!

Connie B.Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/23/2004
Oh man, it just gets better and better. Tolly is having bad luck. He was afraid of the water, now he's got mud and water both. I hope Eglantine's all right. I think she is. Of course I think Tolly is too, or he will be.

So is Pippin fretting yet?

Thanks.

Connie B.

Author Reply: Pippin is not fretting yet, for he doesn't know his mother is overdue... You should see in either the next chapter or the one after that, depending on if it splits itself or not.

Tolly's having one of those days... you ever had the kind of day where you wish you'd never got out of bed?

Thanks so much for the feedback!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/23/2004
Poor Tolly. This is turning into some peaceful trip home! Flooding and landslides and it's only chapter two! (I suppose at least he did get some tea. A hobbit in a landslide with no tea in his tummy would be even worse off.)

So how are they going to get out of this one, Lindelea?

Author Reply: "...and it's only chapter two!" she says. Well, we are moving right along in this story. I did promise (relatively) short and to-the-point, after all.

How are they going to get out of this one? Well, you'll see, in a few chapters... *g*

Thanks so much for the feedback!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2004
Great start! So this is where Pippin gets his stubborn streak, from the Bank's. LOL Seems that his mum is still quite sure of herself and very strong-willed. Looking forward to more.

Author Reply: Thanks! Yes, either stubbornness is a "Banks" quality, or it rubbed off from Eglantine's Tookish husband...

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2004
I love it, as always, although I admit I am still waiting for the endings of some of your other works.

Yes, Eglantine looks as if she's picked up a good deal of Took stubborness in her years with Paladin.

Author Reply: You and me both. Wish they would write themselves, and all I had to do was *read* them!

But they're coming along... sometimes I write "one-shots" or short, unrelated stories to relieve the tension of the long haul.

"Glisters" is written all the way to the end, am just hammering out Merry's medical details. "Thain" has a long, long way to go and I suffered a setback this week--am trying to recapture the vision for the story. The stories being copied over from ff.net are complete, over there, but my editor has pleaded for a break (she doesn't mind so much giving new material the once-over) and so there probably won't be much (if any) progress on those, or the ones being copied from SoA to ffnet for that matter, until the New Year.

Rosemary's story is a comfort piece at the moment, for it's fun to go way back in Rosie and Ferdi's past to give them joy. The story is supposed to cover events up until her marriage, though... which means a lot of angst if I don't find a happier and earlier ending spot. For the moment it can remain "comfort food".

Was there something in particular you were waiting for? I'll let the Muse know.

Connie B.Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2004
This looks like it's going to be good. I have always liked the way you portray Eglantine. She is stubborn, strong and loving; quailities that her family needed since her husband was so pig-headed sometimes. When Pippin lost her, I imagine he must have felt the loss greatly. She was such a stablizing force in his life.

I know she'll come through this just fine. Pippin, on the other hand, is probably going to be a wrech.

Thanks.

Connie B.

Author Reply: Yes, Pippin is probably going to be pretty upset (mild understatement) though he might not show it right away, soldier that he is.

Thanks!

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