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| While There's Breath... by Lindelea | 54 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/18/2005 |
| I like Hildibald and his family. They seem charming and they are not so formal with Pippin as to make him uncomfortable. Seems like a nice little break from things at the Smials. But I am sure something more is coming with all that rain..... Author Reply: Thanks, I like them too! Was hoping "Hildibald" would not be too close to "Hildibold" and confuse people. Of course "Hilly" can be distinguished from "Hildy" or "Hildi". Sort of like "Jon" and "John" in today's world. You might be right about all that rain. Thanks again! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/18/2005 |
| Dum spiro, spero. One of those Latin tags that sticks in my memory. (I'd do better if I were Ferdi.) Referring to optimism? The rapprochement of Pippin and Ferdi? The moth-eaten lungs of the Thain? The truth-reading would be terribly useful in dealing with a slippery Thain. He wouldn't be able to get away with untruth - but does evasiveness show up, I wonder? Or 90% truth with a little bit of jesuitical wriggling? I love the elderly hobbit - glowing with pleasure as the Thain sits and listens to all those old tales that make his family cast up his eyes. A bit more of this and he will decide to live for ever, just to get the attention. However . . . I sense there could be troubles ahead. Too much water is as bad as too little! (And, if there weren't troubles ahead, there wouldn't be a story!) Good thing they're riding solid, unnamed ponies. . . . Hang on a minute, that suggests that they could be expendable!! Oh no! Cruelty to animals! Or Haldigrim - I hope I've just forgotten the poor hobbit. Being out in this damp weather is not good for Pippin, though. Oh dear. Author Reply: Ummm. Translation please? I'm about as conversant with Latin as with Elvish. Whcih means, not. For all I know you're talking about a sparrow with laryngitis. It stretches my brain to try to imagine what optimism, rapprochement and moth-eaten lungs could have in common in a Latin phrase. Expendable crewmen wear red shirts, or don't have names. Wait a minute, sometimes they do have names. There's a lot of stuff that's not good for Pippin. The next chapter, for instance. Thanks! | |
| Connie B. | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/18/2005 |
| What a neat chapter. I could just see Pippin and Ferdi sitting for hours listening to the old hobbit spin his tales. I'd say Pippin got more than one surprise. It also appears to have been good for him to get away from his responsibilities for a few days. Now the hard part comes; getting back home. Now I'm all in suspense about what's going to happen on the return to the Great Smials. BTW, Pippin never did get back to talk more with old Hildi, did he? Thanks. Connie B. Author Reply: Y'know, I thought about Hildi... this story ends a week or so before "Rope" begins, where Pippin is injured and confined to the Smials for quite awhile after. Wouldn't it be ironic (and sort of sweet) if Hildi did get up out of his bed and came to visit the Thain, to regale him with more stories as he was stuck in *his* bed? Yes, suspense is probably the proper condition to be in. This was the calm before the storm, if that's not too much of a spoiler. Thanks! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/18/2005 |
| Poor Ferdi (MFH). That head of his can be useful, but I think I'd rather look out the window to tell what the weather was going to be like. Really, Pippin has a huge way to go to win the level of trust that Ferdi gives him later - and it's not surprising, one way and another. It'll take a lot of patience (not Pippin's most well-known quality), too. Although an act of heroism might help, it'll not remove all Ferdi's doubts. (That truth-reading skill would be remarkably useful. Not to mention the eidetic memory.) Nine hobbitlings! They'll need to dig some more sets of apartments at the Great Smials, making them the Even Greater Smials. Looking forward to more. Author Reply: Poor Ferdi. My brother was that way, he had a weather-ache in his head. I have one in my hand, where I broke a bone as a teen. As to your seond comment, you'll have to let me know if you think this story bridges the gap between the level of mistrust in "Runaway" and the level of trust Ferdi gives Pippin later. That's one of the reasons this story has been kicking around in the back of my head. Actually, "In the Greening of the Year" was supposed to be *this* story but it just didn't work out and ended up being Tolly and Eglantine instead. So now you get *this* story, and I hope it works. Thanks! | |
| pippinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/18/2005 |
| Very nice...Pippin and company on another trip...His sister having another little one...How do they feed all of them...good story...Keep up the writing... Author Reply: Must be a chore, feeding all those little hobbits. Unless you can send them to their auntie's for the occasional meal. Thanks! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 1/17/2005 |
| So far, I seem to be up to speed. I knew what was what as I read, but I do think that these notes are a very good idea. You most likely will have someone new to your stories start with this one and this chapter of notes will be invaluable to them. Once they are hooked, they will have to back up and read the others. I know that was what I did. Author Reply: Well, glad to hear that the notes will be of value. I had someone critique a story, saying that the background comments were too distracting, and that's when I started putting the background into author's notes. I think it started with "Gentle Rain". People who are bothered by the notes, who get to a chapter by clicking on the link in a notification e-mail, can simply *not* hit the "next" link at the bottom of the chapter, which will probably lead to the notes! Even if I post two chapters in one day, it'll be hours apart, as I don't usually get big enough chunks of computer time to type in two chapters at a time from the draft. The "notes" may not be added to with every chapter posted (see "All that Glisters" for an example: big gap there!), but we'll leave them up for anyone who is interested in the background and in seeing the writing-editing process at work. | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/17/2005 |
| So, Pippin is going on a trip to Pincup again. Seems that is never an easy journey. I like his banter with Regi and the fact the from time to time, Regi has no idea what Pippin finds funny. I also am very glad that Hilly is allowed time at home with his Posey. Very thoughtful and as it should be. I suspect that no one is more aware of it than Pippin. I think I will enjoy this trip even if Fredibrand doesn't. Author Reply: Huh, missed responding to this when you posted it, and now I'm up avoiding bed like the plague--but it'll win. It has a mysterious magnetic power. It's fun to hear what you like. I have no brain for writing or reading at present, but know that 12Days remains at the top of my list of "got to reads". You're probably right about Pippin appreciating and guarding Hilly's time with Posey, all the while not making it too obvious, which might make them uncomfortable. Very deft, our Took. Thanks. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 1/17/2005 |
| And these are just the notes for chapter 1! If we are lucky and you spoil us like this for all the chapters, we might get an insight to your prolific writing process and a bit of that background information your editor is always urging you to leave out. Just curious (it's a failing of mine): have you added up your word count for all the stories you've written in the last couple of years? I keep meaning to compile them all into a book, but you write them too fast for me. Author Reply: *chuckle* You don't know what a relief it is to hear you're pleased about the notes. Editor-friend and I had a long heart-to-heart about the matter; we decided that either people would love it (people like us, who compulsively read footnotes but hate to be interrupted by them in a chapter), or they'd hate it, clicking on the "Next" button in hopes of seeing another chapter and rolling their eyes with a "Not this again!" Actually, it's a bit of a shortcut in the writing-editing process--she can check on continuity more easily this way, and add notes to remind me of things I've overlooked. The notes may be deleted once the story is posted in full, being "working notes", or if you think they add to the reader's enjoyment we'll consider keeping them. Unfortunately she's much too busy with the after-holiday catch-up at work to look at the "old" stories; she has barely enough time to look at each new chapter posted to catch major "oopses", much less go over anything with a fine-tooth comb. Don't know what the total word-count is. Not sure if that's available on SoA. According to ff.net I've posted some 860,000 words. There's a lot on SoA that is not on ff.net, yet, so I haven't a clue as to a real total. Can't just do a word count on my Word files, either, as they are full of editing notes and research notes. Thanks! (Gee, aren't school holidays fun? Still, we've got to do *something* productive today or I'll be in trouble with the Principal.) | |
| Connie B. | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/17/2005 |
| So Nell is expecting again, Ferdi's head is hurting, and the streams and riviers are running high; and Pippin has to get to Pincup. This could prove interesting. Thanks for updating. Connie B. Author Reply: Here I am hanging about the computer instead of doing what I ought to be doing, once again today. Do you ever get those spells of what-the-heck? I really do need to Get Serious and pay attention to Real Life or something will hit the fan. But I am glad the story sounds interesting. You're welcome, and thanks for commenting. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/17/2005 |
| Ferdi in a bit of a temper has less control over his tongue. I think on the whole that's good for Pippin, as he often needs to know what others really think. With Ferdi unguarded, Pippin hears the truth of his thinking, though he has to take another approach with Regi. I wonder where Pippin learned that look from? I bet the intimidating posture is Aragorn, with a touch of Frodo in the steel as well. Poor old straight-laced Regi doesn't have a chance against that combination - he truly doesn't understand Pip, does he? I think I'm going to have to go back and re-read Runaway, just to get the time straight in my head. Author Reply: Ooo, Aragorn plus a little Frodo for spice. Hmm. And some of Bilbo's deftness in handling people, thrown into the mix. And you're right, Regi really doesn't understand Pip, though he has a great deal of respect for him. I think Regi will understand him better after nearly dying in "Merlin" and finding a sense of humour during his recovery. I had to re-read Runaway during the writing of this story! Amazing how it's growing on me. I like it better with each re-reading. Thanks! | |