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| Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners by Dreamflower | 17 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| MaidenofValinor | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/1/2006 |
| Tweens! My favourite! Very nice. Author Reply: Yes, "tweens" are such a delightfully hobbity concept! Thank you! | |
| SurgicalSteel | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/1/2006 |
| Oh, I enjoyed this very much! Author Reply: *grin* Good, I'm glad to hear that, thank you! | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/1/2006 |
| "Teens who once contented themselves with the occasional midnight Raid on the Family Larder or Kitchen Garden, will turn into Tweens who seem to court the Trouble or Danger of taking their Depredations further Abroad, Trespassing on the Property of Others, and Purloining Comestibles of some value. In addition, the rather mild Dares and Pranks of earlier years are replaced with those which skirt on Dangerous. Lads have a tendency to allow their friends to Egg them On. When caught at such Mischief, Punishment needs to be swift and Severe." She *has* met Frodo! Hehehehe! This really is delightful, I'm enjoying it thoroughly :) Author Reply: Well, she most *certainly* has! She is his aunt, after all, LOL! I'm sure she was brought up to speed about all his little misdoings. I visualize a frequent correspondence between Dora Baggins and Menegilda Brandybuck, LOL! I'm glad you're having fun--it's a blast to write, actually! | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/1/2006 |
| Ah, for all Miss Dora's formal Phrasing and careful Capitalization, it seems that she has quite a Modern Heart. Of course, the Hobbits do seem to be the most "modern" society to be found in Middle-earth, though I think that the concept of "teenager" that Miss Dora is referencing here is a distinctly twentieth-century idea. Nevertheless, it's nice to imagine a nineteenth-century English country village where people did accept the notion of adolescence as a separate stage of life. I'm sure that such concepts and concerns made life somewhat easier for parents and young Hobbits alike. Author Reply: Of course, the Hobbits do seem to be the most "modern" society to be found in Middle-earth... Exactly. In terms of comfort and amenities and attitudes, they are far closer to modern than the world around them. I can't answer for how they got so far advanced technologically without the underpinnings of industrialization--that's a topic I don't know enough about. But JRRT himself endowed the hobbit race with the concept of adolescence (which you correctly describe as a modern development in RL) when he invented the term "Tweens" to describe the "irresponsible years between the teens and coming of age". Story-externally, of course, it is explained by JRRT's own modern sensiblities and his determination to created an extended childhood for his hobbits. Story-internally, I think it is caused by the very nature of hobbits themselves: they are a social race, with a clannishness and attachment to family and social status almost akin to a herd instinct or a pack mentality. Their preoccupation with Family above all else and the very well-developed sense of Compassion that Gandalf finds so appealing in hobbits means that they *would* be more advanced socially than the more warlike Races of Men, Elves and Dwarves. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/1/2006 |
| Pompous Hobbitess! *g* But I think I can see the heart of gold underneath! Author Reply: I believe you have captured her personality. Like many an inveterate advice giver, she *is* pompous, pedantic and a bit over-confident of being Right. But she *does* have a heart of gold--otherwise, she would not think being Kind is more important than being Predictable... | |
| Elemmírë | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/1/2006 |
| ROTFL!! Love the bit with the ale and inquiring into your local inn's customs. Only hobbits would put it as 'Putting the dessert before the main course' LOL! >>Tweens of thirty or older may be trusted for the most part with more Adult Responsibilities, and it is as well to do so as much as is Practicably Possible, for it is Unfair to allow all such Responsibilities to fall upon his or her shoulders the day after the Birthday<< Oh! _Another_ area where Bilbo seems to have fallen short of Dora's good graces. That could be an interesting plot bunny too ... Dora's reaction to Bilbo's leaving Frodo so suddenly and the consequences. I would imagine Frodo regretting the fact that Bilbo gifted her with the wastebasket as I'm sure she would have PLENTY of advice for the new adult on the care of Bag End, his resposibilities, etc. I'm just loving this, Dreamflower. I eagerly await the next chapter. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/1/2006 |
| Another delightful chapter! I can well imagine hobbits all over the Shire pulling down from the shelf Aunt Dora's Book at (or before) every new Milestone of Life! | |