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| Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners by Dreamflower | 188 Review(s) |
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| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/28/2006 |
| Ooo, the dreaded Poor Taste! You know you're in for it when an etiquette mistress deems something to be in Poor Taste. I think I probably know the little child in the Old Smials with the three older sisters. . . And of course, every little Hobbit child ought to be able to rattle off a proper genealogy. Just the image of some small child doing that is absolutely hysterical. I love it. And it seems to me that Miss Dora might well have done some disciplining of children Not Her Own. Author Reply: Oh yes! Miss Dora knows Poor Taste when she sees it! You probably do, *grin* I did this little bit in one of my fics where a young Merry introduces Fatty and Folco to Farmer Cotton, reeling off their cousinly connections with confidence. And I suddenly realized, "Of course! That *is* the first thing a hobbit is going to want to know about another hobbit--who they are related to!" I am quite certain that she did. And that any young Hobbit subject to her eagle eye would probably never forget it! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/28/2006 |
| I just love the words you choose to capitalize; it's easy to see what Aunt Dora thinks is Important and Worth Knowing. One of the interesting things I'm gleaning from this Etiquette Book is how truly unusual the actions of "unexpected" hobbit -- such as Bilbo or one of the wandering Tooks -- must have been to such an ordered society. Eeee, "the Delightful Mysteries of the Kitchen"! :D Author Reply: *grin* Yes, she does seem to Love those Capital Letters! Yes, hobbits are by nature very orderly creatures, and those hobbits who were exceptional would have been definitely looked at askance! Glad you liked that phrase--I was moderately fond of it myself. | |
| SurgicalSteel | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/28/2006 |
| Oh, this was lovely, too! I can't help but think that Miss Dora would've been an excellent parent - and can't wait to see her comments on the 'tween years! *snerk* And wonder what she said about Bilbo on his return from an Adventure? Author Reply: Well, the Tween years are next. Her magnum opus is rather extensive. I think she probably would have been--she seems to be well-endowed with that "Hobbit-sense" she so extolls. Miss Dora would like to remind you that she has Named No Names... It would not be Proper. *grin* | |
| Nienor Niniel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/28/2006 |
| Oh, very inventive! I especially like the idea of the "giving of the First Gifts" and the notion that loss of appetite (relative at that) is an indication for a Hobbit child being ill. I'm looking forward to more! Nienor Author Reply: The "first Gifts" is, of course, JRRT's own idea, and comes from a very charming passage in Letter #214, but I just dress it up a bit, and formalize it some--knowing how Hobbits love an occasion, I am quite sure that's what they would have done. It's quite clear that Hobbits have a very high metabolism. If a child did not eat at all, it would definitely be a cause for worry! | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/27/2006 |
| Here we have a Hobbit's eye view on the importance of Fathers and the ever-present, large, extended family. It sounds as though "Aunt Dora" must have been called upon to play the Aunt or Cousin's part for many children. I find her description of Faunthood especially charming, as I teach the two and three year olds at church! Very familiar. Hobbits seem to instill at a very early age what it means to be part of society. Looking forward to more! Author Reply: Well, she had one neice and one nephew, and in my Shire, she also had a great-nephew (Daisy's son Folco). But she helped to raise Daisy, as her broher's health was poor, and she had countless Cousins I am sure! Yes,our two and three year olds are just about the same as hobbit three to five year olds--except hobbit children gain more vocabulary over that period of time. For Hobbits, as social and clannish creatures, Society and Family are very important. Something that will be very in evidence in future chapters... | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/27/2006 |
| Absolutely delightful! I have not seen anything a bit like this yet. It should be as much fun to write as it was to read this. "Respectability, Hospitality, and Kindness. But she does stress that true kindness was the most important. I think you and Miss Dora have hit at the Hobbit heart, here. I will be looking forward to the rest! Author Reply: I am so glad you are enjoying it--it *is* fun to write! I don't have to worry about "plot" or anything like that, I just put my mind on hobbits (which is where it stays almost all the time anyway) and then kind of just cruise along. I think that Kindness would *so* important to Hobbits. We learn that Gandalf was attracted to Hobbits by their Pity, their care and concern, for one another in a time of trouble--and what is that but Kindness? | |
| Glory Underhill | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/27/2006 |
| You really have captured the voice I've always imagined for Dora! I love the special use of capitalization too! A very fun piece! Author Reply: I've always loved those sorts of old-fashioned books with all the capitalizations! It is fun--I'm having a blast writing it, it just won't leave me alone! | |
| MaidenofValinor | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/27/2006 |
| Oh, this is simply wonderful! It really should be published. Haha. though if the child wishes to give something truly loathsome or noxious, he or she can be distracted and steered to a more attractive alternative. That made me laugh, and this: If a child pleads no Hunger at all, then it is time to call a Healer. I'd be very worried...teehee! Can't wait to read more. A simply brilliant idea. Author Reply: Well, it *is* being published, sort of. On the 'net. I could just imagine some big brother taking his little brother out on his third birthday, and thinking it would be really funny to let him take some bugs or something in for the parents...the parents would not be amused. Well, yes, we are told that normally hobbit children have voracious appetites, so one with no appetite at all would definitely be a problem. | |
| AspenJules | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/27/2006 |
| LOL... this should be published. While not *all* of the advice applies to Men, so many such parents could benefit from Miss Dora's sound counsel. There's almost too much to mention that I loved! The responsibility of Fathers with regard to less pleasant tasks, sleeping with siblings(and those rare occasions when parents may wish a bit of Privacy, upon which she chooses not to go into detail *snickers*, how older siblings should discourage inappropriate gifts for the Faunt to give parents "for the faunt will not be the one to bear the blame." I also love the discussion of the tricky task of teaching faunts to be kind without lying. Very good, very good. For some reason, I just kept thinking of young Pippin Took through many of these bits. Wee!Pip did such a good job trying to behave, and you could see the influence of many of the practices Miss Dora espouses in his life. She really was quite practical, wasn't she? "For some Unfathomable Reason, they learn how to undress themselves more quickly. This can be a problem." Oh man... *giggles madly*. I loved this - can't wait for more - like comments on "Tween-hood"! Author Reply: I'm so glad you picked those bits out--those were some of my favorite things to come up with! Thank you! Yes, I did have little Pippin in mind, as well as wee Merry, not to mention little Folco Boffin. Next chapter is childhood to teens, and then will come Tweens... | |
| Elemmírë | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/27/2006 |
| A DORA STORY!!!!!! I thought I was the only one! I'm in the process of writing and editing the last few chapters of my Dora story. Don't worry, it's quite different from yours. :D All this child-rearing advice is very amusing coming from a life-long spinster aunt, who only has one niece and one nephew. I like how she's the Emily Post & Dear Abby of your Shire, however! Can't wait for more, Dreamflower! Author Reply: Oh I do so look forward to seeing your Dora! Well, she's had a lifetime of observation. I think she is very sharp and observant, and has probably kept her ears open, for over a century, so she does have a lot of wisdom to draw on, even if no personal experience. More is coming soon. | |