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| In Search of Stillness by Bodkin | 20 Review(s) |
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| Lamiel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/24/2007 |
| This is a lovely tale. You weave Legolas and Gimli's conversation delightfully well -- they seem to be two old friends who have grown in maturity and wisdom over the years. They can tease each other without intending or causing offense, and that creates the sense of peace and contentment that suffuses the story as a whole. This was a pleasure to read. Author Reply: Thank you, Lamiel. Gimli and Legolas have grown to the sort of understanding that can omit whole conversations without lessening their comprehension of what the other needs. And the insults are part of the fun - definite male-bonding. I'm glad you liked it. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/24/2007 |
| Oh, our beloved Dwarf, caring as best he can for his Elf, seeing to it that he is as grounded as can be arranged for what time there is. Author Reply: Thanks, Larner. Gimli doesn't feature enough, to my mind. But then, like most dwarves, I suspect he would rather observe and do than feature centre-stage. And he has learned his elf well enough to know when he needs his forest - and his father. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2007 |
| As always, your writing takes my breath away. So many little turns of phrase, so casually sprinkled through the story, as if someone carrying a bag of gems with an unnoticed hole in the bottom has walked through the scene. Relationships solidly written, all the unspoken understanding lying beneath the surface of the words, descriptions putting the reader in the scene (I'm shivering, and it's not just because we haven't yet turned on the furnace for the season). I too live in the northlands, and have hiked and camped in the rain more times than I can remember. Very nice, indeed. Author Reply: Thanks, Lindelea. I'm blushing! Legolas and Gimli are an interesting pair - but the relationship between the Dwarf and the Elf-King is one that could be fun to play with! I can just see Legolas needing seasons - the southern warmth and consistent day-length just wouldn't do it. (I like making it rain in stories. You get snow and sunshine - but there's something grittily real about rain.) | |
| Elena Tiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2007 |
| What a lovely gem of a story! Your characters are truly friends, both crusty and vulnerable with each other, but always understanding. And I love your settings, too... they are almost a character unto themselves. Thank you for brightening my day! - Barbara Author Reply: Thank you, Barbara. It's good to see Legolas and Gimli in later years - when they've developed their relationship beyond species rivalry! I'm glad you liked it. | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2007 |
| Oh thank you, Bodkin! I loved this. Gimli and Legolas are perfect in it and I loved seeing them later in their friendship--that is something I have not read very often at all. Their barbs and banter were wonderful! :-) And naturally I loved Thranduil's appearance at the end. In his father’s arms, he was, for a brief while, sheltered from the cries of the gulls and the smell of salt. For a brief while, he could come home. Loved that. And along those lines of being at home, I particularly liked this line: The wood smelled … fresh and green. Privately, the dwarf had to admit to a certain exhilaration. He had grown accustomed to the open skies of Rohan and fond of the warm ease of Ithilien, but the north was still home in some instinctive way that had nothing to do with where either of them lived. For purely selfish reasons, I thought/felt the same thing when I went north/home last month, so Gimli's experience here resonated with me. Thanks so much for this wonderful surprise, Bodkin! Author Reply: Thank you, elliska. I'm sorry to have taken forever responding. Gimli is such a delightful - and under-used - character, and I love the way he and Legolas must have grown together. Not that they would express that in any way that could possibly be considered mushy. And the elf is lucky to be able to go home for a while and pretend - but they all know it's a temporary relief. I'm glad you liked it, elliska. | |
| Idril Celebrindal | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2007 |
| Wonderful! the other reviewers have said (and much better than I ) wanted to say. Idril Author Reply: Thank you, Idril. I'm glad you liked it. | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2007 |
| Beautiful! Author Reply: Thank you, Elflingimp. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2007 |
| Oh ... I love the bickering and banter between Legolas and Gimli - it sounds so natural, so full of love, friendship and understanding. I loved the elven 'malicious sense of humour too - at poor Gimli's expense! But most of all, I love Thranduil here. His power, his strength, his love for his son - and his acceptance of a dwarf. Beautifully done. Jay Author Reply: Thanks, Jay. I'm glad you liked it. I think Legolas and Gimli are great together - they have grown into an understanding where insults and bickering are terms of endearment! And I love to think of the relationship between Thranduil and Gimli - that must have taken some work, I suspect. | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2007 |
| Oh my...their relationship is so.....well, the word "cute" occurred to me, in the best possible way, but you might not like that so I'll say "delightful" instead...at once prickly and affectionate, and the dialogue, as usual, has almost a taste to it, both spicy and sweet without ever being too much of either. Especially when Gimli says it's "safer that way" to be wary of Thranduil's good opinion...lol And the setting comes alive and seems almost a character in itself. A very lovely piece. ~~~~{~@ Author Reply: Thank you, Armariel. Typical males - the way they express concern and affection is by insulting each other. Mind you, Gimli is probably wise to remain a little wary of Thranduil! The Elf-King wouldn't have it any other way. Glad you liked it. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/23/2007 |
| There was so much to like in this short piece, Bodkin. You made every word count. I love your images, whether they're homely like scattering water like a dog escaping from an unwelcome bath or poetic and revelatory like the unwrapping of the forest in spring, the warm hum of summer, the generosity of autumn, followed by the sleep of winter It amused me that Gimli thinks it's "safer" to "under-estimate" Thranduil's good opinion of him and Legolas agrees. He knows them both well. And of course, Gimli has seen the prickly, affectionate father-son relationship between Thranduil and Legolas. I also liked the way Legolas knows that if Gimli were really annoyed, he wouldn't be grumbling. Rather everyone else would be ducking. The idea that wood-elves might have an "occasionally malicious sense of humour" rings true to me. And through all this runs the thread of Legolas's sea longing and the fear his friends and family feel for him. Just lovely, Bodkin. Author Reply: Thanks, daw. I'm sorry to be so long responding - but there always seems to be so much to do at the moment. Gimli did well, I think, to spot how a yearning for home could be assuaged by the northern forests - for a while anyway. And I love to picture how the dwarf's relationship with Thranduil developed. Cautiously, I would suspect. The imagery - well .... that's what I do - and I truly don't find it hard. But I do love it when you point out what you liked! | |