Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search
swiss replica watches replica watches uk Replica Rolex DateJust Watches

The Family Way  by Dreamflower 13 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/3/2014
My dear Dreamflower,

Rereading this story after so long - it directly inspired the fourth chapter of "The Old Took's Faunts", you know - it surprises me how much I remembered correctly, since I have such a bad memory, lol! (For titles, for instance? LOL...I always thought of it as 'A Family Affair', probably picked up from your hobbity term for "shotgun wedding" in another comment. But I have properly attributed it now on MPTT).

I especially adore the various Baggins and Took reactions to the predicament - especially Isum's annoyance, and Bella's acceptance and welcome of Rosa, on the Took side of things! And I do so love that it brought Bungo and Bella together, too. Aunt Pansy is so annoying that I would dearly love to take her down a peg for her insensitivity. I do wonder what dear Miss Dora would have said, if she had been born yet to know about this!

But I do know that despite their...erm, indiscretion, Hilly and Rosa *are* very much in love, and I am sure Adalgrim will be just as loved by the family when he is finally born. (Goodness, am I ever glad that *was* a false alarm, though!)

I hope you had a most enjoyable birthday, and that you will be having an enjoyable Independence Day! I must spend the day alone, I fear - but rereading your stories will keep me well occupied :)

Kaylee

Author Reply: LOL! I had a lot of fun writing this one!

Aunt Pansy is very annoying. She's like that in "Eleventy-one", too! But to me bringing Bungo and Belladonna together really was the important part of this story--and I thought the *other* Baggins-Took hook-up in that generation would be an appropriate meeting place. As for Dora, she would probably have agreed with Pansy's disapproval of the behavior, but very much *disapproved* of the rude and unkind manner of expressing it! (Of course at this point in time, I don't think she's even born yet.)

I had a quiet birthday, as it was a workday for us both, but we will be celebrating this weekend!

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/8/2013
The wedding of your nightmares indeed! That poor couple, even if they did bring it on themselves. But I do like how their families handled it. Not absolutely thrilled, maybe, but still able to appreciate and celebrate the joy of a couple in love and a new life about to enter the world. If only the whole world worked like the Shire...

Author Reply: Hobbits, I think, would be very practical about such matters. They take coming-of-age seriously, so such things would be disapproved of. Yet at the same time, what's done is done and the next step is to take care of the problem. A wedding is the solution, and in this case, desired by the couple.

The families aren't thrilled and some (like the aunt) will never forget the "disgrace"; but for the most part they will deal with it, and they will welcome the new little family member with affection.

WalkerskyeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/29/2009
Hi Dreamflower! pardon the expression but how delightful to put something so 'human' into a hobbit story! Makes them feel like neighbors, or family! I like the conversational format, makes me feel like a fly on the wall or shameless evesdropper, again, bringing a taste of familiarity to hobbits. and all this out of dry geneologies. one wonders what Prof. Tolkien had in mind when he penned such notes. I think he'd be pleased.

Author Reply: Why, hello! It's pleasant to see you here again! I'm glad to know you are still enjoying the stories!

I had a good time with this one-- having spotted the anomaly in the Family Tree, I just had to figure out what was behind it all! I'm very pleased that you enjoyed it!

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/23/2009
I love that Belladonna and Bungo met at a shotgun wedding. What would hobbits call a shotgun wedding? Poor Rosa though! To have to hurry into something so important and life altering - a marriage and a family! It's a high price for being dishonest, but we know they'll be more than happy together.

Author Reply: Well, I'm sure they will be happy, especially once Pippin's grandfather is born. (Those family trees are very revealing when you really *look* at them! Did you know that Otho and Lobelia were underage when Bilbo got back from his Adventure? But they were already married then...yet Lotho would not be born for over 20 years...)

Sometimes it's the little peccadillos that seem to garner the highest consequences. But they are hobbits, they will work it all out.

A hobbity phrase for "shotgun wedding"? Hmm...I think merely calling it "a family affair" would do the trick, since the family heads run things. I don't believe it would take a threat of violence for hobbits, just the knowledge that if they don't do the right thing, they could be ostracized from their families, perhaps forever.

And I thought it just made sense that Bungo and Belladonna met at that wedding, since otherwise the Tooks and Bagginses did not seem to run in the same circles.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/1/2009
I really enjoyed this. I'd never noticed that age difference before. Must have been quite the scandal in the Shire indeed. Oh, and Happy Birthday by the way.

Author Reply: I hadn't either, until Dana pointed it out-- you have to look at both the Took and the Baggins trees and compare Adalgrim's DoB to his parents to "get it". But when she did, we both went "Hmmm..." I'm sure it *was* a scandal!

And thanks for the birthday wishes, and for the story!

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/27/2009
Delightful little tale. I just loved the 'incident' at the almost end of the signing... just delightful...

And the meeting of Bilbo's parents was great....

As for the dress - Shees! And it was the 'fur' in Virtuella's dress that made me cringe!

Nice tale - thanks for sharing it!

Author Reply: Yes, well very nearly more than an incident, but thankfully not quite!

And it was the idea of Belladonna and Bungo meeting at that wedding that led to all the rest!

I know. The fur made me shudder as well. Pink is not really that bad of a color for a wedding dress, so long as it's the right shade of pink.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/24/2009
Hildigrim looked at his brother desperately. "You don't understand at all! We are in love!"

That's all that counts for me!
Let the family talk, they will stop eventually. As long as Hilly and Rosa are in love everything is perfect. And there's a little baby that has already announced its soon arrival ;-)

Last but not least, Belladonna and Bungo have started to court. If that isn't the beginning of a grand story :)

Author Reply: They are in love, really. And soon Pippin's grandfather will make his first appearance in the world!

It just seemed to me that a family wedding would be the perfect place for the two of them to meet.

SoledadReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/24/2009
"Rosa is marrying a Took. Do you really think there can be such a thing as a 'quiet wedding'?"

*rolls on the floor in hysterics*

I loved the Belladonna parts, though. Can't remember ever having read a story with her in it. She is a lovely lady - and a wise one.

Author Reply: Yes, I thought that would be a rather telling line! *grin* Glad you liked it!

I've written a few stories with her, but this is the first one I wrote in which she was not already Bilbo's mother and already married to Bungo. I'm glad you like her characterization.

Mysterious JediReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/24/2009
Well, the young couple definitely made a mistake, but at least they're being responsible for it, and their families are being supportive of them, though not of their behavior. A few years, and there might be a less scandalous wedding!Nice fic, thanks for sharing.

Author Reply: Yes, it was definitely a mistake, and somewhat "unhobbity". But they love one another and they are doing the right thing.

There most certainly will. *grin*

Mysterious JediReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/24/2009
Well, the young couple definitely made a mistake, but at least they're being responsible for it, and their families are being supportive of them, though not of their behavior. A few years, and there might be a less scandalous wedding!Nice fic, thanks for sharing.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List