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| The Thrum of Tookish Bowstrings, Part 1 by Lindelea | 85 Review(s) |
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| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/30/2020 |
| Oh dear, poor Farry! Always too serious for his age, too precoscious, and too understanding. And now he hears this. He's going to fret for sure. Author Reply: Yes, he has always had understanding beyond his years, from his earliest appearances in these stories. I don't know if it's because he's his father's son, or Merry's influence, or if it's because he's had to grow up quickly, but that quick wit is always there when I think of him. Lovely to hear from you! (hugs) Hope you are staying well. | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/29/2020 |
| Lindelea! Once again, another wonderful chapter! I love the way you sketch Pippin's character the way it has been shaped through his experiences with being Thain and how it meshes with the younger Pippin we know from LOTR and that I write about in my stories. I really love the depth you have given to Hobbit society or at least the Tooks living in Tookland. Quite wonderful. Am truly enjoying it! I have started reading "At the End of His Rope" and truly enjoyed it so far. My reviews are left at the end of the chapters! Hope this review finds you and yours healthy and safe. MM Author Reply: Thank you! I do love Pippin; the way JRRT wrote him (curious, impulsive, intelligent) gave him so much scope for growth and character development! and that I write about in my stories... Aha! I see I am going to have to go and visit your earlier stories as well, and not just the more recent ones... Such a treat to look forward to! I am glad you are enjoying this story, and "Rope" as well. I do hope this story doesn't get too long-winded. There's a lot of conversation going on while Farry and Ferdi are awaiting rescue. Yikes! (But it's all part of what shapes Faramir into the hobbit he will become, so there is that... LOL!) So far, so good. Hope you and yours are staying well. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/28/2020 |
| Now, this I want to hear also! Author Reply: LOL! New posting due tonight, so you will get your wish. I hope this finds you well. (hug) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/28/2020 |
| Blast--this tablet te my reply again. Farry has quite the mind, and more than a normal lad's share of intelligence. And now Ferdi knows the truth. Author Reply: Naughty tablet! I understand the frustration. Children and their magical thinking... and their taking responsibility for things that are beyond their ken... it's heart-twisting sometimes. I'm glad Farry has had someone to listen to him when his parents were too busy or beleaguered. Mentors are important. (Geez, I have a talent for stating the obvious...) Thanks! I did not make any progress in writing this week, as I got sideswiped by March 25 (what, really? already?) and wanted to mark that occasion with a little something that had been knocking around the back of my brain. But I'm back to fleshing out the added sections in this story (my, it has grown, from 40 chapters to I'm not sure how many), so I should be in touch this week, I hope, to chew some things over. (hugs) Hope this finds you well. | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/28/2020 |
| Lindelea! I have started "At the End of His Rope." I have read the first chapter. Review on the story. MM Author Reply: Thank you for letting me know! Hope you enjoy it. :) Stay well. (hug) | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 3/27/2020 |
| >For that was the point that, at this moment, begged explanation. >*** >(Next update: Sunday) Lindelea!! Not a dangerous cliff hanger, but a cliff hanger all the same! I continue to love the interaction between Farry and Ferdi. Love the idea that Faramir could have been a Took in spirit if not body! LOL And marrying such a sensible wife! I have yet to delve into "At the End of His Rope." But sometime today I predict! Hope this review finds you and yours in safe and healthy. MM Author Reply: Ah, yes, but if I were to include their entire conversation in one chapter, it would be a pain to read, I'm afraid, endlessly scrolling... Thankfully, Sunday is not too far away. (I wonder if Eowyn knows that Ferdi thinks she's a sensible wife?) I hope you enjoy "At the End of His Rope"! It's long, but I think the chapters are fairly short. At the time I was posting that story, I had a pretty slow dial-up connection, and longer chapters would crash my computer. I'm glad I don't have that problem now! So far, we're managing. But horrors, I didn't include cat treats in our pet food order, and the cats are letting us know that the situation is not to be tolerated. Especially the Empress of All She Surveys. Hope this finds you well. Thanks so much for stopping to leave an encouraging word. It means so much. | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 3/24/2020 |
| Lindelea! This was a wonderful chapter. Question. have you written that story about Faramir Eowyn and Ferdi meeting during time of need. If you have, what is the title? Love the relationship between Farry and Ferdi. And Farry's confession about his ability to shoot. This I particularly liked because it is what I strive for in my writing as well. The kinds of decisions people make and the reason they make them. We are driven by our emotions more than rational thought most of the time. Farry made a child's decision based on what he knew and felt as a child. ‘If I didn’t shoot like an escort, perhaps my da wouldn’t die, you see.’ It is what a child might think. I like that bit of character sketching. I could feel Farry's pain as a teenager trying to explain his reasoning. Just wonderful. Hope this review finds you well and safe! MM Author Reply: To answer your question, Faramir and Eowyn accompany wains full of supplies sent from the Southlands to the Shire during a time of drought and famine in the story At the End of His Rope (http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=309). They don't arrive until chapter 69, but they stay through nearly to the end of the story. The chapters that come before that set up Pippin's struggle to be Thain in the face of serious physical challenges, and they also contain his miraculous healing... which, true to real life, doesn't mean that everything is smooth sailing from then on. (Whew!) It is a very early story (first posted in 2003, yikes), and I'm fairly sure it was one of the first of my stories where Ferdi, Faramir, or Eowyn appeared. This means the characterizations are not as fully developed as they would come to be; however, amazingly enough, they are true to how I envision the characters today, so I guess the Muse knew what she was doing all those years ago, before she really started to clue me in. (It also means that it does not picture Ferdi's friendship springing up with Faramir and Eowyn, a fairly recent revelation on the Muse's part, though the possibility has always been there. Perhaps that will become a story of its own.) I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that story (especially how I have imagined Eowyn and Faramir)! It was sort of the seed from which all the rest of my imaginings of the Shire (especially the Tookland) grew. I have to admit, I am enjoying exploring the relationship between Ferdi and Farry, especially in preparation for eventually tackling the draft of "Farry and Ferdi go to Gondor" and fleshing it out into an actual story. (A few chapters exist, more or less, here on SoA as Dreams of Gold.) Ferdi kind of took almost-4yo Farry under his wing when Pippin got sandbagged with all the responsibilities of becoming Thain, perhaps recognizing a fellow lonely soul. D'y'know, what you've mentioned is one of the things that has drawn me to your writing! I love the little details your write that feel so real, that make me feel that I'm reading about "real" people, the relationships you draw and the reasons behind why people do what they do. I am fascinated with your take on Faramir; it rings true to what we know of him, and I love the growing trust and understanding between him and Eomer, and the deep and joyful love he shares with Eowyn. I also enjoy how you show Eomer's and Eowyn's relationship; very natural, and reminds me of being a little sister. As a matter of fact, I read your latest chapter on my phone, and now I'm heading over there to leave a review now that I have a keyboard at my fingertips. Author Reply: (Hah, I was mistaken. Eomer, Eowyn, and Faramir appears as early as chapter 60 in At the End of His Rope. I had forgotten that.) | |
| Hai Took | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/23/2020 |
| Resourceful lad, especially when given time to recollect some of his previous lessons! I guess it was a good thing Farry's shot didn't kill the dog! Maybe Ferdi is about to get a new pet? Hopefully there is some water to be had soon or, you know, rescue of some sort. Author Reply: Farry's had some good training! Rescue is still some way away, but not totally out of the picture, if that's not too much of a spoiler. Well, they do call dogs "man's best friend": do you suppose that goes for hobbits, too? Thanks so much for pausing to leave a good word! | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/22/2020 |
| Lindelea! I love the relationship between Ferdi and Farry, between the old and the young. You can just feel Farry trying to feel his way though the situation that is presented to him. Really enjoying this, and thank you for not ending on another cliffhanger! :-)) LOL Hope this review finds you and your family well! MM Author Reply: Oh, thank you! I appreciate your mentioning that relationship. It's definitely a factor in this story, and I'm exploring it in much more depth than I ever did previously (and sometimes that is proving to be a challenge). And you're welcome about the cliffhanger... LOL. This story does have them in places, but not after every single chapter, thankfully. Whew. So far, so good. Hope you and yours are well, too. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 3/22/2020 |
| I rejoice that the dog has proved to be of assistance, once it had its antagonism knocked out of it by arrow and fall. Now, to get the fire going and figure out how to release both Ferdi and the dog. Author Reply: Yes, amazing what the sting of an arrow and shock of a fall will do to bring about an attitude adjustment! Or at least, I'm imagining it does... The pale wolfish dog has an interesting backstory that will at least be hinted at, maybe a bit more than that, in a future chapter. Thanks! | |