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| An Unexpected Adventure [Permanent Hiatus] by KathyG | 57 Review(s) |
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| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/6/2025 |
| Hah. Pippin and Merry sound like typical (annoying) younger cousins here. Also, "up to our ankles in briars" sounds so very hobbity! Bless Bilbo! He's no fool. But my heart lurches every time I read, '...when you get back...' in this part of the book. Oh poor Bill, having to leave Lucy behind! Alas, I think Legolas is right about coming face to face with reality, and probably sooner than later. "rod" – now that's a familiar term I haven't heard in a while! When we traveled by canoe in the Boundary Waters, the portages we hiked overland from one body of water to another, carrying our canoes and everything else, were measured in rods. Gandalf seems to have a talent for keeping entertaining squabbles going... somehow, I am reminded of how he distracted the trolls until the sun came up in Bilbo's time. Author Reply: So very hobbit, indeed! =) Either Bilbo has a lot of faith that Frodo will return, or he's hoping that Frodo will and hiding his doubts. As for Legolas, I fear you're right! You're right about Gandalf! =) | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 3/1/2025 |
| Ah, hobbit party fare! We already know that Bilbo knows how to throw a great party! Joey's thoughts on how much hobbits eat are interesting. However, I'm seriously wondering if maybe Kevin eats as much as a hobbit? That's my experience of teenage boys, anyhow, always eating, and managing to put away astonishing amounts of food, and having a huge impact on the grocery budget, much as JRRT described tweens' impact on their families' pantries somewhere. (I know I read it, but I can't find it.) I have to say I wince every time Kool-Aid is mentioned. I cannot stand the stuff. It may be because my mom always made it up with half the sugar called for on the packet. I have never liked beer, either. Pear juice sounds refreshing! Gandalf laughed, and said, "My dear Bilbo, if they broached the beer casks as often as you preferred, you would soon be an avowed tippler!" I have to tell you, I thought he was going to end this speech by saying, "My dear Bilbo, if they broached the beer casks as often as you preferred, the cellars would soon be empty!" Hmmm. I wonder what the story is behind Pippin's first time drinking in excess? ...but what a treat, to get to listen to Bilbo tell stories! Somehow, when Elrond knocked at the door, I was suddenly reminded of dorm parties in my long-ago college days. Someone would have a birthday, and more and more people would come knocking at their door, and people would be coming and going so you never were sure just how many partygoers there had been by the time the festivities ended. The gift-giving scene is fun. And this detail is so wonderfully real: Kaylee took it and looked up with a broad smile that showed all of her front baby teeth. But alas, poor Jennifer! I've had days like that. Thankfully, Elrond is the soul of kindness. Author Reply: He sure does, and that's a fact! We saw that in Chapter 1 of The Lord of the Rings. I suspect you would have liked the Kool-Aid better if your mother had put in the full amount of sugar, as the instructions called for. Regarding the beer casks, in Bilbo's case, probably both! =) This is Dreamflower's story about Pippin drinking in excess: The Dare. (Hopefully, the link will work here! If not, I'll have the post the URL separately in a second reply.) Author Reply: Glad you enjoyed the gift-giving scene! Even if Jennifer, bless her heart, did manage to put her foot in it, without meaning to. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 2/28/2025 |
| It stands to reason that even the Elves' weapons would be beautiful. Deadly, but decorative. I wonder, if the children return to their own place and time eventually, if everything will seem like a dream, or if they'll retain the knowledge they've gained and clear memories of their experiences? I'm glad to see Arwen so competent. Apparently Liv Tyler was a bit of a klutz; she described how Arwen was supposed to do something with a sword, I think? ...and how she nearly injured herself in her awkwardness. I'm also remembering how C.S. Lewis equipped Peter with a sword and Susan with a bow. (I don't remember what he gave Lucy besides the healing potion.) The blades are named "Truth" and "Justice"? For some reason, Wonder Woman comes to mind, though I've never seen the movie and have almost no memory of the TV show. Yes, watching skilled fighters is very much like watching a dance with choreographed moves! (Although in mock battles, of course the choreography is designed to avoid injury rather than inflict it.) (What does Joey's monster mask look like?) Levis for the win! (in terms of sturdiness) I wonder if Elves really do have to cut their hair, or if it simply stops growing when they will it to? Younger with her braid, eh? Reminds me of when my best friend got carded in a bar at age 30 or so. Her braids made her look much younger! Frodo's story sounds like quite an adventure! Author Reply: Definitely! Elves are known for their beauty, and they have a real gift for creating it in everything they make. Ouch! I'm glad Liv managed to escape injury. In addition to the healing cordial, Father Christmas also gave Lucy a small dagger, to defend herself with if she needed to. In a later chapter, it's revealed what Joey's monster mask looks like. Good question, huh?! Unless their hair does stop growing, they definitely have to cut it at some point. Doesn't it, though?! Frodo's story, I mean. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/27/2025 |
| This morning when I signed in to do a bit of reading, I looked down the list of chapter titles. Even though I'd already read this one, I wanted to look up the song because it's one I didn't remember. Although I found (and listened to) the Disney version, the song of the same title that has been playing in my mind all morning is the Dionne Warwick version (with Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight), like a walk down memory lane. I just have to say, thank you (even if it was an accidental coincidence of song titles) for stirring this wonderful memory. Author Reply: There's a pop version of "That's What Friends Are For"? I didn't know that! K.G. Author Reply: There's a pop version of "That's What Friends Are For"? I didn't know that! K.G. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/26/2025 |
| "The children are going..." What a perfect excuse to send Merry and Pippin along! Faring much better together than apart sounds eminently logical. Ah, those short-tempered Tooks... That's how I've always imagined them, anyhow. Quite stubborn, too. Poor Merry and his memory of his grandfather's scolding! (Was one of the pies for Pippin?) I can just picture them hugging and dancing in joy when the news had sunk in. "Well, my lads," said Bilbo, "you are well and truly in the frying pan now. I hope that you may keep out of the fire." This sounds just like Bilbo. I went to the link for DF's story and read that one, too. I'm not sure I've seen it before? I didn't leave a review on it in the past, anyhow. I see it was posted to ffnet in 2012, during the time I was mostly away from fanfic, so it would make sense that I didn't see it. While I know that Elrond in the book said something about sending Merry and Pippin back to the Shire with a message, I never quite got the idea that another messenger went back. I was much crueler than you are (were letters from Bilbo, Merry and Pippin in one of DF's stories?); I left Paladin forced to name his successor, Saradoc to insist his son was still alive, and Rosie Cotton to have to go by her sudden feeling (was that in the Spring? I don't remember, exactly) that Sam was coming home. Oh, Freddy might have said something to the exasperated fathers, but it still stood that their sons had disappeared into the Old Forest. I don't know yet if any Brandybucks visited Bree during the year the Travellers were gone and discovered, at least, that they'd made it safely out of the Old Forest as far as Bree. (It's a question on my outline for the story The Farmer's Son, which has been quite politely insisting that other WIPs go first whilst it sits happily on the shelf.) He is probably worried about his son by now. That might just be the understatement of the year... Author Reply: In regards to Merry and Pippin, I can only agree! =) Stubborn, impatient, the works! Yep, that describes a Took, doesn't it? Bilbo would know! After all, he's been through it himself, thanks to his own adventure. And with that said, I reckon that Paladin and Saradoc are both worried about their sons by now! K.G. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/25/2025 |
| So much happens in this chapter! For one thing, here's the answer to the language question. These details made me chuckle: He was currently at one side, getting a dipper of water from Sam and being scolded fondly by Frodo and Pippin was steadier against his cousin's more calculated onslaught. And this: Merry raised an eyebrow at the Ranger. "You mean to say you are just now noticing that? His cheek is famous in the Shire." "And yours is not, Mr. Brandybuck?" Aragorn asked with a smirk. Merry grinned. "I taught him everything he knows," he replied. The Elves gave Bilbo a familiar-shaped door! Such hospitality! (And Kaylee must have revelled in the hobbit-sized furniture that would have fit her so well.) When Jennifer mentioned the elves at the North Pole, I had a sudden flash of Fiondil's Elf Academy stories and couldn't help laughing. The thought that JRRT actually visited Middle-earth and simply wrote down accounts of his first-hand observations is delightful. Hmmm. Eight drowned horses. Nine Nazgűl. The math is worrisome. Will Jennifer get to be at the royal wedding? What fun to see cameos from Bill and Merrylegs here! The clearest memory I have from my earliest riding lessons was how uncomfortable it felt to keep my heels down. And yet, that was the key to balance! I wondered if any of the new riders felt saddle-sore, or if their lessons were short enough to avoid that discomfort. The mention of smelling horsey also reminded me of how when I came home from a riding lesson, my mom made me change clothes in the entryway and put my riding clothes in a bag and carry the bag to the basement to be washed. She did not want any horse-odor coming into her house! (Mischievous children in the Last Homely House! Perhaps the Elves should consider hosting summer camps or something.) Author Reply: Yep, in this story, it's God who sends the children to Middle-earth, and it's also He who gives them the ability to speak and understand Westron! Merry and Pippin are something else, aren't they? =) Yep, the Elves have been very good to Bilbo, and that's a fact. Even going so far as to give him a hobbit door for his little apartment! Elves Academy, huh? LOL! Yeah, I can imagine. One problem there, though--Santa's elves are supposed to be short! =) Hopefully, the remaining Nazgul was unable to reclaim his missing horse! Keep reading as the story progresses, and you'll find out if Jennifer gets to attend Aragorn and Arwen's wedding! I haven't thought about that! It could be that the riding lessons are short enough that saddle sores don't become a problem. Don't think I want to find out what smelling like a horse is like! Summer camps, huh? LOL! What a sight that would be in Rivendell. OR Lothlorien! =) | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/24/2025 |
| You said: Now would be a good time to reacquaint yourself with the stories you read long ago! KG ...and that is exactly what I've been doing since I retired! Visiting old haunts, reading old favorites, rediscovering old friends, and exploring new delights! :D I try to divide my "spare time" these days equally between writing and reading. And I'm happily looking forward to more. Author Reply: Sounds good to me! =) K.G. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/24/2025 |
| I had this same thought! In fact, both of them were startled: if Middle-earth was real in this place and time, what if Star Wars and other stories like that were, too? That was almost too much to think about. Jennifer was so gentle with little Kaylee, and Gandalf's use of Narya to help Kaylee find her courage was genius. I liked the little scene with Boromir, too, especially his memories of training Faramir, even when he had to do so in secret. I'll have to check out Dreamflower's story. I may have read it and forgotten (I've forgotten a lot of the fanfic I read long ago, not for any lack on the stories' part), or it may be new. Either way, it will seem like a fresh, new story, I'm sure! Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! I'm definitely glad that you enjoyed its scenes. Now would be a good time to reacquaint yourself with the stories you read long ago! KG | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 2/22/2025 |
| The first part of this chapter feels like a nice respite. The calm before the storm? ...which Elrond and Gandalf's conversation (and Galadriel's input) seems to confirm. So this is the setup for a "tenth walker" story... I have to admit, I don't remember the first half or two-thirds of the chapters that were posted before the hack, so it's like reading a new story with familiar characters. Author Reply: More than 10 walkers in this case! =) I'm glad you've got the chance to read it all over again, since the earlier copy is gone. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/20/2025 |
| One of my happy memories of Panda is watching her sleep, in the last month of her life, when the cancer was making things more difficult for her and the pain was beginning to manifest – seeing her nose twitch, her paws twitching, and then, suddenly, her tail began to wag. At first, it was tentative... and then she wagged wildly for a few seconds. It was a very good dream. ...and here is the answer to my earlier question about pockets! (Good for you, Kevin! Bilbo would approve the handkerchief, I'm sure.) Interesting food comparisons. My mom used to claim that the boxes had more nutrition than the cereal inside them when it came to boxed cereal. She and my dad believed in oatmeal or farina or, alternatively, eggs for breakfast. noble on the inside, Lady Jennifer. And that is where it counts the most And Boromir is a noble Man... Is this a matter of "takes one to know one"? Author Reply: Your mother did, huh? Interesting! A matter of "takes one to know one"? Hmm. Maybe! K.G. | |