harrowcat · 6 November 2005 · Chapter 21: Diamonds of the Earth
Well observed Gimli! Sorely missed indeed.
Author's reply
I think Gimli had a soft spot for the hobbits. Thanks for reading!
Postcards From the Shire by SlightlyTookish
Reviews (372)
Larner · 21 October 2005 · Chapter 20: Dribbles: Hobbits in General & Young Merry and Pippin
We keep coming up with new ways to express our love for Tolkien's stories and characters! Oh, this was wonderful!
Author's reply
It's interesting to keep trying out new writing styles. I'm glad you enjoyed the "dribbles." Thanks very much, Larner! :)
Andrea · 21 October 2005 · Chapter 20: Dribbles: Hobbits in General & Young Merry and Pippin
That was lovely! "Something so wonderful Must be Hobbits" Wonderful indeed! It started with a summary of the special qualities hobbits have, and it ended with the two cousins showing these qualities! Hobbits in practice, you could say ;-) I've never heard of "dribbles" before, but I like them very much, especially your own creation, the inverted dribble.
Author's reply
Thank you! I hadn't heard of dribbles before Shirebound alerted me to Ismenin's invention. They're lots of fun to try, but highly addictive! Once I'd written one I wanted to write another, longer one. I'm so glad you enjoyed them :)
Pearl Took · 7 October 2005 · Chapter 16: Rainy Afternoon
Aw! Growing up is sad sometimes. I'm glad Pip is there to help ease the changes for Merry.
Author's reply
It is sad sometimes, even for hobbits. I'm sure Merry was very grateful to have Pippin there to cheer him up. Thanks for reading! :)
Pearl Took · 7 October 2005 · Chapter 17: Do It Again
"Do It Again!" indeed :) Lovely!!
Author's reply
Thanks, Pearl! I'm glad you liked it! :)
Saoirse · 4 October 2005 · Chapter 17: Do It Again
How sweet! Little Pippin and Merry are SO cute! Eep!
Author's reply
They ARE adorable! Thanks for reading :)
PIppinfan1988 · 3 October 2005 · Chapter 16: Rainy Afternoon
I'm melted like butter...need I say more? Yet another lovely, sweet tale! Thanks for sharing! Pippinfan
Author's reply
Heehee, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed! :)
PIppinfan1988 · 3 October 2005 · Chapter 17: Do It Again
Oh, this was too cute! Maybe it's my old age, but I feel so drawn to fluff these days. This was very typical of children before the age of "the flickers" and television--to have fun with whatever they had at hand and make up games and songs. I truly enjoyed this sweet tale. :-) Pippinfan
Author's reply
I'm especially fond of wee!hobbits and they provide plenty of opportunities for fluff :) Especially because, as you said, they don't have all the modern toys and distractions and have to resort to their (often cute) imaginative devices. I'm very glad you liked this one. Thanks for your comments!
Larner · 23 September 2005 · Chapter 19: Newborn
Very sweet.
Author's reply
Thanks, Larner!
Grey Wonderer · 22 September 2005 · Chapter 19: Newborn
That was so sweet. So Frodo and Bilbo spend the first of many birthdays together. Lovely!
Author's reply
Thanks, GW! I think having the same birthday would have made Bilbo always think of Frodo as "his" baby :)
Dreamflower · 22 September 2005 · Chapter 19: Newborn
100 perfect words for the first occasion of The Birthday. Very well done!
Author's reply
Thanks so much, Dreamflower! :D
Larner · 13 August 2005 · Chapter 18: The Sandhobbit
Poor, poor Frodo--the Sand Hobbit didn't have to find him in bed, did he? Lovely!
Author's reply
Yes, poor Frodo! It's exhausting to keep up with a very young and very energetic Pippin. Thanks for reading, Larner! :)
Andrea · 13 August 2005 · Chapter 18: The Sandhobbit
That's so cute! I enjoyed reading this little story :) But tell me a secret: We have now a Sandman and a Sandhobbit, does there also exist a "Sandelf", what do you think?
Author's reply
Thanks, Andrea! I'm happy that you enjoyed it :) I think that wherever there are children, stories and fables like this exist. So yes, I believe that there is a Sandelf and a Sand-dwarf as well, or something like them, for the children of those races :)
songspinner · 13 August 2005 · Chapter 18: The Sandhobbit
Oh, adorable! I love Frodo's affectionate exasperation for little Pippin, and Bilbo's understanding. My daughter still clings to my anklesometimes like that so that I can't walk, and she's five! Cute ending, too.
Author's reply
Thanks very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I used to cling to my dad like that, when I was very young. I thought it was the greatest fun in the world, and I imagine that Pippin (and your daughter!) feel the same :)
Armariel · 13 August 2005 · Chapter 18: The Sandhobbit
that's so cuuuuuuuuuute...gotta love that Bilbo, what? *ggggg* and yeah, the others too...heheh
Author's reply
I love ALL hobbits! :D Thanks for reading! I'm glad you liked it :)
Budgielover · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 3: Of Haircuts and Hobbits
Oh, how perfectly sweet! I could see this so clearly in my mind, little Pip's fear and Merry's reassurances, and the part where he ran to Merry and burrowed into his big cousin's side was just so darling. I love stories showing the affection between these two, and this was a lovely, heart-warming glimpse of the love they hold for each other.
Author's reply
Thanks very much! This was one of the first ones written, and I wanted to show that cousinly love and protectiveness that you speak of. I'm so happy that you enjoyed it! :)
Budgielover · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 15: Moving Day
I thoroughly enjoyed sharing these moments with the hobbits, and marvel at how skillfully you take us through the arc of emotions, from humor at the beginning to sorrow to grief back to busyness and hobbit-activity. The dialogue between the cousins was perfect and just what I would have expected to hear from them. The realization that they had both changed was sobering and sorrowful, but the note of optimism ended the story on a perfect hobbit-note.
Author's reply
Thanks for your kind words, they mean so much! I'm thrilled that you thought Merry and Pippin were in character, that's something I'm always happy to hear, and it was a bit different for me to write them as mature and serious. I had to make them light-hearted by the end, so I'm glad you enjoyed that bit too! :)
Budgielover · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 13: To Catch a Thief
Never before have I read of Child!Bilbo! I am utterly charmed. This sounds so like the Bilbo we know later in his life, and I can just see Gandalf storing away this little hobbit's adventure for future consideration. We never learned how Bilbo and Gandalf became friends, but perhaps this is a glimpse into why Gandalf chose him to go on a journey with the Dwarves? Absolutely delightful ficlet.
Author's reply
Thanks very much! I'm happy this wee Bilbo charmed you! I also wondered how Bilbo and Gandalf's friendship began, and why Gandalf chose him of all hobbits, and this little scene came to mind. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! :)
Grey Wonderer · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 17: Do It Again
I loved it and the song is simply adorable. I could see them singing this and rocking as I read. I liked the idea that the song had belonged to each little cousin in turn and had been passed down.
Author's reply
I think that many things would have been passed down, as each older cousin took a little one under his wing. I'm glad you enjoyed this, GW. Thank you! :)
eiluj · 3 August 2005 · Chapter 17: Do It Again
That's a lovely story. The only see-saw rhyme I know is "See saw, Margery Daw" -- which is not at all like your rhyme. I used to be a children's librarian, so I know a bit about nursery rhymes, and was curious enough to look for yours. I found this one -- which *does* seem related to yours -- at a couple of sites on the Internet (searching "see saw knock at the door"): See-saw, knock at the door. Who's there? Grandpa. What do you want? A glass of beer. Where's your money? In my pocket. Where's your pocket? In my pants. Where's your pants? I left them home. Get out of here you dirty bum! The final "Do it again" reminds me of a Shirley Temple film which my mother used to tell us about. The setting is the early '30's, and for whatever reason, the 4- or 5-year-old heroine and her father have to parachute from a small plane during a horrible storm. They barely make it to the ground in one piece, and the little girl immediately looks up from the safety of her father's arms and urges him to do it again!
Author's reply
Well, that's very interesting! I would not be surprised if my grandma's rhyme is actually supposed to be the one you quote here, but just got altered somehow through the years. Thanks for this! It's fascinating :) Thank you also for reading. I'm glad you enjoyed! :)
Larner · 3 August 2005 · Chapter 17: Do It Again
Ah, yes, Pippin would just love to do it again, wouldn't he? Love it!
Author's reply
Yes, I'm sure Pippin thought it was a great deal of fun! Thanks for reading, Larner! :)
Bodkin · 30 June 2005 · Chapter 16: Rainy Afternoon
The image of pieces of shrouded furniture acting the part of trolls is delightful. And I love Merry getting the chief roles, while Pippin gets to be 'all the other dwarves'. Brandy Hall seems a great place to play on wet days.
Author's reply
I'm sure Brandy Hall had all sorts of nooks and crannies that young hobbits could explore :) I'm glad you liked Merry here - I think he would have bossed Pippin around quite a bit, given their age difference! But they also knew how to look after one another when needed. Thanks for reading and commenting, Bodkin :)
Larner · 29 June 2005 · Chapter 16: Rainy Afternoon
A gentle memory of the beloved cousin-brother gone across the Brandywine to the heart of the Shire, one day to go across a deeper and further water. Love the foreshadowing, and the knowledge that Frodo taught Merry just to look and then release, not to pin them to boards.
Author's reply
Such a thoughtful review! Thank you, Larner! And I agree, I'd rather see the hobbits let the butterflies go rather than keep them :)
harrowcat · 29 June 2005 · Chapter 16: Rainy Afternoon
I just loved all these postcards Slightly Tookish. Please keep sending them. The way that you can turn the mood in a sentence or two is great.
Author's reply
Thank you very much! I'm so glad that you enjoyed them. I post them as I write them, and hopefully soon there will be more to send :) Thanks for commenting!
Larner · 23 May 2005 · Chapter 15: Moving Day
The recognition is there that Frodo is changed too much, I think--not out in the open yet. And, yes, they would so need to have the place apart to begin putting themselves together again. It's not easy reintegrating when so very few understand what has happened.
Author's reply
Yes, an adjustment period had to have been necessary after they had gone through so much. Thanks for reading!