Reviews of The Home-coming of Frodo and Samwise

Tirafix · 27 August 2006 · Chapter 999999: Author's Note

Lovely. Just so beautiful. I cried at the end of the book when Frodo left Sam and Middle-earth, so to read this and find them reunited is just wonderful. And to take them all the way to Iluvatar was beautiful. It was lovely to see how you portrayed their time in Valinor and how Frodo was waiting for Sam to be ready to take Iluvatar's gift for them to pass on together.

Author's reply

Thanks for the kind review! :) Your own reasoning is really why I had to write this: I guess I needed to give Sam some closure. :) I'm glad you enjoyed this! Blessings, Eruanna

Inkling · 9 April 2005 · Chapter 6: Beyond the Circles of the World

A joyous ending to a lovely story! Thank you for this… I saw that you have read jodancingtree’s “Long Home of Mortals,” but I’ve another to recommend that you may enjoy: “The Road Goes Ever On” by Princess Artemis at fanfiction.net. An oldie but goodie…

Author's reply

Hum... I don't think I've read that one. :) Thanks for the tip! It was quite a good tale. And I'm glad you've enjoyed this one! Blessings, Eruanna

Inkling · 9 April 2005 · Chapter 5: The Gift of Ilúvatar

Have been away and can finally catch up with this story…a lovely tale for this Easter season! I confess as I read the end of this I was petty enough to think, “What—Sam gets a flower, but not Frodo?” And then I came to the star—just perfect as a memorial to Frodo! I love it being the “last of stars…that shall shine until the Hope of the world shall come.” Is it, then, the star that the Wise Men followed to Bethlehem?

Author's reply

Yay! Somebody figured it out! *cheesy grin* Yes, Frodo's star is indeed supposed to be the star of Bethlehem. It's meant as a sort of tribute, since it was Frodo who guided me to Christ. You know, I was actually afraid people would think: 'What? Frodo gets a star, and all Sam gets is a little flower?' LOL. But I think it fits their personalities. Sam would be mortified if he got a star. But a flower I think he would like. Thank you for such a lovely and insightful comment! Blessings, Eruanna

docmon · 9 April 2005 · Chapter 6: Beyond the Circles of the World

what a wonderfully touching story. i was really impressed with the language here. You were terrific in creating the same tone as in the books, using the same sort of sentence structure and vocabulary as Tolkien. I don't know how you do it! It seems it would be very hard to do, successfully at least. And that you did. The story is an amazing story on healing and joy amid sorrow. well done!

Author's reply

Thank you dear! This story has meant a lot to me personally, so I'm very glad to share some of that feeling of 'joy amid sorrow' as you say. Writing in a Tolkienian style is admittedly rather difficult, and even so I'm afraid it sounds a bit more like The Silmarillion than it does like LOTR, but I tried. I had to look up the different characters' speech patterns, as well as the narration style, fairly often, and it's strange how much you discover when you're specifically looking at the language---things you might never have noticed otherwise. Well, I have rambled on long enough now. ;) Thank you again for such a kind and encouraging review! Blessings, Eruanna

cher · 23 March 2005 · Chapter 6: Beyond the Circles of the World

Wonderfully done!! Thank you so very much. I will read this again and again. May you have a Blessed Easter! (Have you read Beyond the Havens and Long Home of Mortals by jodancingtree?)

Author's reply

Thank you for the kind comment! I can't imagine anyone reading my work more than once. ;) What a wonderful compliment: it gives me a joyous feeling inside. You know, it never really occurred to me that I would be posting this around Easter; it just sort of happened that way. But like Sam says, it's the perfect day, and now I don't think it was a coincidence. (I have indeed read jodancingtree's stories, and I think they are quite beautiful.) Thank you for the Easter wishes, and may you have a blessed Easter yourself! Eruanna

harrowcat · 23 March 2005 · Chapter 6: Beyond the Circles of the World

Thank you for writing and posting this Eruanna. I was enjoying the whole thing and I agree with all your other reviewers. This last chapter was unexpected but perfect for your story. I felt that we almost moved from Middle-Earth to Narnia as I think that Tolkien himself would have been just a little less clear about the identity of the Creator. But hey! As a Christian myself who's complaining? Certainly not me. Well done and thank you. Have a blessed Easter.

Author's reply

Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed! :) I do agree that there is a Narnian influence here, and that Tolkien himself would probably not have been *quite* so evident, at least in terms of LOTR. But it was also inspired somewhat by his 'Leaf by Niggle', which is a little more obvious, so I hope it is not too out of line with his own writings. All in all, I am very glad you liked it, and I thank you again for your nice comments. Have a blessed Easter yourself! Eruanna

Armariel · 22 March 2005 · Chapter 6: Beyond the Circles of the World

Thanks for writing this, I needed to read it.....seems like things like this just have a way of coming along when I need them somehow! I think Tolkien himself would have been greatly impressed and moved by it. I admire you for having the nerve and wit to write about "the Other Side," I know a lot of writers just wouldn't want to touch it. blessings Armariel~~~{~@

Author's reply

I think I understand what you mean about needing something like this. Actually, it came to me in a dream/image, and at the time I needed it just as much myself. :) I'm glad that it could do something similar for you: it makes my writing more than worth it. I admit I was a bit nervous at first about writing 'the Other Side', but the story just wouldn't let me rest, and I needed to write it. I am so glad you enjoyed this, and thank you again for your wonderfully kind comments! Have a blessed Easter. :) Eruanna

Andrea · 22 March 2005 · Chapter 6: Beyond the Circles of the World

What a wonderful story written perfectly in Tolkien style. I believe, that death is not the end. It is the beginning of a new life, the true life. And I believe, we will meet all the people we loved, again, "beyond the circles of the world". Thank you and happy Easter!

Author's reply

Thank you, Andrea! I'm very glad that people seem to think I achieved the style! And I certainly agree with you: death is not the end. I have always loved Aragorn's words to Arwen in the appendix: 'In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory.' I wanted to explore that 'more than memory', and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you very much for your kind review, and I wish you a blessed Easter as well.

jw · 22 March 2005 · Chapter 6: Beyond the Circles of the World

Amazingly beautiful. It felt like reading TOlkien's own conclusion. Thanks for continuing the tale to such a wonderful ending!

Author's reply

Oh, wow! I think that's the highest compliment anyone has ever given me. :) Thank *you*, for reading and for leaving such a nice comment!

Mum's the Word · 22 March 2005 · Chapter 5: The Gift of Ilúvatar

Thank you, thank you, Eruanna, for this lovely story. This chapter has caused both my heart and my eyes to overflow. I love your Sam-flower and its name, Hope Unquenchable, as well as the new star. I'm so glad to read that you saw Christ in Sam's character, as did I, many years ago. And your inclusion of the Lord's Prayer during the Standing Silence was excellently done. Again I thank you for sharing your good work. May your efforts be well rewarded.

Author's reply

You are quite welcome. :) I am glad that my little contributions can touch others in some small way: it makes it all worth it. From the beginning I knew that it made sense to have Frodo's phial as a star, but I didn't know what to do for Sam. He doesn't seem as though he would want something quite so 'high'. (For that matter, Frodo might not *want* it either, but it fits with him.) And then I realized that of course it ought to be a flower, because Sam is more than anything a gardener and a tender of little things. Well, I must admit that my greatest love is for Frodo, but I do see echoes of Christ in both Frodo and Sam, as well as several other people. I'm glad to know that someone else does, as well! Thank you again for this very kind review!

Inkling · 22 March 2005 · Chapter 2: The Gardens of Irmo

The gardens are delightful! I'm so happy you gave Haldir his mallorn trees...I have always found his wistful remark in LOTR so touching. You do a nice job with Sam's "voice."

Author's reply

Thank you! It's true that Haldir is barely involved in this tale, but I couldn't resist giving him his mallorns... I too have always found that passage to be one of the most wistful and beautiful in LOTR. I'm glad you like Sam's 'voice'. It is very fun to write. ;) And thank you again for your lovely comments!

Inkling · 21 March 2005 · Chapter 1: The Last Ship

This is a nice start, Eruanna. Is this your first fanfic? If so, well done! I read your bio too, and think Tolkien would have been very pleased to know that his books brought someone to Christianity, considering how hard he worked to convert C.S. Lewis.

Author's reply

Thank you! It is indeed my first fic, although I worked at it so long that it is also my latest. ;) For the time being. I think Tolkien would indeed be very pleased at the effect his works have had, and not only on me. I look forward to meeting him someday, and C.S. Lewis as well. Again, thanks for the comment! Glad you like!

Armariel · 20 March 2005 · Chapter 4: Light and Water

So lovely...you seem to write in the tolkienesque style so effortlessly. That bit with the prayer was an inspired and beautiful touch. Armariel~~~{~@

Author's reply

Thank you very much! :) Though I can tell you that it is certainly not effortless; but I am glad you think it sounds Tolkienesque. I was hoping for that. I'm especially glad you liked the prayer. It's something that has meant a lot to me, and I was glad of a chance to use Tolkien's beautiful translation. Thank you again for all your lovely comments!

Larner · 20 March 2005 · Chapter 4: Light and Water

Indeed a goodly day.

Larner · 20 March 2005 · Chapter 2: The Gardens of Irmo

Very sweet. I don't know that the Hobbits, limited as they were to the Isle of Elvenhome, could have come to the Elven Lorien, which I believe was on Aman proper, but I love the idea.

Author's reply

Thank you for the lovely comment! I don't think Tolkien ever *exactly* said that the hobbits were limited to Tol Eressea, so I stretched it a bit, and sent them to Valinor itself. :) It just seemed to work, especially since Galadriel and Gandalf were originally from Aman proper, so I thought the ship could make only one stop rather than two. ;) Glad you like the idea!

Armariel · 19 March 2005 · Chapter 2: The Gardens of Irmo

Very lovely writing here. I can see it right before me, feels like I'm there. Can almost smell it! Looking forward to the next part! Armariel~~~{~@

Author's reply

Thank you! I had this lovely image of Irmo's gardens in my head, and it was very difficult to express it. I'm glad it came out well!

Armariel · 19 March 2005 · Chapter 1: The Last Ship

Very beautiful...I think you did a great job.... ~~~{~@

Larner · 19 March 2005 · Chapter 1: The Last Ship

Very gentle. Thank you.

Reviews (18)