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| Pearl of Great Price by Lindelea | 3 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Inquisitive Hobbit | Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 1/10/2004 |
| Excellent story! I like your interpretation of hobbit society and politics; it's realistic and has a "hobbity" feel to it (hope that makes sense). Very good angst, keep it coming. Some thoughts regarding Paladin: In this story, his personality is very different from your other stories. Supposedly he changes when he becomes Thain, but I have trouble believing such a drastic change could happen so suddenly. I read "Knitting Socks" on ff.net, and that left me thinking that things were strained between Pippin and Paladin long before he became Thain. The explanation in "Socks" for Paladin's behaviour toward Pippin doesn't quite work if said behaviour doesn't show up until such a late date. Sorry if I'm rambling, my point is that his personality change would seem more believable if there were some foreshadowing of it beforehand. Nothing major, just enough to show he has the potential to become a tyrant. BTW, the relationship between Pip and Paladin interests me greatly. I would love to see a story focusing on this. They remind me of Denethor and Faramir at times. Author Reply: Thanks! I have given Paladin a lot of thought and am still thinking about him. He will start to change in this story as a result of happenings... plot points I won't give away at the moment, but you'll see them soon. I think he has spoilt Pip rotten in an effort not to be like his own father, a vow I've often heard in modern days. ("I won't make the same mistakes my parents made...") The problem with letting a child have his own way/go his own way, whatever you want to call it, is you end up with a brat. Have seen a few of these: They behave well with relatives who are firm and loving, but run their parents ragged. Even Pippin admits, in "At the End of His Rope", that part of his trouble with his father was his own fault. I see their relationship progressing this way: Indulgent father - carefree son, more demanding father - careless son, overbearing father - defiant son... and suddenly the Brandybucks step in, taking Pip and raising him with love and reasonable, consistent discipline. Pip matures, tries to make amends, tries to be dutiful in that the Brandybucks have modeled duty and honour to him, but his father is "stuck" in his overbearing role, both as Thain and as father (he really has to be overbearing to bring Tookland out of the mess it's in when he takes charge). While he sees Pippin as improved, his son is also "too Brandybuck-ish" for his comfort, and so he tries to mold him back into a proper Took. Pip, on the other hand, is old enough to want to do things his own way. (And stubborn... wonder where he gets that?) Sound plausible? I am already having to edit "Jewels" to reflect the knowledge I've gained over the past 10 months of writing (e.g. Paladin was not Thain at the time of Bilbo's birthday, but I didn't know that at the time I was writing "Jewels"). I may have to adjust "Socks" slightly as well if it is too extreme in its Pippin-Paladin relationship, either that, or make it an "AU" as far as my own personal canon. However, at the moment I see Paladin as a warm, loving father who knows how to love little ones, but as his children grow and mature he is less able to cope with them and finds himself doing and saying what his own father said to him, things he swore he'd never do or say... Anyhow, I'm hoping to show such a progression over the course of all these stories, yet maintain consistency in characterisation. Can I pull it off? Don't know yet. Sorry to be so long-winded but I have been giving this a lot of thought lately, as I said before. Denethor and Faramir? Yes, that is a possibility, though I didn't intend it that way, it just happened. Makes the Pippin-Denethor dynamic more interesting, somehow. | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 1/10/2004 |
| Poor Paladin! His troubles never stop do they? I feel so sorry for him. I am betting that Pippin is trying to get to Merry as he wouldn't understand or care about the politics in all of this. Update soon as the waiting may kill me! LOL Author Reply: Ah, it's tough to be a farmer, at the mercy of the weather. Then add politics and it's darn near impossible. Throw in a spoilt, willful son and you've got a formula for trouble. Will try to update soon. Haven't had much computer time lately, what with the weekend (everybody wants online at the same time!) and being ill, which means I don't get up a couple hours before everyone else and write... | |
| Lyta Padfoot | Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 1/9/2004 |
| The not knowing is the worst of it. Poor Paladin and Pearl. Author Reply: Not knowing is horrible, but I think the next chapter will help. (Of course, *knowing* can bring its own misery.) | |