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The Choice of Healing  by Larner 5 Review(s)
RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/4/2005
Larner,

Another wonderful story! I loved King's Commission and have just now had time to start this story. I keep getting update notices for your newest story and I go, Argh! I have to read these, but summer is almost here for me and I should have more time. Anyway, the first 4 chapters have been done in your usual excellent well-written style and I love the richness of your well developed characters and your abilty to enhance Tolkien's world. Thank you for that. You recently sent me an email asking if I was Primsong, I am not. Though I went to her site and I noticed that she too is a Librarian. I am just Radbooks! :)

Author Reply: Durn--that we'd have two librarians from here in the Puget Sound area seems so much a coincidence! Ah, well. Do read her story "Nothing of Note" which I've only read on FanFiction Net--but do have your adaware and spybot software blockers going. It is masterfully written.

Glad you find this adds to Middle Earth for you.

InklingReviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/28/2005
Oops! It must be bed-time…I just sent you a blank review and I’m not even sure how it happened! Sorry…
Nice attention to detail in this chapter…I never thought about all the legal documents that would have stacked up while the mayor was incarcerated…and in the Shire, that would be a crisis indeed! Poor, dutiful Frodo to the rescue once again…
Sam’s tenderness and concern, and also his exasperation, were very well done.


Author Reply: I thought about it and found myself wondering how on earth the last year went as far as Hobbit love of documents went, and this is what came out.

Yes, there must have been many times when Frodo exasperated Sam, as he became increasingly focused internally, as he tried to hide what was going on in his mind and his life.

But I think Frodo must have made an excellent deputy mayor.

Thank you for the kind words!

KittyReviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/1/2005
And I thought the redtapism here in Germany was bad! It seems Hobbits are much worser *shakes head* Although I think it is quite amusing how they include all the generations everywhere.

Isembard has got something to think about, hasn't he? It is probably good he overheard this conversation.

Author Reply: We are dealing with Hobbits and their love of family trees and so on. I'd think that this would be important to them.

Red Tape is a horror here in the States as well--believe me!

Thanks for the feedback.

ArielReviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2005
Still a very enjoyable piece. It's so nice to have a story one can just read without stumbling over odd characterizations and fanon assumptions and conventions you aren't familiar (or in agreement) with. I can't tell you how refreshing that is!

Author Reply: Oh, I'd love to know what some of those assumptions and conventions are you are talking about--other than the assumption that since the movie portrays Legolas as Aragorn's friend, they must have known each other well beforehand--although there's nothing to say otherwise, either. I certainly know what you mean about the characterizations, though. Have run into a couple that set my teeth on edge. Thanks for the feedback.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/30/2005
*grin* Frodo helped draft the documents from the King. Why does that sound familiar, LOL?

Seriously, this is wonderful! I loved the description of hobbity legal papers, and Frodo's request for at least six lawyers!

And Isembard's overhearing some of Frodo and Sam's conversation is really going to give him food for thought.

Author Reply: Oh, I AGREE I reference other folks' fanfic--seems to add to the feeling of it all being interconnected--although I have a LOT more than a single document being delivered to the Thain.

I think that a great deal of the reaction of real people to the stories our heroes have brought back would be unwillingness to accept that such things could happen anywhere. Hobbits have been overwhelmed by ruffians; are they really going to understand wraiths on wings, rains of heads, and such? It's all going to strain their credulity a great deal, I think.

This is going to be the most major stumbling block they will face until the Hobbits of the Shire begin "coming into the Fourth Age"--if you take my meaning.

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