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The Choice of Healing  by Larner 5 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/6/2006
Well, I *thought* I would get to read this while I was gone, but evidently my crazy Pac Mate had other ideas. I downloaded this whole thing into one file. Well, that was stupid of me; the file was huge and the PM couldn't open it. I had access to my computer briefly on Sunday, and broke it down into four parts; that had to work. I went to open the first part, and it was full of what my mom calls "junk"; by which I mean it was unreadable--looked a whole lot like the stuff a Braille embosser will give you when something major goes wrong. I just don't know what the deal is. But technology will have its little quirks, and on the whole I find I really love the PM.

It's wonderful to see everyone pitching in to help renew and rebuild. That's the good in situations like these; the need unites everyone, forces everyone to work together, even those who wouldn't normally be willing to do so. And it's also wonderful to see the friendship between Frodo and Isumbard reviving.

Oh, but I've been meaning to ask this for months now--how did you settle on rice as the hated food? :) I've been curious about that since I started reading this the first time, and I have to smile at Frodo's description of it. I can just see young Frodo giving Eglantine that look, as if to say, "You can do and say whatever you like, but I will *not* eat that dreadful stuff!" :)

You really built on this with The Acceptable Sacrifice. I don't recall really noticing the mention of Eldamir and his family before, and read of the glassblower with passing interest. But now these characters have really been brought to life, such details are much more noticeable and interesting.

Oh, if only it hadn't been *that* coin! That Bartolo could have explained his errand before asking for a coin in that way! But at least it's made right in the end.
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Isn't technology wonderful? First thing you do when you start working with computers is learn how to swear in several languages, including in my case Basic, dBase, and now am looking for words in Sindarin! Heh! My laptop's power supply just died, and as I write on it predominantly it's cramping my style and making it longer before I get chapters written.

Disasters tend to bring out either the best or the worst in folks, and in this case mostly the best. You're right--it's wonderful that Tolkien indicated all would work together now. And there is finally a friendship growing between Bard and Frodo, one which might have begun when they were much younger but foundered for years due to the failed relationship between Frodo and Pearl and Bard's eventual marriage to her; but now they're able to see beyond Pearl to the great individual each is and learning to respect one another as is right and proper.

Why rice? Well, primarily because that's how I feel about it. I can't bring myself to eat rice unless it doesn't taste a thing like rice. I can occasionally stand Spanish rice, but it had best be more meat than rice or I'll want to rid my stomach of it. We do tend to project real life into our stories, after all; and the conflict between hating rice and it being one of the easiest dishes to digest was just too good to miss, don't you agree?

Having touched on these characters here and in "The King's Commission" I had to expand on them in "The Acceptable Sacrifice," you know. Now we feel as if we truly know them.

Personally, I can't imagine Bartolo having warned Frodo of why he wished to know if Frodo had a coin. Not in his nature. But, as you say, it's made right in the end.

Glad to see you back, my lady!


InklingReviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/8/2005
How enjoyable to see Frodo’s skill at governing and law. The best hobbit in the Shire indeed! But how sad that he can’t eat. “I was made to eat and to eat well, not pick at food like a petulant child of Men.” What a cruel fate for a hobbit!
Now, who is Narcissa? And Bartolo? Seems to be some back story there…
Once again, nice attention to detail in the King’s coins.


Author Reply: If you remember in the King's Commission, Narcissa was first described to Ruvemir as Folco's cousin who had been one of those who had fallen in love with Frodo at a young age. She came to the capitol for the unveiling of the monument and found her own face hidden in the painting Frodo had done of Bag End and given to Master Iorhael and which Master Iorhael's son gave to Ruvemir after his father's death. Ruvemir and Elise hung it in their room. Bartolo Bracegirdle hasn't been actually seen before, but was mentioned by name; a cousin of Frodo's, Folco's, and Pippin's named Delphie (I'm certain short for Delphinium). Folco's mother came over to get the presents for Delphie and Bortolo's wedding during the Great Waistcoat War. He's a Bracegirdle and Lobelia's cousin, which indicates he isn't going to get along with most others easily.

Glad you like the details on the coins, and the complaint Frodo makes.

ArmarielReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/2/2005
Lovely, lovely......so professionally written and yet so emotionally engaging...it's not gonna end soon is it?

(hope not *g*)

cheers
Armariel~~~{~@

Author Reply: It will end when it end, but not right away.

Thank you for the evaluation--it is flattering.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/2/2005
This is so heartbreaking, but I'm glad Frodo confided in someone at last.

Author Reply: He's not confiding everything, but enough that some are beginning to realize this is reality he's speaking of, not just traveler's tales.

Thanks for the response.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/1/2005
More and more Isembard is beginning to piece things together. I am so glad that Frodo was willing to talk to him a bit about his problems with eating. And of course, we have Frodo giving Crickhollow to Merry and Pippin, even though at that point he does not know Lobelia's giving Bag End back.

I'm not too happy with that *Bracegirdle* walking off with his coin from Aragorn, though!! Hmmphh.

Author Reply: This has been part of several state's laws, I found--to receive a gift of property, a dollar at least had to change hands. Thought it was well worth working into the story, that a coin should have to serve such a function.

I had written Bartolo Bracegirdle's name into The King's Commission, and wanted to see what sort of Hobbit he might be; he turned out to have come from much the same mold as Lobelia at her worst, I found.

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