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The Choice of Healing  by Larner 3 Review(s)
InklingReviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/13/2005
I liked the scene of Frodo and Ferdi sitting in the dark, talking. What a relief for Frodo to finally have a listener who understands! Was he being intentionally ironic when he said it was too bad Bilbo didn’t adopt Ferdi?
Very sad moment, when Paladin accuses Frodo of self-importance…


Author Reply: I, too, think that the discussion in the dark aided Frodo a great deal, not having to see the shock on the face of the one hearing this, for the moment equal to Ferdi, or at least as he sees it, both of them seeing nothing at the moment. The fact Ferdi isn't fighting the information or overreacting to it is helping.

And Paladin is clinging to any means of avoiding the truth he doesn't wish to face, that his son had to face dangers he as Pippin's Da couldn't save him from. Understanding all this is very difficult when you are hiding from unpleasant realities.

Glad you are keeping with the story.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 7 on 4/3/2005
Still following this avidly Larner. Thank you for updating so regularly. In his forward the Prof's one criticism of his book was that it isn't long enough. You are adding in the detail beautifully. My heart bled for Frodo at the lack of understanding he was shown - but how true it often is. And for Paladin to finally understand but too late, in this world, to make it up! A lesson for us all.

Author Reply: Such is the way of life, as we hide from unpleasant truths.

No, Tolkien didn't go into enough detail, which is why so many of the rest of us have begun doing so.

Thanks for the feedback.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 7 on 4/2/2005
Oh, the struggles: of Frodo to try and keep going, to speak of the unspeakable; of the hobbits who had remained to try and understand what they really did not want to know; of Sam and Merry and Pippin who had their own troubles, yet were worried for Frodo. You've depicted it all so well...

Author Reply: Yes, this is a lot of the heart of shell shock, after all, finding oneself unable to fully communicate with others, first because they don't have the experiential base to understand, and later because the habit of keeping to oneself has become too strong. Those who do get the whole tale tend to be in the minority, and themselves throw up their hands at those who cannot seem to accept what's true.

Thanks for reviewing, Dreamflower.

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