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The Ties of Family  by Larner 5 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/22/2006
I love discovering all this backstory your other pieces have mentioned. What a love you have for Frodo, a gentlehobbit in the truest sense. Love idea of him dancing that dance with his father - what a shame it couldn't happen, but I can see it as clearly in my mind's eyes as if it happened. Love him as teller of tales and his friendship with Sam and Merry and Pippin, so loving and nurturing like they were of him. Well, that's it for tonight.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Frodo is one of the nurturers of the world, I think, which is part of why he ended up developing his primary friendships with those so much younger than himself. And he deserved to know that love and joy, helping give him a foundation for wanting to give of himself to see the Ring destroyed and to aid him in accepting the final healing offered him.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/5/2005
So very much in this chapter to enjoy. I loved Bilbo's personal invitation to Dudo and the glimpses at Merry, Sam, Pippin, Fredegar and Frodo at Bilbo's party. I liked the fact that Frodo continued Bilbo's tradition of sending gifts to the relations for special occations. This is a wonderful story you have here.

Author Reply: I'm so glad you are enjoying it, GW. I have enjoyed writing it, too, of course. And I think that, as family head, Frodo would have continued sending gifts to his uncle and cousins.

And we have the glimpses here of those who will be important to the Shire one day.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/20/2005
This is shaping up very nicely indeed! I am enjoying seeing Bilbo and Frodo through the eyes of relations other than the main ones--we often see, for example, Saradoc's or Esme's POV, sometimes Pippin's family as well, but those other connections seem to be a bit neglected.

I see you connected the blank spots on the family tree a bit differently than I do. But you've been very thorough with it.

You do have such a knack for OCs. I have become familiar with Narcissa from "The King's Commission",but this really expands her character, and I do enjoy your take on Frodo's Uncle Dudo. It's always been a question mark to me why his uncle did not take Frodo in (which I solved in my own way) but I think you have dealt with it very well. I was quite sad to see that Dudo died when his children were infants, and am curious to see how it is that Fosco and Forsythia end up in Hobbiton after all.

Author Reply: I am glad you enjoy the differences between your version of the Baggins family ties and mine. I'd wondered also why this younger brother didn't take Frodo when Drogo and his wife died; it would be more logical than leaving them with the Brandybuck relations, after all. So, in exploring it, this is what came out.

I wanted to see what the ties could be between Dudo and Narcissa, and realized he was so much older there would be little chance of them having developed much of a relationship, particularly since he never bothered developing one that we know of with Frodo. So, I realized this would come via the children instead.

It will be interesting seeing how his children become introduced to Hobbit society.

NiennaTruReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/20/2005
The detail, and time and attention you take with all of the characters that people Middle Earth is truly impressive. I teared up when Dudo died and Emerald wept over the cradles. Wonderful chapter.

Author Reply: They become real to me, and I want to make them real for others as well.

For Emerald to lose her husband so soon after the birth of the children would be difficult, I think. I'm glad that the chapter moved you so.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/20/2005
Goodness, the details of this story just leave me staggered! What an amazing look at Hobbiton and its inhabitants. It's nice to read about a shrewd Bilbo who keeps an eye on his family whether they know it (or want it) or not.

“Lovely! I approve! If you must be eccentric, then at least do it in a responsible manner--and it appears you have done so.”

:D


Author Reply: Well, in my version of the Shire, Bilbo is family head and has the responsibility to care for any Bagginses in want; so he would find ways to do so in spite of others.

And I'm glad you enjoy Dudo's response to Bilbo's announcement. I think it would be right in keeping with Baggins feelings.

Thanks for the feedback.

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