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Life Goes On  by Elemmírë 3 Review(s)
EstellaBReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/2/2006
This story made me cry (which doesn't happen very often, I can assure you) but it made me laugh as well :) Thankyou:)

Author Reply: Hello, EstellaB.

I made you cry! :(
I made you laugh! :D

(yes!! the power of the pen worked again!) LOL!

Seriously, I'm really glad you took the time to read this tale and found it moved you so. Thank you so very much for taking the time to review as well!

~Julie~

Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/2/2006
Awww! What a sweet story! Your descriptions are so beautiful, Elemire, especially the way you describe Frodo; a beautiful child. I love the bittersweetness, the relationship between Frodo and his foster-parents, the mentions of things from his early years like the Frodo-sandwich (aww so cute), Esme letting Frodo tell about the baby, the half-flashback to his parents' death, the name of Frodo's bear, and the gentle foreshadowing of Merry. Also you capture perfectly the atmosphere that pervades a home where someone has died, the soft chatter and telling of anecdotes and trying to laugh at the funny ones. And Frodo's sweet childish innocence in spite of everything is priceless. The ending is great! LOL! So, Sara, you're going to pick a bachelor to give the talk? *clicks tongue* LOL! I'd choose Rory.
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: Thank you so very much, Queen Galadriel! The idea for this came when I saw in the family tree in the Appendices that Adelard Took, Esmeralda's father, died sometime in 1382, the same year when Merry was born. After deciding that I wanted him to pass on before Merry's birth, I wanted to explore what went on in the Took household, and specifically with an expecting Esmeralda, who now has Frodo to look after as well. And I wanted to write it mostly from Frodo's point of view. Frodo is still very much a child himself at that point in time, and struggling everyday to cope with his own tragic loss. I think Sara and Esme would have tried to shelter their foster son from any funerals so soon after his parents' ... the appendices show an awful lot of other hobbits died in 1380, the same year as Drogo and Primula, like the Thain, etc.

In this case, however, Frodo was overlooked because it was Esme's father and she and her husband had their own grief to deal with now. Being the first burial he's attended since his parents', Frodo finds himself making comparrisons, whether he wants to or not. And Esme realizes that Drogo and Primula's deaths will affect Frodo for the rest of his life as she relives her own memories of the accident.

Hmmm, Old Rory giving Frodo The Talk ... I hadn't really considered him, but I like that idea. I do have a plot bunny in my growing hutch that deals with the subject of Frodo receiving The Talk much latter than is normal ... I don't want to reveal any more than that but, you may have just inspired me to write that bunny sooner than I thought.

Namarie,
~Elemmírë~


DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/18/2006
What a very lovely little story--the affection between Esme and her little "nephew" was so beautiful, as was Sara's reaction.

You also caught Frodo's childish innocence well, since he would only have been about the equivalent of a human 8 or 9 year old at that point.

And I loved the meticulous use of the Family Tree as well--very well done!

Author Reply: Thank you, Dreamflower! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I love using those Family Trees--they're a great reference point, as you well know, and it's fun to come up with ways on how various family members would have interacted with our favorite hobbits, etc.
~Julie~

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