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The Letter  by Gryffinjack 4 Review(s)
Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/28/2006
I found this little gem through the 2006 MEFA Awards, and am glad I did. I don't normally read hobbit stories, but this one is excellent - funny and a bit sad, and very hobbity all around.

Loved Pippin's summaries of the perils he and the other hobbits have endured, all the things that he wouldn't really want to tell in a letter to his parents for fear of scaring them out of their wits. And the saddest thing is that he believes, as he finally writes the letter, that the Shire is the same beautiful, untouched, peaceful place he left it. It's ironic that the letter reaches a Shire shadowed and brutalized - but it gives Pippin's parents hope.



Author Reply: The MEFA Awards are such a wonderful opportunity to hear about stories you might like outside your normal realm, aren't they? I'm glad you gave my story a chance, and thrilled that you thought so highly of it.

I had a blast writing Pippin's summary of their journey! It pretty much came to me just the way it did to Pippin in the story - as something he could *not* write in a letter to his parents. The poor Travellers, they have no idea what has happened to the Shire in their absence. "A Shire shadowed and brutalized" - LOVE that description of it! It's perfect!

Thanks again for giving this story a chance!

frodo16424Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2006
Whew! I got dizzy just reading! LOL! Pippin was right - he really couldn't say all that in a letter. Thanks for a very enjoyable read.

Author Reply: When Pippin gets into one of his rapid-fire and long speeches, it can be rather dizzying! No, he really couldn't say all of that in a letter - his folks would have had heart attacks halfway through.

Thanks for the review!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2006
A fascinating letter in the end, and a fascinating response to it. Poor Frodo, Merry, and Pippin--trying so hard not to worry the folks and hoping against hope that all is well at home, when it is anything but.



Author Reply: I'm glad you liked the letter.

It wasn't just Frodo, Merry, and Pippin trying not to worry the folks back home; Sam was also trying not to worry his family as well. It couldn't have been easy for any of them being so far from home, knowing that their families were so worried about them.

Thanks for the review!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2006
I really enjoyed this on the challenges! Everything was just fantastic--from Pippin blurting out, from beginning to end, his whole journey from the Shire to Minas Tirith. Are you sure no one was there taking dictation? ;-) If the lads had decided to throw caution to the wind and tell all to their families, then that would be the perfect summary of it all!

Then Paladin and Eglantine receiving his letter...that was awesome, too. And their reaction to the lads not knowing about the Occupation was so real.

A most excellent tale!

Pippinfan

Author Reply: Oh, you've reviewed this story twice! Thank you!

Yes, I'm quite sure nobody was there taking dictation. Can you imagine the faces of Paladin and Eglantine if Pippin *had* sent the blurted out version of their journey?

It means a lot to me to know that you found Paladin's and Eglantine's reaction real. That's what I aim for when I write.

Thanks for such a lovely review!

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