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Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners  by Dreamflower 22 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/20/2016
My dear Miss Dora,

It seems an Age since I have taken up my Pen to correspond with you! I beg that you will forgive my fault - and it is, most assuredly, entirely my fault!

There is much that I wish to share with you and your Estimable Scribe, Dreamflower, but the first thing is that I have, once again, begun to reread your Book. (That, of course, may be Obvious.) I do hope I will do far better at keeping in touch with you both!

Your devoted Reader and Friend,

Kaylee

walkerskyeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/2/2010
who knew! Ann Landers and Dear Abby are Hobbits! I expect to become as devoted to Miss Dora's advice as I've been to Dear Abby's. And another dear Baggins character to get to know.

Author Reply: Why hello! It's always so delightful to hear from you! I do hope you enjoy Miss Dora's own unique and hobbity look at the Way Things Ought to Be Done!

Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/3/2009
Dear Miss Dora,

I have read and re-read this volume many times. It is a veritable fount of Good Advice, and I have, when applicable, tried to implement such Advice as you have given. I sincerely hope this volume will one day be Completed, as I see two chapters are Missing!

I admit I am no hobbit myself, but an Elven-lass; still, I find such books quite Helpful and Admirable! As yet I have no children, yet I am sure when I do, I will take your Advice on them into account, and I have already begun to implement your Advice on Proper Meals as I will explain in replying to Relevant Chapters.

An admirer of your Writings (and those of your estimable Scribe, Dreamflower),

Kaylee Arafinwiel.

Author Reply: Dear Miss Kaylee,

I do hope your Kind Comments will Inspire my Scribe, Dreamflower, to offer the rest of my Advice soon. I am quite sure that it will be far more Useful and Informative than the more Entertaining pieces she usually sees fit to Spend her Time upon!

I am most Gratified that you find my Advice Helpful, even though you have the misfortune not to be a Hobbit!

Thank you for your Kind Words.

Sincerely,
Dora Baggins

Miss Dora was greatly flattered to recieve so many reviews, Kaylee!
Dreamflower


RobertReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2008
All these chapters are excellent - good hobbit sense wrapped delivered with just a touch too much certainty. Dora has good intentions, but her evident high opinion of herself is clear - lady bountiful graciously enlightening the less fortunate in the true Victorian style.

There is, however, at least one social minefield Dora's projected outline does not cover, that concerning respectable behaviour in inns.

Naturally, what the malefolk get up to in inns, in the absence of female company, is not something Dora would concern herself with, much, but their are times when respectable hobbit matrons must enter such establishments. When visiting relatives beyond a day's travel, one cannot always overnight with relatives during the journey. Their guest rooms may already be full, they may be themselves visiting elsewhere, or one might simply not have suitable relatives in that village.

In such cases, it becomes necessary to stay in a inn, where there are many trials to be negotiated. It would not be seemly to look too comfortable in such a place, of course, but one does not which to give offence to the innkeeper either. The other customers will include people with who one would not normally mix, and some may be under the influence. One's husband may also be tempted to act as if in his local, which can be the cause of much embarrassment, and any tweens in the party will require suitable handling.

Further, one may encounter Dwarves. While there are few of them in the Shire at any one time, it is on the main road from west to east. Why, there might be as many as a hundred dwarves passing through the shire each year, from the mountains of the far west to Bree and beyond. Rare though they are, compared to humans and elves they are practically commonplace. Any hobbit matron who does much travelling might expect to encounter dwarves perhaps once or twice a decade.

I'm sure Dora has much good advice to give on such matters.

Author Reply: "Lady bountiful", LOL! Exactly. Dora is kind-hearted and sensible in spite of her primness and her Baggins prejudices, but she also is supremely confident that she is Always Right, and that Others Will Profit from her Advice!

Hmm...yes, I scarcely touched on the subject of inns, save as something to avoid if possible. You've definitely hatched a little plot bunny. I shall feed it, and see if it grows...

Perhaps her advice on that subject might be covered in another document.

Thank you!

InklingReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/19/2007
Ah, and here’s your Miss Dora! What a fun idea to present her Book of Manners! I love how canonical this foreword is, with all the chief traits—kindness, hospitality, and (pre-Adventure, at least) predictability—drawn from Bilbo’s character in The Hobbit. Very nicely done, Dreamflower!

BTW, I thought Miss Dora would want to know that several times in the opening paragraphs she wrote “principal” instead of “principle.” In the third Principle it’s correct, though.


Author Reply: I hope you enjoy the rest of Miss Dora's Advice, LOL!

I took much of it from The Hobbit (especially the first chapter) as well as from the Prologue to LotR, and the first couple of chapters of FotR, and JRRT's Letter #214 also gave me a lot to chew on.

And thanks--Miss Dora appreciates the heads up! She will see to fixing that at once. She says to blame her scribe, rather than herself. *She* of course, was quite well aware of the right word! *grin*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/18/2006
Finally, this is ready for reading. And I've missed so much of it while I was offline!

Am looking forward to reading these, and love that Dora has offered us this chance to peek into Hobbit society.

Author Reply: I hope you enjoy it. I see Frodo's Aunt Dora as kind of a cross between Dear Abby and Miss Manners, LOL!

Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/17/2006
Hehehe. :D

Author Reply: Glad you got a giggle! *grin*

Frodo BagginsReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/3/2006
Dreamflower,
Oh my! Yes...um, well, this is quite a lot of advice!! LOL!! Very creative indeed, and she sounds like the perfect role model of the three Principles of Respectibility! What must she think of that...that...well, cousin of hers that had such an Adventure? And then there's his nephew...well, he might still have a chance. ;) LOL!! This is going to be enjoyable, mellon nin!
Namarie!
God Bless,
Frodo Baggins

Happy Fourth of July!!

Author Reply: Yes, I think Dora would have been a good role model!

I am quite sure she disapproved terribly of Bilbo's *Adventure*--horribly unrespectable, you know! But she was fond of him, all the same.

She held great hopes for him. Fortunately for her Sensibilities, she did not live long enough to hear of *his* Adventure!

Sweet Pea Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/30/2006
This is great! I love it and look forward to reading the chapters to come!

Author Reply: Thank you! I'm glad you like it!

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/27/2006
Absolutely delightful! I have not seen anything a bit like this yet. It should be as much fun to write as it was to read this. "Respectability, Hospitality, and Kindness. But she does stress that true kindness was the most important. I think you and Miss Dora have hit at the Hobbit heart, here.
I will be looking forward to the rest!

Author Reply: I am so glad you are enjoying it--it *is* fun to write! I don't have to worry about "plot" or anything like that, I just put my mind on hobbits (which is where it stays almost all the time anyway) and then kind of just cruise along.

I think that Kindness would *so* important to Hobbits. We learn that Gandalf was attracted to Hobbits by their Pity, their care and concern, for one another in a time of trouble--and what is that but Kindness?

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