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Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners  by Dreamflower 10 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/20/2016
My Dear Miss Dora, and Dreamflower,

I come at Last to the Final (Current) Chapter of your Book (which the Index informs me Ought to be Second-Last...I would Hate to think your Estimable Scribe had Misplaced It!)

Here I will Admit having given my Own Father the most Severe Cut Direct. I have Shunned him Entirely, Refusing his Presence and Forbidding him Contact of Any Sort. Our Local Authorities have Decreed It, and for nearly the Past Year, we have not Seen or Spoken to one Another. However, October (At that Point, it would be Blotmath in the Shire) Draws ever Nearer, and I must Face him to Renew this Order. I am afraid, Miss Dora. Afraid of what he'll look like. Afraid of what he'll say. Afraid of what the Courts will do. He was Shunned so Thoroughly that even Indirect Contact was not permitted - and he Broke that Rule four times. I had to call our Shirriffs (Police, as we call them) each time, but I do not Know what Happened. I Tremble to think what he will Do. If the Specter of him still Overshadows me, how can I Face him Again? Was it a Mistake for me to Shun him? And if the Court decides in His Favour, will he Hurt me Again?

I wish I did not Worry so Much, but I do not know How to Stop.

Your very worried friend and reader,

Kaylee

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/9/2010
Just beginning to Catch Up on my post-Lent Reading here and this is Just Adorable! I can so Hear Dora's Voice here. :)

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/3/2010
Doing a bit of early morning reading and I agree with Miss Dora on this point:

(A wise Parent may Use the Opportunity to Explain to a faunt, so that he or she might Learn from the Experience. Babes who have yet to Master Language will not Benefit, and should never be Scolded or Punished, as they have no Idea what they have Done.)

I have seen so many parents yell at children too small to realize what they have done. It always makes me angry. Go, Miss Dora!

Aunt DoraReviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/28/2010
I just started reading Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners. Dreamflower, these lesson are wonderful! You've captured Dora just the way I've envisioned her.

Author Reply: I'm so glad to hear that! Even though we never actually meet her in canon, just that little bit about her when Bilbo leaves his parting gift is such a perfect snapshot of her personality: clearly one who is confident in knowing what's right, and able to tell others her opinion! The fact that Bilbo felt comfortable in giving her a humorous present shows that they must have been fond of one another, in spite of the general disapproval of Bilbo's Adventure!

I just kind of built on those hints.

rickReviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/27/2010
This is great! Miss Dora and Miss Manners no doubt would get along splendidly. I notice there is not a chapter heading on your latest - is that on purpose, or to illustrate the point of the chapter?
Looking forward to the next chapter...

Author Reply: No, it was not on purpose! Apparently I missed getting it in the field when I copy-pasted the chapter into the text-box! Thank you for your sharp eyes! All fixed now!

And I am glad you think Miss Dora would get along with Miss Manners. I am a great fan of Judith Martin, and Miss Dora is partly a tribute to her!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/26/2010
Many words have changed meanings over the years, as have "receipt" and "ague" and so on. And I have often worked words used by Rosemary Sutcliff in her writing into my own fanfiction stories, as they add to the more archaic feel of the works.

And some unusual spellings are valid, no matter what the spell-checker in most word processing programs might proclaim.

Author Reply: Most certainly they have! And we are following in JRRT's own footsteps when we choose to use the more archaic forms of words-- as did he on many occasions!

Spell-checkers can do some strange things. I recall one time having to basically fight with my spellchecker to get it to stop turning the word "tourney" into "journey" (which of course made no sense!) I finally defeated it, but it was a long and frustrating struggle!

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/23/2010
Great chapter!

In the case of the Latter, when such Persons cannot be Politely Avoided ( for this may sometimes be the case when there are Family Connexions), it is best to Maintain One's Dignity.

The Art of Doing this was Perfected by a certain Meriadoc Brandybuck who turned an Insult into a Compliment when Lobelia S.B. called his cousin Frodo a "Brandybuck" ;-)

Author Reply: Aunt Dora says that young Meriadoc is a worthy grandson of her dear friend Menegilda, and that even at so tender an age he was well able to Defend the Family Honour! And to do it with Humour, as well!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/22/2010
I rejoice as always to acknowledge Aunt Dora's wisdom! Hooray for the old girl!

Author Reply: *grin* Aunt Dora thanks you for your kind words!

Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/22/2010
Dear Miss Dora,

It is Wonderful to see yet another Chapter of your Book is Finally Published! It is well for me to Know about how one might offer Apology to those I might Offend, though I would most Certainly not do so Purposely.

(Well, I can think of maybe One or Two exceptions, but your Gentle Reader assures you, Miss Dora, they Deserve being Cut.)

I am so very glad your Estimable Scribe, Dreamflower, has consented to Write More. I look forward to More CHapters soon!

Your faithful Reader,

Kaylee Arafinwiel



Author Reply: My Dear Miss Kaylee!

I am Certain that you would never Intend to Offend, and that you would Apologise Promptly and Prettily if you did so by Accident!

I do hope you never have the Need to Administer the Cut Direct to Anyone! That would be Unfortunate indeed!

Dreamflower here: Miss Dora has been pestering me a good deal lately! I am sure it will not be nearly so long before I update again!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/22/2010
I always think that your current chapter is the best, so this one is of course my current favorite! I love Aunt Dora. No wonder hobbit society is so well ordered, and it's obvious now why it's so unusual for someone to act in ways that are Other Than Expected.

Author Reply: *grin* Yes, the weight of custom and tradition are very heavy in stratified societies like the Shire! The fear of Poor Opinion would be a lot more of a deterrent than any laws might be!

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