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Library of the Lesser Smials  by Pipkin Sweetgrass 7 Review(s)
nautikaReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 2/11/2007
I've never seen Ioreth quite so kindly done. Grin. I just cant imagine taking something as simple as crab and turning it into a Boromir story. Thank you so much for sharing it!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 2/8/2007
I read this in the collection you folks put together, and I do love it, and love it still.

Yes, we're soft inside, like the crabs.

Love to turn over rocks on the beach and find the little Dungeness crabs scurrying for new cover.

SlightlyTookishReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 11/30/2006
This is a delightful story. I loved Ioreth's tender care of Pippin and the story she told of young Boromir and Faramir. Lovely work :)

Author Reply: Thank you so very much! But thank Lindelea too, it was her bunny!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 11/29/2006
I don't see much of a hard shell around Pippin ever--I fear he's very much a soft-shell crab in my own estimation.

But I love the story and love the image of the old nurse leaning down in spite of her arthritis to kiss Pippin's cheek.

Author Reply: I'm glad you liked the story! I think what I may have missed in getting
the point across is the "tough as old roots" thing, which Tolkien
himself said. Plus, Pippin did grow up a lot during the quest. After all he
did threaten to give a bad guy a taste of that troll's bane during
the scouring of the Shire... Anyway, that was my point. I hope my
explaination helped you to see what I was trying to do. Thanks again ever so
much for the kind review!

KittyReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 11/29/2006
Imrahil is right, I think; the shells are a fitting comparison. And Boromir was so sweet, wanting to take care of his little brother even at his own tender age. I think Boromir took his duty very seriously and protected Faramir until the fateful trip to Imladris. It seems they have never the obvious favouritism of their father allowed to get between them.
Though I disagree with Ioreth about the 'lambs'. They are nice, all three, of course, but lambs? A wolf in sheep's clothing, more likely. They're warriors, after all - even Pippin has become one.

Just accidentally discovered your 'Beecharmed: Missing scenes' at ff.net. Do you plan to post them here, too? Reviewing is so much better here at SoA.

Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked it! Oh, I didn't mean that I thought they were
lambs. With Ioreth, however, I wanted to show how very protective and even
biased we can be about our loved ones. I imagine a nurse would be very
protective of her charges. Especially in regard to two orphaned boys and
an irrepressible little charmer like Pippin... Also, the shells are a
coming-of-age thing. A crab must shed its shell to grow, you see. I had
great fun with this fic and I hope you'll visit the Lesser Smials
often.

The missing scenes will find themselves in the new Beecharmer. I just
think they'll fill it out. And watch for some real surprises. And I mean
doozies, too.

hugs,

Pipkin

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 11/29/2006
“A lamb, I tell you,”

Good lessons learned in this sweet tale. Boromir and Faramir have a rougher life ahead of them than anyone guessed, I'm sure, and their shells grew to be quite solid. But it is clear from LOTR that they kept their soft spots. Especially when hobbits were involved.

Wonderfully done, Pipkin!

Author Reply: *hugs you*

shireboundReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 11/29/2006
Too soon you will have shells of your own to protect you, when you grow to be men. Yet when you are grown to manhood, do not forget, you may be hard on the outside, but inside, keep a soft spot or two, for those whom you hold dear.”

What a perfect analogy between the vulnerable boys (or injured hobbit) and the crabs. This is wonderful. Dear Ioreth -- all her charges will always be her "lambs", won't they? :D

Author Reply: Thank you so very much! Yes, they will always be her lambs! After all,
one such as she is bound to be a bit biased! And in some ways she is
right, they were lambs, even if not *all* the time, LOL!

hugs,

Pipkin

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