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Making Acquaintance  by Bodkin 23 Review(s)
paranoidangelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/8/2008
I love this, especially Pippin in the tree and Gandalf catching him.

svadilfariReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/24/2007
This is excellent. You are a really great writer, Bodkin. You do have such a way of capturing folks, animals and even inanimate objects that bring colour and life into them. Small things like the twitching of a nose, the bending branch and nuts for missiles. Oh, and your nom de plume is so darling.

Author Reply: Thank you, svadilfari. I'm very flattered. I do love incorporating senses other than sight - and have to control my more flowery elements! I'm glad you like the name - although it was chosen for pretty random reasons!

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/10/2007
I loved this! Brave Merry! And a very appropriate way for Pippin to meet Gandalf. Merry will indeed be held to his word. Great story.

Author Reply: Thank you, elliska!

I do think Merry had a particular dogged sort of courage, together with a well-developed sense of what being his father's son required of him. And Pippin - well - what better way for Gandalf to make his acquaintance?

Although attracting the attention of wizards does not always have very comfortable results ...

docmonReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/13/2007
that was sweet. nice job.

Author Reply: Thank you, docmon! I'm glad you liked it.

cathleenReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/4/2007
Wonderful tale, it made me laugh aloud! Hee, I can just picture Gandalf catching Pip in his arms as well as Merry's exasperation with his little cousin!
Cathleen

Author Reply: Thank you, Cathleen! And Gandalf just would be at the right place at the right time - after all, a wizard arrives exactly when he means to ...

Merry must be exasperated by Pippin at times - he is just so irrepressible! But, fortunately, he also seems to have luck on his side!

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/22/2007
O I am so glad I looked at the "main page" today! I didn't get an email "chapter alert" of this!

So much to grin at.

The lad sounded remarkably cheerful for someone halfway up a tree.

hard brown hail
such a way with words and word-pictures

watchful silence, so beautifully described

"You have been set to guard the Bounds?"
*snork*

The child appeared to fall as slowly as a drop of setting jam from a spoon, as slowly as thick honey running down a jar, as slowly as flake of snow drifting from a windless sky – and yet, at the same time, in the space between heartbeats, the big person had caught him and swung him round, clasping the young hobbit to his chest as if he was meant to be there.
perfect depiction of the tricks played by time and perception in an emergency

"inevitable"
Your Gandalf sounds so very... gandalfy.

And of course the dinner reference, yes, a perfect ending to a hobbity tale.

I do love birthday surprises! Thanks!

Author Reply: I hope you had a good birthday, Lindelea. And thank you - I'm glad you liked it! I don't often set out to write hobbits - but really, for your birthday, it was more or less compulsory!

Time is a very strange thing - so elastic - and able to be short and endless at the same time! Gandalf would be impelled, I think, to be in certain places when he was needed - and I enjoyed his amusement at being thought of purely by his connection to Cousin Bilbo. I think he would have liked that!


Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/21/2007
(the youngest and most exasperating cousin a hobbit could ever have.) I just love this line! It describes Pippin so very well and it must have been exactly how Merry felt at times. This was wonderful and I enjoyed Gandalf in this very much.

Author Reply: The most exasperating cousin a hobbit could have - but one Merry wouldn't exchange for anything! Although there must have been moments when he wouldn't have minded a cousin break.

Thank you, Grey Wonderer, I'm glad you enjoyed Gandalf making the acquaintance of two young hobbits - at just the right moment, too!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/20/2007
Oh, what a marvelous first encounter? And he arrived just at the right, most necessary time. He does in this case serve indeed as a guardian angel, much as he was intended to be from the first; and he now sees the descendants of Marcho and Blanco as they are figured in the current generation, two he will come to love and esteem beyond almost all the Hobbits he's been blessed to known.

Author Reply: Gandalf couldn't have turned up at a better moment, could he? Meant, I daresay. For all people have choice, there is a definite unravelling of fate with a lot of what goes on. Gandalf needed to know Merry and Pippin - and see Merry's courage and protectiveness and Pippin's courage and curiosity.

Thank you, Larner - I'm glad you liked it.

DotReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/20/2007
Hobbits! What a lovely story. You’ve done a great job with Merry and Pippin. They’re two distinct people and very recognisable – especially Pippin’s curiosity and openness and Merry’s determination and courage. I love how cheery Pippin is even in the face of Merry’s exasperation! The part that really made me laugh out loud was Gandalf being referred to as “Cousin Bilbo’s Gandalf.” I bet that amused him too. I can really feel how much he enjoys being around hobbits. If there is ever anything I can do for you, I will. Word of a Took. […] You can call on both of us. I thought that was a wonderful, poignant moment as these two seal a fate that they don’t yet know is theirs. This was simply gorgeous.



Author Reply: Hobbits, indeed! I don't usually centre my thoughts on hobbits - but, for Lindelea, it's more or less obligatory! But Merry and Pippin have great personalities and are fun to imagine. I'll bet Gandalf stored being Cousin Bilbo's Gandalf away to relish over the years - and possibly to bring up just when it could make Pippin blush and forget his worries for a bit.

And Gandalf is great at turning up just at the right moment - as a wizard would be! As well as recognising predestined moments!

Thank you, Dot. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/20/2007
Lovely, Bodkin. It's amusing that Pippin recognized Gandalf from Bilbo's stories. He's a perceptive little thing. And Gandalf always has plans. What a scary acquaintance he's be even if he is "all right" for a big person.

Author Reply: I'm surprised more people didn't go into hiding when Gandalf turned up! Storm-crow seems a most appropriate name for him! Even hobbits weren't immune to his tornado-like qualities, either. Look at Bilbo! And Isengar Took.

I suspect he found being described as an appendix to Bilbo quite entertaining though. And Pippin is sharp - and inquisitive. While Merry is a protector, I think. By nature and training.

Thank you, daw!

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