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| The Way Home by Lindelea | 222 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/16/2026 |
| Oh, no! What's happened to Bob? | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/15/2026 |
| This ought to be interesting! What are the ponies going to take part in, a parade? A town festival of some kind? Clearly not a summer festival, since it's wintertime! Author Reply: A winter festival sounds quite promising! However, this soon after the battle and their losses, somehow I can't see them having the heart to celebrate, even if the town has kept the tradition of a winter celebration before this time. Maybe they'll start having winter festivities after the King comes back? No, but the celebration in the stables is all for Bob's benefit on his returning to work, for it's the best way those who appreciate him can think of to honor him – through the polished appearance of "his" horses and ponies and the thoroughly scrubbed and shined and ordered stables, that is. Thanks! | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/15/2026 |
| He’s so careful about naming people, but I don’t know how he keeps his “Bob”s straight. “Which part?” LOL I’m not going to try to figure that out either ;) The title had me fooled. I thought “his Sam” was coming back. Did you do that on purpose? Don't get me wrong -- that's not to say I'm not glad "This-Bob-the-ostler" is back on his feet. Author Reply: Why, there's Tall Bob and then there's Bob, you know! And first impressions make a deep impression. Bill was introduced to Bob-the-hobbit with something like "This is Bob, the ostler" (thus, he's "this-Bob"), while I've imagined the ostler talking to Samwise and Bill afterwards, and pointing out Bob-the-man in terms of "That's Tall Bob; he's one of the grooms here. If you can't find any hobbits here and about, feel free to ask him if you need anything else. Why, I should think he knows nearly as much as I do." Also, "Tall Bob" might be too close to "Tall Hat" for Bill's taste, which is why he's stuck with "that-Bob". At least, that's my story, and I'm sticking with it. I suppose you might call the title "a spot of foreshadowing"? | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/14/2026 |
| Delightful! I'm picturing Bill all groomed and plaited and be-ribboned... and full of joy. Author Reply: It's so much fun to picture him this way! The thought makes me grin. Thanks! | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 57 on 3/7/2026 |
| Interesting that he seems to have gotten more intelligent along the way through all this -- now he can count higher, etc. Little Violet is going to be so sad when her "poppet" goes home with "his" Sam. Hopefully the hobbit(s) and the pony can visit her in Bree once in a while. Author Reply: He's grown and changed through his experiences; and part of his transformation, I think, can be attributed to Bill leaving behind his self-limiting attitude of being "just a pony". Rubbing elbows with Rangers and Elves and heroic Hobbits and a Wizard or two has been good for him, it seems. Poor little Violet. And yet, there's a plot point, one I can't quite reveal yet, that will bring her comfort when Bill must depart. Hopefully that's enough of a hint (and not a spoiler) to set your mind at ease. We are in the midst of a long stretch of mostly-fluff, after all, the kind of thing Tolkien did not write about as a rule. Perhaps he found them boring? Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway. (from The Hobbit) Thanks! It's good to hear from you. I like your idea of the hobbit(s) (and Bill!) travelling to Bree once in a while. Maybe, for starters, Sam travels there with Deputy Mayor Frodo (and Pippin and Merry as the Thain's and Master's representatives?) What a fun idea to contemplate! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 57 on 3/7/2026 |
| That-Bob leans against the pasture fence and laughs at our antics – for such a tall Man, he laughs as much as any Hobbit I've known, and perhaps more. Perhaps his name ought to have been Merry, and the sometimes-Merry hobbit ought to have been named Bob? It's lovely that Bill is so safe and cared for that he can indulge in such whimsical and entertaining thoughts. Bert and Violet are such sweet companions. You'll see your Sam again, dear Bill! Author Reply: It'll seem like forever, but Sam will return! (I'm so glad to have that foreknowledge!) It's been very comforting to work on this part of the story and let Bill be Bill; in other words, to allow him to live the carefree life of a well-kept, even well-loved pony. (As shown in the short story "Flower Fest", he'll enjoy much the same loving and respectful treatment when he comes to live at Bag End, of course, so this is just a taste of good things to come!) Thanks so much for reading and pausing long enough to share your thoughts. I do appreciate it. | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 57 on 3/6/2026 |
| Bill doesn't know it, of course, but he will be reunited with Sam in the fall. In the meantime, he's got a little girl to help amuse! =) Author Reply: He will help amuse her and keep her from worrying about her poor dad, and she will return the favor, I'm sure, and help Bill not fret about his absent Sam. It's almost as if some power for Good has been looking out for the two of them! (It's nice to imagine such, anyhow.) Thanks so much! | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/2/2026 |
| Funny how animals know. I've been told that police dogs can tell the difference between criminals and innocent bystanders. And I'm glad Bill wasn't seriously hurt. Author Reply: I still remember clearly an incident that happened when we'd had our rescued Giant Schnauzer for less than a week. We lived in an inner-urban neighborhood. McDonald's (a huge treat for the littles at the time, though their tastes have become much more sophisticated these days) was only a mile away. It was such a pleasant day, we walked to McDonald's for lunch. I gave eldest the money to order food, and I sat at an outside table with the littler ones and the dog. A nice older gentleman sat down at the next table, and we had a pleasant conversation as we ate our respective lunches, and the dog (remember, we had only had her for a few days and were still getting to know each other) was friendly and well-mannered. Then a young man sat down at another nearby table. The dog's hackles immediately went up, and she started a low growl that continued until the young man shook his head, grinned at us, and got up and walked inside the restaurant. The older man leaned in towards us, nodded subtly towards the restaurant, and then shook his head and told us we'd "got a good dog there". Our other dogs down the years have also seemed to have that ability to distinguish between harmless people and threats. My dad used to claim that dogs could smell a difference in people. I have no idea whether it's the sense of smell or some other sense, but it's amazing, no matter how it works. Thanks so much for reading, and for pausing to share your thoughts! I really appreciate them. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/2/2026 |
And so I put my nose in his hand and rest it there to convey my consent. He seems to understand I love little moments like this, where there is trust and understanding and gentleness. Author Reply: The small, mundane moments can be so comforting, especially nowadays. (((hugs))) to you, dear friend. Now that I've finished revising the next chapter from the draft of the story, and have posted it, I'm going to go and provide a lap for one or another cat for the rest of the day, most probably. We must take our blessings where we can find them... Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts. I do appreciate them. | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 56 on 3/1/2026 |
| Hmm? I wonder if Bill's going to be making friends with a little girl while he's waiting for his hobbits to return? To be her "poppet"? =) Author Reply: I just find little kids so amazing and adorable, with their ready generosity, constant curiosity, and vivid imagination. Violet, who would be about five or six years old in human years, adores ponies (I think she'd be called "horse crazy" in our world) and can't think of anything better than visiting her dad and her cousin Bert in The Prancing Pony's stables. Along with the ponies and horses there, of course. In case you were wondering, Bert is orphaned; his mother was a sister to Bob and Nob, and Bob took him in when his parents died. It's in the background to the story as I fleshed out the characters named in Tolkien's narrative, but since it's not spelled out in the draft chapters, I don't know if it will come out in the story. And yes, Violet has decided that Bill's proper name is Poppet, and no one can tell her otherwise. :) Author Reply: p.s. Thanks so much for reading, and for sharing your thoughts! | |