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A Small and Passing Thing  by Lindelea 3 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 58 on 4/23/2023

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 58 on 11/3/2003
"...but listen to the last few chapters before you offer an opinion." Oh, that's hard! I love to speculate and guess what direction you're going in (although I'm wrong probably more than I'm right.) Right now, I'm guessing Fatty finishes the writing, and the fact that the handwriting changes tells a story of Frodo's deterioration, that he could not pen the end of the tale up to the last days before leaving.

Also in the realm of speculation, I read an intersting discourse in the Reading Room of TORn today on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as it could have applied to Frodo. Again, pure speculation as to its applicability to Frodo, your interpretation of the 'darkness' the hobbits must fight, or to the direction of this story, but if you're interested, the URL for that post is
http://www.theonering.net/rumour_mill/rpg/viewer/readingroom/3FA6554000016F2A.html
The current chapter discussion is about 'Many Partings' but I'm sure the subject will come up again when we get to the Havens, and I'll be interested to see if the people there feel the same frustration as you do about Frodo's deterioration seeming too sudden.

Author Reply: Fascinating discussion. Thanks for the link. I'll be interested in the discussion of "The Grey Havens" too. After reading "Grey Havens" again, I think my story will fit in fairly well. Sam might even notice Frodo's deterioration--there's no hint that he doesn't, only that he's surprised that Frodo sails with the elves, having expected (or perhaps only hoped) that Frodo would be able to enjoy the Shire for the rest of his days.

We shall see. It was bothering me, that one so attentive as Sam would miss the signs of illness, but thinking about it more, I'm getting it worked out. He might notice, and dismiss it (we see what we want to see), or he might notice and be more determined than ever to watch over Frodo and build him up again, or there might be a progression from one attitude to the other. The outline is not *that* clear on Sam's attitude, though it is quite clear about Frodo's. Each new chapter is a revelation for me as well as the reader.

Tim the EnchanterReviewed Chapter: 58 on 11/1/2003
Someone else finished the story - I suspect Freddy or Estella. I love the subtext to the 'reading' scenes, poor Sam is finding himself torn in two again. To go to Frodo means leaving behind his family. And he really ought to take a copy of the completed red book with him, writers love to see their finished products.

Author Reply: Insightful guess. Hmmmm, wonder about the possibility of that copy... I suppose it is possible. Will think on it. Yes, the story has an element of "Scheherezade" (I may well have misspelt that), the story spinning out--so long as the story lasts, Sam will stay, but no story goes on forever...

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