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A Small and Passing Thing  by Lindelea 2 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 65 on 4/25/2023
Rather fatalistic. Don't blame them for wanting to weep.

Now, is the letter behind Butterbur's mantel clock destined to follow the fate of the last one Gandalf entrusted to the innkee per?

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 65 on 11/11/2003
This chapter, I like much better.

Frodo’s conversation with his cousin is still grounded in the here and now. Frodo doesn’t say goodbye, not even just in case. He’s thinking about Sam and Merry and Pippin, and leaving notes for them all is a good idea. The way things turn out, he’s going to have to leave one for Freddy as well.

I wonder about Frodo setting all things to right, before leaving. Not so much as a word to Freddy with his parcel. He's a conspiracy all by himself - thought it seems Gandalf is meddling in this one. What a hoot to have Gandalf send a letter through Butterbur. I'm really, really hoping that the fear of being melted came back to his mind, and that he didn't leave the letter behind the pot. I guess that you did this in part to set up the ambiguity in the next chapter, but it’s funny all by itself too.

Frodo’s presents to his friends are perfect, especially the forget-me-nots. I don’t remember whether you gave Frodo blue eyes or not: is that why Viola says the color reminds her of him? Of all the things Elijah Wood has done well or poorly in his movie portrayal of Frodo, his eyes are what’s changed most everyone’s mental picture of the character. The lovely hobbit custom of giving friends and family personal gifts of thanksgiving on their birthdays lets Frodo say goodbye without words. I like the memory of Merry’s waggonload of apples, and the book reminding Freddy of Frodo’s care during his own time of darkness, and a symbol of the way the roles have reversed. (Have you read Letter 214 on hobbit customs, which mentions that hobbits do also receive birthday presents signifying kinship, from the head of the hobbit family and second cousins or nearer kin who live within 12 miles, usually on the eve of the birth day; and which is the source of Smeagol’s complaint that the ring should have been his birthday present?)

I’ve also read your note at the end. My sympathies on the struggles writing this part of the story must be. You’ve really taken on the hardest task there is in Tolkien canon.


Author Reply: Thanks for the sympathy! The last chapter is giving me fits. Still, I am eager to finish so I can get back to "Shire" or "Solid Ground" or the story where Faramir and Ferdi really do go to Gondor, and then there's Frodo-and-Daisy's wedding...

I have misplaced my book of Tolkien's letters (perhaps some little hobbit has it under her bed), but will make a note of looking for letter 214 when it emerges again.

I have deliberately not mentioned the colour of Frodo's eyes in any of my stories, and left the reference here purposely ambiguous. For those readers who see Elijah Wood as Frodo, they are welcome to think that his eyes reflect the colour of Viola's forget-me-nots. For others, it might be a reminder of a bouquet that Frodo picked for the breakfast table while visiting, perhaps near the end of the visit when he was well enough to get out of bed.

Frodo does not know at this point in the story that the Havens is an option (but you know that now, having read later chapters before I got around to answering this review). It is a good thing that he was already setting all his affairs in order anyhow, for his anticipated death, so that he could go off on short notice to the Havens and yet not leave unfinished business behind.

Thanks once again for a thoughtful review.

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