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| Oak and Willow by Marnie | 74 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| melian | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/13/2004 |
| It's finished already? Waaah! It's such a lovely story that I want it to go on forever! =) By the way, just to let you know: A few days ago, I got a notification that Oak & Willow had a new chapter up, so I clicked on it and was brought to "Those Who Loved Tinuviel", which was within the O&W page. Today it seems to have been corrected. Just fyi. You're my favorite fanfic writer and I hope you have more stories (especially about Celeborn!) to give us. My best regards to you. Author Reply: Thanks, Melian! It doesn't seem like 'already' to me. It seems like this damn story has been hanging over my head for years, making life miserable for me. When did it turn into a romance? I *hate* romance - and here I was writing one. I'm very pleased indeed that people liked it, but I'm also very glad it's over. Yes, everything's in its right order now, thank goodness :) And now I can get down to writing that story about how Celeborn finally finds his grandfather that I wanted to tell. I'm very flattered that you like my stuff so much. I hope I have one or two things left to tell. Thanks again! | |
| Bejai | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/13/2004 |
| Well, 17 was a good chapter, but I completely understand your exhaustion. I couldn't help but snerk everytime I saw your description of this story: a "short telling" of the First Age. Ha. And Luthien and Beren ... As bad as Amroth and Nimrodel or Romeo and Juliet, who I always want to scream at to GET A GRIP. It would have been interesting to see it from the point of view of those around them, but I fear it would have been quite the grind to write. I had one chapter of that here a few weeks ago, and couldn't imagine going on for 10, just to wade through to get the stuff you're interested in. I do think you should publish 17 as a short, perhaps tweaked just a bit so it is a one-shot. There were some breathtaking images! I hope to see you write the more interesting parts as the First Age starts to wind down, and maybe some of the other nontraditional ideas you've mentioned. A fresh start is always a good thing! I would much rather have you cheerful and interested in what you're doing than burned out. Author Reply: LOL! Well it was meant to be short! It also wasn't meant to be a romance - but Galadriel shoved her oar in there. You know, I think she's a secret Mills and Boon reader. I have a muse who has a secret fluffy pink side :) Yes, it was the prospect of Mary-Sue Luthien and characterless Beren, and their delightful traipse through Beleriand spreading doom and disfortune in a quest for true love, which finally made me throw in the towel. Celeborn and Galadriel are about bearable as a couple, but B+L? I know it seems heretical to Tolkien, but no, I can't stand them. As you see, chapter 17 has now been reposted as a stand alone - that was a good idea, thanks! And I am keen to do the Elmo story. After that, I don't know, we'll have to see :) Thanks for the sympathy - it's quite needed. I do feel rather guilty, but on the other hand also rather liberated! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/13/2004 |
| Chapter 17 has gone! It was there one minute and gone the next! So decisive of you. I'm glad I got to read it. | |
| Sphinx | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/13/2004 |
| *quiet panic* It's over? *confused* Hope everything's well. Author Reply: Sorry about that! I did write what was going to be the first chapter of the next section, and posted it here and at FF.net. Then I checked my synopsis and realized I had 10 chapters of Beren and Luthien to get through before I could get back to the interesting stuff with Celeborn in it. I couldn't face it. I just couldn't. So eventually I decided to cut my losses. The position with O+W was that it was always intended to be the story of the First Age, from the Sindar POV. In order for it to flow chronologically from the bit we've just had, to the other interesting bit (with the dwarves, the war of wrath, and C+G finally getting married) it *had to* pass through the Beren and Luthien bit. But I couldn't bear the Beren and Luthien bit. Therefore what I decided to do instead was end O+W with C+G getting betrothed (which is a natural end, after all), and then (hopefully) start a new story with the Silmaril and dwarf + marriage stuff. Thus neatly getting rid of what was going to be ten chapters of ghastliness in the middle of the story. I will post the missing chapter under the title 'Those who Loved Luthien', on the faint premise that one day I might like to tell that story too - so you can see what it was like. But I like the idea that I could get rid of all that stuff and go straight to Celeborn versus Carcharoth ;) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 10/13/2004 |
| Does it sound horrible to say that in some ways I shall be quite relieved to be spared the comings and goings of Tolkien's own Romeo and Juliet? There's quite a range of things about the story that I find . . less than appealing - it seems like a romance from a distance, but it's not really, except in the same sense as R and J, which also drives me to drink - I tend to think that they would both have been improved by a swift left hook early in the proceedings, but it's Friar Lawrence who REALLY makes me cringe. On the other hand, if it means no more Oak and Willow, I'm not so happy, because I like seeing C and G develop their relationship and the First Age stuff is fascinating. It could just spare Luthien and Beren (since changing the story to make it more bearable isn't on.) Hopefully you have another project simmering, which is just DYING to be written and I will have to look forward to that. Author Reply: It doesn't sound at all horrible - since that's the very reason I pulled it in the first place. I don't like Luthien - who's such a Mary Sue, I don't like Beren, who's got no character at all. The real hero is a dog, who is also the most blatant deus ex machina, and it's one long grind of misery and angst throughout. I feel the same about Romeo and juliet, btw :) The position with O+W was that it was always intended to be the story of the First Age, from the Sindar POV. In order for it to flow chronologically from the bit we've just had, to the other interesting bit (with the dwarves, the war of wrath, and C+G finally getting married) it *had to* pass through the Beren and Luthien bit. But I can't face the Beren and Luthien bit. Therefore what I'll do instead is end O+W with C+G getting betrothed (which is a natural end, after all), and then (hopefully) start a new story with the Silmaril and dwarf + marriage stuff. Thus neatly getting rid of what was going to be the middle of the story. I still rather fancy telling the story of Celeborn v the Dwarves! I am rather running out of steam with the fandom as well though. The thought of this huge story that I didn't really want to write hanging over me was taking all the enjoyment out of it for me. I feel rather liberated by having finished it! If I start the next one, it'll be a fresh start, and that will be better for me. Marnie :-) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 10/12/2004 |
| Oh good, I've been looking forward to more of this. Luthien, Beren and Daeron - there's something about their story that makes me a bit uncomfortable. You know, it's the sort of thing that works as a legend in the distant past, but close up it's . . . well, uncomfortable is the best word I can think of at half past five in the morning. And it must be most bizarre still to be there in later ages, when people are singing the lays of ancient legends - and you knew these people as cousins and friends, kings and heroes. It'd be like going to school with King Arthur. Author Reply: Thanks for the review, Bodkin. There's something about the Beren + Luthien story that makes me uncomfortable too. I feel really sorry for Thingol and Daeron, and Beren + Luthien don't seem to do anything but fall into traps and cause disaster to everyone they come across. It feels a bit disrespectful to Tolkien not to like it, since it was his favourite, but I don't. As a matter of fact, I don't like it so much that having started to tell it, I find I can't face going on. Sad though it is, I've had a sudden rethink and decided that it would be better to end this story at the end of chapter 16, then maybe start a new one when the Silmaril arrives in Doriath. I thought I'd be able to handle the Beren/Luthien story as long as I wrote it from Thingol's pov, but I find I can't after all. I am sorry to mislead you like that, but I simply don't think I can take any more romance! | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 10/12/2004 |
| Oh good. I didn't have to wait long for this to continue since I only recently finished reading the first part. The second part looks like it is going to have a great deal of fodder for interesting complications and again the descriptions are great. I know very little about Luthien. It has been a year since I last read that story. Poor Daeron. I am truly looking forward to your updates. Author Reply: Many thanks for the review, Elliska! Alas, now I have to apologise to you for misleading you. I started this part of the story in high spirits, with a proper plot plan (8-10 chapters long) and everything. But now I simply can't face going on with it. My heart revolts from it with nausea. So I think that, after all, there isn't going to be any more of Oak and Willow. Though there *may* be a sequel in the dim future in which I finally get C+G hitched. I can't take any more of it. And the sight of my synopsis - all 20 unwritten chapters of it - is more than I can bear. I'm sorry. The enjoyment has well and truely gone out of it for me, and I think I'd rather quit while I'm ahead than leave it half way through another major part. At least Chapter 16 was some sort of resolution; since he proposed and she said yes. I guess that will have to do. Sorry! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 10/12/2004 |
| That's a clever explanation for Thingol's ban, Marnie. Well done. Author Reply: Thanks, Daw! It struck me that if that was what he dreamed of then not only would it explain the ban, but it would also explain the way he treated Beren. Sadly, having started the story I don't think I can face finishing it, so this may be all there is. Sorry! | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/10/2004 |
| What a phenomenal description. I have not seen this topic done anywhere and this chapter captures it so perfectly. Awesome! | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/10/2004 |
| I reviewed the first two chapters on Open Scrolls but since I enjoyed this so much, I will do it here too. As I said, I love your history of writing here. I am a former language teacher and this is right up my ally. | |