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| For Eyes to See as Can by Larner | 34 Review(s) |
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| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/25/2006 |
| Those Sackville-Bagginses! They can't even see that everyone has *them* pegged as the rude ones, and the only true thing Lobelia does say, no one believes. Loved Frodo's words with them at the beginning, and then Bilbo's little talk with them. I can see why the Gaffer was having a hard time not laughing. Loved all the glimpses of Frodo fitting in with the Hobbiton folk, and teaching the young ones to read, and if anyone can deliver a Look that stops everyone in their tracks, it would be him. | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 3/25/2006 |
| I hate it when the weather can't make up it's mind. I usually avoid getting sick, but not everyone is so lucky. Poor Frodo and Bell. Having and recovering from such an illness is never fun, and it seems to be really holding onto Bell - the beginning of her final illness I suspect. What lovely Yule gifts for everyone. I can't begin to imagine what wee!Sam's story must have been, but I like that Frodo also kept it through the years and took it with him to Valinor. Author Reply: Their first truly personal gifts such as these would remain with the recipients to the end, I think. There is no indication Bell was still living at the time the quest began, but I still would like to think Frodo had been able to know her for a time after he came to Bag End. But when the flu struck in such days it often killed or weakened so many. | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/25/2006 |
| LOL to Sam trying to nod sagely! That's exactly something a kid would do, and it makes Sam all the more adorable and endearing. And then he goes and says that about Turin and Nienor (to which I agree, btw) and he completely misses the point of why they freaked out the way they did - again, exactly like a kid. So, Gandalf suspected even then what was in store for our lads? Sam's already beginning to show a flare for spying and I'm glad he hears those compliments about himself, even if he doesn't quite believe them. Author Reply: Yes, children and their understanding of what they hear and know and say and do are so often delightful, aren't they? So glad you appreciated that. I loved that description of "nodding sagely" when I first read it, and I could just see Sam responding similarly to it. Yes, I do think Gandalf would have realized here was a special pair, even if he weren't yet certain what they would be special for. As for Sam spying--well, he can't ALWAYS hide from his destiny as one intended to listen at windows as a prelude to the greatest of greatness for the ending of the age, can he? :-) | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/22/2006 |
| "The Story of a Garden" by Frodo Baggins? How lovely! The perfect gift for his Sam. I can just picture Sam curled up in bed reading his story, and I can imagine it tucked away in Bag End somewhere all those years later, most probably with all of Sam's other most valuable possessions - valuable by what they mean to him and not monetary in any sense. Has "The Story of a Garden" actually been written? If not, would you mind if I took a nab at it? And if so, where can I find it? Author Reply: No, I haven't written "The Story of a Garden" yet, nor "Joco and the Cornfield," "The Boy and the Fox," or "The Elf in the Garden," all of which I've written into my stories. Some of the stories in the books Frodo copied that Ruvemir sees in "The King's Commission" are just begging to be written one day. I intend to do a thread just devoted to them one day. Of course, you might do your own versions of any or all, I think. | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/22/2006 |
| LOL, every time Sam says "I member" it reminds me of George Lopez's comedy routine about how Mexicans tend to talk to each other: "Member?" "You member!" :D There was never any doubting Sam's loyalty to Frodo. From that first meeting, their fates were sealed. It's easily forgotten just how loyal Frodo is to Sam and you show that so simply here, with the way he helps Sam with the flowers while also making sure that Sam figures things out for himself. Author Reply: I do believe the loyalty was a two-way street between the two of them. Frodo's trust in Sam's own ability to figure out what's wrong would certainly help foster appreciation, for Frodo obviously appreciates Sam's intelligence and is willing to help him exercise it. As for "member"--glad it brings a chuckle. Leaving off or changing some prefixes is a common enough dialect feature. Glad you appear to appreciate it. | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/22/2006 |
| A good explanation for Frodo's farm raids. We both seem to agree that it was out of rebellion, though you come by it in a much different way. It's no surprise that Frodo rebelled. Living life not able to do anything, especially when you're not told *why* you can't do anything, is very frustrating for a child. He can only see the other kids going out and having fun, and not see the good intention behind his restrictions. Author Reply: I think probably most of the stories I've seen set in this period have looked at the reputation Frodo amassed during his time in Brandy Hall as the result of rebellion. And not being told why restrictions are set on you is frustrating for anyone, and particularly for adolescents. | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/22/2006 |
| Interesting to think that Frodo started life with a weak heart, when in the end it is the strength of his heart that saves all of Middle Earth. I'm slowly making my way through this, and I just love Sam's voice here. His simple way of seeing things and expressing them make this a delightful yet quite insightful tale. Author Reply: So glad you are making your way through it. Was my first story posted here--or anywhere, for that fact. Many infants have been born with heart murmurs and then have grown out of them as they matured. I felt this could make a plausible reason why Frodo might indeed end up being seen as the greatest rascal in Brandy Hall, and why in the end Bilbo would be moved to adopt Frodo at the fairly advanced age of 21 or 22. But you are right--the strength of his heart during the quest was never questioned. And am so glad you appreciate Sam's voice in the story. | |
| Endaewen | Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 2/17/2006 |
| This was beautiful. Author Reply: Thank you very much for the indication of how much you enjoyed it and that you found it beautiful. The feedback makes the writing worthwhile. | |
| Endaewen | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 2/17/2006 |
| That sounds just like Gandalf at the end of this chapter. Author Reply: Oh, I'm so glad you think so. This was the first story I posted, and I'm always pleased to see someone else discover it. Again, I tried to stay as true to the characters as possible, although I did make Sam a bit more complicated than Tolkien did--but then I think he'd have to be a lot smarter than he'd generally let on to keep up with Frodo. | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 27 on 1/27/2006 |
| Oh...my... Yes, I've come back and read it again, all in one go. When I first stumbled upon this fic, and found you, this seemed a tale so real, so very believable, so much more, so far beyond what I thought fanfiction could be, that it just rendered me speechless and made my heart swell to bursting with a feeling I still can't describe. Now, rereading it, it seems more within my grasp, but no less amazing. It still leaves me feeling ready to weep with the sheer magnitude, but unable to do so. I won't ask how you did it-that's a vain question. But I will tell you that this may be the most-for lack of a better word-glorious piece of fanfiction I ever hope to read. And this certainly won't be the last time I read it, either. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I will try to respond to this tonight. I am still responding from the server, to which I cannot yet transfer files, not until the desktop is repaired. To have people reread a story is a pleasure and a joy; and to have it praised so highly is a greater one. The first fanfiction stories I read were by Chip of Dale, also known as Tom Fairbairn, particularly his short story "Changes" in which he describes Frodo's thoughts in the movie moment of going aboard the ship at the Grey Havens. Then I began reading Baylor's works, and then that of others, until I read Lindelea's "A Small and Passing Thing," which directly inspired this story. It's a wonderful thing to find that I am now inspiring others as I myself was inspired. You yourself have quite a gift, and I hope you continue to exercise it. It will be a pleasure, when you are becoming famous, to be able to tell my friends, "I remember when she was first beginning to post fanfiction." Thank you. | |