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| A Healer's Tale by Lindelea | 12 Review(s) |
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| Ariel | Reviewed Chapter: 37 on 7/24/2005 |
| Hmmm... I don't think Frodo'd be afraid of all dogs. Perhaps it is my personal pref, but I've never thought him the type. I can see him being afraid of Maggot's dogs in particular, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's terrified of dogs in general. He's far too rational when he tells Pip that he was 'certain the beasts knew their business' and wouldn't really have hurt him. Someone with a phobia about dogs would not be so understanding about them. JMHO, of course, but I'll stick with it 'cause I like him better without phobias. ;) I am glad Pip found his way to Bilbo's. Lovely scene with Ferdi too. Thank you for updating. Author Reply: Ah, but that's the beauty of it. Did I ever say he's afraid of all dogs? Hopefully those who think of Frodo as having dog-phobia can read this chapter with as much head-nodding as those who think he's only afraid of Maggot's dogs. Perhaps Lop resembles one of Maggot's dogs. Or perhaps it is simply eminently practical caution on Frodo's part. Though our last three dogs averaged 100 lbs, I'm still wary of large dogs I don't know. (Actually, am wary of smaller dogs, too, after a cocker spaniel "No, he doesn't bite, go ahead and pet him, dear" jumped up and bit our then 5yo dd in the face.) One of our dogs, a gentle giant with our own children (tho he'd herd them in what he considered the proper direction if, in his opinion, they strayed), could put people off just by pricking up his ears and staring at them intently. (Rather like Lop. And his ears stayed pricked only so long before they flopped forward at the halfway mark, rather like Lop again, which always made us laugh for some reason. And then his jaws would part, he'd show off his razor teeth, and "laugh" along with us.) I remember in particular a day when we had the front door open, only the screen door separating us from our sometimes uneasy inner-urban neighbourhood. A scurrilous-looking man started up the walk, probably offering to "work" in return for a handout. The dog, lying in the door, sat up suddenly and did his impression of bat-ears. The man hurried back down the front walk and away. The dog never growled, or barked, or anything--the "look" was enough. I think if a dog showed up at my door with a stranger, and the dog outweighed me and showed his teeth in a wolfish grin, I might be tempted to slam the door as well! Author Reply: p.s. "I never knew that dogs could be so..." could imply he's never had a dog for a friend, as much as a fear of dogs. Hope so, anyhow. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 37 on 7/24/2005 |
| It is a pleasure to see Frodo getting in at least one good interaction with a larger dog. And love that they realized Lop has been guarding Pippin. Author Reply: I do love Lop, he's such a character in his own right. Fierce as a lion when he has to kill, but gentle as a lamb with those he honours and protects. A rare sort, that sounds too good to be true, except that he is modeled after a couple of real-life examples. | |