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| Drop of a Hat by Armariel | 25 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/25/2005 |
| What a wonderful, fun, gorgeous thing to wake up to this morning! There is so much to love about this chapter I don't even know where to begin. Your version of Pippin's voice is so dear, and *he's* such a dear (well, he's a dear anyway, but it's so seldom to get him in first person POV) and just makes me want to hug him! This was funny and sad by equal turns, and at the end I felt like I was all lit up the way Gandalf was! On to the epilogue now... Author Reply: He is, isn't he? Definitely one of my favorites, even more so now! LOL Strange how when you write from a character's pov, especially in the first person, that character somehow becomes in part your own, even when you keep him/her consistent with the author's version...if you know what I mean;) Glad the pov worked; I worried a bit about whether or not I'd be able to sustain it to the end without Pippin wearing out his welcome. Thanks so much for the feedback! xoxox Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 6/25/2005 |
| I started highlighting my favorite parts of this epilogue, but found myself quoting nearly every word of your incredible writing back at you. Beautiful, just beautiful. What a wonderful story. Well, I have to highlight at least these... Still, you don’t ALWAYS feel the load. There are things that can make you forget about it, especially if you work at it. Then eventually there comes a time when you stop working so hard at it, and just let things take their course. That’s when some of the load starts dropping off and falling away, and you’re moving on a downhill slide, before you even know it, just greatly enjoying the ride. But I can see him in his hat, and I think he’s wearing it tonight and thinking of me. And looking at the stars and thinking of all of us. Remembering our journey and our purpose, our songs and our pranks and our mushrooms and our dragging feet. Waterfalls haunted by a lost maiden’s voice. Doors that opened when you spoke “Friend.” Horses that blazed like lightning in fields of gold. Fireworks and hanging lanterns and smoke rings. And a Tree full of blossoms, and a girl who put names to their whiteness and to the brownness of oak leaves in the fall. And as he thinks of me, maybe he hears music from a distant land, adjusts the Hat to a jaunty angle and starts to dance, by the light of the Moon…..the diamond-white Moon. Thank you for this lovely story. Author Reply: And thank YOU (yet once again!) for the idea! This story has been really fun to write, in a way that most stories aren't. The limitations of writing in the first person are quite challenging. I'm surprised I managed to write an entire story from a male point of view, and keep a balance going between humor and seriousness, and dredge up some insights I didn't know were inside of me. Really curious to see what will come out next! And thanks for your comments, they mean a lot!!!!! xoxoxx Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/25/2005 |
| How wonderful. The hobbits are having such a wonderful effect on Minas Tirith, and everyone they touch is the better for it. I love these passages: Gandalf tells me you saved his life,” he said to me, much to my surprise. It was true that I’d stuck an orc that was about to cleave Gandalf, but I’d pretty nearly forgotten about it, and it came as a shock that he should mention it to others. “As well as Faramir’s. I completely take it back what I said about war being the province of men. Seems everyone has his, or her part to play in the grand scheme of things.” As it was, he just chuckled, but then suddenly he touched my cheek and gave me this look I’ll never forget. A look full of love and pride like I was his only son and had just done something truly wonderful. That was better than a laugh, any old day. Author Reply: I imagine they are quite a ray of sunshine there, to be sure... Guess I'm going to need to go bunny hunting again pretty soon, what?;) xooxx Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 6/25/2005 |
| Somehow, the thought of a child with the name Gandalf running around Minas Tirith seems singularly hilarious. I never, somehow, imagined the citizens of Gondor thinking of choosing his name as one to inflict on the young - but why not! Pippin comes over as a remarkably sensible and well-balanced individual here - with a wicked sense of humour and a superb turn of phrase. Excellent work. Author Reply: Oh, I imagine there might have been quite a few little Gandalfs running around there after the War! lol Pity the wizard wouldn't stick around to get to know any of his little namesakes..... Thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed! xoxox Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/25/2005 |
| 'Surely Lord Flaming Eyeball wouldn’t want to trifle with her. There wouldn’t be an eye-patch big enough in all of Middle-Earth for him once she got her hooks on him.' If ever there was a comment worth recording for posterity, this must be it! Author Reply: "Did you just call me a 'dwimmerlaik'?" haha I liked that line too, LOL I imagine Pippin is quite a pistol! cheers Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| Farawyn | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/21/2005 |
| I love this! Better than the last chapter. Bergil asking Pippin how to get Mikala to like him and Pippin's response are great. I just wish all boys would act like that when trying to get you to notice them...... in stead of showing off and all that rubbish. But that's what makes your story realistic and life-like. And a great story idea! I know you got it from Shirebound, but I don't think many people could have taken off from that starting point as you have. Update this soon! Farawyn Author Reply: Sounds like some wanted to, from the LJ entries, but if they did, I don't know about it. It would be cool to see other writers' takes on it, however. I've hit a bit of a snag with Part III and have had to do a bit of re-reading and stuff in the book. So it might not be up for a day or two, but maybe tonight...who knows? So glad you like it dearie! xoxx Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/19/2005 |
| There are such lovely concepts in this chapter, but these are my two favorites: that was why good men went to war, so that their children could talk of colors and sweets and games and stories and birthday presents and what not in peace and freedom and sunlight... when such people take a mind to be your friend, then they’re your friend and no nonsense about it. No going back. And you’ve got to take care of such people, just like if you’re given a great treasure. You don’t leave it sitting out for wicked folks to steal what they like, and you don’t try to twist it into something it wasn’t meant to be. Neither do you try to pig it all for yourself, and hide it away in a dark closet till it loses its luster. You were trusted with it, even if only for a while, and so you take the best care of it. You can literally see Pippin's thoughts and feelings maturing during his time in Minas Tirith. And yet... he's still our Pippin. Author Reply: Still our Pippin, yes, and may he always be so! I've learned quite a bit from him by walking around in his skin and letting him tell his story. Do you ever surprise yourself when you write, with all the things that come out of you that you didn't even know were there? It's quite a feeling! It's good to be writing fics again, and it could really get addictive.... Thanks once more! xoxx Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/19/2005 |
| There are some people in this world who just seem to have this inborn knack for making you fall in love with them at first sight, or pretty nearly, and he was one of them. Strider was another, at least when he was all cleaned up and got up fine…and maybe even when he wasn’t, which was why we all warmed up to him so fast. Lady Arwen was yet another, and it wasn’t just her outward beauty that made her so. So was Frodo. I was never quite sure exactly what it was about him, but it was as if he were a lamp and you were a moth. And yes, Sam was that sort too, even if he wasn’t so fine looking as all those others. But he made you like the way he looked, just as he was. And then of course, there is *you* Peregrin Took! And part of the charm of such people is the fact that they do not ever seem to know such things about themselves. You have taken what could have been a bit of silly little humorous fluff and transformed it into something profound. I love these bits of insight from our Pip. And you’ve got to take care of such people, just like if you’re given a great treasure. You don’t leave it sitting out for wicked folks to steal what they like, and you don’t try to twist it into something it wasn’t meant to be. Neither do you try to pig it all for yourself, and hide it away in a dark closet till it loses its luster. You were trusted with it, even if only for a while, and so you take the best care of it. You see what I mean?” So very, very true and so very, very wise. He didn’t kiss me. Boys don’t kiss each other here. I puzzled a bit about that, but every country has its customs, I suppose. So hobbity! I got a chuckle out of that. You have perfectly captured our sweet Took here, a wise fool, very young in many ways, very old in others, with his great and generous heart that never looks back at doing what he thinks will enable him to take care of his friends. I am curious now to see what happens with the hat, and how he finally gets his sword back. Oh--and I love your Faramir, as well, just thought I'd add. Author Reply: Thanks so much Dreamflower for such a lovely and detailed review! I was a bit worried that readers might not like how the story had taken such a serious turn. Well, I knew it would have serious overtones, there being a war on, after all! and I was wondering how to keep it light without seeming frivolous and absurd in the face of encroaching darkness. So glad my approach works! One of the biggest parts of LotR's appeal, if not THE biggest, is the themes of friendship, which resonate so profoundly with me in view of my relationships with my own friends. I'm thankful that it enables me to incorporate what I've learned about friendship into my writing. blessings & cheer Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| Jeodo Brandybuck | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/18/2005 |
| How delightful! I'm so pleased that I have something else to look forward to reading! Thank you for such a dear, funny story. Jeodo Brandybuck Author Reply: Thank *you* Jeodo! Glad you are enjoying it. It's been fun to write. Another part will be coming up soon. cheers Armariel~~~{~@ | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/18/2005 |
| “Pardon me, madam, but I…I need a hat. I mean…not for myself, but f-for a friend. Do you, uh…happen to have any…uh…wizard hats?” LOL! That made me nearly fall off my chair ;-) What a wonderful idea to buy a hat for Gandalf. And as someone said before, this really is very "Pippish" - I like it! Author Reply: Glad you are enjoying it! Hope to have another bit up soon...but I've a gazillion things to do today and I am a perfectionist, so it might be a little while yet! xoxox Armariel~~~{~@ | |