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| The Importance of Being a Hobbit by Lamiel | 26 Review(s) |
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| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/26/2005 |
| I love this! I was sorry to see it end. Legolas was wonderful in this part and I laughed out loud at Pippin's antics with the dishes and the crawfish. I liked what Legolas told Merry about his part as a member of the Fellowship. A very entertaining story! Thank you. Author Reply: Thank you! I had a great deal of fun with this story, even if some Hobbit angst did creep in here and there. I'm so glad that you liked it. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/26/2005 |
| What a nice ending. I always like scenes of Legolas with the Hobbits, just because it seems that there's a lot of wisdom there from both sides that we ordinarily don't get to see. It's great how you manage to make Legolas so approachable and so alien all at the same time -- like he's friendly when he wants to be yet projects a kind of standoffish air unconsciously. And he's right -- laughter and friendship are vital survival needs, even if Merry doesn't see that immediately, coming from such a happy place as he does. That's the main thing I've learned from my thesis reading so far. Author Reply: It's wonderful to hear from you again! I've missed you! And I completely understand about the frustrations of FF.net - I can't blame you for giving the site a miss. Unfortunately, however, it's still the best place I can find for TPD, which is definitely going to violate the restrictions of Stories of Arda, if it hasn't done so already. Good luck with your thesis, and focus on your priorities. TPD will still be there when you finish. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005 |
| Happy birthday! This is a fun story. I like the look at Merry struggling with his pride. It seems that he's never really had to think about whether or not he's a brave warrior. But he's responsive to his surroundings, and he sees that at this point in time, being a warrior is something useful. It must be hard for him to not only have to readjust his priorities like that, but then to come out on the not-good-enough end of things as well. By the way, I know I've kind of gotten off of This Present Darkness. I was having some problems with ffn this summer, and then I just got out of the habit of reading things there. I try to remind myself to pick it up again, because I do want to find out what happens, but I may not get to it instantly, as I'm working on a thesis. But I haven't forgotten it, and one day, I will pick it up again. Promise. | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005 |
| This shows Merry frustration so well. He wants to be treated like an equal but he is worried that he doesn't merrit that. This is a wonderful story so far and I am enjoying it very much. I loved Sam's insistance that Merry eat while they had plenty and Merry's thoughts and worries about what might happen to Pippin in a real battle. | |
| Periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/26/2005 |
| This is an exquisite story~ I love so many parts and really think that you have Merry well described~ i love his feelings of doubt about his own abilities and your multi-layered character story really gave me a feeling that you know the books and the movies well and also the typical stereotypes that go with each race of Middle Earth This part made me laugh: Merry snorted. “Yes, he’ll be very grateful to us when we defeat the Enemy by singing one of Pippin’s drinking songs at Him.” lol i love Merry's doubt there and it's so funny too... I love how you had Merry converse with Sam, Aragorn and Legolas-- there is much skill in your writing conversations between Merry and 3 different characters. Much versatility also in writing about hobbits for the first time. :) I also love your part about how Frodo is different and not just chosen because he's a hobbit. Frodo was not chosen as Ring-bearer because of his strength at arms, and Gildor did not name him Elf-friend because he thought him amusing to look upon. He has a spirit that is unique, in my experience, unlike any I have encountered in Elf, Man, or Hobbit.” So true. Written so very well and is so true to canon. By being ordinary Hobbits, and reminding him of home. Indeed, you remind us all that the Shadow does not encompass all, and that there is yet hope. You can make us laugh, Master Meriadoc, and that is the greatest weapon that we have.” Lovely~ so true and so right and just wonderfully written and wonderful observation. Also your Legolas and Gimli "battles" are a riot to read about as well. This is an awesome story~ thanks so much for writing and sharing this. and indeed, you write hobbits very well! Author Reply: Thank you! I love the Fellowship, and it was wonderful fun to bring them all together in this story. I only wish I could have taken it further. I'd end up rewriting LOTR and come up with an epic like Thundera's if I could. Thanks so much for your detailed and insightful feedback. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/26/2005 |
| Yes, to see Merry realizing the need he and Pippin and Sam can fill--that's what I was thinking of. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005 |
| Ah, but soon Merry will find there is need, and need. Frodo needs to have his family near, to sustain his hope when he can't carry it himself any more. He needs to have them as the reminder of what will be saved if he is successful. Well written. Author Reply: Thank you. Frodo truly did what no other could, but ultimately I feel that LOTR is a story about the vital importance of friendship, and family, and love. The Fellowship was just that, and all its members played a part in the saving of Middle-earth. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/26/2005 |
| Well, I'm home and finally had time to come and finish this and review. I have to say: I hope that you do some more hobbit stories, because you have a very *good* grasp of their characters. Your Merry is just as I would think in those circumstances: proud, protective, practical, yet he is still young and this is his first time in the wide world as well. (We tend to forget that when it comes to *experience* of Men and the outside world, Merry and Pippin are on even footing in spite of the age difference.) He wants so very much to take care of Frodo and see him through this ordeal, and to protect Pippin as well. There were so many lovely bits to love in this. “He won’t hurt them, Sam,” Frodo said. “And no good will come of spoiling him.” Merry shot him a sidelong look, but said nothing. Of them all, Frodo was if anything the most guilty of spoiling his youngest cousin. Very much a "cousin" moment, and just how I see it as well. Legolas returned their stares with an expression of utmost innocence. Merry might even have fallen for it, had he not known Pippin for so long. Something I do love about your Legolas, he brings in that whole merry, light-hearted aspect of Elvishness that JRRT had, yet so many fanfic authors either ignore or go overboard with. You have a deft touch with this. He likes a joke, but it's not slapstick. And I love the way Merry recognizes that "look" of mischief because of his experience with Pip. “We can’t go on like this,” Frodo said, scandalized. “We’re filthy! I can’t imagine anyone –” he broke off, blushing as Aragorn looked at him. “That is, I’m sure that for some folks it would be perfectly fine,” he said hastily. “But, you see, we’re just not used to living in the Wild yet. We need to take it in small steps.” This made me hoot. And it's the kind of movie reference I like, subtle, and going to visuals, not messing with the book canon plot. Is that a bad thing?” Legolas asked. “To be ordinary?” An excellent question, and one that many people might ask themselves in this day and age when so many people want to make themselves something they are not in a vain quest for notoriety. Then he bent down close to Merry, and lightly touched his shoulder. “Be a warrior, Merry, if that seems best to you. But do not be a proper one. There are enough of those in the Fellowship.” Such a nice bit of advice, and one that I think Merry will take to heart. Thank you for this very nice story! I plan to rec it all over the place. Author Reply: Oh my goodness, I shall certainly be writing more Hobbit stories if I can get feedback like this! Thank you so much! I had great fun exploring a different POV than I usually write, and I would go so far as to recommend that every author try writing something other than her usual favorite now and then. If more Elf lovers wrote Hobbits, and vice versa, I think we'd all benefit. | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/26/2005 |
| Oh, that was great! Legolas often gets to be brave or angst-ridden or "merry", but it's not often he gets to be wise. I loved this one statement because it seemed to sum up the point so well: “The Shadow feeds on despair, do you understand?" I know this was Merry's fic, but (confessions of an eldarophile) I really enjoyed the way you wrote Legolas as a peripheral character up until his little lecture to the hobbit. The whittling trick was priceless. The way he flashed overhead and was gone before anyone else even moved when Pip cried out, his bright, penetrating stare at Merry, the way he moved without a sound--it was all so wonderfully elvish. Your hobbits were properly hobbity, but you just can't help writing a spot-on elf. (unseemly, elf-obsessed rant complete) I thought you were going to have Merry save the day, but this was unexpected and much, much better. ~TF Author Reply: As one eldarophile to another (and thank you for that word -- excellent!) I just couldn't help the little bits of elf worship here and there. They just snuck in. Ah, but it was fun. As for Merry playing the hero, I figured that we already know that he will ultimately prove himself as a warrior. He helps to kill the Witch-king, and he and Pippin lead the rising up of the Shire in the end. To my mind it was much more interesting to explore the themes that he appears to reject, the value of "ordinary" hobbit life in comparison to the glory of battle. Tolkien deliberately made the Hobbits the ultimate heroes, after all, even though (or perhaps because) there were more obviously heroic characters available. Although, just between you and me, I sure wouldn't have minded if he gave Legolas a bit more opportunity to shine. | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2005 |
| This is written with such a nice, light touch. I sympathize Merry, feeling like a fifth wheel and wanting so much to be a contributor in the quest. You do a good job of implying the practiced competemce of the bigger members of the fellowship as well as the dangers that the group faces. It emphasizes Merry's inadequacy in this situation, but that is counterbalanced by his determination to be useful. I suspect he will get a chance to prove his worth. ~TF | |