News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| The Acceptable Sacrifice by Larner | 13 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/20/2005 |
| Gimli is right -- it's a good time for people to stop, catch their breath, and update each other on their various and sundry adventures. And how much there is to tell! I think it will do Frodo a world of good to talk about his experience and analyze it with friends to see how all of his choices ended up working or not working. I was puzzled by something at the end, though. I know that Frodo sold Bag End, but I'm pretty sure that not only was Sam well aware of the sale, but he announced that he would be going with Frodo to the house at Crickhollow to take care of things there. Author Reply: Oh, Sam did do that indeed and went off to Crickhollow with Frodo; but I suspect he's having his own bit of foresight now, and that Frodo fears his memory may have been somewhat disturbed by what's happened to them. I suspect Sam intends to buy Bag End back from Lotho when he returns, perhaps with the help of leverage from the heirs of the Thain and the Master, so that Frodo can return there. It's the one place where he's ever been happy in the Shire since his parent's deaths, after all. Talking things out will help; and hearing the tales of the others will help as well. But we already know that he still wasn't fully recovered when he went back to the Shire, and eventually began to deteriorate. And recovering from PTSD is a very difficult task at the best of times, for those whose physical health was not broken. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/20/2005 |
| 'Of herbs and stewed rabbit' is one of my favourite chapters but I had forgotten about the stone basin or fountain with it's iris-swords and water lilies. You follow Tolkien in his wonderful way with description and detail. However, I vividly remembered Sam also finding evidence of burning and slaughter in that fair place further down the stream. I have often thought that it was a shame that Sam finally gets a hot meal into Frodo and the next thing they get to eat is a positive feast for them when they are captured. It always seemed a waste of Sam's effort to me! Any way, enough of my digression - it is good to see Gimli joining in the concern for Frodo and Sam's continued interest in Oliphants! Frodo is beginning to identify for himself and others where his memory is flawed. The gaps will need filling but that will be painful too. The discussion about the lure of the ring is great as is Frodo's need for Aragorn to have forgiven Boromir. That is one of the few movie-scenes where I enjoyed the changes made from the original. Author Reply: Eventually Sam appears to have told Frodo of finding the bones, or perhaps that was an amendment he made to the Red Book afterwards. But for now I think he'd prefer to keep to the lighter moments (although I'll admit the bones have always distressed me as much as they did Sam). And Frodo is realizing that the entire Fellowship is watching out for him in his recovery. Frodo is beginning to realize that others were being lured by the Ring in spite of him carrying it to shield them from its evil, and he needs to know this, and that Aragorn realizes what it would have done to their relationship had he fallen to its lure. And I agree--there were a few places where PJ and Co. managed to improve even on the Master! Thanks for the comments--they are so much appreciated. | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/20/2005 | |
| You nailed Sam's character in this chapter, in my opinion. But then, (evil Larner!), you give us Frodo with a genuinely good memory of the beauty of Henneth Annun and follow it with some truly heartrending angst. “I forgave him in my heart, Aragorn--I forgave him in my heart, for I knew what--what It was promising me, what It was doing--to me.” He swallowed. “If only I could have told him, so he didn’t die not knowing.” He looked up into the Man’s eyes. “You have to forgive him, Aragorn.” And this, “I don’t own Bag End any more. I sold it before we left the Shire.” He looked directly into Aragorn’s face. “I can’t even give him that! I owe him so much--and I can’t even give him Bag End’s garden.” The grief in Frodo’s eyes was great. Again Aragorn knelt and sought to embrace Frodo for comfort, but Frodo would not accept it, pulled away, weeping. Frodo barely ate anything that day. The strength of the pathos in these, I think, is that Frodo is not grieving over his own fate, but over what he couldn't do for others. ~TF Author Reply: Yes, this is Frodo, one of the most empathic folk devised, who grieves for what others have suffered and will suffer. For Frodo's healing it will be a staggering road, a few steps forward, a few less backward, and on occasion a few more backward, until at last he accepts the final gift given him. Am so glad you appreciate this, TF. Thanks so much for the response. | |