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| The Many Aspects of Merimac Brandybuck by Lily Dragonquill | 100 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/7/2006 |
| Saradoc immediately climbed into his grandfather's lap to whine about his cruel fate in having a younger brother and repeated that he had never wanted one but that another carved pony would be great. LOL! I have a younger brother, too, but I've never considered that "a cruel fate" ;-) I think in fact Sara loves his little brother and Mac loves him. Little fights between brothers (and sisters) are a part of life and they make the reconciliation (is this the right word?) afterwards even more cheerful :) I love your Brandybuck brothers! Author Reply: Thanks for reading, dear. Of course Saradoc and Merimac love one another. In fact, I picture Saradoc very protective of his brother. It's as you say - little fights are part of growing up. I'm sorry I'm not updating on Schicksalsjahre. I've kind of a writers block there which is at least partly a certain Brandybuck's fault who keeps whispering into my ear. Not that I mind overly much... | |
| Elemmírë | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/19/2006 |
| Poor Mac! He was doing the responsible thing, and followed his aunt's orders of taking Frodo outside, and he still runs into trouble. This was another wonderful chapter, Lily. I'm really enjoying how you've taken such a minor character, mentioned only in the Family Trees, and giving him such a personality and life. It is very plausible indeed that Merimac would have once babysat his youngest cousin, Frodo. I really liked Primula's motherly concerns, along with thinking she knows her nephew so very well. I also liked how Drogo sees past Mac's mischief and knows that there is a responsible, yet fun-loving lad underneath that will care for Frodo. Drogo must certainly have seen how much his young son adores his older cousin, and knew he would much more enjoy being watched after Mac than some 'boring lass.' I can't wait to see what you have in store next for Mac! Author Reply: Thank you so much, Elemmire! (how do you do the dots on the "e"?) Merimac is a delight to write and with every story I learn a little more about him. I'm glad you have come to like him, even though he is only a minor character which is not even mentioned in the book. I'm sure Primula sees as well that Frodo adores Merimac but Merimac is too much... well, Merimac, an irresponsible tween, to be trusted with so young a child as Frodo. Thankfully Mac proved her wrong. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/16/2006 |
| So, the berry bushes are as much a draw and Maggot's mushrooms, are they? Heh! Author Reply: You need a side to mushrooms, don't you? Or at least a dessert. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/16/2006 |
| "All work and no play..." certainly fits here. Like the idea of Mac and Sara feeling competetive and wishing to resume the old companionship, and Rory realizing he needs to include Mac. Very realistic feel. Author Reply: That one was quite a challenge. Glad you like it. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/16/2006 |
| Love the comfort Frodo's able to give Merimac, and that Merimac is indeed growing up. Lovely image, the two of them curled together on Frodo's bed. Author Reply: What's better comfort than a young cousin offering to blow on a fresh wound? Glad you liked it. | |
| Ami | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/15/2006 |
| This series is beautiful. I loved the relationship between Frodo and Merimac. This is so unique and works well in giving us a glimpse of Frodo life with the Brandybucks and setting the foundation he had to later become the Ringbearer. Happy writing to you. I love discovering new authors, and I am looking forward to reading more of your stories. Author Reply: Thank you very much, Ami! | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/15/2006 |
| Yeah! Mac is back ;-) And I thought something would happen to Frodo ... Frodo glared at him angrily, pouting and crossing his arms in front of his chest, which looked rather ridiculous considering that the child was wrapped in a thick, dark blue jacket that hardly allowed any movement. His scarlet cap reached down to his eyebrows making it almost impossible for him to keep his eyes open. Yep! Definitely a dwarf! Mac showed indeed a good amount of responsibility and endurance here, not only for Frodo, but also for himself. If I think of that needle, oh my! He felt a tingling in his chin and inevitably shuddered, desperate to focus his attention on Frodo's face which, to his dismay, bore an absolutely fascinated and curious expression which did not help to lessen his discomfort in the least. Haha! I can see that! Mac was a fine young hobbit, though he knew how to hide it. Primula is right! Just give him some more time to live out his tweenager years and you will have a real fine hobbit! Author Reply: *grins* Ah... when Mac is there you can be sure that nothing will happen to whoever accompanies him. A fine young hobbit, indeed... he only needs a little longer to grow up :) | |
| Ariel | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/5/2006 |
| For all the work we put into this, it really did turn out to be a great little story! You are introducing interesting concepts and complex relationships and that makes it harder, especially in another language. I think you did a really amazing job! Author Reply: You were of extraordinary help with this, my dear. Thank you for being so patient with me. I'm happy with the outcome myself. A lot clearer than the first version. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/4/2006 |
| What I like best in this is Merimac's double-pronged jealousy: he is jealous of his brother taking his father's attention, but he is also jealous of his father taking his brother's attention. And so of course, he doesn't really know which one of them to be really mad at, so he ends up lashing out at them both. That, of course, is so like certain types of adolescents! The moment of near-drowning was eerie and frightening! Very well done, as was Rory's anger afterward. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Dreamflower. It was quite interesting for me to see Merimac as an adolescent especially since he is at times quite different from the other hobbits I wrote. I'm glad you liked the jealousy. I thought it must have been an issue in his youth with him being the younger and, well, not being the heir. The near-drowning is actually borrowed from my own life. When I was young I kind of did not realise that what I was doing in the pool - jump from a 3 meter springboard, sink to the bottom and push myself up - was not as good an idea in the river. I never reached the bottom, but I also thought I would never reach the surface again. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/4/2006 |
| Oh, poor Mr. Greenhill! Generations of hobbit lads will raid his berry bush! First Mac, than Frodo, and I'm quite sure that the Master's heir's heir will also enjoy those delicious berries ;-) I loved the scene with Sara and Mac after the "incident" at the river: Then they stood, both relentless, both too proud and stubborn to give in. The wind rustled in the leaves, the water murmured its melody, and Milo Burrows fidgeted, increasingly uneasy. The brothers had quarrelled before and all knew that two furious Brandybucks, even if their wrath was directed at each other, were nothing to meddle with. Just great! I think you're right. It's pride AND stubbornness ;-) Do not meddle with two furious Brandybucks! Wonderful! The conversation between Rory and Mac was also very insightful! And Rory did his best. But he also had a lot of good luck. Just look at the discussions between Saradoc and Frodo in your German story. Saradoc had the best intentions, but sometimes this is simply not enough. I think in such situations, Saradoc should think of his brother - and he would be able to understand Frodo much better. I don't know what you have planned for those two in your "Schicksalsjahre" story, but I really hope they will come to accept each other. (And please don't say anything about scattered hopes ;-)) Author Reply: Yep, Mr. Greenhill certainly has a hard time protecting his berries. And, as it seems, punishment doesn't stopt the culprits. Ah, that's my Brandybucks... proud and stubborn. Some traits given from generation to generation. And in Frodo two stubborn families mingled... Bagginses and Brandybucks. That's why his stubborness is curse and salvation at the same time, eh? If the adressee is willing best intentions are certainly enough. The problem in my German story is that Frodo is anything but. As for Saradoc thinking of his brother... well... I think it would be even better if he let Merimac handle all those wonderful conflicts, but we're kind of speaking of the wrong story here, aren't we? :) Either way... what did you say about scattering hopes? *coughs* :) And who are "those two"? Sara and Frodo or Frodo and Mac? I have plans for all three. Thanks for reading this one. Now you know why the next gerneration (Frodo and Merry in Schickalsjahre) are allowd to have hay battles :) | |