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| The Way Home by Lindelea | 271 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 7/7/2025 |
| So, he realizes just how much he's learned as he's gone along with the Fellowship. Author Reply: I really think that travelling with such excellent company, as well as his time in Rivendell with the Elves, had a lot to do with Bill's growing understanding and maturity. Thanks! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/7/2025 |
| I love how Bill learns from Shadowfax. Now--where next? Am sad that they didn't meet again in Rivendell. Author Reply: It is really too bad that Bill didn't go back to Rivendell. When I was drafting the story, I kept asking myself why he'd go back to Bree? After all, his life with Ferny was so miserable. So part of figuring out Bill's journey involved finding the answer to that question. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts. | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/6/2025 |
| I'm so glad that even with Shadowfax nearby, the Voices are still helping Bill! I'm also glad that Bill has made the decision to spend the night where he is, instead of attempting to press on; they've picked a good place for that. He and Shadowfax need the rest before they continue onward. Author Reply: The more the merrier, which is quite a hobbity idea when I think about it. Considering how far they have to go, and not knowing what difficulties they may face along the way, resting seems like a wise as well as practical decision. I'm glad Shadowfax was able to persuade Bill that a night of rest would pay for itself going forward. Thanks! | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/5/2025 |
| "I am a horse, after all!" And after he lectured Bill about his "only a pony" stuff. At least he didn't say "only" a horse. And that's a pretty good trick being "silver-white" and then disappearing in the dark, since white things usually show up at night. There always was something magical about Shadowfax. Author Reply: Leaving out "only" from what he said was probably deliberate. He was simply (and realistically) describing the ability a horse has to shut out everything else when it's concentrating on something in particular. You're right about JRRT writing Shadowfax in rather wondrous terms. Like never seeming to tire, and travelling faster than a "regular" horse, in addition to his invisibility in the darkness. (I wonder if he's mischievous enough to sneak up on people in the dark and startle them? We had a black lab when I was growing up who loved to come up behind you in the dark and then suddenly let out a loud bark. He seemed to get a kick out of making an unsuspecting person jump.) Thanks! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/5/2025 |
| Ahhh, rest at last. What a comforting chapter. Author Reply: It just seemed the right time for some comfort. I'm glad it felt that way. (((hugs))) Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts. | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 7/3/2025 |
| I'm glad Shadowfax is with him, too. I have trouble envisioning a lone pony managing to travel safely for hundreds of miles through abandoned lands. Even "The Incredible Journey" featured two dogs and a cat! A whole better than Lassie Come Home, and that's a fact! PLEASE don't separate Bill and Shadowfax! Please keep them together at least until Bill's in or near Bree. Even with the Voices to aid him, it would be too much for Bill to have to make any part of the journey alone. Author Reply: I remember how traumatizing Lassie Come Home was to me as a small child! Nope, I'm definitely not tempted to go that route. There is admittedly some angst in Bill's story, according to the draft version I'm editing into final form as I post, but nothing like what poor Lassie had to go through, at least as far as I remember that story. Thanks so much for your thoughts on the matter. I greatly appreciate your taking the time to share them. | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 6/30/2025 |
| One thing's for sure--Bill could do much worse than to travel with Shadowfax! I'm glad they're together on this journey, and I'm glad the Voices are still guiding Bill, too. It'll be interesting to see how their journey goes from here. Author Reply: There are a few twists and turns along the way, but the ending was already laid out in the original narrative (whew! I'm certainly glad), so Bill's got that going for him. I'm glad Shadowfax is with him, too. I have trouble envisioning a lone pony managing to travel safely for hundreds of miles through abandoned lands. Even "The Incredible Journey" featured two dogs and a cat! Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 6/30/2025 |
| ...I ask, thinking more deeply. Bill is definitely thinking more deeply than he was! He'll soon be one of the Wise. Author Reply: His dam would be (will be?) so proud of him! Thanks so much for coming along on the journey and pausing to share and encouraging word. | |
| KathyG | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/29/2025 |
| Between Shadowfax and the Voices, Bill is well protected! I was wondering if the Voices were still going to guide him now that Shadowfax is keeping him company. Guess I have my answer! How does a pony make any sense of time, I wonder? Author Reply: From my experience, ponies and horses seem to have some way of telling time, though I haven't a clue as to how they do it. It may be that some of the brighter ones react to certain times of day, and the others around them follow like the herd animals they are? Or maybe they all have some sense of time? During the years I had my mare, I boarded her at a stable where all the horses (and a couple ponies) were turned out to graze and to hang out and play in a large pasture for several hours a day except when thunderstorms were in the forecast, if I'm remembering right. The stable employed someone to turn the horses out in the morning and bring them in again later in the day, as well as fill the feed boxes and hay-nets and water buckets and clean the stalls and put down fresh bedding. I can remember seeing the herd – or most of them, anyhow – cluster around the pasture gate when it was time to go in for supper and bed, and I've seen some individuals waiting at the gate when their humans (bearing carrots and other treats) were due to show up (those that showed up at a regular time, that is). But I have no idea how they kept track of what time it was. Thanks so much for reading and pausing to share your thoughts and questions! | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/29/2025 |
| Everyone tells time by what's important to them. Naturally, for hobbits it's food ;) Author Reply: Quite naturally! They tell time by food, and they have all these food-related metaphors and idioms... Since I have long been fascinated by food myself, I have found Shire-folks a lot of fun to hang out with. Thanks! | |