Bodkin
· 26 July 2007
· Chapter 21: Taking the Air
Good for Bungo. More understanding that might be expected of a Baggins - Bilbo had a good example to follow there.
While Isen - freedom is what he craves and shutting him up is only ever going to make him worse. Seeing the horizon over the patchwork of fields - it's not the sea, but it's his best offer.
Author's reply
Hah, ran across this old, unanswered review while answering reviews tonight. Apologies for the tardiness. Thanks for taking the time to leave a good word, even though the thanks are belated. Hope this finds you well.
FantasyFan
· 24 July 2007
· Chapter 22: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
I wonder how many times Gandalf has been through the Shire before, watching the hobbits scurry from place to place (mostly into their holes away from him), remembering long-ago days when he walked with the little people before they were quite so settled, smiling to himself and looking for that spark of adventure, of curiosity, of deeply-buried courage? How long has he been waiting to be asked to tea? And now here he is, at what really is the beginning of the adventure in hobbit-nurturing and development that will eventually overtake Bilbo, and ultimately culminate in the cultivation of Frodo, the best hobbit in the Shire. I'm looking forward to seeing this beginning.
Author's reply
What a lovely picture, the old man walking through the Shire, leaning on his staff, smiling to himself and remembering. Perhaps a small and curious lad came up to him, before being snatched away by a big sister, and he saw the ghost of a long-dead ancestor in a dimpled chin or turned-up nose, or wide eyes.
And now he is about to take tea with another small and curious lad.
Larner
· 23 July 2007
· Chapter 22: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
What a wonderful way to meet our beloved Gandalf!
Author's reply
It was fun to imagine this meeting. Hurrah for an "eccentric" Grandfa!
Dreamflower
· 23 July 2007
· Chapter 22: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
Ah, Gerontius and Gandalf! This is momentous!
I do love young Fortinbras' description--it may have been taken from The Hobbit, but he's impressed his own lively personality on it!
Author's reply
Well, Gerontius will come along in a few generations... I don't have the family tree in front of me, so I don't remember how many it is from Grandfa to Gerontius. But Grandfa is laying the foundation for that famous friendship! ...as well as a return visit, in Fortinbras' time.
I just love Fortinbras... he's young enough to speak without thinking first, and he's about to make himself memorable... (hope that's not too much of a spoiler)
Inkling
· 22 July 2007
· Chapter 0: Maunderings of a Mad Uncle
Hi Lin--when I saw you'd updated this, I realized that a) I'd fallen way behind on the chapters and b) I was hazy on what I had read. So I'm doing a quick read-through (very quick, before I start MEFA categorizing tomorrow)...
And as usual, am noticing things I don't remember at all...like "Master Bag." Clever use of Merry's nickname from that Rider in ROTK, and most appropriate here! Also the spidery handwriting of Bilbo's mother...a family trait, it seems!
Anyway, nice to see it back...
Author's reply
Hi back at you! And welcome back. Y'know, I have to admit, sometimes I'm hazy on what I've written and have to go back and read before adding a chapter! (Especially if there's a detail nagging at me that's not mentioned on the outline.)
Bless you for helping with MEFA categorizing!
I've noticed that a couple of the kids in our family have handwriting that eerily resembles our mom's... even though it didn't start out that way. How does that happen? *g*
Thanks!
poppymuddyfoot
· 20 July 2007
· Chapter 21: Taking the Air
Oh, you came back to this story! I'm so very glad! It's not often that you get to see young Bilbo in a story, much less his parents. Your characterizations as always are so vividly written that I feel like they're real people. (I recently confused some RL friends by referring to something some of the hobbits in your stories had done. They thought I was talking about someone "real" because that's how I think of them.) Anyway, I'm glad to see this story return and I'm really looking forward to watching Bilbo as he learns to see the world through someone else's eyes, not just his own.
Author's reply
Thanks for the encouragement! Yes, I'm trying to prod the Muse to revisit all the old unfinished stories, get them moving again, start finishing things here and there as I'm able.
y'know, I try to write as if I'm writing about real people, real situations, real places. I'm glad to hear your feedback. Thanks for taking the time to drop a note.
Larner
· 20 July 2007
· Chapter 21: Taking the Air
And a wonderful and appropriate adaptation it was at that. Alas that Isen must grieve for ship and comrades lost. At least he knows also moments of sheer normality as he prepares to feast on this wonderful picnic lunch. And Bilbo's knowing the first stirrings of his Tookish nature as well as learning compassion and understanding for this odd uncle of his.
Author's reply
Poor Isen, he needs more moments of sheer normality without the weight of expectations pressing him down. Bungo is doing this for the love of Belladonna, but also because he remembers who Isen was before he went away.
Dreamflower
· 19 July 2007
· Chapter 21: Taking the Air
What a sweet sad chapter! Bilbo's better and more compassionate nature is coming out, now that he's free of the chance of embarrassment--an adolescent's nightmare--and I like the idea that perhaps it was his uncle's song that awakened his own interest in the Sea and the Wide World--though it might go back to sleep for a number of years.
And, if I haven't told you before: I adore your Bungo!
Author's reply
Aw, thanks. I figure Bilbo would have had to have had (yikes, verb tenses and I are not getting along this morning) a very good role model to have done so well in his adventure.
Sudden random thought: I need to go back and read what Miss Dora says about birthday presents, as Bilbo's birthday is coming up!
Bodkin
· 2 December 2006
· Chapter 20: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
Young Fortinbras may yet come to be glad of a brief reprieve from winter. Although the gloom of pounding rain has definitely taken the gloss from the sparkling wonder of snow and left most in the Smials decidedly grumpy.
Uncle is being rather too complacent, though, I suspect. They should listen to Grandfa. Grandfa's know what they're talking about. I hope the teens dry the apples properly, so they don't rot in their barrels.
And it takes more than rain to make tweens catch their deaths. Resilient lot.
Author's reply
Too long between updates, apologies, and here is a belated reply. (It wasn't supposed to be *that* long in coming.)
Apples rotting in their barrels, at a time when they'll need every one (though they don't know it yet), what a nightmare thought!
Tweens are quite resilient, though from their grumblings one would not think so.
Thanks!
Dreamflower
· 1 December 2006
· Chapter 20: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
*chuckle*
I do so love young Fortinbras. He's very observant, but hasn't yet got the experience or knowledge yet to know what his observations mean.
Poor kids--all their snow-hobbits melted and gone away. *sigh* But that's the fate of snow-people the world over, as Frosty could tell them.
And I had to giggle over his wondering whether it mattered if the tweens "caught their deaths". That lad has a very dry sense of humor, which he bequeathed to several of his descendants!
Author's reply
And now you have me wondering what hobbits would name snow-hobbits. And what songs they might sing about their frosty cousins?
Yes, I love that dry sense of humour...
Larner
· 1 December 2006
· Chapter 20: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
Yes, the laments of the younger children, even if they are glad enough to evade going out in the rain.
And the poor nurse, having to go out and fetch in all the clothing lavished on the snowhobbits! Poor lady, having to try to keep the children well and yet having to soak herself!
Author's reply
Yes, I know you're waiting for "Thain". Keep hoping... the Muse seems to be more tractable, lately.
Poor little fellow. Actually, I don't know that he'd mind the rain all that much--it makes for lovely puddles to jump in.
*sigh* Isn't that the way of the world? The kids have most of the fun and their minders have most of the work.
harrowcat
· 1 December 2006
· Chapter 20: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
Hmm... I think that this is an observant young Took and that the age and experience of Grandfa might know better. But it does no good to scare folks too early.
Author's reply
After too long the Muse has finally started whispering again... and another chapter has been added. Whew.
You're right on all counts.
Bodkin
· 28 November 2006
· Chapter 19: Doing the Most Good
Now I'm not saying that Bilbo needs slapping at the moment - but ... I'm glad that Bungo is prepared to put himself out to care for Isen. Both out of the kindness of his heart and for the love of Belladonna. And I hope that Bilbo manages to behave rather less obnoxiously on their walk - and try to act as if his uncle is a member of his family. It will do Isen good to get outside - and have someone listening to him and laughing with him. Being in the Smials must be about the worst possible place for him - hotbed of gossip that it is. Not to mentioned filled with unpleasant kin!
And if Bilbo doesn't get over his brattishness soon, a slap will be too good for him.
Author's reply
Bungo has a very good heart, I think. And when I look at Bilbo's impulses during his Adventure, well, he must have learned from a very good source.
You're right about being in the Smials, in more ways than one. Hopefully I can work that bit into a soon-to-come chapter. (And hopefully more chapters will come sooner than they have been coming.)
I do think Bilbo's a fast learner, don't you?
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 28 November 2006
· Chapter 19: Doing the Most Good
Glad to see this Lindelea. Now we see where Bilbo gets his ability to deal so well with orphaned Frodo.
Author's reply
Yes, for Frodo to turn out to be one of the finest hobbits in the Shire, he had to have a good role model; and Bilbo had to learn from someone before that!
Thanks!
demeter d
· 27 November 2006
· Chapter 19: Doing the Most Good
I adore your Bungo Baggins. He is willing to take in HIS WIFE'S "mad" brother, "for as long as it takes'. And he nicely handles a moody teen-aged son. That alone is a rare gift. Nice to see that Bilbo got his best qualities from two much above average parents. It may look right now that he is inheriting that solid Baggins streak, but it is also fun to remember just how much Took he took in, too. And, a kiss, "where it would do the most good"! Delightful! Every woman and Hobbitess would like such a husband.
Author's reply
Bungo has got his feet solidly on the ground, and his heart in the right place.
Such kisses definitely come in handy.
Thanks!
Larner
· 27 November 2006
· Chapter 19: Doing the Most Good
So glad that Bungo's heart is so much greater than his Baggins tendencies might make them. This will be good for both Isen and for Bilbo in the end, I do believe.
Author's reply
Hmm, I wonder... I think Bilbo had a very good heart, indeed, as did Frodo after him. I suspect the Sackville-Bagginses' shortcomings came from the Sackville side of the family.
I do believe you're right.
Thanks!
Larner
· 27 November 2006
· Chapter 18: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
Ah, but if only this HAD been the only day for the snow--so I says as I looks out the windows at the several inches we has from yesterday on. Hmmmmmm. Snow that lingers isn't always comfortable, of course.
Author's reply
We've had a sprinkling, not enough to satisfy the wee hobbits. One joy of homeschooling is that they can go out and gather a handful before it all melts away, as long as I'm out there with them. It's below freezing, but the layer of snow is so light that I fear it may evaporate in the sunshine.
Larner
· 27 November 2006
· Chapter 17: Settling In
Oh, to see the love shared so between brother and sister, and to see Bilbo at last beginning to thaw from his icy Baggins respectability.
Larner
· 27 November 2006
· Chapter 15: Taking the Long Way Home
Ah, he feels left out, does he? Poor young Hobbit--but one who in the end will regret it when Isengar goes to leave them at last.
And the emotions are so true to what I've known myself from time to time.
Dreamflower
· 27 November 2006
· Chapter 19: Doing the Most Good
Yes, indeed, Belladonna, your young Bilbo *is* a bit on the spoiled side right now--a good thing perhaps, that something and someone else comes along, to take his attention off himself, and awaken his natural compassion.
I do so like Bungo. You have made him into a wonderful hobbit--he is compassionate and kind. He is staid but not stuffy, and solid but not hidebound. A thorough Baggins--but all the good traits, and not the bad. He knows when to reprimand, and when to simply offer an alternative. A wonderful role model as a father, and Bilbo will one day benefit from his example when Frodo comes into his life.
Author's reply
Yikes, I didn't answer this review *either*.
I think learning to care for Uncle Isen is a great lesson in compassion.
Y'know, Bungo just seems a natural extension of the Bagginses we know from the books.
Thanks!
Bodkin
· 1 October 2006
· Chapter 18: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
Oh dear. The snow is exciting - but they haven't finished getting the harvest in yet. And they're going to need every last bean and potato. Every last second cutting of hay and dried apple.
Author's reply
You said it! I wonder how much weight the elders have given to that fact. (Besides Grandfa, who has reason to worry.)
Bodkin
· 1 October 2006
· Chapter 17: Settling In
Isen's gentleness to Belladonna here might well make a necessary little shift in Bilbo's attitude. It's very sweet to see.
And if Isen starts telling stories through the cold winter months ... Bilbo had to learn his storytelling from someone!
Author's reply
Isen is, after all, a hobbit, deep down under the scarring and eccentric behaviour.
Ah, yes, the storytelling... something to look forward to as the winter darkness comes on.
demeter d
· 30 September 2006
· Chapter 16: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
Doesn't every family have at least one older member who can put "the fear' in the youngsters with just a look? Your Tooks seem very real and familiar.
Author's reply
I'm glad to hear that they sound familiar and real! That's just what I'm aiming for.
Thanks!
demeter d
· 30 September 2006
· Chapter 15: Taking the Long Way Home
a p.s. i just looked at the other reviews after I posted mine. Charming little real-life tales, Deramflower and Lindelea!
demeter d
· 30 September 2006
· Chapter 18: From the Journal of Fortinbras Took, S.R. 1158
"Just joy!" But when the evening comes, I am sure the Gaffers will sit around the fire and shake their heads. Getting good!
Author's reply
Ah, those wise old Gaffers. Of course, they shake their heads at nearly everything, and so folk don't heed them when they ought.