Reviews of A Length of Haradric Silk

Tigger · 14 November 2006 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

Oh, I'm sure Mrs. Cotton knew exactly what to do w/that length of cloth too. A wedding dress for his sweetheart and a dress for his firstborn daughter. ;o) This was exactly what I needed tonight. A lovely litte story that made me feel all warm and fluffy inside. Thank you!! :o)

Author's reply

Thank you so much! This little story is very close to my heart. And if you liked this, might I also suggest my story, "Multicultural Interactions"? A bit more hobbitry there too. Thank you for reading and commenting!

Branwyn · 4 November 2006 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

Sam is so wonderfully in character in this piece--sensible, self-effacing, and a poet at the core. From your description, I can almost see that fabric--shot silk with an irridescent blue and green shimmer. I love Sam's comparison of the shifting colors to the lights of the aurora borealis (which, of course, he does not call by that name). His remark that even his underwear is embroidered is funny and true to form; he is a bit uncomfortable with so much attention from the grateful people of Gondor. That Haradric shopkeeper shaking out the fabric to show off its beauty is such a realistic and vivid detail. She is no fool--it isn't likely that either a man or a hobbit would be interested in such fabric for himself. Frodo's knowing smile is very sweet; Sam is not fooling him for a minute. I am sure Mrs. Cotton will know exactly what to do with that fabric, lol! Thank you for such a lovely birthday present! (And I apologize for reviewing this so late--shame on me).

Author's reply

As you well know, reviews are like gold, and so are appreciated any time they appear. And your lovely (and generously flowing) MEFA review is very much appreciated as well. :)

Socrates399 · 11 March 2006 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

That was very well written. And I LOVE the last sentence! Thank you!

Author's reply

Thank you, Socrates399, for reading, and commenting! Once a story is finished and posted, I don't usually think too much about it again. Thanks for noticing this and reminding me of it - that imagery of the changing color did turn out very nicely, didn't it? *grin* And I can just imagine how lovely Rosie, and later all of Sam's daughters, looked in their Haradric silk dresses.

Daynawayna · 20 October 2005 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

Annmarwalk I love it! That is just too precious, and the Haradim lady (I'm guessing that's what she was) had some foresight, didn't she? What a lovely ficlet. I love how you described the cloth... I could totally see it shimmer and change color. I'll bet Rosie and Elenor looked lovely in it. :)

Author's reply

Thank you so much! I saw the fabric first; then allowed the story to envision itself around that thought.

Bodkin · 20 October 2005 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

Some fabric is just so beautiful you have to have it. And I'm glad the shopkeeper offered Sam just the right incentive to get him to take the silk back to the Shire. I can just picture Rosie dressed in Haradric silk - marvelling at the texture and the gleam of contrasting colours.

Author's reply

Thank you for your kind words! I can picture Rosie and all those lovely hobbit-lasses wrapped in that lovely color and exquisite softness.

Wyvern · 19 October 2005 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

G'day, This is the first story of yours I have read and I enjoyed it greatly. A well written and structured little vignette that adds a touch of colour and background to the main LOTR story.

Author's reply

Welcome, and thank you for commenting! I don't write Sam very often (I think the only other time was in my "Air, Fire, Water" drabble sequence) but for some reason, I'm able to do it fairly comfortably. Perhaps I should try it more often!

Dreamflower · 19 October 2005 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

This is nice. I'm sure that deep in the back of Sam's mind where he would not want to admit it, was the thought of his Rosie in that silk--why else would it have caught his eye? And I am quite sure that Mrs. Cotton will know exactly what to do with it. I'd love to see a tiny little epilogue of this, maybe Elanor in her mother's wedding dress, remembering being presented to the Queen in a dress of the same fabric...

Author's reply

No, no, not my clueless book-Sam! *grin* He was attracted to the blue of the summer sky and the green of the pastures of his home - he wanted to capture that, to keep it for his own. (But I think the idea of Rosie-in-that-silk would have caught up with him eventually.)

French Pony · 19 October 2005 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

You've captured Sam's voice really well. I love his thoughts on cloth (such as they are) and what types are appropriate for which social stations. The detail of the monogrammed underwear is wonderful. And I love the description of the fabric. It sounds exotic and mysterious, but a beautiful color to wear in the green fields of the Shire. Of course Mrs. Cotton will make Rosie's wedding dress out of it, for what else could she do with such fine material? And I can see that little girl's dress being passed down through all of Sam's daughters, each one waiting eagerly for her turn to wear it.

Author's reply

Hello, French Pony, and thank you for your kind words! I don't write Sam (or any hobbit) very often, so it's quiet a pleasant surprise to hear that his voice sounded natural to you. I've come across fabric like that every now and again (never in anything my size, alas) and I'm always entralled by its iridescence, especially in that, my favorite color combination. And it is fun to picture all those little hobbit-lasses eagerly awaiting the rite of passage to young womanhood - Wearing the Dress.

Larner · 19 October 2005 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

Aha, so this is the one I've been waiting to see. Nice, nice resolution to the problem you posed me, and an excellent indication this Haradri cloth merchant is a gypsy of sorts. And a nice resolution to what Sam will do with it, as it will indeed go to the projects suggested. Lovely, Ann.

Author's reply

Thank you so much for your help - I was at a total loss until the silk whispered to me how it wanted the story to go. The gypsy's prophecy true, and more: as shirebound as has, all those little girls of Rosie's and Sam's eagerly awaiting their turn in the shimmering blue-green silk dress.

shirebound · 19 October 2005 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

I'm sure Mrs. Cotton *will* know what to do with it! Ah, I can just imagine (and so can Sam, I suspect) a certain lass clothed in such lovely silks.

Author's reply

Oh, shirebound, I'm so glad you commented! I don't write much about the hobbits, so I'm nervous when I feel so called. I'm glad this tale resonated with you, and you can picture Rosie and Elanor and all those little flowery lasses in iridescent blue-green silk.

Raksha The Demon · 19 October 2005 · Chapter 1: A Length of Haradric Silk

Ooh, what a lovely story, as pretty as the silk that I bet will one day adorn Elanor when she comes to meet the Queen. You write Sam brilliantly.

Author's reply

Goodness! What are you doing up so early? Stories come from strange places, don't they? One of the inspirations for this came from the Quilting show that was on at the YMCA - they showed a piece of blue/green iridescant fabric. The vision haunted me until I could get home and start writing Fortunately I had all that treadmill time to get the bare bones of the story down. thank you1 I don't write Sam often, but for some reason, when I do his words and thoughts come very easily - guess because I'm basically just as straightforward as he is.

Reviews (11)