What a sweet and lovely story! I would not mind a visit to Frodo's new home...not at all! (Especially if I could hear some of those songs and stories).
I like how Frodo develops in this story from trying to fit into his many roles to creating a place that reflects his personality in all its aspects. This story makes me appreciate being in my own home, in my nice cozy room that I just finished decorating. :D
Author's reply
I would love to hear some of those songs and stories too! Thank you for your review, and I'm glad that it fits with your enjoyment of your own nicely, newly decorated room!
Ariel
· 16 March 2009
· Chapter 5: Coming Home
Yes, very nicely done. I have to agree with his dislike of acknowledgement, I have found the older I have gotten, the less I like to be singled out even for praise. Those passages spoke to me very clearly.
And I do love his house! I could see it in my mind's eye very clearly! What a delightful place! I can very easily see Frodo living easily there for the rest of his days. Well done!
Ariel
· 16 March 2009
· Chapter 1: Arrival
*Heheheh*
See? This is what happens when you step away from fanfic for a while; it gives all your favorite authors time to write (and finish!) wonderful new fanfics for you to read. *Big toothy grin* I'm very pleased so far - will let you know how I like the rest when I'm done.
lovethosehobbits
· 24 November 2008
· Chapter 5: Coming Home
I have had this story in my email box for almost 5 months. Finally I am reading it. My memory is so poor that I may have even read or heard it read by you, before. If that is so, I apologize. I can hear your lyrical voice and feel the dreamy feeling of listening to the cadence as I read this...and I am in heaven. Thanks so much for letting us all feel that way.
GamgeeFest
· 29 September 2008
· Chapter 5: Coming Home
What a lovely ending! I'm so glad that Frodo finally accepted both the smallness and the greatness inside himself. He may never be comfortable with the greatness, but he at least now is content to allow others to see it and honor it. The choir in the woods was very effective in bringing all the aspects of Frodo into one being. The house sounds most unhobbity indeed, but very suitable to a hobbit named Frodo. I greatly enjoyed this tale, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to finish it.
Virtuella
· 20 July 2008
· Chapter 5: Coming Home
This is a fascinating story! I like how you use the familiar motif of Frodo awaking after a long sleep in a strange place. Celebrian’s explanations of the difficulties in adapting to the Blessed Realm are an eye-opener - it would be so easy to assume that as soon as one sets foot onto those shores, all is well. It is wonderful to see how the wisdom of Celebrian guides Frodo in his journey of self-discovery - a journey of the mind to match his long journeys of the body. The idea of nakedness being natural and innocent in Valinor is a nice reference to the Garden of Eden and the healing powers of the sea are well handled. Very good reference to Frodo’s friendship with Sam. I also liked how the song of the elves echoed the song of the Ainur.
Antane
· 18 July 2008
· Chapter 5: Coming Home
A lovely ending! Peace and contentment and healing. Perhap it could help me as I discover who I am to become also. Indeed do many love Frodo for what he had done, who he was and that includes all those he has touched in this Age also. May God continue to bless us through His beloved child.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you liked the ending and that it gave you the feeling of peace and healing that I was trying to convey.
shirebound
· 16 July 2008
· Chapter 5: Coming Home
they are willing to offer simple friendship, unhampered by admiration or worship. As a good friend said to you not long ago, it is wise to allow Elves to celebrate according to Elves, for I assure you that they will never do otherwise!
How lovely!
Frodo's outer home grew and shifted as his 'inner' self evolved in its understanding, and he learned to find peace in being both little and great. What a wonderful journey of healing.
Author's reply
I loved creating that home and thinking of how it could express what Frodo felt he had become, in all the facets of his character and experiences. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!
harrowcat
· 16 July 2008
· Chapter 5: Coming Home
A wonderful end to a great story. I have a yearning for that house but I shall just have to apply the principles to my bed-sit.
Author's reply
I want that house too! I can just imagine all the singing and story-telling and writing and thinking that will go on in that house!
Larner
· 15 July 2008
· Chapter 5: Coming Home
Ah--he has finally wrought the home that HE needs--not just a Hobbit Hole or a structure intended for Elves, but a true home for Frodo.
Author's reply
I wish I could visit that home, or even live there! I feel that Frodo would be happy there.
GamgeeFest
· 2 July 2008
· Chapter 4: Shells, Sand and Stars
I am glad that Frodo now realizes he doesn’t have to be some great and noble hero to belong with the Elves, or to accept their honor of him. Now he can relax and simply be, and in so doing, fit in at last. He may have to remind himself of this lesson for a while, but eventually, he’ll learn to be comfortable in his own skin again.
Author's reply
There is a balance he needs to find between little and great, and he's definitely started the process of doing so! I think you've got it exactly right. He's not comfortable in his own skin.
Antane
· 14 May 2008
· Chapter 4: Shells, Sand and Stars
What wisdom our beloved Frodo is learning - quite moving there at the end. Hantanyel! Bilbo will celebrate Bilbo's way, the Elves will celebrate the Elvish way and Frodo will celebrate Frodo's way...what a gift to discover that.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Larner
· 13 May 2008
· Chapter 4: Shells, Sand and Stars
Ah--a wonderful truth learned! Yes, the Voice of Iluvatar speaks in his heart, and he begins to truly listen!
shirebound
· 12 May 2008
· Chapter 4: Shells, Sand and Stars
Ohhh, stars as a jewelled carpet. What a perfect description.
"I am very little," said Frodo, and he laughed.
"You are," she said, smiling.
"It is rather a relief," Frodo said. "I am very small after all and only need to be myself. Everyone has made such a fuss over me, and been terribly kind. I thought that I needed to be larger than life somehow
Beautiful, just beautiful. I truly believe this is the healing that Tolkien envisioned for Frodo. What a wonderful story.
Antane
· 20 May 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
What a glorious thing it is to be cracked
I think the same thing! :) No wonder I consider Frodo my soulmate.
Namarie, God bless, Antane
Queen Galadriel
· 29 April 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
Oh, how wonderful to see him so happy! I can understand the fear and also the joy. This evokes so many happy memories of riding waves at the beach when I was little, going out so far that my parents would call me back, frightened, but I rarely listened. :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Antane
· 8 April 2007
· Chapter 2: A Hobbit Hole
Hi, I'm sorry to be so late in reviewing this but one of the things I gave up for Lent was reading stories and so now I am working my way through the huge backlog that I have. I love that Frodo's favorite name to be addressed as is Mr. Frodo because he knew all the love that went into being called that. And I hope he realizes that Sam is still very much his friend and brother. I look forward to him discovering who he is now - "broken down and made into something quite different" or however the professor phrased it. (I don't have the exact quote in front of me.) I read in a book about post-traumatic stress that not only is the trauma experienced a wound to recover from but the fact that you have been changed by it and you can't go back to where you were - that is a second wound that must be dealt with. Frodo now has to begin the painful process of intergrating the carefree hobbit he once was with the one who was for intents and purposes a victim of a brutal and repeated rape and when that happens, he will indeed be something different, but healed, bright and beautiful once more inside and out. I look forward to reading more of that journey and I'm sure Celebrian will continue to help as she was a victim of rape herself or might have been and had to heal in any case from her own ordeal. She will be good for him. How's that for a long review? Can you tell I've missed reading everyone's tales? :) Happy Easter! Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen!
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
lovethosehobbits
· 27 March 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
How fun. I remember how I fun it was to 'ride the waves' and how freeing it is. It is the major thing that I miss here. I would absolutely die to live near the ocean again...to go tide-pooling and just walk. I found it to be incredibly soothing to listen to the steady crashing of the waves and constantness of the sea. I suppose you could say I have the sea yearning as well. I never tire of it even when it is at unrest.
harrowcat
· 26 March 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
What lovely imagery in this. And you have evoked some wonderful memories of being in the sea myself - Thank you Gentle Hobbit.
GamgeeFest
· 24 March 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
And so Frodo learns that being cracked (broken, to use his earlier word) is not necessarily a bad thing, which he knew before but somehow managed to forget over the course of the Quest. What a delight to see him having fun and laughing! That has been too rare since the Ring. Hopefully now, Frodo will discover that by finding the things that bring him delight, rather than make him feel guilty, will give him the answer to his question of who he is.
Cuthalion
· 24 March 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
My goodness, it really took me a long time to get back to this beautiful tale! I love the new chapters, especially this one. You know, I live in a very Shire-like landscape, but my grandmother once was born close to the sea, and I can so relate to Frodo's feelings here! I have done what he does - that easy, joyful dance amidst the waves - and this scene touches my heart in its very depths. Thank you for writing this!
Mona
Larner
· 23 March 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
Yes, Frodo the Dancer is alive again, rejoining the Song with the movement of his entire body, there where the Sea holds and reflects It most strongly.
Lovely images.
aprilkat
· 23 March 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
Oh, my dear, this is so heart-filling. Poor Frodo feeling that his courage is gone and himself so broken. I especially love Elrond's dictum to find courage through joy - which you so beautifully show Frodo finding as he leaps and dances naked in the waves.
Andrea
· 23 March 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
What a glorious thing it is to be cracked, he thought and then, without thinking, jumped into the next wave.
Wonderful chapter, Gentle Hobbit!
As Elrond said, this is Arda Unmarred. There are no restrictions. There is no fear - only freedom and happiness. Frodo found his courage again, I'm glad he did. And I'm quite sure he will make fast progress now.
Dancing is joy - I fully agree with you :)
Elwen
· 23 March 2007
· Chapter 3: The Dance of the Sea
I'm sitting here on the verge of tears. You have no idea.