So wonderful to see this updated again at last, Celeritas! Delightful to see the family beginning to make it up at last, and for her to learn of her father, if obliquely. And Tom is still Tom. Oh, dear, her birthday presents to him are so intended to prod at him! He needs to realize that not all to do with reading and writing will drag her away from him, and he might just come closer to her in a positive way if he learns, also.
Author's reply
Thanks for the review! And Kira does love to prod Tom, doesn't she?
If the family's making up, it really is just the beginning stages. Kira at least hasn't ever borne any ill-will toward them, and Mother's allowing this in large part because Kira has a point about their financial support. But hopefully it's a first step.
Dreamflower
· 1 July 2013
· Chapter 11
At last!
For some reason I kept getting logged out when I tried to review. Very odd. But it's not just SoA--some of my other sites were doing that too. *shakes head and blames Titivilus*
This is a great chapter to begin with, after a hiatus. There are enough bits to remind the reader of what was going on before, but not overwhelmingly so, and while the story (and Kira) are still in "waiting mode" for the wedding, you are moving forward with the character development quite well.
Kira and her mother are getting along much better still, in spite of Kira's continuing dishonesty and Rosemary's preferring to interpret things her way. I was pleased to see her defend her mother and her upbringing to her father's relatives.
I can't help but wonder, though, what Tom has told her mother. Will it improve things or make them worse? Knowing Tom, I'm guessing the latter, especially given Rosemary's hints afterwards.
I have to keep reminding myself of how young Kira is. A way in which you were quite brilliant with this was showing her reactions to her father's diary; her impatience with the "tweenishness" of it all only underscores her own "tweenishness" if she but knew it!
Still, I find myself dreading the wreckage that is inevitable when her mother finally understands how much and for how long her daughter's been deceiving her!
Author's reply
Yeah, SoA has a tendency to boot people out for reviewing.
The "waiting mode" chapters are really tough to write, because they still have to have some sense of direction and I don't always know what that is as I'm writing it. So I'm glad you sensed the characters moving forward.
I'm also really glad that Kira is coming across as young and inexperienced, because a lot of literature dealing with adolescents treats them as mini-adults. Protagonists should be allowed to be stupid--although they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it forever.
As for what Tom has or hasn't said... well, that's for a later chapter, isn't it?
goldvermilion87
· 29 June 2013
· Chapter 11
Way to get my hopes up about Tom!
But I really like the subtle way you're working in Kira's history. And I love her dad's diary.
Author's reply
Anytime. :)
And in two chapters, Kira's dad's diary is going to get reeeeeal interesting.
Thanks for the review!!
demeter d
· 26 November 2012
· Chapter 10
(oooh,dear. if i would have read the other reviews first,...of course she would be SAM'S Goldilocks. ooops.) Another connection you have inspired here. Your Halbarad, like his namesake of old, is "only" the second-in-line for the "crown" as it were. Unless something drastic happens to big brother Alaric, little Hal will likely spend his life serving his people as his brother the Thain's loyal right hand. And also... Grandfather Faramir was trying to get the older grandson interested in the tales to be found in the books. I wonder if he was aware of the parallels between your two Hobbit lads and his namesake and His older brother. The older, the one born to rule, is not so anxious to be wasting his life away with boring books. The younger is the one who loves the old tales.
And speaking of Boromir, I think Kira now has a similar opportunity to make amends for a personal mistake by service to young ones. If she can become indeed a living replacement for the lost book of tales, and nudge an appreciation for them into the future Thain, she will be doing a service for yet another generation of the Shire. Tales will become legends, and legends, myth. Probably nothing will stop that. But it is good to keep the eye witness on history accounts alive for as long as we can.
Author's reply
Yep, Goldilocks comes straight from canon, and yes, she's Faramir Took's widow.
I don't want to say too much more about the Took family dynamics, because it's something that I hope to develop much more deeply, and indirectly, in greater detail. But Alaric is not quite in the same situation as Boromir, because even if Thainship is a military position, the Shire is snug and smack-dab in the middle of a very well-off kingdom, not the first line of defense against Sauron. I think Alaric would reject notions of warfare as much as he's rejecting books, simply because other people would by trying to foist them upon him since it's his "duty" to know them.
Oh, and something I forgot to mention--there is evidence of an oral tradition of post-Rings tales in Tolkien--MAD BAGGINS! (Again... I don't think hobbits are inherently that committed to their history!)
demeter d
· 26 November 2012
· Chapter 10
A huge, tall bed in an alcove off of Gerontius Took's study? I will bet that Gerointius's occasional, much beloved WIZARD houseguest used THAT bed! In which case, the former occupant would have been delighted to have it full of young Hobbits hearing tales of that great adventure. I have picked up so many thoughts from this chapter. For one, what a treasure we have in inexpensive, mass-printed, pine-pulp paper books! When my children "loved to death" their
favorite Dr. Suess or Little Golden Books, I could usually find a bookstore, or even a discount department store to give us another copy, for mere money! No weeks or months of copying by hand required.
And concerning the telling of tales, compared to reading them. Are any of you readers familiar with the premise of Ray Bradbury's "Farenheit 451"?. The colony of people who were dedicated to preserving books did so by committing them to memory! That way there would be no paper or parchment copys subject to decay or wanton destruction! Over generations of oral transmission, changes are bound to occur, but the essence of the tales generally remains. And an oral tale can still be shared even if you run out or batteries for the Kindle or a hurricane takes the power out for a month! I have not given you many reviews. I am not so good at keeping up with longer tales. I try to limit internet reading in a vain attempt to spend more time in Real Life than Middle Earth. (A lost couse, I'm afraid!) One last question. "Goldilocks Took" is Thain Auluin's mother, correct? Now is she Pippin's DAUGHTER, or Faramir Took's widow, Pippin's daughter-in-law and SAM'S daugter?
Author's reply
The giant bed was actually inspired by the Great Bed of Ware in the Victoria & Albert museum in London--a giant sized bed originally from an inn in Ware apparently used as a destination gimmick. The thing is huge, and it occurred to me that that size of "huge" would be about a queen or king-sized bed to a hobbit--easy enough to pick up from a carpenter out in Bree. Gandalf might well have used it, but I doubt he was the only person that did.
One of the things I appreciate about LotR is how obviously it is not a culture of the written word--one that we didn't really get until Gutenberg and paper made books affordable. So it actually makes sense for people like Faramir to have no clue that the theoretical weapon that he wouldn't pick up if it were laying by the highway was that Ring that maybe some scribe transcribed accurately from these really old documents, if that wasn't just a legend, etc. Information traveled so much more slowly when all we had to rely upon was word of mouth and hand-copied transmission.
Of course, even if you don't have paper or parchment, an oral culture will only work as well as the people dedicated to transmitting it (same with a hand-copied transmission culture, come to think of it--it's only after print came along that we didn't have to worry so much about information being lost forever). And hobbits were apparently never too dedicated to that--they don't have any memory of their history before the settlement of the Shire, and can only tease it away with some slight etymological reflections on their unique words. This is supposed to be an advantage, since they disappeared out of everyone else's stories, too, allowing them to escape the Enemy's notice for a long time, but it's clear that Frodo, at least, wanted to change that.
I'm sorry about blathering on at you for a time--don't worry about sporadic reviews or anything! I'm far worse with the sporadic updates!
Dreamflower
· 26 November 2012
· Chapter 10
At last!
I finally got to read this chapter yesterday, but for some reason I kept getting logged out.
I loved this chapter--you picked up so seamlessly where you left off that I had no trouble remembering what had been happening (always a question when there's bee a long hiatus!) and I could plunge right into the story.
Kira's story about the "prince" was rather startling, and it took me a few lines to get where she was going with it. Once I did, I just shook my head at her.
She's so adolescent in this: defiant and rebellious, even where there's really no need to be, because she makes assumptions about people based on her biases and her own personal feelings about things. And yet we also see her true common sense and sense of fairness, when she readily acknowledges herself in the wrong and is willing to apologize. That's not common in adolescence, and a great many adults never learn that lesson either.
Goldilocks was right: the Tooks were remarkably polite, gracious and forebearing in the wake of Kira's quite deliberate rudeness. I think that she's the real "star" of this chapter, and when she appeared I literally shouted "Hah!" at the computer screen! And I think her standing as Sam's daughter gave her a cachet with Kira that was necessary, and enabled her to see herself as in the wrong rather than wronged. I do not think that this indicates her opinion of the Thain's decision has changed, but rather that perhaps she realized that her reaction to it was out of proportion, especially after all this time.
The confrontation with Alaric was lovely. I adore her scorn at his attitude towards reading and history--and the poem was beautiful! Congratulations on it--it's quite perfect, and I think needs its own separate entry! One of Isengar's, I assume? Or at least about Isengar?
I look forward to seeing where this leads! I'm so glad you are fully back!
Author's reply
Well, it helped, I guess, that I left off at a "cliffhanger."
Also, Kira is so much fun to write when she's feeling tweenish, especially when she's in full "snark" mode. It might have read better against Alaric, though, because that's slightly more justified than insulting the Thain in his own home.
As far as Kira's willingness to admit that she is wrong, and apologize: I credit that to her original transformation as a reader. Once you're willing to admit you were wrong about one thing, it's easier to come to terms that you were wrong with another. Although, perhaps, that isn't entirely accurate to real life: I can think of many people who went through One Epic Transformation in their teens and then were so convinced that they had discovered the Absolute Truth that they could never be wrong again. So maybe it's different for hobbits, or maybe it's just Kira. Ah, well--I did want to create a dynamic character who was more like the role models in the stories I read in my youth and actually became better people by the end of the story.
But Kira definitely would not have been able to come to that realization for at least a week if Goldilocks hadn't been there to pound it into her. She really is the hidden star in this chapter! And no, Kira hasn't changed her mind about the Thain--she's just realized that there's no real reason to be rude to him when there are other people around.
The strange smell (sea salt/brine) and the weatherbeaten cover were both indicators that the entire book came from Isengar, so yes, that is his poem.
And I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter!
walkerskye
· 25 November 2012
· Chapter 10
Thank you! Finally I get to know more about Kira. She's become one of my favorite original characters in Stories of Arda. Please keep the stories coming, Im as eager to jear them as Kira is to tell them.
Author's reply
Thanks! I should have another chapter out sooner rather than later (think: three months, rather than six) because the next bit I'm drafting is Kerry and Sandra's wedding, and I already have a lot of the wedding customs sketched out. We'll see how quickly I can get it done!
Larner
· 25 November 2012
· Chapter 10
I rejoice to see another chapter of this after so long! I've missed hearing from you on occasion! Poor Alaric has been duly chastened, I think. I hope he takes it to heart, realizing it was his great grandfather he was reading about and not some long-dead hero with nothing to do with him. Hal was darling, and LOVE the appearance of Goldilocks in all of this! Her awareness of her father's devotion to duty as him apparently never sleeping is marvelous! Am also glad that Kira apologized. That was a necessity.
Author's reply
I'm happy to finally be back in my writer's seat as well!
I hope Alaric starts learning as well, but you can only learn things if you want to.
And I think Goldilocks was the secret star in this particular chapter. I'm really proud of how she turned out.
Thanks so much for your review, Larner!
Virtuella
· 1 February 2011
· Chapter 9
I was thinking of the Red Book. It's not there anymore, but it's left its mark.
Author's reply
That makes sense. When you mentioned the idea in the review, I think my mind went off into half a dozen flights of fancy on anything and everything else from the past that isn't here anymore, but you can still see the tangible effects of their impact--Kira's father, the Book, the people who wrote and participated in the plot of the Book, the prisoners in the Lockholes, the old course of the Ash River before the ruffians diverted it, etc.
Virtuella
· 1 February 2011
· Chapter 9
//a loaf of bread, partly hollowed and filled with soft cheese; summer sausage//
Deary me, not a very healthy diet! They should take some fresh vegg from their garden! ;-)
The psychology is very good again in this chapter. Great to get a glimpse into the life of Kira's father. And I loved the detail that the pressed flower was not in the book, but the outline could be seen. Very symbolic. :)
Author's reply
I was trying to stick to things that would travel well--although they don't have far to go, and (from my vague impressions of seasons, which are completely thrown off because of the different climate) I don't know if apples and the like would be in yet. At any rate, there are 5 other meals in the day for them to get their essentials in.
You know, I hadn't consciously intended the flower to be symbolic, but you do have a point there! Thanks for the review!
Dreamflower
· 29 January 2011
· Chapter 9
Oh mercy! So much of this to address! You have *really* moved the plot along immensely in this chapter.
I'm glad Kira got angry enough at her mother to tell her at least *some* of what her mother needs to hear-- and the idea that her mother needs to "move on" was something that needed to be said.
I'm also glad she ran to Kerry, and at least got the chance to farewell him. And whether or not it makes a difference to her behaviour, Kira's mother had to be impressed by his concern and care.
The dairy I think will be very important in the long run-- perhaps more important than in just letting Kira see what her father was like. While he might not have shared her interest in scholarly things, I believe he *would* have understood her feelings of being caged and coddled. And it is quite likely that had he lived, Kira would certainly not have been as caged and coddled as happened without him.
Merina's letter was a delight! She does have such a heedless personality-- in some ways she is as oblivious to her effect on other people as Tom is. The difference being that she really does care about Kira's feelings-- she just doesn't know how to express sympathy and empathy without saying all sorts of tactless things at the same time. In some ways she is a more intelligent version of my Folco. At least she can see consequences *after* the fact! And of course, she is such a passionate advocate of Kira that she has to run down anyone who is standing in Kira's way: Kira's mother, even Kerry and Sandra for going along with it...but she's quite funny. And while I think Kira's answer was a good one (and hope it doesn't hurt or anger Merina) I'm kind of sorry that she was reasonable about it, because that means we don't get to see more of Merina's exuberant correspondence.
I loved your version of Eowyn's tale. It looks quite different from the perspective of a young tweenaged female who can see the story from the ending than it did to one male hobbit who had to live through it while carrying on his own part in that portion of the tale.
And the end. LOL! That long ride, that lack of suspicion until she began to realize there could only be ONE smial THAT large! *grin*
Looking forward eagerly for more!
Author's reply
Yup. No coincidence that I was working on this chapter when I mentioned that I just wanted to get the entire story out of my system!
And I think I did mention in response to your last review that there are some things that not even Kira can take, especially when she's been shocked with something like that (expect more of the same next chapter, only hopefully more entertaining!). Anyhow I hope that this is going to lead to some real, lasting change in Rosemary's character.
Running into Kerry was important for a lot of reasons--not only to give Kira some closure, but also because if she hadn't, she'd have kept on trying to talk to him anyway, and he wouldn't have been able to explain why he was going along with the decision to cut Kira. This was, essentially, the part in the narrative where you have to remove those people that the protagonist had been relying on too heavily, to get them to grow up a little more. But don't tell Kira that!
I think you're right about the diary, and that Kira and her father have a lot more in common in their desire to escape than their different means of escape would suggest. I think I got into that a little bit when I was exploring the AU situation in which he had lived.
I love writing Merina, and I loved writing that letter, though at first I was nervous that I was going to make her sound either too mean, or else not flippant enough for Kira to take offense and be justified. And I think Merina sees a number of consequences before the fact as well--she just doesn't care! I do think that Kira's response hurt her (and with Merina, hurt always ends up turning into anger), but how much she'll be able to work through that before the wedding I'm not sure. But even if Merina doesn't show up as often as I'd like, I know that the rumor of her will still manage to get to Kira. She has some pretty good adventures in store!
As far as the end... well, Kira really was quite oblivious, wasn't she?
Larner
· 29 January 2011
· Chapter 9
Poor Kira--Hal HAS set her quite the adventure, hasn't he? Now she has a lot of talking to do! At least she will have some access to bookish people again, though.
I'm glad she's learned her dad could read and write, even if he didn't read a lot himself.
Author's reply
Yes, he has, and the results should be fairly entertaining when I can manage to put them up. But "literate" does not necessarily mean "bookish," and it remains to be seen how bookish these Tooks are.
Kira did know, or at least guess, that her father was literate because of the note that she found from Aunt Foxglove accompanying her wedding gift for him, and the monogrammed silverware. That's not pure proof, obviously, but it's a good indicator. What was a real surprise was that he left anything written behind at all.
Puddum
· 26 December 2010
· Chapter 8
Oh boy, it's been a little while since I got the chance to read this story but I'm glad I've found it again. It's just as engaging and enchanting as the prequel, but now as it's in progress, I can't just plow through it in a matter of days and I actually have to wait for an update-- which I hope comes soon! I can't wait for more of Kira's wonderful renditions of Shire history. As well as the adorable Kira/Tom tension. :P
Author's reply
I'm up in my neck in Yule obligations until the new year, and then we'll see about my starting the next chapter... Believe me, I don't like the delays any more than you do, but I'm a lot busier than I was when I was working on KAtM.
Also, call the Kira/Tom tension "adorable" around either of them and I can't be held liable for any damages they do to you. :P
Virtuella
· 14 November 2010
· Chapter 8
I was so glad to see an alert for this story, and I was not disappointed. What an amazing story about Fredegar and Jessamine! And then, just when I thought you were winding up the chapter in a leisurely way, you spring this on poor Kira! And there was me thinking that her mother was mellowing a bit...
Author's reply
Thank you so much, Virtuella!!
I was hung up for a long time on what sort of a Fatty story Kira was going to tell (which was part of the long delay for the previous chapter), until the idea for a saner, more hobbity version of the "dead but not really dead" tragedies slipped into my mind. There is something people expect from a story about Fredegar Bolger and I knew Kira wasn't going to tell it!
And goodness, it's been a while since Kira's had this kind of excitement, hasn't it? Quite frankly I don't think Mother's character could actually change by a sort of gradual mellowing--there'd be pushback at some point, or some sort of confrontation, to get everything out in the open. And that's not just because it makes good drama; it's in her character.
Hopefully the twist at the end of this chapter will start to get the wheels of the plot turning just a little bit faster...
Dreamflower
· 13 November 2010
· Chapter 8
Oh dear. Oh dear. *shakes head*
You know, honestly Rosemary is so pigheadedly determined that she and she alone is right, that she is doing everything she can to drive Kira into the very sorts of things she'd rather prevent.
I know she thinks she's doing what's right for her daughter, but she's not a stupid person-- why this particular blind spot of hers is so hard for her to see through, I can't imagine.
I *wish* Kira was defiant enough to confront her mother outright, instead of allowing herself to be driven to dishonesty.
I fear that one day Rosemary will reap a very bitter harvest.
*sigh*
You know, I really am invested in this story when I can work up this much indignation over a character...
Author's reply
I know. I know. Hobbits can be so stubborn, though, and Kira happens to come from two very stubborn parents, and Rosemary is particularly good at convincing herself that other people (in this case, the Brandybucks) are to blame for tragedies. And I think she's seen the world this way for so long that she doesn't know how to stop, and the fact that she's the only one raising her daughter means that she can't afford to take another perspective.
I wish Kira would let all of this come out into the open, too, but the aftermath of that is so intimidating, and she could have so much to lose by it. She's in a very constrained position in her society, much more constrained than she would be in our day and age, and she doesn't see herself as having much choice, except wait till she's of age.
Which is not to say that Kira will take this particular shock standing down. There are some things that even she cannot put up with.
Be strong as a mountain, Kira, for you have many enemies about you...
I hope you liked the rest of the chapter, though! The one downside to waiting to finish a chapter until after some sort of great game-changing event takes place is that reader reactions to that often overshadow all others!
Larner
· 13 November 2010
· Chapter 8
That is a horrible bargain for her mother to make! What a terrible thing! Aargh!
I enjoyed the description of the Oak Barrel Inn and the luncheon, and the tale told of Fredegar and his beloved. A horrible fate for her family, though.
Author's reply
I know! I felt so evil posting this chapter!
I'm glad you enjoyed everything else, though. Thanks for the review!
Virtuella
· 8 July 2010
· Chapter 7
This was all deligthful, but I liked the encounter with the dwarf woman best. The idea of the birth gifts, and what they meant in the decades leading up to the war, was fascinating. And so there's a dwarf philospher in the making? That should be interesting! The dream, as usual, was spot on. Thanks for a great chapter!
Author's reply
The encounter with Asa is probably the favorite thing that I have written this year, so I'm glad you like it!
I only have very vague ideas about her child right now, but he also doesn't need to enter anything I'm writing about the moment. I'm content to let him remain an enigma now.
Thanks for reading and reviewing! Your feedback means a lot to me.
Dreamflower
· 6 July 2010
· Chapter 7
This is a fascinating chapter!
I was in suspense for most of it, in fear that she was going to get caught out, by her mother or someone who'd tell her mother: her time with Kerry, her storytelling, her evening with the Dwarves-- all those things pose a danger to her that a reader just can't forget. And yet I was immensely relieved when no such thing *did* happen. I know it's inevitable, sooner or later, and the later it is the worse it will be-- and yet I'm quite content to see it postponed yet again.
Her story of Sancho was delightful! I love the idea of a secret rebel, sneaking food to the prisoners-- and Sancho is the perfect one for that, as we know he enjoyed digging for treasre at least, from canon!
That the Dwarves enabled her to dance was beautiful! It's so sad that she cannot share that joy with anyone. And the encounter with Asa was very mystical, and filled with foreboding. I also love the revelations about Dwarven culture-- it's so fun to see how people fill in the considerable blanks about Dwarves differently.
As to Kira's dream: I don't think it *was* Tom. Not to begin with anyhow. Hope I'm right.
Author's reply
Today was definitely Kira's riskiest day, but fortunately nothing's happened yet. I think the biggest stroke of brilliance was the dwarves, since Kira would be expected to visit them the next day and now she will be able to be Perfectly Well-Behaved.
I think the Shire had a lot of secret rebels, although many of them were not in the position to be particularly active. Perhaps stretching Sancho's character from one isolated incident in his youth was a little unfair from a canonical perspective, but since he comes out with a better reputation as a result I'm pretty sure he doesn't mind.
And dwarves!!! XD
Honestly, if I wrote dwarf-centric fiction I'd approach the entire species quite differently. But for the purposes of this fiction they needed to fill in this "other" gap, that is so strange and beautiful precisely because it is not Hobbit.
I steadfastly seal my lips concerning Kira's dream. There are a lot of interpretations to it, and not even Kira's sure which one's correct.
Larner
· 6 July 2010
· Chapter 7
Ah, so there is something there in Tom of Frodo that draws her to him! Perhaps he needs first to awaken to his own special nature before she can open to him fully!
Love the visit with Asa! I'm so glad she was so honored! Perfect!
And I love thinking of Sancho tunneling into the Lockholes to help those who were imprisoned within, and the Hobbit who told him he wouldn't escape at the expense of the rest of the prisoners. Excellent!
Author's reply
I don't know if that's what that dream at the end means--although I do write them intentionally ambiguously. I just don't see the connection to Frodo, and I don't know if the 'draw' is the same.
The visit with Asa is probably my favorite bit in all that I've written of this story so far. In a way, Kira lucked out precisely because the rest of her people are cutting themselves off from the world, but there are a lot in the world who are eager to know at least one of the race that saved them. She could probably go on a tour beyond the Bounds and never have to worry about earning her keep!
And I, too, love the idea of silent heroes within the Shire during the Troubles. It's fun to add the Proudfoots to that list since a lot of authors tend to give them short shrift.
Virtuella
· 29 January 2010
· Chapter 6
Yay for Merina! Well done, that lass! :D
And yay for me, I've caught up.
As ever, your descriptions of a busy hobbit gathering are wonderful. So much to notice and to consider! Great chapter; I enjoyed it very much.
Author's reply
Merina is probably my second-favorite character to write (after smitten!Tom) because she's such a flaunter. And the Fair scenes are some of the most fun to write, because I can put Kira in contact with people she normally doesn't get to see and because there's so much going on. That's probably why the Fair usually drags out to a chapter a day.
Hooray for catching up!!
Virtuella
· 29 January 2010
· Chapter 5
Lovely. What could be more delightful than having tea (and cake) in a genteel little bakery shop with an aunt. I quite fancy that myself, actually...
Author's reply
I quite agree. When I was growing up we had a British friend in town from our church, and every so often she'd invite us over for a real proper tea with homemade scones and Devonshire cream. I rather miss that experience, to say nothing of the woman herself, who was positively charming!
Virtuella
· 28 January 2010
· Chapter 4
This is the first time that I feel real empathy for Kira's mother. What desperation must have driven her to take such a risk, and now to have her hopes destroyed thus! The fragility of the plants is a very good symbol for the fragility of our existence.
Author's reply
What I actually found most telling about Rosemary's character here was that in the face of actual hardship she did not chastise Kira for not noticing the warning signs because she was reading (and she repeats this at the beginning of the next chapter as well). Thanks for reading!
Dreamflower
· 25 January 2010
· Chapter 6
Ah! I want to take Kira's mom and just *shake* some sense into her. Yes, Kira's had a hard time with her health; yes, she means well; yes, she loves her daughter; yes, she has her own issues and buttons that were pushed by the issue of Kira's learning to read. But she has gone about it ALL WRONG! (And, YES, I know it's the Evol Author's fault in the end, who has her own agenda, but it just shows how real you make these characters seem that Kira's mom can infuriate me so!)
What she has done is take a young person who is essentially honest, who values truth, and turned her into a deceitful liar. Poor Kira! Contrast Kira's attitudes about the story-telling, insisting on telling only the truth as she knows it and not a bit more, to her more pragmatic and troubling attitude towards her mother. And it is mainly because her mother will not listen to her, nor give her any credit for having her own good sense.
Kira is trying hard to do what she needs to do without hurting her mother, but it's going to hurt more in the end when it all comes out. For one thing her mother is going to feel like a fool when she realizes that she's practically the only person in the Farthing who *doesn't* know what Kira's been doing!
But I am not 100% in sympathy with Kira; I think that somehow she could have come up with a better solution. Perhaps one reason she resents Merina (who is a good deal like her in many ways) is that Merina refuses to dissemble, but rebels outright, and I am sure takes the consequences (though not lying down, I'm sure!). I have a feeling that wind or no, Merina would probably have revealed herself after her win anyway, and enjoyed the resulting hoop-la! Kira, on the other hand, is outwardly meek and seems to capitulate to her mother-- all the while putting off and pushing away the inevitable results as long as she can get away with it. I'm sure much of it has to do with her years of being sidelined by her disability, but she values peace *too much* and rather than trying to resolve the situation openly, she simply tries to avoid confrontation.
Now, to the issue of Tom, I think perhaps Kira underestimates the power of puberty, that makes an adolescent react in totally unexpected ways to persons of the opposite gender-- even when not truly interested in them, LOL!
I hope we get to see the effort to persuade Kira's mom. She keeps talking about what "those people" did "to" Kira, but sooner or later she's going to have to realize they were doing "for" her daughter. I just hope that the rifts do not end up being even more painful and hard to heal than they need to be.
Author's reply
Okay, let's see if I can do a reply that does your review justice...
Kira's brush with dishonesty is really hurting her, which is something that she doesn't seem to realize. And you're right, she could have gone about this in better ways. But she's too introverted to get the thrill from rebellion that Merina does, and she's tried confrontation before--and it got her into an incredible mess-up. Merina can get away with being who she is by virtue of her position. If Kira were to try anything, the consequences would be such that the only ultimate escape she could have would be in running away, which is a possibility that she'll probably begin entertaining at increased intervals if this keeps up.
The simple fact is that a lot of us have well-meaning idiots put in positions of authority over us, and it's hard to say what the right thing to do is in such a situation. It doesn't help that Kira still loves her mother.
The other thing that makes this problematic is the fact that Kira can understand where the other side is coming from in a way that Merina never could, and it can be so much harder to have an outright disagreement in such a situation.
So a lot of this mess is Mother's fault, and a lot of it is due to Kira's environment and past experiences, and a good deal of it is due to Kira herself--something which a lot of people tend to forget in the effort to point their fingers. She may be sympathetic, but she is still lying and disobedient, and to give Kira a simple victory at the end would be dishonest to reality. But in the end, however this ends up getting resolved, Kira's mother will be the one left with more regrets. Which is a real shame.
I do think that Kira plans on coming clean eventually, but she has six more years before she can do that safely (because she'll be legally independent). And a lot can happen in that time...
The conversation regarding the wedding is going to be really interesting, whether I decide to show it or not, because it's not like the last time one of these happened (when the Master talked Aunt Penny into letting Kira learn to read). If Mother says, "No, she's not going, and that's final," there's nothing anyone else can do about it.
The issue of Tom makes me laugh amidst all this high drama. Of course, now Kira is going to have to wonder what's going on with her, and what it all means...
Virtuella
· 25 January 2010
· Chapter 3
It's great to see the independence and ingenuity with which Kira goes about her business. Her poverty is heart-wrenching, but we're left with the impression that she will cope.
One can't help thinking that if earlier generations had taken to trouble to teach village children the way Kira does, the whole situation would have turned out differently!
Author's reply
Kira is a bright sort, and I think the hardest problem facing her at the moment is not so much poverty as getting around poverty without her mother finding out about her extra source of income.
Kira is certainly under the impression that she's taking up a cause long, long overdue, and I think that that colors her work in many ways.
Thanks for reviewing!
Larner
· 24 January 2010
· Chapter 6
Merry's grandchildren are all themselves magnificent, and so very Brandybuck! Love Alder's approach, and that she was kind in her way to Tom, even.
Now, to get to that wedding!
Author's reply
Thank you!! Alder surprised me as a character, but I'm not complaining about his showing up!
I honestly don't know if Kira was being kind to Tom. She was being nice, but she was doing it just to make him feel awkward, and then regretted it immediately afterwards--because she was encouraging him!
Ah, but there are obstacles in the way of Kira's attending the wedding... *cackles*