I love this chapter: especially the title (tisn't it delicious??) and the beginning, and the middle.
It's nice getting a little glimpse of the Bucklands and I love Merry and Pippin's nonchalance (world wide travelers that they already are by hobbit standards, hee xD), and then dear Sam heading into new country, crossing the Brandywine. Such a big moment! (Btw, I'm thinking there will be rather a lot of dear Sam-ing -- and Merry-ing and Pippin-ing -- over the course of this entire thing so consider yourselves warned. Not that I'm concerned y'all will mind.)
I love Merry's capable planning and efficiency. I also like how much he gets to talk in here -- especially as, obviously, we haven't been able to get to know him much at all yet. So yeah, that's lovely. Also, who else loves the idea of a cottage with a stone flagged bathroom and tubs enough for everyone and a steaming copper water pot at the end of a long trek?
And... in A Shortcut to Mushrooms we met an unexpected friend and now we have old friends proving they can successfully pull off an entire cloak and dagger operation on an oblivious, unsuspecting Frodo. Their real friendship just makes me smile all over and get all warm and cozy inside.
Quotes:
- I want to write out the entire conspiracy revelation section, but shall settle for this line from Merry that fairly well sums it up: "My dear old hobbit, you don't allow for the inquisitiveness of friends."
- And again (clearly I'm starting to identify with Merry, which is actually rather 'noice), "It all depends on what you want," put in Merry. "You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin -- to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours -- closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo. Anyway: there it is. We know most of what Gandalf has told you. We know a good deal about the Ring. We are horribly afraid -- but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds."
For thought:
- What do you think of the friendship description above?
I liked this one better than the previous chapter - I guess they're both sort of set up, but this one is more satisfying. I really like the dream at the end:
ReplyDelete"Then he heard a noise in the distance. At first he thought it was a great wind coming over the leaves of the forest. Then he knew that it was not leaves, but the sound of the Sea far-off; a sound he had never heard in waking life, though it had often troubled his dreams. Suddenly he found he was out in the open. There were no trees after all. He was on a dark heath, and there was a strange salt smell in the air. Looking up he saw before him a tall white tower, standing alone on a high ridge. A great desire came over him to climb the tower and see the Sea. He started to struggle up the ridge towards the tower: but suddenly a light came in the sky, and there was a noise of thunder."
Beth,
DeleteIt's just so cozy and happy, isn't it? <3 And coming right on the brink before heading out into the terrifying Unknown.
Isn't the dream fascinating? First thing that caught me this time is that that deep longing for the sea must already be in his subconscious, and of course it's foreshadowing. And what is the tower? Isengard? Or Minas Tirith? Or Minas Ithil in days gone by? Or the lighthouse on the way to the sea? Or a symbol for all four... or something entirely different?? It's beautiful.
I really enjoyed this chapter! they more I read the book, the more I begun to see what a disservice the films did to Merry and Pippin.
ReplyDeletehttps://revealedintime.blogspot.com/2020/10/lotr-read-along-fellowship-of-ring_20.html#more
Such a good chapter! Their camraderie really shines already, with Sam being bashful, yet an integral part.
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