The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - How did you feel about the end of the books?

mark12_30 · 06-27-2002, 04:20 AM

The end of the book...? Oh, I have a ritual with which I go into denial.

Well, not right away. When I finish reading the Grey Havens (and grieving Frodo's departure), I sometimes review the Tale of Years, and think about Merry and Pippin, living out their lives and being buried in Gondor; and Legolas and Gimli; and most of all, Sam, finally sailing to Frodo. I sit, and think, and cry for as long as I have to, and get up and wander about for a while, and when I am "done" processing-- sometimes that takes several hours-- then I return to the book, flip open to Sam's "Well, I'm back."; Stare at it for a moment, then close the book, turn it face-front, and open up to "A Long Expected Party" and look at it, flipping pages back and forth, reading about Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin.

"See, it's not over. Frodo is still here. Sam is still here, and Merry and Pippin are alive and well and joking and laughing, and watching Frodo to make sure he doesn't run off after Bilbo. They're all still right here."

And then I'm okay.

[ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

06-27-2002, 04:20 AM	#25
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	The end of the book...? Oh, I have a ritual with which I go into denial. Well, not right away. When I finish reading the Grey Havens (and grieving Frodo's departure), I sometimes review the Tale of Years, and think about Merry and Pippin, living out their lives and being buried in Gondor; and Legolas and Gimli; and most of all, Sam, finally sailing to Frodo. I sit, and think, and cry for as long as I have to, and get up and wander about for a while, and when I am "done" processing-- sometimes that takes several hours-- then I return to the book, flip open to Sam's "Well, I'm back."; Stare at it for a moment, then close the book, turn it face-front, and open up to "A Long Expected Party" and look at it, flipping pages back and forth, reading about Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin. "See, it's not over. Frodo is still here. Sam is still here, and Merry and Pippin are alive and well and joking and laughing, and watching Frodo to make sure he doesn't run off after Bilbo. They're all still right here." And then I'm okay. [ June 27, 2002: Message edited by: mark12_30 ] __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.