Recs from last weekend

[sally_maria]

the_marquis gave me a copy of an article from a German magazine, written by a journalist who was at the Tolkien Weekend earlier in the year. It mainly features Zainab's teaching of Elvish, with a very nice picture of a certain bouncy elf. :-)

When playing Tolkien 20 questions, I remembered something I have been meaning to rec for a while. I was waiting until it was finished, but actually that's not really necessary, as each chapter stands on its own.

Do you remember Dora Baggins, who was Frodo's aunt and "had written reams of good advice for more than half a century"? Dreamflower has written "Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners, Or The Shire Hobbit's Guide to Proper Behavior for Every Occasion". It combines world-building, creating a more detailed Shire society, with a wise and gently amusing take on proper manners for any number of situations. Even if you don't usually read fanfic, this is well worth the time of any Tolkien fan.



It is the duty of every Hobbit to endeavor to present a good example of Proper Behavior. A Hobbit of the Shire should always keep in mind the Principles of Respectability, which are to be Kind, Hospitable and Predictable. Propriety demands no less.

.......

The third Principle of Respectability is Predictability. A Hobbit should always try his or her best to remain Predictable. To do the Unexpected smacks of Adventure, something all Hobbits should avoid when in any way possible. While it is quite true that the families of some of the Great Houses have been known to be touched by Adventure, this does not in any way make such an undertaking Respectable! Any Hobbit who does such a thing risks irreparable damage to his or her Reputation. A Reputation is an important thing, never to be risked lightly or impulsively. Hobbits who have indulged themselves in Adventure have spent the rest of their lives attempting to recover their lost Reputation, and are never wholly successful, as Talk will follow them to the end of their days and beyond.