#Bilbo is sassy and has attitude!!!

[crowrelli]

Imagine your fruity ass cousin has a mental breakdown one day and disappears? And then after YEARS of you assuming he’s dead, he shows up with a literal king on his arm and more money than you even can begin to imagine? Then after he finally stops yelling at you for taking his silverware (which he will remember till the day he dies) he just makes fun of you any chance he gets?? Tbh lobelia deserved it 💅💅

[cindy-chu]

Today is my little Sansa’s one year birthday! Seems like just yesterday I drove to Buena Park to meet this little rascal, about half a year after losing little Sasha to wet FIP. I was so nervous Sansa might not make it to a year even though wet FIP is quite rare. She is still as soft as a kitten and no longer has a dirty snout like she used to, and lets me give her kisses and boops. Her favorite treats are dried minnows and chicken hearts from @nutrisourcepetfoods. Sometimes she likes to drink water by dipping her paw in her bowl or knocking the water bowl over to splash around in the puddle. I’m so happy Sansa is healthy and thriving, and regularly shows Bilbo who’s boss (yeah #girlboss) and she is so spunky and sassy and at the same time she and Bilbo comfort me, I find her attitude inspiring as well. She has broken wine glasses and glass frames and chewed through things but I can’t imagine life without her zoomies and chirrups and snuggles. Happy Birthday to my baby kitty! Love you sasabee. 🐾😻🐈💗 #snowshoecat #snowshoecatsofinstagram #rescuekitten #petbirthday #furbaby #prettykitty (at West Hollywood, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B320uzegLX1/?igshid=1127vvb1rb0cp

[emsiecat]

LotR: A Long-Expected Party

So, here it is. The very first chapter of Lord of The Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, which I read this week for @silmread

I have to say I simply adored this chapter, not least because it focuses heavily on one of my favourite characters, Bilbo.

It has been many years since I read LotR, due in part to unfortunately thinning out my collection when I was a still a teen, and then simply relying heavily on the films for my Tolkien fix. I was so excited to read these books again after receiving a new collection for Christmas, and managed to complete the first chapter in well under an hour, becoming so enthralled that I actually went to start chapter two without even realising! (oops)!

I feel a little sad for Bilbo in some ways. I am really grateful that he managed to keep in contact with the friends he made during his own adventures, and was able to stay true to himself over the years. However, it is quite obvious in reading this first chapter that the poor dear is something of an outcast amongst the other hobbits now. Not that he seems to let it bother him one whit of course. Our hobbit-y hero must have more sass and snark than any of the other inhabitants of the Shire combined, and goodness me, his and Frodo’s birthday party just proves it!

His ‘little joke’ at the expense of all his relations is priceless. The passive aggressive way he addresses them all (going so far to refer to them like a number of miscellaneous items ‘One Gross’), and then the bewildering speech in which none can immediately tell if Bilbo is complimenting or insulting them is just so amusing.

It shows that the adventure, whilst somewhat horrible in places and certainly bittersweet and heartbreaking in the end, was actually good for Bilbo’s overall confidence and his outlook on life, even if it has branded him as an outsider in his own home.

It’s wonderful then that he has dear Frodo and his younger cousins around now who seem to like his quirky nature and sassy attitude.

I cheered when I recalled that Bilbo had dwarves staying with him again, and it always piques my interest to know that there were three that decided to travel with him once he left Bag End. I can’t quite remember if they’re referred to again, or if we are ever given their names, but I think I’m safe in assuming these three would have been part of Thorin’s Company to have decided to travel with Bilbo... and I always always enjoy fics in which it turns out that it is a certain three who er... should not necessarily be living, but that’s my personal preference for happy endings and my staunch belief that Bilbo may well be a rather unreliable narrator ;P

The way the ring is introduced and described is chilling and interesting, as we can see what an influence it truly is starting to have on poor Bilbo, and it’s a very good thing that Gandalf is at hand to sway his decision in leaving the ring to Frodo.

I just loved all the beautiful descriptions of the party, and presents, the food, and fireworks in this chapter. It really gave a lovely mental image of how amazing the party must have been, and I was so happy to read about Merry being good friends with Frodo again, as I’d quite forgotten that he was present from the very start in the book!

I really enjoyed seeing how this chapter really sets us up for the rest of the book. Though it focuses on Bilbo and references his past adventure, it is easy to tell that with his departure, Bilbo is ‘passing on the mantle’ so to speak, not only of ownership of Bag End, but of being the protagonist.

I really think Frodo is a sweetheart and an all ‘round good hobbit, so seeing Tolkien start to flesh out his character and give the reader hints of his personality and beliefs makes for a great start to the book.

The icing on the cake is definitely the presents Bilbo leaves for his relations. So subtly insulting but funny at the same time, and I’m sure Frodo was having a continuous good natured stream of ‘Why, Uncle, why!’ running through his head whilst having to deal with their relatives after the party!

Overall, this is definitely a fantastic start to the read-along and I can’t wait to read the next chapter!