I have more to say and want to read again--I was spellbound all the way through it. By the way, you hit on something I have been feeling strongly lately in my recent musings over characterization. You captured it in these lines:
"Instead, my artworks came strong and strange, called unusual when people were being polite and bizarre when they were not. Brows furrowed and heads tilted; Fëanáro came up beside me, shoulders squared with pride, and kissed me for all to see. "I have married a true genius of the Noldor," he said, "whose talents bypass that which is common and trite, whose gifts instead speak directly to our hearts and minds."
After I started reading fanfics about the Fëanorians, I got very frustrated that people didn't seem to get them. (Why I fell so in love with your work.) Then I got it stuck in my head that one of the things I wanted to communicate about these characters, was that those who loved Feanor and his sons, were the true geniuses of the Noldor. So I was bowled over when I read those exact words here. Don't know if you recall the lines describing Vingarië's work in my "Maitimo and Findekano"? I described a piece of music that she had written as: "Vingarië's piece was difficult to play yet, although more innovative than some prefer, lovely and gentle on the ears." The point I was trying to get across--was she would not produce something conventional and ordinary--much less so would Nerdanel. I get a bit too caught up in all of this at times, but I would see the lovers of these guys--whether I am thinking of Nerdanel, Vingarië, (or in my recent work, Findekano)--did so at great risk to themselves. Therefore, they could not have been anything other than exceptional the have been copurageous enough to take that chance. I always think: how easy and how difficult to love and be loved by Feanor and/or sons.
Beautiful piece. I realize I am not talking about your main point here and will try to comment on that further later. I was so immediately drawn in by this side point that I couldn’t resist going on about it.
Thank you, Oshun. You and I think far too much alike ... it's scary! (For you ... ;) I can only echo weakly yet again that I completely agree with you. I do remember that line about Vingarie; it drew my attention because you drew her as an equal to Macalaure more than I think that most writers would. (And, yes, I'm always trying to increase the love for Tolkien's rare female characters, who rarely get the treatment they deserve in stories, imo.)
I also noticed a line in the most recent chapter of your new story about how Maitimo also drew to him the best and brightest ... I don't know if this was done intentionally, but it captured nicely for me the magnetism of these characters, which I think that people forget. (And when Tadiel talks about the sons ... "so many and so handsome and bold!" [I am quoting from memory, so that may not be exactly her line] made me want to jump up and shout, "YES!!!" because this fact about them seems to get neglected a lot.)
It makes perfect sense to me that Feanor would draw other geniuses; it must be nice to have contemporaries who understand his work and the creative process. It's like hanging out with non-writers ... very annoying! "So what's your novel about but you only have ten seconds to explain before I lose interest!" ... Anyway, I digress. ;)
Actually, that Feanaro chose Nerdanel--not particularly lovely but brilliant and talented--has always been one of my favorite things about his character.
Oh. So glad you are agree that we agree on this. I will write up my thoughts on the rest of the story later...cooking, distracted right now.
Yes. You did get exactly the point I was trying to make in my latest chapter draft about who I thought would have been around Nelyo in those days. Don't even get me started on that whole scenario, because I have a lot of thoughts on it.
"Instead, my artworks came strong and strange, called unusual when people were being polite and bizarre when they were not. Brows furrowed and heads tilted; Fëanáro came up beside me, shoulders squared with pride, and kissed me for all to see. "I have married a true genius of the Noldor," he said, "whose talents bypass that which is common and trite, whose gifts instead speak directly to our hearts and minds."
After I started reading fanfics about the Fëanorians, I got very frustrated that people didn't seem to get them. (Why I fell so in love with your work.) Then I got it stuck in my head that one of the things I wanted to communicate about these characters, was that those who loved Feanor and his sons, were the true geniuses of the Noldor. So I was bowled over when I read those exact words here. Don't know if you recall the lines describing Vingarië's work in my "Maitimo and Findekano"? I described a piece of music that she had written as: "Vingarië's piece was difficult to play yet, although more innovative than some prefer, lovely and gentle on the ears." The point I was trying to get across--was she would not produce something conventional and ordinary--much less so would Nerdanel. I get a bit too caught up in all of this at times, but I would see the lovers of these guys--whether I am thinking of Nerdanel, Vingarië, (or in my recent work, Findekano)--did so at great risk to themselves. Therefore, they could not have been anything other than exceptional the have been copurageous enough to take that chance. I always think: how easy and how difficult to love and be loved by Feanor and/or sons.
Beautiful piece. I realize I am not talking about your main point here and will try to comment on that further later. I was so immediately drawn in by this side point that I couldn’t resist going on about it.
Congrats again on lovely, lovely work...
Oshun
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I also noticed a line in the most recent chapter of your new story about how Maitimo also drew to him the best and brightest ... I don't know if this was done intentionally, but it captured nicely for me the magnetism of these characters, which I think that people forget. (And when Tadiel talks about the sons ... "so many and so handsome and bold!" [I am quoting from memory, so that may not be exactly her line] made me want to jump up and shout, "YES!!!" because this fact about them seems to get neglected a lot.)
It makes perfect sense to me that Feanor would draw other geniuses; it must be nice to have contemporaries who understand his work and the creative process. It's like hanging out with non-writers ... very annoying! "So what's your novel about but you only have ten seconds to explain before I lose interest!" ... Anyway, I digress. ;)
Actually, that Feanaro chose Nerdanel--not particularly lovely but brilliant and talented--has always been one of my favorite things about his character.
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Yes. You did get exactly the point I was trying to make in my latest chapter draft about who I thought would have been around Nelyo in those days. Don't even get me started on that whole scenario, because I have a lot of thoughts on it.
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