Raven

I did look at some OU courses a few years back, but never really got very far with it (I was looking at astronomy at the time, and there didn't appear to be enough modules to make up a full degree). Not OU, but I was recently looking into doing an online MA through The University of York, but before I started the application process (for this September) the course was pulled.

No kiddin'! I will comment on the last four chapters later in the week (ironically I've been delayed because I was reading The Return of the King!). The next four chapters are: 2. The Riders of Rohan 3. The Uruk-hai 4. Treebeard 5. The White Rider

- I really like the journey through Moria, and going back to what I was saying last week, the scale of the place makes it feel truly epic (although the tombs do feel a bit like they are rootling around in someone's attic...) - I also like the history that is conveyed first by Gimli and then in journal they find. - The Battle of Balin's Tomb - which I will henceforth refer to as The Battle in the Attic - is built up very well and, again, by the lack of any foes right up until the point when they rock up. It's almost like Tolkien was saying "You thought they were going to get away with it, didn't you?" - RE: Gandalf, and I will spoiler this bit for Brian: - I like the way Gollum is introduced to the story, as a lurking, mysterious menace that follows the Fellowship, but what I don't understand is why he decides to follow them. Curiosity could be a reason initially, when he first picks up their trail in Moria, but how does he work out who they are and what they are carrying? It can't be some general awareness of the ring, or he would have been able to follow Bilbo when he originally took the ring, so how does he know and why does he follow? - The Elves of Lothlórien are a lot less camp than they are in the films. - Another Person of Power passes up the chance to take The Ring! For something that is supposed to be so alluring and seductive, an awful lot of people seem quite happy to say "Nah, I'm fine mate!" And so we move to the last three chapters of Fellowship, and the first of The Two Towers. I had intended to stop at the end of Fellowship, but the first chapter of The Two Towers always feels to me as though it is in the wrong book. So, your thoughts, please, on: 8. Farewell to Lórien 9. The Great River 10. The Breaking of the Fellowship The Two Towers 1. The Departure of Boromir

Glad you enjoyed it! They are good; I worked my way through them over a few years (there are only seven full length novels, but there are a lot of short story collections - most of which are not in print in the UK at this time, and some of them were combined to make up the full length novels).

I hope you are feeling okay! (sucks, doesn't it?)

This week's chapters are: 4. A Journey in the Dark 5. The Bridge of Khazad-dûm 6. Lothlórien 7. The Mirror of Galadriel Who wants to go first?

Same here! Chuffin' cold, but at least it was dry and I could walk upright!

On the way home is fine, but on the way would just be a waste...

A slight breeze here (fence down in the back garden, bins blown over etc). Saw a seagull fly past a moment ago. In the time it has taken me to type this I suspect it has made it to Brighton.

I think it's from either Concerning Hobbits, or a Long-expected Party, but I'm not sure. Great, now I'm going to be seeing Jim Dale as Frodo and Sid James as Sam for the rest of the story... (Golem is obviously played by Charles Hawtrey). Everyone has their turn, and everyone is giving a f****** lecture. Where was Chris Whitty with his PowerPoint presentation?

I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn't care who knew it. From the first paragraph of The Big Sleep. I've just finished reading Playback, and am now looking for something else before I return to Middle Earth!

Doesn't it say somewhere that at 50 he is considered a young Hobbit?

Just divided it up (it didn't need cutting!) and managed three good sized portions; one for tomorrow, and two for a later date. Tastes pretty good, too!

Yay! Managed to turn the oven off last time I turned the brisket, so it will be even later now! (think this is fast becoming tomorrow night's meal!)

And the next chapters are... 12. Flight to the Ford Book 2 1. Many Meetings 2. The Council of Elrond 3. The Ring goes South (For anyone who is confused by the above numbering, chapter numbers reset at the beginning of each book!) I will go back and comment on the chapters I haven't commented on so far at a later point, but for now... - Frodo's plight after being stabbed on Weathertop, though grave, doesn't seem as immediately perilous as it does in the films, but even given that I was surprised at the rather rambling journey Strider took the group on to reach Rivendell (I'd honestly forgotten most of it from the first time I read the book, with the exception of the party finding the trolls Bilbo encountered in The Hobbit). I think the thing about this chapter that works the best for me is the lack of the Black Riders. After their appearance at the end of the last chapter you are expecting them to attack again at any moment, but then... nothing. And then... more nothing! They just keep failing to turn up and and I think that works in favour of the story as it actually that increases the tension (though I'm not entirely certain that was Tolkien's aim, I think he just wanted the group to have a bit more of an adventure before reaching Rivendell). - I personally think Glorfindel works better in this chapter than Arwen does in the film (although I understand why they gave her character more to do and why they introduced her earlier in the story in the film). I was surprised when he just packed Frodo off on the horse alone, however, relying on the horse being sure footed and - presumably - the Black Riders either not having bows and arrows or on their being as accurate as Imperial Stormtroopers. - Biblo's back, hurrah! (Looooooooooooooooong song warning!) - I found the exposition over the two chapters Many Meetings and The Council of Elrond to sometimes be a little flabby, repetitive and a little tedious, but thankfully it is broken up by the odd song or two!* Whilst there is some very interesting content covered in these chapters, I couldn't help thinking they could have been a little tighter, with people getting to the point a bit more quickly (especially during the Council of Elrond). I'm left wondering if this is what meetings were like in academia at the time Tolkien was writing (either that, or there are no time management training courses on offer in the Elven Realm...). - The Ring goes South is a bit of a false start, as it takes a while for them to actually get going and then there is a lot of them just walking! One thing I do like about LotR, however, and it is in evidence in this chapter, is that it does take time to get somewhere. Days and weeks are counted off, and Tolkien also makes a note of the changing of the seasons as the journey progresses. To often, in stories today, the journey is often glossed over in preference of action scenes, but I think this passage of time helps to build the world of Middle Earth and to help make the story feel more epic overall. * I'm actually not thankful about that. Public Notice: As with this week, from next week I will be posting the call for thoughts on the next chapters on a Sunday, as I'm finding Saturdays just to busy to fit them in!

Started cooking waaaaay too late again tonight. Currently have a piece of brisket in the over that will be out at 22:45!

We've stalled a little, so you will probably catch up quite easily! Feel free to post comments of any length, the more discussion the better!

They are very enjoyable reads. Dated in a lot of ways, yes, but also very well written and very entertaining. Sad that this is the last full novel of his that I will ever read, but I've not touched any of his short stories yet, so this is not the end of the road!

Taking a short break from Middle Earth and am now reading Playback by Raymond Chandler (it's his last Philip Marlowe novel).

Doesn't ring any bells, I'm afraid.

For those following the thread, the next chapters will start this Saturday. I also need to post about the last four chapters as well!

Well, now you mention it... Having come out the other side of having COVID I now have an odd sense of freedom; it's unlikely I can catch it again in the short term, so it's like having a free pass. It's just nice to be able to get out again - at least for a while - without having to worry about anything. Kind of feels almost normal again. Which is odd in its own way...

Currently drinking Brighton Bier G'Day Spruce in the Brighton Bier Haus. First time I've been in since January 2020, thanks to COVID.

Next four chapters! 8. Fog on the Barrow-downs 9. At the Sign of the Prancing Pony 10. Strider 11. A Knife in the Dark Hayley, it's your turn to go first!