Mac Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I read The Hobbit when I was eight and then LOTR when I was nine. I was a precocious child... I love it. I seem to pick up LOTR every 7 years or so and re-read it. You know the thing? I just get The Urge to disappear into Middle Earth every now and again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atticjnr Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I am almost at the end of The Hobbit but can't wait to open LOTR. Although I have already read the first book of the trilogy, I plan to re-read it just so I am sure of little bits I will probably miss if I just read a synopsis to remind myself. You know you are getting a bit too obsessed with LOTR when you are chatting to friends on the net and say "BRB, just popping to Middle Earth" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissWhitlock Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 The Unfinished Tales, is probably what you are thinking of, and there is also the Tales From a Perilous Realm. THAT'S THE ONE! Thanks for refreshing my mind. I haven't actually checked these out yet, but I plan to buy them when I have the money. I saw a Tolkien book in some shop the other week! I think it was a new book cause I have never seen it before, and it was displayed at the front of the shop which means it MIGHT'VE been a new book. Not sure though. I love it. I seem to pick up LOTR every 7 years or so and re-read it. You know the thing? I just get The Urge to disappear into Middle Earth every now and again. Haha, I remember I promised myself to read The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and LOTR one after the other at the start of each year. I only ever did it one..and a half times. I never got around to finishing The Silmarillion the second year, and I was too busy for LOTR. I'll try again this year maybe, it HAS been a while.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mia Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I read LOTR just before the films came out, because, like Chesilbeach, I like to have read the books before seeing the films (chiefly so I can get cross about what's been left out). I remember really struggling to get into the first book. I think it was Tom Bombadil that just about made me give up. I kept saying I would stop, but for some reason (stubborness?) I carried on and suddenly I realised I was totally engrossed! After that, there was no stopping me and I read all three in quick succession and loved them. At the end, I was so immersed in the whole Middle Earth world that I even read the histories etc in the back of the book. I was desperate to read more Tolkien and thought I would read The Silmarillion, but I don't know what happened because I never did, and now I don't really want to. It's like I was besotted and then fell out of love with it all. Regarding The Hobbit, I think I read it as a child. After reading LOTR, I bought The Hobbit but it has remained on my TBR pile for a good few years now, and I don't feel any inclination at the moment to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atticjnr Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I remember really struggling to get into the first book. I think it was Tom Bombadil that just about made me give up. I kept saying I would stop, but for some reason (stubborness?) I carried on and suddenly I realised I was totally engrossed! I find it strange that you found this to be the case as when I read the first of the trilogy and came across Tom Bombadil, I felt that I wanted to know more about him and for him to have maybe a larger part in the book! Curious indeed. What are other peoples favourite minor characters in Tolkiens work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted August 1, 2009 Author Share Posted August 1, 2009 Whenever I re-read LOTR, I'm actually impatient for the Tom Bombadil scenes! It's a nice break from reading about hobbits wandering through the woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mia Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I hope I'm remembering the right character then, as there seems to be a lot of love for good old Tom! Was he the one that was always singing and prancing about? At one point, I remember actually shouting out loud, "For God's sake, will you stop singing!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 I hope I'm remembering the right character then, as there seems to be a lot of love for good old Tom! No, he's rubbish, just fluff before the real story starts/continues! A completely unnecessary character, why do you thin he wasn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 No, he's rubbish, just fluff before the real story starts/continues! A completely unnecessary character, why do you thin he wasn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissWhitlock Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 What are other peoples favourite minor characters in Tolkiens work? I loved the lady that Tom Bombadil was with. What was her name? I completely forgot. Something like Lily... something... I have no idea. I loved the song that Tom always sung, and it was about her. Forgot the lyrics to that one as well. I really SHOULD re-read! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 Her name was Goldberry...I liked her, too. I also like Barliman Butterbur, Fatty Bolger, and Farmer Maggot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissWhitlock Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 OH yes Goldberry. That's the one. And I also liked the horses, if that counts. Brego and Shadowfax are awesome. And that other white one that Legolas took from the Riders. Forgot the name. And I REALLY loved the girls! Eowyn, Arwen, Galadriel. They're all so strong and magical. I love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 I think the horse that Legolas rode in LOTR was named Arod. Yes, I've read this book way too many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissWhitlock Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Haha xD How can you remember that. Jeez. How many times EXACTLY have you read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 Hmmm....maybe 4 or 5 times? Wow, I'm embarrassed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Hmmm....maybe 4 or 5 times? Wow, I'm embarrassed! Could be worse, could have been Twilight . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 Oh god NO!!!!!!! At least I don't have ridiculous Tolkien avatars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissWhitlock Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 ^SNAP! Imagine that. "Bite me, Legolas Greenleaf!"... "Real elves SPARKLE" Anyways..I've read it about 3 and a half times myself. It's been a while since I've read it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atticjnr Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Although I have read the first book before, I have just started it again. Got a copy of Tales from the Perilous Realm yesterday too! Looks pretty good. Mainly got it for the Adventures of Tom Bombadil! Paid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdaonp Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 Strictly speaking The Silmarillion was published by Christopher Tolkien after his father's death but as most of the writing was done by JRR it should be credited to him I guess. Anyway, LOTR is my favorite. Read it about five times and feel I will read it again. It's a long slog every time (like War and Peace) but well worth it. Question (and I am curious how it will affect me): do you think the Peter Jackson film influences your enjoyment of the book? I haven't read the book since the film came out and am curious how it will pan out. Henk (tdaonp) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted August 23, 2009 Share Posted August 23, 2009 I had a weird sudden craving yesterday to read LOTR, which was weird and annoying as my LOTR books are in Kerry, where I'm... not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanwa Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 The Silmarillion is definitely my number one, closely followed by LOTR of course! In my honest (and entirely humble I assure you) opinion, Tom Bombadil was no less necessary to the storyline than many other characters outside of the fellowship. He introduces us fairly early on in LOTR to the coming alive of trees and to the idea of ents, so that when we reach Fangorn, Huorns and Ents are not dismissable as absurd and placeless in the story. He also brings (albeit strange) some humanity to the idea of these beings before they fully develop before us. As for those that have mentioned they struggled with certain aspects of the the text in LOTR, my advice would be to do as I did. I read it many years ago, and came away with some understanding (although lacking). I then picked it up again recently, having read The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. I found that when I returned to LOTR, the insanely long descriptives and lack of dialogue in some places were as much enthralling as the rest of the book, as I had a much deeper understanding of the background and indeed the history of Middle-earth (which I plan to tackle next)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bel-ami Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I read The Hobbit at the age of 10 and LOTR at 11, (nowhere near as precocious as Mac), that was a long time ago and I've never re-visited them, but would list them as among my all-time favourite books. I wonder if I'd enjoy them as much decades later? ...and I can't even remember Tom Bombadil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanwa Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Bel-ami- you may find if you revisit them you enjoy them more. There are a lot of concepts within them that you would have missed as a child. I found this to be so. I read them at a young age, and enjoyed them. And then reread them/am rereading them this year with immense enjoyment. It was like a completely different story for me this time around. Currently I am turning each page of Two Towers with love and adoration. Go for it! Besides that, sarcasm is a form of wit little understood by pre-teens, and Gandalf is the most sarcastic wizard ever that there was! Even in the darker moments of LOTR, there can be found little treasures of sarcasm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bel-ami Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 Bel-ami- you may find if you revisit them you enjoy them more. There are a lot of concepts within them that you would have missed as a child. I found this to be so. I read them at a young age, and enjoyed them. And then reread them/am rereading them this year with immense enjoyment. It was like a completely different story for me this time around. Currently I am turning each page of Two Towers with love and adoration. Go for it! Besides that, sarcasm is a form of wit little understood by pre-teens, and Gandalf is the most sarcastic wizard ever that there was! Even in the darker moments of LOTR, there can be found little treasures of sarcasm Thanks Vanwa, I hadn't thought of those perspectives and you're right I hadn't picked up on any sarcasm as I recall. I shall line it up for a re-read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.