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| The Lord of the Rings; A fanatic? | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 6 2007, 03:22 PM (809 Views) | |
| Post #1 Aug 6 2007, 03:22 PM |
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Well, I know these books are nothing new, but I'm in the midst of rereading Fellowship of the Ring. I read the Lord of the Rings books quite awhile back, and I guess I wasn't into it, because I thought it was very boring. After watching the movies a bizzillion times, I decided I needed to check it out again. I have to say it has been very entertaining this time around. I'm catching a lot more detail, and meaning this go around. Maybe my frame of mind wasn't into it previously. However, I have been cruising the internet recently, and there are Tolkien fans that have knowledge and history about theses books that I just can't fathom. I understand knowing some trivia and history, but some of the things these people know are amazing! They know the elvish language and the histories of all the races. Man, that took a lot of time and dedication. I like these books, but I'm not sure I'm ready to learn the elvish language yet. Give me another ten years....who knows? Still, very much worth the time to read the books. Very good read. |
Civilian
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| Post #2 Aug 6 2007, 04:48 PM | Son N Law |
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You know, it's odd: The Hobbit is one of my all-time favorites, and I find myself returning to The Silmarillion over and over again. I positively adore every page of the twelve-volume History of Middle-Earth. But for some reason, LotR in written form just doesn't hold up as well for me. I adore the films -- in fact, I watch all three extended editions at least twice a year -- and I adore the Appendices, but these days when I try to read the book, I get bogged down somewhere in the middle of The Two Towers and can't make it the rest of the way through. Have you had a chance to read the the full version of The Children of Húrin that Christopher just completed this year? I haven't checked it out yet, but I hear good things. |
Fool, apparently
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| Post #3 Aug 6 2007, 05:35 PM |
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| No, but I have read about it. It looks like it's very interesting and informative. I've only read The Hobbit and The LOTR. I've got to read the others. Is The Silmarillion hard to read? I don't know what kind of preconception I have of it, just a lot of tedious info. I know I'm probably wrong, especially after what you said about. I tend to lose interest if it's anything like.... he beget him and he beget her......too much info and my brain puts a "do not disturb" sign up. |
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| Post #4 Aug 6 2007, 08:16 PM | Son N Law |
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The Silmarillion is definitely wordy; there's no doubt about that. But I don't find it tedious at all. I think it compares favorably in its use of language to, say, William Tyndale's translation of The Bible. In fact, you'll probably find the entire affair quite Biblical. I do believe that was the Professor's intent. |
Fool, apparently
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| Post #5 Aug 7 2007, 08:17 AM |
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Thank you. I'll give it a whirl. Do you have a suggestion on me reading The Silmarillion first, or perhaps History of Middle-Earth? I know you said it was twelve volumes, but would it be helpful to read it first or save it for later, in your opinion? Just curious. I want to get to them all, but want to make it as streamlined as possible. Thanks very much. |
Civilian
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| Post #6 Aug 7 2007, 10:10 AM | Son N Law |
| Ooo, definitely The Silmarillion. The History is immensely interesting from an academic standpoint -- sort of seeing the scraps and fragments of Middle-Earth coming together in the Professor's mind -- but it's very repetitive and extreme in it thoroughness. Volumes 6 through 9, for example, are an exhaustive exploration of the various drafts of Lord of the Rings with commentary from Christopher on evolution of the story and the brick walls the Professor hit while crafting the narrative. So I would save it for a rainy year, and suggest that you don't try to read it in a go. :) |
Fool, apparently
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| Post #7 Aug 7 2007, 12:31 PM |
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| Thanks. I appreciate it. |
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| Post #8 Aug 7 2007, 03:53 PM |
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| Yes, I have read it. It's been a long while, so I'm do to knock the dust off of it and read it again. I think I may even enjoy it more now, like I'm enjoying FotR a lot more this time around. |
Civilian
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| Post #9 Aug 7 2007, 04:06 PM |
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| Yeah, I guess I was Johnny on the spot...this time at least. I figured that's what happened. |
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| Post #10 Aug 7 2007, 04:16 PM | Son N Law |
Hmm... I would have to say my favorite moment (in written form) is at the end of the Council of Elrond, where Frodo volunteers to bear the ring. My favorite quote belongs to Gandalf, after Frodo says that Gollum deserves death:
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Fool, apparently
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| Post #11 Aug 7 2007, 04:28 PM |
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| Yes, I love that part as well. It gave me goose bumps reading it in the book. Something similiar was said in the movie, while in the mines of Moria. It had some impact then, but not as much as reading it all in the book. Good pick. Of course, that part is very fresh since I'm only half way through FotR right now. |
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| Post #12 Aug 8 2007, 08:54 AM | Son N Law |
| Before long we're going to need our own Tolkien section of the forum! :D |
Fool, apparently
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| Post #13 Aug 10 2007, 03:00 PM |
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| A quick question, if you know the answer. I'm still reading The Fellowship of the Ring. I just passed the part where they are in Rivendell, and Arwen is there. It made a fleeting comment on how Arwen will never forget what her mother endured in the mountains, from the orcs. Will I find out more detail later or is it left to my imagination? |
Civilian
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| Post #14 Aug 10 2007, 04:31 PM | Son N Law |
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I know it's not resolved in Lord of the Rings, but Celebrian's story is told in... I want to say The People's of Middle-Earth, which is Volume XII of The History of Middle-Earth. If it's not there, it's gotta be in Unfinished Tales. I know it's not in The Silmarillion. Sorry I couldn't narrow it down any more than that. Want me to spoil it for ya, though? |
Fool, apparently
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| Post #15 Aug 10 2007, 06:01 PM |
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I got the gist of it from a LOTR fan site. This was in response to my question. If there is something to add, please feel free. It looks like no matter how many times I read these books, I'll find something new. The response: -yes, but not till much later - in the Appendices in RK, actually. Celebrian was the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel, the wife of Elrond, and mother to Arwen, Elladan and Elrohir. 'In 2509 Celebrian wife of Elrond was journeying to Lorien when she was waylaid in the Redhorn Pass, and her escort being scattered by the sudden assault of the orcs, she was seized and carried off. She was pursued and rescued by Elladan and Elrohir, but not before she had suffered torment and had received a poisoned wound. She was brought back to Imladris, and though healed in body by Elrond, lost all delight in Middle-earth, and the next year wentto the Havens and passed over Sea.' (App.A, The North-kingdom and the Dunedain) |
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| Post #16 Aug 10 2007, 10:35 PM | Son N Law |
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Oof. Shows you how long it's been since I read the Appendices, then. I could have sworn all of that was from either The People's of Middle-Earth or Unfinished Tales. That just about sums it all up, though. :) |
Fool, apparently
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| Post #17 Aug 15 2007, 09:39 AM |
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I finally finished Fellowship. Now I've started on The Two Towers. That's my favorite of the three movies. I wonder if the book will be the same. Like I said, I read it a long time ago, and have no recollection whatsoever. I liked the first book. I thought that since I was such a huge fan of the movies, that I would prefer book or movie, but i think they compliment one another very well. You get a heck of a lot more info and detail in the book, of course, but I think they did a great job preserving the story in the movie versions. I'm not dissapointed in anything, thus far. |
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| Post #18 Aug 15 2007, 10:45 AM | Son N Law |
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You know, it's funny -- post-movie, I just can't get through The Two Towers. I love the stuff with the Ents (and wish they had put more of that in the films), but otherwise I sort of just wish it would all end. But I still burn through Fellowship and Return of the King in print like good chili sauce through a Yankee's digestive tract. |
Fool, apparently
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| Post #19 Aug 15 2007, 10:57 AM |
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I just can't see how the battle at Helms Deep will be as exciting as they make it in the movie, but I'll give it a go. For some reason, I thought Arwen would be more involved in the books than she has been so far. I know she plays a bigger role later on, but I had something different in my head. I loved reading about Lothlorien. It was great. Love the chili sauce and Yankee line. I'll have to borrow that. |
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| Post #20 Oct 3 2007, 12:03 PM |
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| Gosh, I got through 3/4 of The Two Towers, but I just couldn't finish the rest. It kind of bored me when it got to Gollum, Sam, and Frodo. I just couldn't finish because I knew that it was more of the same in the next book (I believe). I think I'll go ahead with the ROTK, and then if I have empty holes, I'll go back and finish the other. |
Civilian
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