One of these days... (was?: Re: Who would YOU spend a weekend with? (was: And *I* met...))

[corinthum]

Iggy wrote:

> > One of these days, when I have the time between classes and 
taking 
> care of
> > my dughter, I'll actually get to read the LoTR trilogy... (I saw 
> the old
> > animated movies, but not much more, other than about the first 
half 
> of the
> > first fo the recent movies on DVD...)  I've read the Hobbit, and 
> have it and
> > all three of the LoTR books... I just never got more than about 5-
6 
> chapters
> > in to book one before something demanded my attention for so long 
> that I had
> > lost track of what was going on in the bok and would have had to 
> start
> > over...

I see others have already offered similar opinons, but I figure I'll 
throw in my two cents anyway.  I first read "The Hobbit" in sixth 
grade and it didn't resonate with me at all then, probably partially 
because I could never enjoy required reading (too much directed 
analysis).  

The LotR series had always been on my mental to-read list, based on 
the wonderful reviews I'd heard, but I guess it was never in my mind 
when I was in a bookstore.  Then I heard they were making a movie, 
and realized I had to read the books first (I never see movies of 
books I plan to read).  The first half of FotR was the slowest part, 
in my opinion; but once I hit Rivendell I couldn't put them down.  
I devoured them in about a week and a half, and they quickly vaulted 
up my "favorite books" list.  I have since reread them dozens of 
times.  I've also read the Silmarillion, which I love but didn't read 
all at once; as others mentioned, it's much more a history than a 
story.  I reread the Hobbit last year, hoping that with my new love 
of Tolkien I would enjoy it more than the first time.  I did, but it 
still doesn't captivate me nearly as much as Tolkien's other 
work.      

Besides the intricate plot, wonderful themes, and great story that 
captivate most readers of LoTR, I am particularly fascinated by 
Tolkien's invented languages.  Languages in general, and specifically 
comparitive liguistics and constructed languages, are a favorite 
hobby of mine.  The intricate history and evolution behind the small 
excerpts found in Tolkien's novels are well worth study for anyone 
with similar interests.

So, in conclusion, Iggy, read them!  You won't regret it.  


Geoff wrote:

> I always said I didn't want to see a film of LOTR (especially after 
> the 1978 cartoon), probably because I couldn't see it being done by 
> real actors. I have since eaten my words. It took me some while to 
> get my head round TTT because of some extra ideas being introduced -
 
> Aragorn going over the cliff, the elves at Helm's Deep but I think 
I 
> am now comfortable with them. 

I too was very skeptical that anyone could do justice to the books, 
but the movies won me over.  I expected to be irked by each little 
change (and was by some, at first), but most are so well justified 
(as explained in the movie appendices) that they don't bother me at 
all.  I simply accept it as an alternative interpretation of the 
story.  Although I agree, the Nazgul face-to-face scene seemed a bit 
illogical.

Geoff:

> It continues to occupy pride of place next to HP1-5 on my 
bookshelves.


Hey, mine too.  I have a shelf reserved just for these two series, 
very accessible for continuous rereading.  :)

-Corinth