Readalong 2: The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien

Here is what is likely my last post for the Lord of the Rings readalong. I've finished the final book in the trilogy, The Return of the King (by J. R. R. Tolkien), and I'm ready to answer the mid-month questions. April's host is Maree at Just Add Books.

The last I discussed Return of the King, I was on the battlefield near Gondor and had not yet revisited Sam and Frodo. Sam becomes such a hero during the march through Mordor that you have to admire him for his strength of character. Even as Frodo says himself early on after they leave the others, he wouldn't have gone far without Sam.

• If you're a repeat offender reader, like me, how are you finding the return journey? Are you loving it just as much as ever? What little treasures have you found in ROTK that you never noticed before?

I really like all the parts at the end of the book that the movie left out: from the final skirmishes to the preparations of the crowning to the return to the Shire. The ending is one part of the movie that I really dislike. In the film, even after having been in battle and faced the terror of Mordor, the Hobbits are still treated like children who have just won the spelling bee. People bow down to them, but the four Hobbits project no sense of their strength and maturity.

I am not going to recap the entire end of the book, but there was lots to do between the time the eagles find Sam and Frodo and the time the Hobbits start out for the Shire. The countryside is cleansed of the remaining evil, new kings and princes are given their lands, the dead are honored and properly buried, Aragorn is crowned, and at least two weddings take place.

When the Hobbits leave Gondor to return to the Shire, the fellowship starts out together and then slowly dwindles as Aragorn leaves to take care of his duties and Legolas and Gimili visit Fangorn Forest. Once back in Rivendell, the Hobbits meet up with Bilbo and finally take their leave and head for Bree. After Bree, it is just the four Hobbits, dressed for battle, who arrive back home. There they must rally the Hobbits to throw out Saruman and Wormtongue and then set the land right again.

• How do you feel, when you close the end of the last part; after Sam's words on the last page? Are you sad it's over, nostalgic? Looking for your next read already?

I was sorry it was over, and the parting of the ship from the Gray Havens is always so sad. The times of the elves and wizards are over, and now begins the time of men. The ending is fitting for all the characters, and Sam will certainly find his peace at last. I am also sad because I won't likely read the book again for another five years or so.

If you haven't read the book, then you probably don't know that the trilogy ends with extensive appendices. These tell you a bit of what happens to the remaining fellowship as well as some history and other information. Much of this material is included in the unabridged audio edition. I have read the appendices several times, but I chose not to this month.

• What's your favourite scene in ROTK?

Are you kidding? This is as bad as asking me to name my favorite book or author. I just can't do it. So there!

Thanks to all the hosts for The Lord of the Rings readalong. I'm so glad I decided to participate.

Click for more

Readalong 1: The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien

It's April, and those of us in the Lord of the Rings readalong are on the final book. It's been a long journey for our heroes and for the readers. This month we're reading The Return of the King (by J. R. R. Tolkien), and our host is Maree at Just Add Books. The cover shown here is that of the paperback I bought lo those many years ago when I first read the trilogy.

I'm going to depart from the question-and-answer format and talk about Maree's discussion points as running prose. I am not very far along in the audio yet (disc 3 of 16), so my discussion will mostly focus on the beginning of the novel. In The Return of the King, the original company is split up into four groups, and we follow each one as it travels along its own path in the attempt to defeat the forces of Mordor.

Some of my favorite parts of this novel involve the Hobbits Pippin and Merry as they find their places in service to different lords. Although they sometimes feel as if they were nothing but baggage, each will show his bravery and do his part to honor both the land to which he has sworn fealty and to the Shire.

In this book, we also find my two favorite scenes with Éowyn. I'll share the first with you here. Aragorn has just told Éowyn that her duty is to stay behind as the men go off to war, so she can govern her people. She answers:

"All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honor, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more. But I am of the House of Eorl and not a serving-woman. I can ride and wield blade, and I do not fear either pain or death."

"What do you fear, lady?" he asked.

"A cage," she said. "To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire."

I love Éowyn.

The only comments I have today about the movie versus the book have to do with Merry and Pippin. When Gandolf and Pippin arrive at Minas Tirith, the Hobbit swears allegiance to Denethor, the steward of Gondor. Pippin feels an obligation to make amends for Boromir, who died in his defense. In the movie (if I recall correctly), Gandolf scolds Pippin for acting rashly. In the book, however, Gandolf is impressed with Pippin's decision to serve the steward. The Hobbit becomes a guard of the citadel, makes friends, and has the respect of the other guards.

Merry, on the other hand, develops a close relationship with King Theoden, who asks the Hobbit to be his esquire. Merry makes the hard decision to part from Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimili and go on his own back to Dunharrow with the king. In the movie, this whole section was rewritten, so Merry was never on his own, and his relationship with Theoden was not properly developed.

To see what the other readers are thinking about as they begin to read The Return of the King, see Maree's discussion post and the Mr. Linky there.

Source: Have owned for years (see review policy).

Click for more

Readalong 2: The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien

It's time for the second set of questions for this month's Lord of the Rings Readalong. Our host for The Two Towers is Teresa from Shelf Love, has come up with some great questions.

1. Where are you in your reading? Are you finding it slow going or is it a quick read?

I've finished The Two Towers. I listened to the unabridged audio edition of the book, so reading was neither slow nor fast, but I found it hard to put the book down. After the slower pace of The Fellowship of the Ring, this novel is action packed, taking us to our first battles. Strange alliances are made, and the characters are forced to make critical decisions that could affect not only themselves but all of Middle Earth.

2. If you’re a rereader, how does this reading compare to past readings? If you're a first-time reader, how has The Two Towers met—or not met—your expectations? What has surprised you most in your reading?

Although other participants in the readalong have already mentioned it, I'd like to comment on the strength of this novel. The middle entry of many trilogies suffer from being a transition book, a vehicle to get the reader from the setup to the climax. Tolkien, however, crafted a novel that stands up well on its own. New characters are introduced, all plot lines are advanced, and there is a good mix of action and suspense. As I mentioned in my first discussion of The Two Towers, the personalities of main characters grow, and their qualities are tested. In some cases, the strength of an individual is surprising or inspiring.

3. In Book 3, we visit lots of new places and meet lots of new characters. There's Fangorn and the Ents, the riders of Rohan, Saruman at Isengard. Which are your favorites? Least favorites?

I already mention how much I like the Ents and Éowyn. I finally got to meet Faramir of Gondor again! He is one of my favorites. I admire the way he treats Frodo and Sam, with just the right mix of distrust and fairness until he learns their story. He digs deep enough to get the information he needs to make a wise decision about the Hobbits' fate, while respecting the secrets they must keep. Although we learn he is Boromir's brother, and we see that his men respect him, we do not yet know much about his father. In Lord of the Rings, events, relationships, individuals, and places may be hinted at and foreshadowed, but these are revealed only slowly, as they are in real life.

4. Have your opinions of the main characters from Fellowship changed at all in The Two Towers?

No. I don't think my opinions of the main characters have changed, but this may be the result of how familiar I am with the books. We see new aspects of their personalities, such as the burden of Frodo, the resourcefulness and loyalty of Sam, the practical bravery of Gimili, and the self-doubts of Aragorn. The important characters are realistically portrayed: they make mistakes, lose their temper, or can be foolish, but in the end, their true nature shines through.

5. Are there any scenes that strike you as particularly memorable? Anything you could do without?

Oh no! Don't cut anything from LOTR! I like every bit of it. I love the horrible scenes when Frodo and Sam meet Shelob and discover the power of Galadriel's light and of the sword Sting. Sam's dilemma and his ultimate choices are key to the tale's conclusion, yet his struggle is not overdone. Of course, I love it when Pippin and Merry meet up with Aragorn, Gimili, and Legolas again. The sharing of their adventures over food and drink is a welcome break after the death and destruction of battle.

6. And the obligatory movie question: If you've seen the movie, has it affected your perception of The Two Towers? If so, how?

I'll touch on just one thing here: the relationship between Frodo and Sam. I never understood why Peter Jackson had to make Frodo turn against Sam. Although Frodo feels the weight and pull of the ring, his personal strength is that he never shies away from what he must do and never doubts the loyalty of Sam. The distance between master and servant is ever shrinking, and their bond never breaks. As I've said before, I am able to keep the movie and the novel separate; it's only when I make these side-by-side comparisons that I get upset with the films.

To see what the other participants think, check out the Mr. Linky in Teresa's post. Next month, it's The Return of the King, and then I'll be leaving LOTR for another few years.

Click for more

Readalong 1: The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien

As you know, I am participating in the Lord of the Rings Readalong. March is all about The Two Towers (by J. R. R. Tolkien). Our host, Teresa from Shelf Love, has already asked us the first set of questions for the month.

1. Where are you in the trilogy right now? What do you think of the books so far?

After hunting for the Hobbits across the Riddermark, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, travel to Edoras to meet with Théoden. They have just given up their weapons before entering the lord's hall. By the time you read this post, our heroes will have already had their meeting. Well, of course, I still adore the trilogy.

2. What’s your past experience with The Two Towers? If you’re rereading, how does it stack up against the other two books?

There are so many things to love about The Two Towers. Here we meet the Ents, the riders of Rohan, and the wonderful Éowyn. And on a darker path, we follow Frodo and Sam as they attempt to reach Mordor and learn to deal with the creature Gollum. We finally see real action in this novel, and each being's deeper character is beginning to be revealed. The Two Towers holds up well on its own, building from the first book and nicely leading us to the conclusion.

3. If you’re a first-time reader, what big questions do you have at this point? What are you hoping to see Tolkien deal with in The Two Towers? If you’re a rereader, what are you most looking forward to?

Right now, I am looking forward to meeting Éowyn again, the upcoming battles at Isengard and Helm's Deep, and the reunion of Gandalf's party with Merry and Pippin. As for Frodo and Sam, I am waiting to get back to them and to their first encounter with Gollum.

4. What about the movie? If you've seen it, what did you think of it, and how much do you think it will color your experience with the book?

Sigh. When I remember to keep the movie and the books in different categories, then I really like the movies. I've seen them several times and even own them. But when I re-read the books (this is my second time through since the last movie was released), I start to hate the films. I'm not as bad as Eva (from A Striped Arm Chair), but some things do bother me.

Right now, I'm upset by the treatment of the Ents. In the movie, they are not interested in the war or in helping Middle Earth until the Hobbits trick Treebeard into seeing the devastation at Isengard. In the books, Treebeard does say, "I'm not on anyone's side because no one is on my side," but once he hears the Hobbits' tale, he voluntarily arranges a meeting to inform the Ents of events outside the forest. The Ents willingly head for Isengard to put an end to Saruman.

Just after I finish writing this post, I will likely be upset by the goings on in Edoras because this is another area in which the movie departs from the novel. I'll wait to write about it until I've gotten farther along in the book. In both print and film, Wormtongue is kicked out of Rohan, but in the book, his relationship with Saruman doesn't end at the tower.

The descriptions of the Riddermark are beautiful, and I always thought it would be wonderful to be a Rohirrim.

To catch up on what other participants in The Lord of the Rings readalong are thinking, visit Teresa's first discussion post.

Click for more

Thursday Tea: The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien

This month I'm continuing with the Lord of the Rings Readalong. March is The Two Towers (by J. R. R. Tolkien, of course), and our host is Teresa from Shelf Love.

I couldn't wait to get started on this book. Some of my favorite characters and creatures are introduced in The Two Towers, and the story line divides into at least three parts after the breakup of the fellowship: Frodo and Sam; Pippin and Merry; and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.

I am again listening to the unabridged edition read by Rob Inglis. Right from the beginning, the novel sets a darker mood than the first book. The companionable days of travel are over for our heroes, and Aragorn has made the difficult choice to track the orcs. The worst days are ahead, and the true nature of the characters will soon be tested. The cover shown here is of the paperback edition I bought in the 1960s.

The Tea. I'm drinking Adagio's Spring Darjeeling. Here's the description: "Organic black tea from the Darjeeling region of India. Springtime Darjeeling tea is famous for its lively 'bite' and an abundance of fresh flavor." I like the aroma of this tea, and the mild taste is perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up.

The Assessment. Alas the poor hobbits: Yes, they do love their tea, but it will be many days before any of them will have that pleasure. I haven't seen Frodo and Sam yet, and I can't remember if Sam has managed to stow any tea in his pack. Pippin and Merry are lucky to get water. Maybe in their more homesick moments, the hobbits think of Darjeeling.

Northern Hemisphere or Southern, we're all entering a transition period, I'm hoping my tea-drinking days will soon mean sun tea and ice. How about you? What are you drinking this week, and more important, what are reading?

The Two Towers at an Indie

The Two Towers at Powell's
The Two Towers at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Thursday Tea is hosted by Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog. Here's how it works: Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.

Source: Have owned for years (see review policy).
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.

Click for more

Readalong 2: Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the second installment of this month's readalong of The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. Clare from The Literary Omnivore is our host.

For more on how my reread (relisten) is going, check out my earlier thoughts (#1, #2). There is still time to join in the Lord of the Rings Readalong.

Here are the mid-month questions for The Fellowship of the Ring:

1. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, how do you feel about the narrator compared to the narrator in The Hobbit?

I have never had a problem with the switch in tone between The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. I love the deeper look into the history of Middle Earth, the tales and hints of a much earlier time and the changing politics and relationships among the different beings. LOTR is much more complex; the plot lines are intertwining. Each member of the fellowship has his own reason for being on the journey, and those reasons affect his decisions and his behavior. The characters grow and change, face doubts, and find strengths (and weaknesses) within themselves.

2. How’s your pace going? Is it smooth sailing or have you found passages that are difficult to get through?

I finished last week. I flew through; I always do. Once I open the first page or listen to the first disk, I am immediately pulled in and just can't turn away.

3. If you’ve read this series before, is The Fellowship of the Ring, for the most part, as you remembered? If not, is it what you expected or something else?

I mentioned in a previous post that I always seem to get something else out the book with each reread. For some reason, I am picking up a lot more on the foreshadowing this time through. A casual mention of a place that is later the scene of an important event or battle or a hint at a person or ancient legend that will prove the key to success in the final book.

I know that many people shy away from rereading for a variety of reasons, but this trilogy seems to beg for multiple visits. Tolkien presents the world of Middle Earth in such a way that you understand that there is a deep history. Every place the characters pass through has a story, and you learn more about those stories with each reread. The first time you are concentrating on the battle taking place within the city's walls; the second time you are noticing the layout of the city and why it was built that way. The first time you are seeing the landscape almost as if you were a tourist; the next time you are learning about the peoples who once lived there.

Although it is impossible to absorb everything that Tolkien created on just one or two readings, the basic story itself is accessible enough that ten- and eleven-year-olds can read and enjoy it.

4. Are you using any of the extra features- maps and indexes, for instance- in your book?

As I said in one of the write-ups for The Hobbit, I love the visuals, and I frequently referred to both the map and the illustrations of Middle Earth to enhance my reading. In the unabridged audio edition, I am treated to the music of Middle Earth as well.

Bonus notes: If asked on a pop quiz with only two seconds to answer, I would likely say that The Fellowship of the Ring is my favorite of three books. But when I have time to think about it, I'm not sure. Each book has its own flavor and level of action. Some of my favorite characters are in The Two Towers and some of the darkest moments are in the The Return of the King. I'm not sure that I really do have a favorite.

The Fellowship of the Ring at an Indie

The Fellowship of the Ring at Powell's
The Fellowship of the Ring at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Many editions are available; try Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004ISBN-13: 9780618574940Source: Have owned for years (see review policy).

Click for more

Readalong 1: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

Here is the first of my non-reviews of The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. I am rereading the novel as part of the Lord of the Rings Readalong. This month, Clare from The Literary Omnivore is our host.

Let me get right to her questions.

When did you first hear of The Lord of the Rings? Good question. I was probably in fifth grade. I know I read the Narnia books in fourth grade. When I finished them, I wanted more. Somehow (I have no recollection of the details) I learned about Tolkien, and so I soon read The Hobbit. Obviously, LOTR came next. Do you want to know the year? I likely started The Fellowship of the Rings in 1965, when I was ten.

Have you read The Fellowship of the Rings before? As I mentioned in the last question, yes I have. I've probably read it eight or nine times. I bought the unabridged audio edition in 2005. This is my second time through the audio (which I can't recommend enough).

What’s your plan of attack, now that we’re dealing with more "mature" literature? I have no plan of attack. I just want to listen and enjoy. I love being back in Middle Earth.

Have you ever seen the movies? If so, do you think they’ll influence your reading? If not, well, why haven’t you seen them? Oh yes, I've seen the movies many times, and I own the extended edition of the DVDs. I really like the movies, even though they are different from the books. The amazing thing about Tolkien is that his descriptions are so vivid that there is almost only one way certain beings, scenes, and settings can be portrayed. The movie did not disappoint or jar in that way.

I have no idea what it would be like if you had seen the movies before reading the books. I am thankful that I knew the books inside and out before seeing the movies.

First and foremost, the telling of the tale is better in the book. The unveiling of the history and the foreshadowing are so much more subtle and richer in the original. These are better appreciated on a second or third reading; in fact with each reread I pick up different clues or I seem to focus on a different aspect of the story.

The non-silly humor was lost in the film and the characters of the hobbits were almost unrecognizable. Frodo is not a helpless thing who must be led around as if he were a child. He does rely on Sam in the end, but he is brave, defends himself, makes decisions, and is a leader. Pippin and Merry are not dim-witted bimbos; they joined Frodo only after careful consideration--they did not willy-nilly fall into the adventure. Although it is true that the two younger hobbits make mistakes (as do all in the fellowship), they are not fairly presented in the movies.

The wonderful descriptions of the lands and people, the poems and songs, and the history help make the books seem real. There is a richness to Middle Earth and to the unfolding of the formation of the fellowship that can be found only by reading.

The Fellowship of the Ring at an Indie

The Fellowship of the Ring at Powell's
The Fellowship of the Ring at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Many editions are available; try Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004ISBN-13: 9780618574940Source: Have owned for years (see review policy).

Click for more

Thursday Tea: The Fellowship of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

This month I'm continuing with the Lord of the Rings Readalong. February is The Fellowship of the Rings (by J. R. R. Tolkien, of course). Clare from The Literary Omnivore is our host this time around.

I'm listening to the unabridged audio for the second time. It's been about five years since I first treated myself to this edition of Lord of the Rings. The audio is read by the fabulous Rob Inglis, who even sings the songs. I am in the third hour (out of about nineteen), and Frodo is just learning the true meaning of the ring that Bilbo found so long ago in the Misty Mountains. The cover shown here is of the paperback edition I bought in the 1960s.

The Tea. I'm drinking Adagio's Apple Tea. Here's the description: "the flavor and aroma of fresh picked apples [mixed] with the lively, deep taste of premium Ceylon black tea." This is a pleasant afternoon tea, but I'm not sure that apple flavor comes through very well.

The Assessment. As you know (because I told you a few weeks ago) Hobbits do love their tea, especially when served with sweet treats once or twice a day. Frodo is rich and is still living safely in The Shire, so maybe he can get a nice apple tea. If so, I bet he enjoys it, even if he has to keep it out of the hands of those dreadful Sackville-Bagginses.

If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, what is keeping you warm this winter? For the rest of you, are you drinking iced tea?

For those of you who asked, watch for a "where do I find my teas" post later this month.

The Fellowship of the Ring at an Indie

The Fellowship of the Ring at Powell's
The Fellowship of the Ring at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Thursday Tea is hosted by Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog. Here's how it works: Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.

Source: Have owned for years (see review policy).
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.

Click for more

Readalong 2: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

As you know, I'm rereading The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien as part of the Lord of the Rings Readalong. Eva from A Striped Arm Chair is the host for The Hobbit and has posed the second batch of discussion questions for January. (I posted my answers to first Readalong questions last week.)

Let's get on to the questions.

1. Where are you in the story? So far, has the book lived up to your expectations (for first-timers)/memories (for rereaders)? What’s surprising or familiar?

Beth Fish Reads (BFR): I finished the audio last week. One thing that surprised me (and this was mentioned on Twitter over the weekend) was how little time we spend in Rivendell. I remembered more elves! I think that's because we hear of Bilbo's love of the elves in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings. The other thing I didn't remember was how early on in the book Bilbo discovers the ring and that he ended up telling the dwarves all about it.

2. Have you been bogged down anywhere in the book?

BFR: There were no slow spots for me, this time or in the past.

3. Let’s talk about the songs . . . are you skipping over them to get back to the prose? Why or why not?

BFR: Yes, I admit it. I generally skim the songs and poems (I don't skip them altogether). One of the joys of the unabridged audio production is that the songs are actually sung, and thus I listened. They contain some good stuff—some are fun, but other songs contain information that I have clearly missed over the years.

4. What do you think of the narrator’s voice?

BFR: I like the narrator of The Hobbit. I enjoyed the blend of humor, chastising, and admiration that one senses for different characters at different moments. These attitudes are particularly evident in the audio.

5. Does your edition have illustrations or maps? Have you been ignoring them or referring back to them?

BFR: My print edition of The Hobbit has maps, black ink drawings, and color illustrations. I do look at them and refer back to them. Like Bilbo, I love maps!

6. Now it’s time to play favourites! Who’s your favourite main character? Who’s your favourite minor character (i.e.: villains, random helpers, etc.)? What’s your favourite scene? Do you have a favourite quote to share?

BFR: I'm going to take Bilbo and Gandalf out of the running for favorites! Of the dwarves, I like Bombur and the comic relief his character provides. Of the minor good guys, I like Beorn and his gentle life in the woods. In fact, I love the scene when Gandalf and Bilbo visit with Beorn and the wizard begins to tell his tale, all the while being interrupted by both Beorn and the dwarves.

Some of the enduring lines in The Hobbit are the following. I think of them often as I cross the threshold and start out on a walk:

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wondering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.

Don't miss what other readers have to say about their current experience with The Hobbit.

Click for more

Readalong 1: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

This is a kind of non-review of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. I am rereading this wonderful tale for the zillionth time as part of the Lord of the Rings Readalong. Eva from A Striped Arm Chair is the host for The Hobbit and has already started the discussion, which is what this post is all about.

First, Eva asked us to post a photo of the cover of our book. This is an image I pulled from the Internet, but it matches my hardbound copy, which I'd like to discuss for a minute.

I first read The Hobbit around 1966 when I was sixth grade. I owned a paperback copy, which I reread once or twice during junior high and high school. When I was a senior in high school, my older brother spent a year abroad; before returning to the States, he stopped in London, where he picked up this edition of The Hobbit for me. It was printed in 1971 by Allen & Unwin from their third (1966) edition of the novel.

My copy has both color and black-and-white illustrations, which were done by Tolkien. As you can imagine, I really cherish the book.

Okay, on to Eva's questions.

When did you first hear of The Hobbit? I'm not not sure. I read the Narnia books in fourth grade, and Tolkien was the next logical choice. Either I didn't know about it or there wasn't as much fantasy when I was young as there is now.

What made you decide to join the read-a-long? Have you read it before? If so tell us about that experience. I like to reread the entire Lord of the Rings series every once in a while, and it's been five years since my last read through. I decided it was time for another visit to Middle Earth.

Five years ago I bought the unabridged audio edition of LOTR (minus The Hobbit) and listened to the books for the first time. Rob Inglis does an amazing job with the narration, and he even sings the songs. I admit to skimming songs and poems in print novels, so I felt that the audio added a new dimension to the books. I am listening to The Hobbit, read by Inglis, for the first time. It is enchanting.

I really can't express how The Hobbit affected me that first time when I was young and full of wonder. I loved everything about Tolkien's world and was impressed even then with its depth and history -- with the languages, the different beings, the food, the clothing, and the weapons. I knew that Middle Earth existed.

J. R. R. Tolkien pretty much founded the modern fantasy genre. So let’s take a moment to think about the genre as a whole; have you always loved fantasy? What was your introduction to the genre? As I implied earlier, I think I was introduced to fantasy through C. S. Lewis's Narnia series, which I read when I was about eight years old. I loved the idea of another world full of talking creatures where humans could have exciting adventures. I wanted to go to Narnia. Because of Lewis and Tolkien, I have always been a fan of fantasy.

Or perhaps you still feel rather skeptical towards the whole idea of wizards and dwarfs and magic? I'm not all skeptical! In terms of subgenres, I like Tolkien's type of fantasy and magic better than the J. K. Rowling's version, though I did love the Harry Potter books. [Side note: If you are a fantasy writer, must you go by your initials rather than your first name?]

I have read a lot of fantasy over the years, but I have never recaptured the feeling I had when I read Tolkien for first time. Every series seems to lack a little something. I read Robert Jordan's New Spring in 2008 and liked it well enough. I will probably read his Wheel of Time series one of these days.

Do you have a certain plan for reading it? I started the audio (11.5 hours) last week, and I'll finish it tonight.

I won't be writing a real review for The Hobbit, but I'll be answering Eva's discussion questions throughout the month. For more about the readalong in general, see Teresa's introduction. For The Hobbit in particular, check out Eva's get started post.

The Hobbit at an Indie

The Hobbit at Powell's
The Hobbit at Amazon
These 3 links lead to affiliate programs.

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2007 [originally published 1938]
ISBN-13: 9780618968633
Challenges: 100+, LOTR Readalong, 451, Audiobooks, 2010
Source: Gift (see review policy)
YTD: 3
Rating: A+

Click for more

Looking to 2010: Readalong and Challenges

Here are some more events and challenges I am looking forward to in 2010.

1. The Lord of the Rings Readalong has four hosts, one for each book in the series (including The Hobbit). The idea is to read a book a month from January through April. My last re-read of these novels was in 2005, so I'm due. They are among my all-time favorites. I'm pretty sure I'm going to listen to the audios. Visit Teresa's blog at Shelf Love for more information and to sign up.

2. MizB is hosting the Read and Review challenge again. This one is kind of easy: review every book you read. I try to do that anyway, so I'll be joining up. I've managed with little trouble to meet this challenge in 2009.

3. Bart's Bookshelf is hosting the Twenty Ten Reading Challenge. This one looks fun: there are ten categories and the commitment is to read two books in each one. Check it out because I think this challenge could become a favorite.

I have some more 2010 challenges to post about in the coming month. You know me -- Hope springs eternal! I'm not worried about failing, I'm all about having fun and doing my best.

Click for more