The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Tar-Palantir · 01-31-2003, 10:11 PM

It truly was a long descent through the deepest barrows to find this lovely thread. Thank you for the invitation Estelyn. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

All of your tales of Tolkein discovery have been refreshing to read. My own is simple, but meaningful to me. I was given a copy of the hobbit at 10, I am 30 now, and until that point had little interest in reading at all. The Shire and the Hobbits were the most memorable, with the Forest of Mirkwood coming in second. I remember it oh so clearly, turning from the last page right back to the first and beginning again. That summer I must have read it five times, and on occasion thereafter. Maybe two years later I was given LotR and began with Fellowship. I was so scared by the Black Riders that I closed the books and did not open them again for more than a year. I thought, if those things are gonna be chasing the Hobbits through three novels I want no part! Seriously. Afterwards however, I was able to accomplish about three readings, but I would always begin with The Hobbit. As far as I was concerned it is a four book trilogy, if there is such a thing! Anyhow I later attempted the Silm. and did not pass one chapter before retiring it.

That was it until just late last year. I have now reread The Hobbit, LotR (x2), UT, and am working on the Silm.

Something else - I saw Fellowship in the theater now over 1 year ago, but it wasn't until six months ago that I began the reading again. Without doubt, it is the prescence of the movies and the hype that this has occured.
However, after seeing Fellowship I truly thought "Why did I enjoy this story so much when I was younger?" It had no effect on me. But it had been so long, 15 years or so, I just assumed they must be very similar to the books.

Thanks heavens for the decision to delve in to Tolkein's words again! And thank you to all the Honorable Dead of the Barrow-Downs for educating me and showing me how much more there is to Tolkein than just "fancy tales."

Oh, and much AD&D and many Renaissance Fairs blossomed from my Middle Earth dreams... I won't waste your time with those stories!

Happily haunting the downs,
Tar-Palantir [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[ January 31, 2003: Message edited by: Tar-Palantir ]

01-31-2003, 10:11 PM	#192
Tar-Palantir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: napa valley, ca Posts: 496	It truly was a long descent through the deepest barrows to find this lovely thread. Thank you for the invitation Estelyn. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] All of your tales of Tolkein discovery have been refreshing to read. My own is simple, but meaningful to me. I was given a copy of the hobbit at 10, I am 30 now, and until that point had little interest in reading at all. The Shire and the Hobbits were the most memorable, with the Forest of Mirkwood coming in second. I remember it oh so clearly, turning from the last page right back to the first and beginning again. That summer I must have read it five times, and on occasion thereafter. Maybe two years later I was given LotR and began with Fellowship. I was so scared by the Black Riders that I closed the books and did not open them again for more than a year. I thought, if those things are gonna be chasing the Hobbits through three novels I want no part! Seriously. Afterwards however, I was able to accomplish about three readings, but I would always begin with The Hobbit. As far as I was concerned it is a four book trilogy, if there is such a thing! Anyhow I later attempted the Silm. and did not pass one chapter before retiring it. That was it until just late last year. I have now reread The Hobbit, LotR (x2), UT, and am working on the Silm. Something else - I saw Fellowship in the theater now over 1 year ago, but it wasn't until six months ago that I began the reading again. Without doubt, it is the prescence of the movies and the hype that this has occured. However, after seeing Fellowship I truly thought "Why did I enjoy this story so much when I was younger?" It had no effect on me. But it had been so long, 15 years or so, I just assumed they must be very similar to the books. Thanks heavens for the decision to delve in to Tolkein's words again! And thank you to all the Honorable Dead of the Barrow-Downs for educating me and showing me how much more there is to Tolkein than just "fancy tales." Oh, and much AD&D and many Renaissance Fairs blossomed from my Middle Earth dreams... I won't waste your time with those stories! Happily haunting the downs, Tar-Palantir [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [ January 31, 2003: Message edited by: Tar-Palantir ] __________________ History shows again and again How nature points up the folly of men Go, go, Godzilla!