[Pippin]

I was touched by your post Ionia, and reassure you to not feel bad. I read the books when I was nine, trying to prove that I was as clever as my brother by reading a "grown-up" book. unfortunately I didn't understand them, so when I re-read them a couple of years later, it was like a veil had been lifted from my eyes and I saw Middle Earth as I should have done. I don't think you have lost your images of the characters forever, in time they will return to you as did the memories. (for ages I could only picture Gimli with a red beard, and only through reading the book again did I rediscover my sulky-looking image of him with a bullet shaped helm, white forked beard and broad bladed axe)<P>also I agree that for a fifteen year old, you speech is very sophisticated. I'm impressed!...<BR>(hmph, you're better than me, and I'm taking English at college, although being the Fool of a Took that I am, you wouldn't believe it)<BR>