"
Quote:
|
Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible..."
|
Many of those on this thread have read the book already.
Which parts did you find boring, absurd, or contemptible the *FIRST* time you read the book? If you've read the book more than once, what do you think of those parts now? Has your opinion changed? Why or why not? Be
brief, succinct-- and be honest, now!
(I bring this up because I expect that we will all have a better, deeper appreciation of those "boring/absurd/contemptible" sections after this project! So this is a way of taking stock before we begin.)
'*************************
Since we haven't gotten there yet, we'd best keep these to a brief summary. I will start.
Tom Bombadil. I thought he was the wierdest thing going. In some ways I still do and in some ways I really enjoy him. Reading posts about him on this board did help me alter my opinion somewhat.
The Barrow Downs. Huh? It lost me completely. I just had to get past it. Same with Midgewater.
The songs. I blush to admit it but the first time I read the book I skimmed or skipped them. I love them now.
In short, I struggled terribly through book one and thought it all rather dull. It wasn't til they left Rivendell that it picked up for me. (No assassination attempts, please. I was twelve at the time! ) For two decades, I majored in the mannish parts of the book, and found the purely hobbitish parts less interesting.
Again, I love the hobbit-centric sections best now. How one does change.
Anyone else care to chime in?
ps.
boring: The bloomin' detailed descriptions of EVERY landscape feature and EVERY campsite. "Where's the dialog!!"
Thirty years later: "Oh, that description of dreary barren wasteland is so evocative and so heartbreaking..."