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davem · 04-22-2005, 03:45 PM

So what's happening?

Has everyone given up on this? Three posts on the current chapter so far is a bit sad!

Do people find book four itself boring, or have people just given up on the project? I remember when this project began our esteemed Esty also started a HoME read along thread which managed to run for about half a dozen chapters before fizzling out. Will the main project go the same way, or are people just waiting for book five, when things get 'interesting' again, with the big battles & high adventure?

I wonder if the movies haven't played some part in shaping people's view of the story by emphasising the Aragorn/Legolas/Gimli storyline & making it seem more interesting.

On the other hand maybe Sam got it right when he said to Frodo that at this point some readers/hearers of the story would say 'Shut the book now Dad, we don't want to read anymore.'

Is it that people find the Frodo/Sam/Gollum storyline too 'dark' & oppressive, or is it that they simply find it too boring? If its the latter, what does that say about us as readers & as Tolkien fans? I have to say that this part of the story has become increasingly meaningful & significant to me as I've grown older, so I've actually been looking forward to this part of the story. How about others? Maybe a more significant question would be, who do readers consider the 'real' hero & central character of LotR to be - Frodo or Aragorn - & how much of a part has PJ played in shaping that opinion?

Whatever, we still have about six months worth of discussion to go - & that's if we limit ourselves only to the main chapters & Aragorn & Arwen, & don't stray into the rest of the Appendices.

Is there enough interest in the project to sustain us to the end of the Road? Or will we fall before the end. Speaking personally I'm going to carry on with it, even if I'm the only one posting & nobody reads what I post! I've learned a great deal over the months - from other posters &, if it doesn't sound too smug, from my own personal discoveries & the connections I've made. I've probably paid more attention to the text in this reading than in any of my previous readings & my appreciation of Tolkien & his work has increased immensely as a result.

Well?

04-22-2005, 03:45 PM	#26
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	So what's happening? Has everyone given up on this? Three posts on the current chapter so far is a bit sad! Do people find book four itself boring, or have people just given up on the project? I remember when this project began our esteemed Esty also started a HoME read along thread which managed to run for about half a dozen chapters before fizzling out. Will the main project go the same way, or are people just waiting for book five, when things get 'interesting' again, with the big battles & high adventure? I wonder if the movies haven't played some part in shaping people's view of the story by emphasising the Aragorn/Legolas/Gimli storyline & making it seem more interesting. On the other hand maybe Sam got it right when he said to Frodo that at this point some readers/hearers of the story would say 'Shut the book now Dad, we don't want to read anymore.' Is it that people find the Frodo/Sam/Gollum storyline too 'dark' & oppressive, or is it that they simply find it too boring? If its the latter, what does that say about us as readers & as Tolkien fans? I have to say that this part of the story has become increasingly meaningful & significant to me as I've grown older, so I've actually been looking forward to this part of the story. How about others? Maybe a more significant question would be, who do readers consider the 'real' hero & central character of LotR to be - Frodo or Aragorn - & how much of a part has PJ played in shaping that opinion? Whatever, we still have about six months worth of discussion to go - & that's if we limit ourselves only to the main chapters & Aragorn & Arwen, & don't stray into the rest of the Appendices. Is there enough interest in the project to sustain us to the end of the Road? Or will we fall before the end. Speaking personally I'm going to carry on with it, even if I'm the only one posting & nobody reads what I post! I've learned a great deal over the months - from other posters &, if it doesn't sound too smug, from my own personal discoveries & the connections I've made. I've probably paid more attention to the text in this reading than in any of my previous readings & my appreciation of Tolkien & his work has increased immensely as a result. Well? __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."