How have you read it? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 07-15-2005, 10:06 AM

This time around, I decided to skip over the last half of The Two Towers and go straight to the beginning of the Return of the King. I found myself quite interested in all the goings on outside the journey of the Ring itself. and also because I just wasn't ready for the darkness of the journey from the Emyn Muil to Ithilien.

Have you found something like this happen for you before? Have you read LotR out of order on readings after the first time? Or do you stick to beginning-to-end reading? Or is LotR more of an encyclopedic novel for you, that you page through to pick out certain bits of info? And whichever way you go with, please talk about the why's.

Lyta_Underhill · 07-15-2005, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Have you read LotR out of order on readings after the first time?

Most of the time out of order, although this latest time, I forced myself to start from the beginning and go from there. Last year, I found myself constantly picking up The Two Towers and reading from "The Uruk-Hai," following Pippin in particular through his experiences in Fangorn and at Isengard. I think the Ents are the main cause of this, since I live in a place surrounded by many thick patches of tree-growth, and I believe the Ents are sending me psychic messages...(that last bit was facetious--before you white coat guys start over here with the tranquilizer gun!)

It is interesting that you had somewhat of a difficult time going through the journey through the Emyn Muil to Ithilien, lmp, as I seem to remember Tolkien had to write around that part and go back to it ("tackling the journey of Frodo to Mordor," as I remember a turn of phrase from the Professor concerning the writing of this part.)

My husband says the Passage of the Marshes is his least favorite part of LOTR, but he only says it 'drags,' and he can't get through it. I suppose the effect is an apt one! I am currently through the first journey to the Black Gate, and the Spring growth and 'dishevelled dryad loveliness' of Ithilien really has an impact after all that.

I can also see why you would go directly from Book Three to Book Five, as the story continues on one line without the jarring complete switch of storyline. I haven't tried reading it that way, but I may do that next time I dig out the books (I've got a mounting list of non-Tolkien books waiting for me to finish this Xth reading of LOTR)...

Cheers!
Lyta

Firefoot · 07-15-2005, 10:44 AM

Usually I stick to straight-through readings, but once I read it differently - I read Books 3, 5, and the start of Ch. 4 of Book 6 (Field of Cormallen) before skipping back and reading 4 and the rest of 6. I wanted to get a feeling for how it would go more sinuously.

It's been a while, though, since I've actually read LotR as my main reading source - usually I read a few chapters then come back a month later and read the next few chapters, etc - usually in sections - I might read up to the Old Forest, then up to Rivendell, then to Lorien. I do read it in order and keep my place bookmarked.

There are a few notable parts that I have read isolated and numerous times, though. I have read the Mt. Doom sequence many more times than any other part of the book, partially because it's very easy for me to get absorbed in that part quickly. I usually use this chapter as a quick escape to "re-attach myself" to Middle-earth when I'm tired or don't have a lot of time. Also, I find myself rereading segments of the chapters "Flight to the Ford," "Minas Tirith," and "The Last Debate" fairly frequently - generally when I get distracted from finding a quote for QQ.

Estelyn Telcontar · 07-15-2005, 11:12 AM

For over a year, I have been rereading LotR, one chapter a week - for the CbC discussions, of course! I must say, it's become a wonderful habit, reading the chapter on Sunday afternoon, then writing my introduction in the evening, usually. Right now, what with the summer slowdown, I really miss the habit on the weekends that are skipped.

I do page for references in between, looking for favourite quotes or pertinent facts when writing posts, whether discussion, RPG, or fan fiction.

Arwen Imladris · 07-15-2005, 03:58 PM

Well, when I first read LOTR, I wanted to skip the beginning of TTT and get back to Frodo and Sam. I did read it all, but rather quickly!

Now, (aside from simple double-checking of facts) I prefer to read it straight through so as not to miss any of Tolkien's beautiful prose.

Folwren · 07-15-2005, 04:21 PM

Interesting topic.

I have to say that all the times I've read it, I've read it all the way through, from start to finish. Nothing exciting. It's mainly because the last two times I've read it, I've read it out loud and I couldn't very well skip around, could I? But next time I read it, I'm going to be reading it to myself, and depending on how I feel, I think I'm going to skip from Book 2 to Book 4, and there to Book 6, stop at the end of Mount Doom and then go back to Book 3 and read what I didn't before.

But...I've not done that.

And at other times, I have just refered to it as an encyclopedia, as you put it.

Bêthberry · 07-17-2005, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Have you read LotR out of order on readings after the first time?

I see you are assuming, littlemanpoet, that first readings are always straight-through, in order readings.

littlemanpoet · 07-17-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I see you are assuming, littlemanpoet, that first readings are always straight-through, in order readings.

LOL! You caught me with my assumptions showing!

Okay, I'm interested in this additional question: Did you read LotR out of sequence the first time? How? Why? What difference do you think resulted?

There, how's that for all angles?

Durelin · 07-18-2005, 10:09 AM

The first time I read LotR, I read it straight through, because I felt all excited about reading it and felt the need to be proper. And I swear, I never skipped a page, even during the Council of Elrond!

Once when I was sick I started in the middle of The Two Towers and read only to the end of the Battle of Helm's Deep. I must say it was a very enlightening read, as it had been some time since I'd read any of the books and it was very absorbing. 'Tis sad that I never seem to read as well as when I'm sick, as I feel like doing nothing else.

I'm pretty sure you can pick up The Lord of the Rings at any poin in the story and just read. Any part of the story is just as good as any other part. It may seem sacriligious, but...why not?

Often when I pick any of the books up just to reference something, I start reading and can't stop!

Lalwendë · 07-18-2005, 12:58 PM

I've never yet read LotR in any kind of 'unusual' order. I read it straight through the first time around, at the time I did jump back and look at bits over again, just to clarify the story, though I wouldn't call it re-reading as such. I also started with The Hobbit - as I was 'borrowing' the books, my brother told me that I couldn't read them at all if I didn't start with The Hobbit.

Nowadays I will have a complete read through now and then, though I've not done that in a while due to reading it through in any case, albeit slowly, for the CbC discussions. But I always go looking for something, just for a passage, and end up reading chunks I hadn't meant to read. Sometimes I can find myself a few chapters on and have to stop myself.

I've never had any urge to read it in the wrong order just to see if it is any different because I think "if it aint broke, why fix it?".

Lalaith · 07-18-2005, 03:36 PM

On various re-readings, I actually did the opposite of Arwen Imladris - I tended to skip Sam and Frodo's bits in TTT and RotK, concentrating instead on the rest of the Fellowship's adventures. I found the great trudge to Mordor, with smelly Gollum in tow, a bit depressing to be honest, compared with the more exciting and dashing adventures to be had in Rohan, Fangorn and Gondor....

ninja91 · 05-26-2006, 10:41 AM

For me, I always have trouble getting through The Two Towers. It just seems a little bit TOO slow.

Legolas · 05-26-2006, 12:21 PM

I'm with ninja91. The first half of the Two Towers was fast-paced...another of the Fellowship dies, Gandalf returns, a new country is introduced, new characters are met, an against-all-odds battle is fought.

The first three books (I, II, and III) of the Lord of the Rings are my favourite. Book IV, the second half of the Two Towers, really slows down. As I've read it since, sometimes I've only skimmed some of that, mostly skipping the Frodo/Sam/Gollum-only bits. I read all of the Faramir section, then it's on to Chapter 1: Minas Tirith.

littlemanpoet · 05-26-2006, 09:08 PM

Interesting. I'm in the midst of my sixth reading ever, which was from the beginning straight through, and just like the very first time, I got as far as chapter one of RotK, and can't get motivated to keep going. *lmp shrugs*

Estelyn Telcontar · 06-01-2006, 01:33 PM

As this thread asks more for experiences and opinions than actual book discussion, I'm moving it to the Novices and Newcomers forum, where similar topics are placed. Please continue reading and posting there - thanks!

Lhunardawen · 06-07-2006, 10:33 PM

Feel free to stone me, anybody, but I really had (and still have, I guess) to push myself to finish everything concerning Frodo, Sam, and Gollum. Sure, there was an ecstatic little push over the arrival of Faramir, but I felt it considerably slow down again when he was gone.

Also, the parts after the second "breaking" of the Fellowship are too hard to read for me. Aside from them being too melancholic, I have to admit that hobbits never really captivated me much.

*ducks flaming projectiles*

Whenever I pick up the book randomly (without having any intention to actually sit down and read), I find myself going to any Eowyn chapter, or the earlier chapters of both Book Five and Six. Sometimes I go with Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn to meet up unexpectedly with Gandalf, then accompany them to Meduseld and quietly leave them as they prepare for Helm's Deep.

07-15-2005, 10:06 AM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	How have you read it? This time around, I decided to skip over the last half of The Two Towers and go straight to the beginning of the Return of the King. I found myself quite interested in all the goings on outside the journey of the Ring itself. and also because I just wasn't ready for the darkness of the journey from the Emyn Muil to Ithilien. Have you found something like this happen for you before? Have you read LotR out of order on readings after the first time? Or do you stick to beginning-to-end reading? Or is LotR more of an encyclopedic novel for you, that you page through to pick out certain bits of info? And whichever way you go with, please talk about the why's. Last edited by littlemanpoet; 07-15-2005 at 08:51 PM.

07-15-2005, 11:12 AM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	For over a year, I have been rereading LotR, one chapter a week - for the CbC discussions, of course! I must say, it's become a wonderful habit, reading the chapter on Sunday afternoon, then writing my introduction in the evening, usually. Right now, what with the summer slowdown, I really miss the habit on the weekends that are skipped. I do page for references in between, looking for favourite quotes or pertinent facts when writing posts, whether discussion, RPG, or fan fiction. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

07-15-2005, 03:58 PM	#5
Arwen Imladris Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a box with a fox Posts: 1,347	Well, when I first read LOTR, I wanted to skip the beginning of TTT and get back to Frodo and Sam. I did read it all, but rather quickly! Now, (aside from simple double-checking of facts) I prefer to read it straight through so as not to miss any of Tolkien's beautiful prose. __________________ "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies, we must go, yes, we must go at once."

07-15-2005, 04:21 PM	#6
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Interesting topic. I have to say that all the times I've read it, I've read it all the way through, from start to finish. Nothing exciting. It's mainly because the last two times I've read it, I've read it out loud and I couldn't very well skip around, could I? But next time I read it, I'm going to be reading it to myself, and depending on how I feel, I think I'm going to skip from Book 2 to Book 4, and there to Book 6, stop at the end of Mount Doom and then go back to Book 3 and read what I didn't before. But...I've not done that. And at other times, I have just refered to it as an encyclopedia, as you put it. __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

07-18-2005, 12:58 PM	#10
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I've never yet read LotR in any kind of 'unusual' order. I read it straight through the first time around, at the time I did jump back and look at bits over again, just to clarify the story, though I wouldn't call it re-reading as such. I also started with The Hobbit - as I was 'borrowing' the books, my brother told me that I couldn't read them at all if I didn't start with The Hobbit. Nowadays I will have a complete read through now and then, though I've not done that in a while due to reading it through in any case, albeit slowly, for the CbC discussions. But I always go looking for something, just for a passage, and end up reading chunks I hadn't meant to read. Sometimes I can find myself a few chapters on and have to stop myself. I've never had any urge to read it in the wrong order just to see if it is any different because I think "if it aint broke, why fix it?". __________________ Gordon's alive!

07-15-2005, 10:44 AM	#3
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	Usually I stick to straight-through readings, but once I read it differently - I read Books 3, 5, and the start of Ch. 4 of Book 6 (Field of Cormallen) before skipping back and reading 4 and the rest of 6. I wanted to get a feeling for how it would go more sinuously. It's been a while, though, since I've actually read LotR as my main reading source - usually I read a few chapters then come back a month later and read the next few chapters, etc - usually in sections - I might read up to the Old Forest, then up to Rivendell, then to Lorien. I do read it in order and keep my place bookmarked. There are a few notable parts that I have read isolated and numerous times, though. I have read the Mt. Doom sequence many more times than any other part of the book, partially because it's very easy for me to get absorbed in that part quickly. I usually use this chapter as a quick escape to "re-attach myself" to Middle-earth when I'm tired or don't have a lot of time. Also, I find myself rereading segments of the chapters "Flight to the Ford," "Minas Tirith," and "The Last Debate" fairly frequently - generally when I get distracted from finding a quote for QQ.

07-18-2005, 10:09 AM	#9
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	The first time I read LotR, I read it straight through, because I felt all excited about reading it and felt the need to be proper. And I swear, I never skipped a page, even during the Council of Elrond! Once when I was sick I started in the middle of The Two Towers and read only to the end of the Battle of Helm's Deep. I must say it was a very enlightening read, as it had been some time since I'd read any of the books and it was very absorbing. 'Tis sad that I never seem to read as well as when I'm sick, as I feel like doing nothing else. I'm pretty sure you can pick up The Lord of the Rings at any poin in the story and just read. Any part of the story is just as good as any other part. It may seem sacriligious, but...why not? Often when I pick any of the books up just to reference something, I start reading and can't stop!

07-18-2005, 03:36 PM	#11
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	On various re-readings, I actually did the opposite of Arwen Imladris - I tended to skip Sam and Frodo's bits in TTT and RotK, concentrating instead on the rest of the Fellowship's adventures. I found the great trudge to Mordor, with smelly Gollum in tow, a bit depressing to be honest, compared with the more exciting and dashing adventures to be had in Rohan, Fangorn and Gondor.... __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

05-26-2006, 12:21 PM	#13
Legolas A Northern Soul Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Valinor Posts: 1,847	I'm with ninja91. The first half of the Two Towers was fast-paced...another of the Fellowship dies, Gandalf returns, a new country is introduced, new characters are met, an against-all-odds battle is fought. The first three books (I, II, and III) of the Lord of the Rings are my favourite. Book IV, the second half of the Two Towers, really slows down. As I've read it since, sometimes I've only skimmed some of that, mostly skipping the Frodo/Sam/Gollum-only bits. I read all of the Faramir section, then it's on to Chapter 1: Minas Tirith. __________________ ...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art. Last edited by Legolas; 05-26-2006 at 12:25 PM.

05-26-2006, 09:08 PM	#14
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Interesting. I'm in the midst of my sixth reading ever, which was from the beginning straight through, and just like the very first time, I got as far as chapter one of RotK, and can't get motivated to keep going. lmp shrugs

06-01-2006, 01:33 PM	#15
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	As this thread asks more for experiences and opinions than actual book discussion, I'm moving it to the Novices and Newcomers forum, where similar topics are placed. Please continue reading and posting there - thanks! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

06-07-2006, 10:33 PM	#16
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	Feel free to stone me, anybody, but I really had (and still have, I guess) to push myself to finish everything concerning Frodo, Sam, and Gollum. Sure, there was an ecstatic little push over the arrival of Faramir, but I felt it considerably slow down again when he was gone. Also, the parts after the second "breaking" of the Fellowship are too hard to read for me. Aside from them being too melancholic, I have to admit that hobbits never really captivated me much. ducks flaming projectiles Whenever I pick up the book randomly (without having any intention to actually sit down and read), I find myself going to any Eowyn chapter, or the earlier chapters of both Book Five and Six. Sometimes I go with Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn to meet up unexpectedly with Gandalf, then accompany them to Meduseld and quietly leave them as they prepare for Helm's Deep.