When did you first read Lord of the Rings? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Galadriel · 05-08-2010, 04:53 AM

I've been meaning to start this thread for a while now. I'm not sure if this one's already done, but if it is, please let me know!
Okay, so basically the question is: when did you first read Lord of the Rings? What prompted you to read it? And what was your reaction (first and last)?

I started reading it when I was 16. It had been lying in my mom's cupboard since 2001 (she had tried to make me read it when I was around eight, after reading it herself), and I thought I might as well get a start on it.
Initially, I wasn't satisfied. I finished the first twenty pages and thought, "No way am I going to be able to finish this!" so I shoved it in my own cupboard. A month later, I remember being completely listless. I felt like a challenge. So I gave LotR another shot thinking, "I think I'll finish 50 pages today". I didn't finish 50. I finished till about 82. By that time, I was completely hooked. "Three is Company" and "The Old Forest" did it for me. Absolutely amazing stuff. I went on to read The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and The Children of Hurin, and thought they were all fantastic. Actually, The Silmarillion reminds me startlingly of Greek mythology

Thoughts? Opinions? Stories? Let me know!

mark12_30 · 05-08-2010, 05:42 AM

Galadriel,

I don't believe we've met; a belated welcome to The Downs.

Yes, this thread has been done before, but I don't mind a fresh start either. Someone will find the link... maybe I'll be inspired once I've answered you.

1) When did you first read Lord of the Rings?
2) What prompted you to read it?
3) And what was your reaction (first and last)?

I think the answers will blend together...

Our teacher read The Hobbit to our fourth grade class, in 1969 or so. I loved it. In Sixth grade (1971...) I read TH for myself, and loved it. Then I tried to tackle
the trilogy; but I stalled in Book One somewhere. It just didn't take off for me-- even though my friend said it was a great book. I read Narnia instead, and Camelot. Always wanted to be a knight in shining armor... In Seventh grade I tried the trilogy again, and once I got to Weathertop I was hooked. So that was... 1972, or winter of 1973. When I say I was hooked, I mean, I wanted to MOVE there.

Estelyn Telcontar · 05-08-2010, 07:51 AM

Galadriel, the previous thread on this question is probably buried in the depths of the forum, so a new one is fine. However, since it's not an actual book discussion, I'm moving it to the Novices and Newcomers forum. You should get lots of responses there.

While I'm at it, I'll answer your questions:
I first read LotR back in college - enough years ago that the exact time is now mythical.

My then boyfriend gave me his to read, then presented me with my own Ballantine's box of the trilogy and Hobbit. The books are still on my shelf (the boyfriend, however, disappeared out of my life long ago), though so battered that I've gotten new ones for daily use. As to my reaction - I only left the books long enough to go to classes and work, spending every available free minute in Middle-earth. I was terribly disappointed when the story ended sooner than I expected - I had counted on more, but that turned out to be the appendix. If I remember rightly, I immediately started reading again.

Inziladun · 05-08-2010, 08:20 AM

I think I remember the old thread on this, but not whether or not I responded to it.

At any rate, my father was reading The Hobbit to me when I was five or six years old. I had gone to see the Bakshi LOTR film at the theatre, and I first read LOTR when I was nine, or thereabouts. I didn't understand all of it then, but I was interested enough to re-read it a year or two later, and then I was hooked.
I liked the idea of all that going on in our own world in some distant time, and I absolutely loved the archaic language used. The sound of the words is still probably what I love best about the works.

Nogrod · 05-08-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

At any rate, my father was reading The Hobbit to me when I was five or six years old. I had gone to see the Bakshi LOTR film at the theatre, and I first read LOTR when I was nine, or thereabouts.

Heh. That's more or less exactly my story. Although I got first familiar with the LotR when my dad started reading it to me and my little sister when I was like nine or ten. We never finished it as it was too scary for my little sis. and then I went on reading it by myself to find out what happened...

Nogrod · 05-08-2010, 08:41 AM

Heh, the hazyness of the years but the vividness of certain memories...

Btw. do you remember a cartoon version of the LotR that used pictures from Bakshi's movie? I remember reading it secretly at school when I was at third grade or something (like 9-10 years old). Why I had to bring it to school and read it there when the teacher didn't notice I have no memory on. Weird indeed.

***Mister Underhill*** · 05-08-2010, 08:21 AM

Here's an old iteration of the question for the curious. Some of you old timers -- ahem -- I mean veteran wights will see the names and "first time" accounts of familiar old ghosts: Taimar, Birdland, burrahobbit, Maril[...], lindil, Inziladun as a young wight with only 123 posts, and others. I took special delight in reading Sharkû's less-polished English in the second post in the thread. What are you up to these days, I wonder, my old German brother?

Anyway, I noticed that I didn't answer the question in that thread. I'm sure I answered it at some point somewhere around here, but since it's been years...

The exact details of my first time are, for me, like so many others, hazy. I would have been around 12 or 13. I'm sure I was in a bit of a swoon, being ravished by the professor's vision. Among the things I do recall with some detail are being absolutely floored by Gandalf's seeming death, and the moment in Cirith Ungol when Sam realizes that Frodo isn't really dead!

I was up late that night reading on, I can assure you. One thing I remember with some clarity is that soon after finishing LotR, I almost immediately picked up The Hobbit and started right over again.

Just thinking about it is bringing back some good old memories. I used to have this treehouse two stories off the ground where I'd go to read in quiet and solitude. I can't think of a more appropriate place to read the LotR than reclining comfortably in a tree. I can remember the slight sway of the branches in the breeze and the creaking of the wood as the structure flexed and relaxed, flexed and relaxed. It was almost like being aboard ship. What I wouldn't give to have a lazy afternoon in that treehouse. God. I have a vivid memory of reading the Star Wars novelization in that tree before I had ever built the actual treehouse. There was just a plank to sit on that I'd nailed into the saddle between two branches.

I'm trying to remember how the progression went. I was a voracious reader of sci-fi, due mainly to the aforementioned Star Wars, but that would also have been around the same time that I got into D&D. I'm pretty sure I was already branching into fantasy when my uncle noticed and gave me "the real stuff". I still have the paperbacks he gave me, though I don't read them anymore or else they'd crumble in my hands.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Inziladun · 05-08-2010, 08:25 AM

Ah, so I did post in the old thread!
I think I was younger than 13 when I read them. Had to be, because my dad reminded me not long ago about my ripping the dust jacket on his FOTR when I took it for show-and-tell in third grade.

***Mister Underhill*** · 05-08-2010, 08:35 AM

Inzila -- cross-posted! One thing I thought was funny reading that old thread was the contrast between your sigs then and now.

Ripping the dust-jacket -- ouch. I'm champing at the bit to read LotR to/with my son (he's only 3), but fortunately I don't have any editions with dust-jackets for him to rip. Then again, there is that fold-out map at the back of my red leather slipcase edition...

05-08-2010, 04:53 AM	#1
Galadriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion Posts: 551	When did you first read Lord of the Rings? I've been meaning to start this thread for a while now. I'm not sure if this one's already done, but if it is, please let me know! Okay, so basically the question is: when did you first read Lord of the Rings? What prompted you to read it? And what was your reaction (first and last)? I started reading it when I was 16. It had been lying in my mom's cupboard since 2001 (she had tried to make me read it when I was around eight, after reading it herself), and I thought I might as well get a start on it. Initially, I wasn't satisfied. I finished the first twenty pages and thought, "No way am I going to be able to finish this!" so I shoved it in my own cupboard. A month later, I remember being completely listless. I felt like a challenge. So I gave LotR another shot thinking, "I think I'll finish 50 pages today". I didn't finish 50. I finished till about 82. By that time, I was completely hooked. "Three is Company" and "The Old Forest" did it for me. Absolutely amazing stuff. I went on to read The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and The Children of Hurin, and thought they were all fantastic. Actually, The Silmarillion reminds me startlingly of Greek mythology Thoughts? Opinions? Stories? Let me know!

05-08-2010, 05:42 AM	#2
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Galadriel, I don't believe we've met; a belated welcome to The Downs. Yes, this thread has been done before, but I don't mind a fresh start either. Someone will find the link... maybe I'll be inspired once I've answered you. 1) When did you first read Lord of the Rings? 2) What prompted you to read it? 3) And what was your reaction (first and last)? I think the answers will blend together... Our teacher read The Hobbit to our fourth grade class, in 1969 or so. I loved it. In Sixth grade (1971...) I read TH for myself, and loved it. Then I tried to tackle the trilogy; but I stalled in Book One somewhere. It just didn't take off for me-- even though my friend said it was a great book. I read Narnia instead, and Camelot. Always wanted to be a knight in shining armor... In Seventh grade I tried the trilogy again, and once I got to Weathertop I was hooked. So that was... 1972, or winter of 1973. When I say I was hooked, I mean, I wanted to MOVE there. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

05-08-2010, 07:51 AM	#3
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Galadriel, the previous thread on this question is probably buried in the depths of the forum, so a new one is fine. However, since it's not an actual book discussion, I'm moving it to the Novices and Newcomers forum. You should get lots of responses there. While I'm at it, I'll answer your questions: I first read LotR back in college - enough years ago that the exact time is now mythical. My then boyfriend gave me his to read, then presented me with my own Ballantine's box of the trilogy and Hobbit. The books are still on my shelf (the boyfriend, however, disappeared out of my life long ago), though so battered that I've gotten new ones for daily use. As to my reaction - I only left the books long enough to go to classes and work, spending every available free minute in Middle-earth. I was terribly disappointed when the story ended sooner than I expected - I had counted on more, but that turned out to be the appendix. If I remember rightly, I immediately started reading again. __________________ '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...'

05-08-2010, 08:20 AM	#4
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,039	I think I remember the old thread on this, but not whether or not I responded to it. At any rate, my father was reading The Hobbit to me when I was five or six years old. I had gone to see the Bakshi LOTR film at the theatre, and I first read LOTR when I was nine, or thereabouts. I didn't understand all of it then, but I was interested enough to re-read it a year or two later, and then I was hooked. I liked the idea of all that going on in our own world in some distant time, and I absolutely loved the archaic language used. The sound of the words is still probably what I love best about the works. __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

05-08-2010, 08:41 AM	#6
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	Heh, the hazyness of the years but the vividness of certain memories... Btw. do you remember a cartoon version of the LotR that used pictures from Bakshi's movie? I remember reading it secretly at school when I was at third grade or something (like 9-10 years old). Why I had to bring it to school and read it there when the teacher didn't notice I have no memory on. Weird indeed. __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

05-08-2010, 08:21 AM	#7
*Mister Underhill* Dread Horseman Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Behind you! Posts: 2,744	Here's an old iteration of the question for the curious. Some of you old timers -- ahem -- I mean veteran wights will see the names and "first time" accounts of familiar old ghosts: Taimar, Birdland, burrahobbit, Maril[...], lindil, Inziladun as a young wight with only 123 posts, and others. I took special delight in reading Sharkû's less-polished English in the second post in the thread. What are you up to these days, I wonder, my old German brother? Anyway, I noticed that I didn't answer the question in that thread. I'm sure I answered it at some point somewhere around here, but since it's been years... The exact details of my first time are, for me, like so many others, hazy. I would have been around 12 or 13. I'm sure I was in a bit of a swoon, being ravished by the professor's vision. Among the things I do recall with some detail are being absolutely floored by Gandalf's seeming death, and the moment in Cirith Ungol when Sam realizes that Frodo isn't really dead! I was up late that night reading on, I can assure you. One thing I remember with some clarity is that soon after finishing LotR, I almost immediately picked up The Hobbit and started right over again. Just thinking about it is bringing back some good old memories. I used to have this treehouse two stories off the ground where I'd go to read in quiet and solitude. I can't think of a more appropriate place to read the LotR than reclining comfortably in a tree. I can remember the slight sway of the branches in the breeze and the creaking of the wood as the structure flexed and relaxed, flexed and relaxed. It was almost like being aboard ship. What I wouldn't give to have a lazy afternoon in that treehouse. God. I have a vivid memory of reading the Star Wars novelization in that tree before I had ever built the actual treehouse. There was just a plank to sit on that I'd nailed into the saddle between two branches. I'm trying to remember how the progression went. I was a voracious reader of sci-fi, due mainly to the aforementioned Star Wars, but that would also have been around the same time that I got into D&D. I'm pretty sure I was already branching into fantasy when my uncle noticed and gave me "the real stuff". I still have the paperbacks he gave me, though I don't read them anymore or else they'd crumble in my hands. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

05-08-2010, 08:25 AM	#8
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,039	Ah, so I did post in the old thread! I think I was younger than 13 when I read them. Had to be, because my dad reminded me not long ago about my ripping the dust jacket on his FOTR when I took it for show-and-tell in third grade. __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

05-08-2010, 08:35 AM	#9
*Mister Underhill* Dread Horseman Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Behind you! Posts: 2,744	Inzila -- cross-posted! One thing I thought was funny reading that old thread was the contrast between your sigs then and now. Ripping the dust-jacket -- ouch. I'm champing at the bit to read LotR to/with my son (he's only 3), but fortunately I don't have any editions with dust-jackets for him to rip. Then again, there is that fold-out map at the back of my red leather slipcase edition...