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

Elendhel · 07-15-2005, 08:10 PM

I always read from start to finish in order, enjoying the progression of the story. But the last time I read it, I was tempted to miss out the beginning entirely, having found that it tends to drag somewhat after seeing the films. Other than this I've never felt compelled to miss sections out, or read individual parts of the story.

mark12_30 · 07-16-2005, 04:19 AM

In my youth I read 'The Hobbit' in one sitting whenever I had a spare day.

When I was an Eomer addict, I read and reread the battle of the Pelennor fields ... I dunno, maybe thirty times? A lot.

When I was a Boromir addict, I read all the stuff that he said or did, over and over.

Lately I find I can hardly pick the book up; it tears me apart too much. I can't go near the last few chapters. Pretty ironic since I have shelves full of the trilogy, and I can barely open the books.

When my life comes out of the pressure cooker for a bit, I may try again. I do miss Chapter by chapter.

Celuien · 07-16-2005, 10:42 AM

Unless I'm looking for the answer to a trivia question or have a craving to look at a passage that I particularly like, I prefer to read the entire book in order. I like having the continuity of the story intact.

Recently, with RL schedules being out of control, I've been jumping out of order to my favorite chapters. I'll usually skip the battle scenes, if anything, since those were never the main focus for me. But I haven't been able to read at all for the past few weeks because my books are about 300 miles away.

Eruanna · 07-17-2005, 08:59 AM

Previously, I have read the trilogy several times, in order. However, over the last year or so, I've become a bit of a butterfly, skipping and skimming from one part to another.
This usually happens when I've read a certain section for research purposes, found what I want, and then found myself reading much further because I can't put the book down!
My husband despairs of me..."You're not reading that again, are you?"
I also have an ever increasing pile of non-Tolkien stuff to read but never seem to get around to it

Kath · 07-17-2005, 09:58 AM

I rarely read it in order anymore, mostly because the books are never all in the same place at once! I also find myself reading through random chapters when looking for quotes for Palantir of Fortune so there are some I read quite often and some that I have not read in a while.

There are some chapters that I skip over though such as The Council of Elrond and the chapter where Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas meet Gandalf the reincarnated because those tend to drag on a bit.

However, since starting to learn Quenya here I have been skipping through to find the poems and see how much I can translate.

07-15-2005, 08:10 PM	#1
Elendhel Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 19	I always read from start to finish in order, enjoying the progression of the story. But the last time I read it, I was tempted to miss out the beginning entirely, having found that it tends to drag somewhat after seeing the films. Other than this I've never felt compelled to miss sections out, or read individual parts of the story. __________________ The Realm Of Elendhel My LOTR Myspace

07-16-2005, 04:19 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	In my youth I read 'The Hobbit' in one sitting whenever I had a spare day. When I was an Eomer addict, I read and reread the battle of the Pelennor fields ... I dunno, maybe thirty times? A lot. When I was a Boromir addict, I read all the stuff that he said or did, over and over. Lately I find I can hardly pick the book up; it tears me apart too much. I can't go near the last few chapters. Pretty ironic since I have shelves full of the trilogy, and I can barely open the books. When my life comes out of the pressure cooker for a bit, I may try again. I do miss Chapter by chapter. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

07-16-2005, 10:42 AM	#3
Celuien Riveting Ribbiter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Assigned to Mordor Posts: 1,767	Unless I'm looking for the answer to a trivia question or have a craving to look at a passage that I particularly like, I prefer to read the entire book in order. I like having the continuity of the story intact. Recently, with RL schedules being out of control, I've been jumping out of order to my favorite chapters. I'll usually skip the battle scenes, if anything, since those were never the main focus for me. But I haven't been able to read at all for the past few weeks because my books are about 300 miles away. __________________ People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect. But actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff.

07-17-2005, 08:59 AM	#4
Eruanna Memento Mori Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Past The Point Of No Return Posts: 1,117	Previously, I have read the trilogy several times, in order. However, over the last year or so, I've become a bit of a butterfly, skipping and skimming from one part to another. This usually happens when I've read a certain section for research purposes, found what I want, and then found myself reading much further because I can't put the book down! My husband despairs of me..."You're not reading that again, are you?" I also have an ever increasing pile of non-Tolkien stuff to read but never seem to get around to it __________________ "Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies."

07-17-2005, 09:58 AM	#5
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	I rarely read it in order anymore, mostly because the books are never all in the same place at once! I also find myself reading through random chapters when looking for quotes for Palantir of Fortune so there are some I read quite often and some that I have not read in a while. There are some chapters that I skip over though such as The Council of Elrond and the chapter where Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas meet Gandalf the reincarnated because those tend to drag on a bit. However, since starting to learn Quenya here I have been skipping through to find the poems and see how much I can translate. __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

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