Why do you keep at it? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Sixth Wizard · 10-04-2006, 12:26 AM

I thought the answer was obvious, I'm an obsessive nerd!

Aganzir · 10-04-2006, 11:32 AM

It is the world.

The stories - Lotr, The Hobbit, etc; they could be placed anywhere, but were they good stories or not, they wouldn't be this fascinating if they weren't placed in Middle-earth.
No matter how incomplete the world or its ancient legends might be, Eä has the power to draw the reader into it and make him fall in love with it - to live in Eä more than in this world.

I have never loved anything more than I do love Tolkien and his world. Middle-earth is truly a leaf by Niggle. I know we can never see the whole and finished tree in all its glory, but we have the right to admire at least one leaf, and that is a right not for everyone to understand.

HerenIstarion · 10-10-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aganzir

I know we can never see the whole and finished tree in all its glory, but we have the right to admire at least one leaf, and that is a right not for everyone to understand.

You are a bit overly exclusive there ('everyone to undestand' part) to my liking, yet I would agree with an analogy. And keep on secretly hoping that one day, after days here are spent and gone, we would be allowed to see the whole and finished tree, in a place which, maybe, or again maybe not, will be named Niggle's Parish.

mormegil · 10-10-2006, 09:52 PM

While I've read many books, the majority tend to be fantasy, I must state the LOTR and the Silmarillion are unequivocally my favorites. I enjoy the other books and the add to me as a person but LOTR is something more. It is much more special and profound than all others.

There is a depth to LOTR that other books do not contain. There is a sense of purity in that book that I seldom, if ever, find in other books. It is a complete fantasy, so to speak. It is difficult to express in words but it evokes so many positive and good emotions in me that I know it is an uplifting book, and yes Fordim I am a better person for having read it!

.

It perfectly fits my ideals and moral code that I never have any ambiguity in self by reading it (I hope that makes some sense). There is more character depth and more character identification than any other book and I find myself wanting to be a part of the fellowship or to help Beren in his quest.

Mänwe · 10-11-2006, 12:44 PM

The sheer volume of detail is stupendous. It is the detail and the love that Tolkien put into his 'world', has rubbed off on me. I cannot help myself! It is also the debate and the learning from others that makes me return to 'worlds' or Tolkien created on websites like this. In truth as few words possible to describe why is better for me.

"You just do!"

10-13-2006, 05:56 AM

The stories are set in Middle Earth which is both nowhere and everywhere - thus the narrative becomes timeless and unstained by human progress - there is no external reference other than ourselves - it's the reader that is required to complete the circle where the transition from the page takes place within our own world of experiences. Tolkiens weaves his magic in that our own lives provide the warp and weft of the experience that is Middle Earth - it's our own story that is being retold.

10-04-2006, 11:32 AM	#2
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	It is the world. The stories - Lotr, The Hobbit, etc; they could be placed anywhere, but were they good stories or not, they wouldn't be this fascinating if they weren't placed in Middle-earth. No matter how incomplete the world or its ancient legends might be, Eä has the power to draw the reader into it and make him fall in love with it - to live in Eä more than in this world. I have never loved anything more than I do love Tolkien and his world. Middle-earth is truly a leaf by Niggle. I know we can never see the whole and finished tree in all its glory, but we have the right to admire at least one leaf, and that is a right not for everyone to understand. __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle.

10-10-2006, 09:52 PM	#4
mormegil Maundering Mage Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,651	While I've read many books, the majority tend to be fantasy, I must state the LOTR and the Silmarillion are unequivocally my favorites. I enjoy the other books and the add to me as a person but LOTR is something more. It is much more special and profound than all others. There is a depth to LOTR that other books do not contain. There is a sense of purity in that book that I seldom, if ever, find in other books. It is a complete fantasy, so to speak. It is difficult to express in words but it evokes so many positive and good emotions in me that I know it is an uplifting book, and yes Fordim I am a better person for having read it! . It perfectly fits my ideals and moral code that I never have any ambiguity in self by reading it (I hope that makes some sense). There is more character depth and more character identification than any other book and I find myself wanting to be a part of the fellowship or to help Beren in his quest. __________________ “I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

10-11-2006, 12:44 PM	#5
Mänwe Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: May as well be the Arctic Circle Posts: 283	No doubt... The sheer volume of detail is stupendous. It is the detail and the love that Tolkien put into his 'world', has rubbed off on me. I cannot help myself! It is also the debate and the learning from others that makes me return to 'worlds' or Tolkien created on websites like this. In truth as few words possible to describe why is better for me. "You just do!" __________________ "I am, I fear, a most unsatisfactory person." - (Letter #124 To Sir Stanley Unwin)

10-13-2006, 05:56 AM	#6
wayseer Guest Posts: n/a	Timeless The stories are set in Middle Earth which is both nowhere and everywhere - thus the narrative becomes timeless and unstained by human progress - there is no external reference other than ourselves - it's the reader that is required to complete the circle where the transition from the page takes place within our own world of experiences. Tolkiens weaves his magic in that our own lives provide the warp and weft of the experience that is Middle Earth - it's our own story that is being retold.

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10-04-2006, 12:26 AM	#1
The Sixth Wizard Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stuck under a rock in Valinor with Ar-Pharazon. Posts: 480	I thought the answer was obvious, I'm an obsessive nerd!