Popularity of the Books - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Alchisiel · 02-12-2004, 11:54 PM

This is my first new topic so bare with me.

Why do you think that Tolkien's works are still so popular? I know they are wonderful books and Tolkien was a master writer and philologist, but why does his books remain so popular?

Do you think that other great authors' works were as popular 50 years after they wrote them? It's just that I think Tolkien was a brilliant writer and I think a hundred years from now he will be compared to the other great writers of history.

I've probably opened up a can of worms by asking this but oh, well. I like controversy.

I would also like to say that I know alot of Tolkien fans hated the movies but if it wasn't for them I wouldn't even have known about the books. So I'm very thankful for the movies.

Earendilyon · 02-13-2004, 07:42 AM

I think you've already answered your question yourself:

Quote:

they are wonderful books and Tolkien was a master writer

Many people agree with this statement, so they keep on reading the books and point them out to friends, so those are also going to read them. Result: JRRT's works are still popular.

zb · 02-13-2004, 07:50 PM

I think the complexity of Tolkien's work is a major factor. For every person who reads LotR once and says, "yeah, that's nice", there's another who reads it every year, including all the appendices, and studies Tolkien further in terms of The Silmarillion, HoME, various commentaries, the 'Downs...

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 02-16-2004, 10:06 AM

To me Tolkien's books are also a way to run away to a completely different place...I guess I'm an escapist in that sence, if you know what I mean

One thing I find very interesting is that LotR is full of signs of the history of M-E. The more and more one explores things only mentioned in LotR by reading the Sil and UT, for example, the better the signs are shaped to complete emotional tales!

Noxomanus · 02-16-2004, 11:41 AM

the dancing spawn of the Great Spider is absolutely right.
Fact is, for every sentence containing a comment about something,there are three others delving deeper in this subject.
LotR breathes the deep history it's the climax of and makes it evident there still is a lot more to discover. It's like Saruman's study of the Rings: It infects the reader with it's power.

The Mushroom · 02-18-2004, 07:42 PM

Yes, I think that the complexity is a major draw. His beautiful writing style is too. It's also just a great story.

Laivine · 02-19-2004, 03:08 PM

In my opinion, one of the reasons why Tolkiens works continue to grow in popularity is that he didn't just write amazing books, he used them to create a whole world. And, like dancing spawn said, I think people need that sometimes; another world to run into.. We need to believe, if only for a second, in elves and hobbits and things like that

Or, atleast I do.

02-24-2004, 11:07 AM

I think the reason his books are so poplular is because they are so well written. And then the movies were made. And that got people interested in wanting to know just where the movies came from so they went and got the books and read them. I read them all before I ever saw any of the movies. By then Fellowship and Two Towers were already out on DVD but that's okay. I still enjoyed them. Very much. And of course I've seen ROTK. But nothing compares to Tolkiens work. It's just amazing. His character develop is like nothing else I've ever read before or since. Yeah sometime he got a little long winded with descriptions but no one else could or will ever be able to write like he did. He was a true genious. The day he died was a very sad day indeed. The world lost a great man and a great author.

haltred · 02-28-2004, 06:56 PM

Tolkiens work stand the test of time and give that they are under the 75 year mark one could say wait and see if they last. I would say accept them as having lasted. And why ? Well they are great adventure stories , action stories. BUT also stories that work on the level of the struggle between good and evil. They are a world both alike and different from our own. Yet if one reads history, especially that of the last 75 years , starting from when Tolkien wrote "THE HOBBITT" one sees not 1 for 1 paralells but similarities between Middle earth and this earth. The movies make it clearer, the flight seen to Helms Deep remind one of France 1940 or Saigon 1975 . The movie has Gandalf statin " the battle for Helms Deep is over, the battle for Middle Earth has just begun" Well in June 1940 Churchill used similar phrases after the evacuation of Dunkirk.
But all this undergirds a story that is of truth friendship and loyalty to do what one can and then go beyond it.

02-12-2004, 11:54 PM	#1
Alchisiel Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: At The Golden Perch enjoying the best pint in the East Farthing! Posts: 68	Popularity of the Books This is my first new topic so bare with me. Why do you think that Tolkien's works are still so popular? I know they are wonderful books and Tolkien was a master writer and philologist, but why does his books remain so popular? Do you think that other great authors' works were as popular 50 years after they wrote them? It's just that I think Tolkien was a brilliant writer and I think a hundred years from now he will be compared to the other great writers of history. I've probably opened up a can of worms by asking this but oh, well. I like controversy. I would also like to say that I know alot of Tolkien fans hated the movies but if it wasn't for them I wouldn't even have known about the books. So I'm very thankful for the movies. __________________ YOU shall not pass!! Even the smallest person can change the course of the future...

02-13-2004, 07:50 PM	#3
zb Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: perth, west australia Posts: 71	I think the complexity of Tolkien's work is a major factor. For every person who reads LotR once and says, "yeah, that's nice", there's another who reads it every year, including all the appendices, and studies Tolkien further in terms of The Silmarillion, HoME, various commentaries, the 'Downs... __________________ "Do you think I am trying to weave a spell? Perhaps I am; but remember your fairy tales. Spells are used for breaking enchantments as well as inducing them. And you and I have need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us from the evil enchantment of worldliness..." - C.S. Lewis

02-16-2004, 10:06 AM	#4
dancing spawn of ungoliant Mischievous Candle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: So near to Russia, so far from Japan, quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam. Posts: 1,234	To me Tolkien's books are also a way to run away to a completely different place...I guess I'm an escapist in that sence, if you know what I mean One thing I find very interesting is that LotR is full of signs of the history of M-E. The more and more one explores things only mentioned in LotR by reading the Sil and UT, for example, the better the signs are shaped to complete emotional tales! __________________ Fenris Wolf

02-16-2004, 11:41 AM	#5
Noxomanus Wight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 233	the dancing spawn of the Great Spider is absolutely right. Fact is, for every sentence containing a comment about something,there are three others delving deeper in this subject. LotR breathes the deep history it's the climax of and makes it evident there still is a lot more to discover. It's like Saruman's study of the Rings: It infects the reader with it's power. __________________ Nothing is evil in the beginning,even Sauron wasn't

02-19-2004, 03:08 PM	#7
Laivine Wight Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Norway Posts: 131	In my opinion, one of the reasons why Tolkiens works continue to grow in popularity is that he didn't just write amazing books, he used them to create a whole world. And, like dancing spawn said, I think people need that sometimes; another world to run into.. We need to believe, if only for a second, in elves and hobbits and things like that Or, atleast I do. __________________ Vi er det vi tenker. Alt vi er vokser frem fra tankene våre. Det er tankene våre som bygger verden.

02-18-2004, 07:42 PM	#6
The Mushroom Animated Skeleton Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hobbit hole in Western WA Posts: 31	Yes, I think that the complexity is a major draw. His beautiful writing style is too. It's also just a great story.

02-24-2004, 11:07 AM	#8
Missy Evenstar Guest Posts: n/a	I think the reason his books are so poplular is because they are so well written. And then the movies were made. And that got people interested in wanting to know just where the movies came from so they went and got the books and read them. I read them all before I ever saw any of the movies. By then Fellowship and Two Towers were already out on DVD but that's okay. I still enjoyed them. Very much. And of course I've seen ROTK. But nothing compares to Tolkiens work. It's just amazing. His character develop is like nothing else I've ever read before or since. Yeah sometime he got a little long winded with descriptions but no one else could or will ever be able to write like he did. He was a true genious. The day he died was a very sad day indeed. The world lost a great man and a great author.

02-28-2004, 06:56 PM	#9
haltred Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Victoria BC Canada Posts: 20	Tolkiens work stand the test of time and give that they are under the 75 year mark one could say wait and see if they last. I would say accept them as having lasted. And why ? Well they are great adventure stories , action stories. BUT also stories that work on the level of the struggle between good and evil. They are a world both alike and different from our own. Yet if one reads history, especially that of the last 75 years , starting from when Tolkien wrote "THE HOBBITT" one sees not 1 for 1 paralells but similarities between Middle earth and this earth. The movies make it clearer, the flight seen to Helms Deep remind one of France 1940 or Saigon 1975 . The movie has Gandalf statin " the battle for Helms Deep is over, the battle for Middle Earth has just begun" Well in June 1940 Churchill used similar phrases after the evacuation of Dunkirk. But all this undergirds a story that is of truth friendship and loyalty to do what one can and then go beyond it. __________________ In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit