Parts We Skip and Why

[Lalwendë]

The first time I read LotR I spent as long as possible reading it; perhaps I somehow knew it would be an experience unlike any other. I savoured it, and took in all the facts like it was a real history book.

Reading it again for the CbC threads I obviously don't want to skip anything, and I tend not to anyway when I do a proper read through. But I often pick it up (and I do this with other books too) just to 'look something up' and find I've ended up reading a fair few chapters because I get carried along. I have no qualms in picking up something like the Sil and opening it at random and just reading whatever I see first because I just like the language, and I do have parts in all of the books I like to read over and over just as extracts as they are favourite passages.

The first time I ever read the trilogy, I skipped some of the poetry, I'll admit that, but you'll have to forgive me, I think I was about eleven...
Apart from that, I don't think I have ever skipped any parts, especially not the chapters like 'The Council of Elrond' and 'The shadow of the past.' I know a lot of people skip these chapters, because there's just talking, really.
But I, like some who have posted before me, think these are among the most interesting chapters, because there are so many stories to look into...

A lot of people I know, especially the ones who prefer the movies instead of the books, think the beginning is boring. They feel like it never gets started...
I can understand why they feel that way, especially if they've seen the movie before they read the books, and expect all that action at once.
Still, I have to disagree with them, because I think it's necessary to have that kind of beginnig. After all, you've got all these people that need to be introduced, not to mention Middleearth, and the Shire itself.

My point is, that I don't really skip anything while reading Tolkien, but ofcourse there are parts that I read a little faster than the other ones, and that would probably be some of the travelling...
And to everyone who was shocked by my first sentence; I don't skip poetry any more. I now take the time to enjoy it

[Celebuial]

I've never skipped anything in LotR.

I find it hard to believe that a few of you don't like the second half of TT. That was the first book that ever made me cry!!!! For that I love it and I still cry every time I read it!

[bilbo_baggins]

I must admit that I fail and fall short, and that I do have trouble slogging through several chapters of LoTR.

But, contrary to a main-stream conventional view, I enjoy and slow down for the agony and crying parts, and the most read part of my copy of the Trilogy are the Appendices.

And I must point out that the Silmarillion is the gripping story imagineable. I come here because I know there are other out there like me that enjoy all the history and tales of old, dead people as much as I do!!

b_b