Read LotR before you die!

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by davem

Its certainly high praise. I'm ashamed to say I haven't read either of the two above it (& only five of the others on the list) - ok, I've read most of number two in various translations, but not the whole thing.

Well you can get reading because most of those on the list are on the bookshelves in the house right now...

I think Librarians are a pretty eclectic bunch of people, ranging from the academic (of which Philip Larkin was one) to the librarian in charge of the tiny local village library who might sometimes drive the mobile library and bring the old folks their favourite Cookson novels. And the librarians you might find in our own central library might look at you with a look of distrust if you asked them anything, as they are so used to having to shift drunks out who've merely come into the library for a sleep.

As such, the list is itself quite eclectic which I'm pleased to see; it includes both classics and modern fiction and the serious and the light-hearted.

Originally Posted by Child

P.S. It's interesting to note that a number of Tolkien scholars are librarians. The first names that come to mind are Hammond and his wife who are just coming out with all the new companions and guides.

I wonder if it is the wealth of detail which attracts librarians to Tolkien? Much of their working days must be given over to arranging, classifying and searching for items so I can well imagine the attraction to a writer who has filled his work with detail waiting to be 'arranged'.