What Tolkien Books Did You Read ? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Eönwë · 06-06-2008, 03:57 PM

This thread is 5 years old.

Morthoron · 06-06-2008, 08:05 PM

Wait, so you're saying someone wrote books out of the Lord of the Rings movies? I certainly hope they're not as tacky as the Star Wars and Star Trek books, but I doubt any author could match the brilliance of Peter Jackson's script-writing. Still, everyone's got to make a buck I guess.

Olórin the White · 06-06-2008, 08:08 PM

J.R.R./Christopher Tolkien
- The Fellowship of the Ring (5ish times)
- The Two Towers (see FotR)
- The Return of the King (6x? 7x?)
- The Hobbit (2x)
- The Silmarillion (9x)
- Unfinished Tales (once, and for reference)
- The Book of Lost Tales (1x)
- The Lays of Beleriand (1x)
- The Children of Hurin (1x)
- Beowulf and the Critics
- "On Faerie Stories"

Other
- The J.R.R. Tolkien Handbook
- Understanding the Lord of the Rings: The Best of Tolkien Criticism (a collection of essays)
- Tolkien: A Biography (by Michael White)

as wel as a handful of other books delving into the philosophies presented in the books...

love them all!

Groin Redbeard · 06-06-2008, 08:19 PM

Has anyone checked out his book, "Sir Gwain and the Green Knight"? It's excellent, and very much underrated.

Olórin the White · 06-06-2008, 08:26 PM

Tolkien didn't write Sir Gawain and the Green Knight...but he did translate it.
Unless of course you are speaking of Tolkien's essay on that tale, which can be found in the Monsters and the Critics I believe

but yes, highly underrated as a piece of literature.

Eönwë · 06-08-2008, 06:46 AM

My list looks short compared to some (but I'm only 14):

LOTR (All seven books, or three+appendices, depending on how you look at it.) - first when I was 11
The Hobbit- first when I was 8
The Silmarillion- first when I was 12
The UT- first when I was 13
BoLT 1- When I was 13

edit: oh, and Tales from the Perilous Realm

Groin Redbeard · 06-08-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

My list looks short compared to some (but I'm only 14):

LOTR (All seven books, or three+appendices, depending on how you look at it.) - first when I was 11
The Hobbit- first when I was 8
The Silmarillion- first when I was 12
The UT- first when I was 13
BoLT 1- When I was 13

edit: oh, and Tales from the Perilous Realm

Wow, you sure are young to be reading such complex books as these. I've never heard of the last one, I'll have to look that one up!

Elmo · 06-08-2008, 10:09 AM

Perilous Realm is a great book, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil contains some of my favourite Tolkien poems.

ArathornJax · 06-08-2008, 04:04 PM

I was in Barnes and Noble yesterday and checking out the clearance/discount books at the front of the store and found 10 copies of ROTK hardcover with Illustrations by Allan Lee for only $7.98. Well, I've always wanted this and so I picked it up. Anyway, just wanted to share this find incase someone is in a Barnes and Noble and they want to look and see if they find this. I would assume they would since the stores seem to get the same duplicate volumes in for overstock, clearance/discount.

Borromino · 06-09-2008, 05:46 AM

All..............

Maedhros_the_Tall · 06-10-2008, 04:17 AM

For me just the standard, basic Tolkien reading list it seems

The Silmarillion
The Hobbit
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
Unfinished Tales
The Children of Hurin (god knows why I actually bought that, I'd read pretty much everything in it in the Sil and UT!!)

A few years ago I tried the first Book of Lost Tales, but just couldn't get into it, the english was just too archaic, but I intend to try again when I'm off over summer, and I'm going to try for the History of Middle Earth series as well

Eönwë · 06-10-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maedhros_the_Tall

A few years ago I tried the first Book of Lost Tales, but just couldn't get into it, the english was just too archaic, but I intend to try again when I'm off over summer, and I'm going to try for the History of Middle Earth series as well

Yes, well, I know how you feel. The first time I tried, I couldn't read it, but for a different reason.

Ibrîniðilpathânezel · 06-10-2008, 05:02 PM

The only thing I haven't read is the recent Children of Hurin, and I'm in no rush. I've also had the pleasure of visiting the Tolkien archives at Marquette University several times (the joy of living in the area, and having a spouse who's an alumnus of the university). It's quite thrilling, seeing some of the handwritten drafts, and the various corrections and notations, also done in the Professor's own hand.

McCaber · 06-10-2008, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

The only thing I haven't read is the recent Children of Hurin, and I'm in no rush. I've also had the pleasure of visiting the Tolkien archives at Marquette University several times (the joy of living in the area, and having a spouse who's an alumnus of the university). It's quite thrilling, seeing some of the handwritten drafts, and the various corrections and notations, also done in the Professor's own hand.

I saw those journals once as well. Actually seeing those pages Tolkien wrote with his own hand, it was something else. I remember the beautiful maps most of all.

Anyway, I've read all of his major works and am currently working through the HoME, vol. V.

06-06-2008, 03:57 PM	#1
Eönwë Flame Imperishable Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Right here Posts: 3,928	bumpety bump woo! This thread is 5 years old. __________________ Welcome to the Barrow Do-owns Forum / Such a lovely place

06-06-2008, 08:05 PM	#2
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,515	Wait, so you're saying someone wrote books out of the Lord of the Rings movies? I certainly hope they're not as tacky as the Star Wars and Star Trek books, but I doubt any author could match the brilliance of Peter Jackson's script-writing. Still, everyone's got to make a buck I guess. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

06-06-2008, 08:08 PM	#3
Olórin the White Newly Deceased Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9	J.R.R./Christopher Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring (5ish times) - The Two Towers (see FotR) - The Return of the King (6x? 7x?) - The Hobbit (2x) - The Silmarillion (9x) - Unfinished Tales (once, and for reference) - The Book of Lost Tales (1x) - The Lays of Beleriand (1x) - The Children of Hurin (1x) - Beowulf and the Critics - "On Faerie Stories" Other - The J.R.R. Tolkien Handbook - Understanding the Lord of the Rings: The Best of Tolkien Criticism (a collection of essays) - Tolkien: A Biography (by Michael White) as wel as a handful of other books delving into the philosophies presented in the books... love them all! __________________ wise yet tookishly foolish

06-06-2008, 08:19 PM	#4
Groin Redbeard Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Facing the world's troubles with Christ's hope! Posts: 1,635	Has anyone checked out his book, "Sir Gwain and the Green Knight"? It's excellent, and very much underrated. __________________ I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeatof peace on earth, good-will to men! ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

06-06-2008, 08:26 PM	#5
Olórin the White Newly Deceased Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9	Tolkien didn't write Sir Gawain and the Green Knight...but he did translate it. Unless of course you are speaking of Tolkien's essay on that tale, which can be found in the Monsters and the Critics I believe but yes, highly underrated as a piece of literature. __________________ wise yet tookishly foolish

06-08-2008, 06:46 AM	#6
Eönwë Flame Imperishable Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Right here Posts: 3,928	My list looks short compared to some (but I'm only 14): LOTR (All seven books, or three+appendices, depending on how you look at it.) - first when I was 11 The Hobbit- first when I was 8 The Silmarillion- first when I was 12 The UT- first when I was 13 BoLT 1- When I was 13 edit: oh, and Tales from the Perilous Realm __________________ Welcome to the Barrow Do-owns Forum / Such a lovely place

06-08-2008, 10:09 AM	#8
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 633	Perilous Realm is a great book, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil contains some of my favourite Tolkien poems. __________________ As Beren looked into her eyes within the shadows of her hair, The trembling starlight of the skies he saw there mirrored shimmering.

06-08-2008, 04:04 PM	#9
ArathornJax Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Out West near a Big Salty Lake Posts: 76	Hard Cover ROTK with Illustrations by Allan Lee $7.98 I was in Barnes and Noble yesterday and checking out the clearance/discount books at the front of the store and found 10 copies of ROTK hardcover with Illustrations by Allan Lee for only $7.98. Well, I've always wanted this and so I picked it up. Anyway, just wanted to share this find incase someone is in a Barnes and Noble and they want to look and see if they find this. I would assume they would since the stores seem to get the same duplicate volumes in for overstock, clearance/discount. __________________ "At any minute it is what we are and are doing, not what we plan to be and do that counts." JRR Tolkien in 6 October 1940 letter to Michael Tolkien

06-09-2008, 05:46 AM	#10
Borromino Newly Deceased Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In the Dreaming Land Posts: 4	All..............

06-10-2008, 04:17 AM	#11
Maedhros_the_Tall Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2008 Location: North East of England, currently at university in South West Scotland. Posts: 56	For me just the standard, basic Tolkien reading list it seems The Silmarillion The Hobbit The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of the King Unfinished Tales The Children of Hurin (god knows why I actually bought that, I'd read pretty much everything in it in the Sil and UT!!) A few years ago I tried the first Book of Lost Tales, but just couldn't get into it, the english was just too archaic, but I intend to try again when I'm off over summer, and I'm going to try for the History of Middle Earth series as well __________________ In Doriath let him reign, and be glad that he has the sons of Finwe for his neighbours, not the Orcs of Morgoth that we found.

06-10-2008, 05:02 PM	#13
Ibrîniðilpathânezel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the Helcaraxe Posts: 733	The only thing I haven't read is the recent Children of Hurin, and I'm in no rush. I've also had the pleasure of visiting the Tolkien archives at Marquette University several times (the joy of living in the area, and having a spouse who's an alumnus of the university). It's quite thrilling, seeing some of the handwritten drafts, and the various corrections and notations, also done in the Professor's own hand. __________________ Call me Ibrin (or Ibri) :) Originality is the one thing that unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. — John Stewart Mill