Parts we read without reading the whole book - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Morsul the Dark · 01-22-2013, 09:56 PM

Lastmarch of the ents

Legate of Amon Lanc · 01-23-2013, 04:55 AM

I actually just started a sort of weird "project" - I was feeling like reading some LotR chapters, on their own, simply because I felt like it. Originally, I wanted to read "Scouring of the Shire" (which is pretty normal for me - see above). Then I decided that I wanted to read a bit of the stuff before it, especially since "Homeward Bound" is a sort of prelude, in "Many Partings" there is Saruman, but I rarely read the other parts of the chapter (which I felt a bit of deficit on my part, especially since I had not noticed for years the "telepathy" part until somebody mentioned it here on the 'downs). So I read second half of "The Steward and the King" (starting from Beregond's trial) and the two following chapters. The day after that, I suddenly felt the urge to read In the House of Tom Bombadil, because I think I never do, or never considered the chapter so interesting by itself (whereas now I have discovered it has really beautiful descriptions, some of which I knew, but never actually realised it is almost fully composed of them). Then I continued naturally to the Fog on the Barrow-Downs.

And then I got that funny idea about reading the whole of LotR, not in order, but in the order I pick, depending on my momentary mood. It will be an interesting experiment, to say the least. I think it can be done, since I know the book by heart (mostly), and the random order makes it a bit different, so that you are not just "oh, I know what comes next". Here, it doesn't matter.

So far, it has worked perfectly

Ozban · 01-27-2013, 06:14 PM

For my part, I read Aladrion and Erendis frequently. Deem it to be one of the best parts of all Tolkien's works. And then the whole of Quenta Silmarilion (if I were to chose, then the part from 'Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië' to 'Of the Sindar' is in my opinion the best, or I like to read it the most, quality is rather difficult category).
I should add Aindulindalë, but that limps after those two, I deem it unfinished, or rather unpolished (if such a thing ever can be). 'Scouring' and The Last Stage would come close after.

01-22-2013, 09:56 PM	#1
Morsul the Dark Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,448	Lastmarch of the ents __________________ Morsul the Resurrected

01-23-2013, 04:55 AM	#2
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	I actually just started a sort of weird "project" - I was feeling like reading some LotR chapters, on their own, simply because I felt like it. Originally, I wanted to read "Scouring of the Shire" (which is pretty normal for me - see above). Then I decided that I wanted to read a bit of the stuff before it, especially since "Homeward Bound" is a sort of prelude, in "Many Partings" there is Saruman, but I rarely read the other parts of the chapter (which I felt a bit of deficit on my part, especially since I had not noticed for years the "telepathy" part until somebody mentioned it here on the 'downs). So I read second half of "The Steward and the King" (starting from Beregond's trial) and the two following chapters. The day after that, I suddenly felt the urge to read In the House of Tom Bombadil, because I think I never do, or never considered the chapter so interesting by itself (whereas now I have discovered it has really beautiful descriptions, some of which I knew, but never actually realised it is almost fully composed of them). Then I continued naturally to the Fog on the Barrow-Downs. And then I got that funny idea about reading the whole of LotR, not in order, but in the order I pick, depending on my momentary mood. It will be an interesting experiment, to say the least. I think it can be done, since I know the book by heart (mostly), and the random order makes it a bit different, so that you are not just "oh, I know what comes next". Here, it doesn't matter. So far, it has worked perfectly __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

01-27-2013, 06:14 PM	#3
Ozban Haunting Spirit Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the road, again... Posts: 73	For my part, I read Aladrion and Erendis frequently. Deem it to be one of the best parts of all Tolkien's works. And then the whole of Quenta Silmarilion (if I were to chose, then the part from 'Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië' to 'Of the Sindar' is in my opinion the best, or I like to read it the most, quality is rather difficult category). I should add Aindulindalë, but that limps after those two, I deem it unfinished, or rather unpolished (if such a thing ever can be). 'Scouring' and The Last Stage would come close after. __________________ Let us sit upon the ground, and tell sad stories of the death of kings. - Shakespeare (Richard II)