What Tolkien Books Did You Read ? - Page 2 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

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.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 06-10-2008, 10:40 PM

I've read TH and LotR (duh) and The Sil, Unfinished Tales, The Tolkien Reader, and am currently working through HoME (very slowly, while reading a romance novel and the Chronicles of Narnia... again)
HoME has been a bit tricky for me because of the constant notes that Christopher Tolkien has put into it everywhere. I need to get my mom to buy me the last six books of HoME. (I got them for Christmas along with much more Middle-Earth related stuffs, including a full colour map of Middle-Earth, Wilderland, Valinor and Beleriand!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

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!

I read all of the Books listed above when I was 13 (a year ago!

) and if I had discovered them sooner, then I would have read them sooner!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArathornJax

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.

NO WAY!!!! I bet that they don't have them in Alaska or Washington (my current location)... I have to miss out... again...

Eönwë · 06-11-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

I read all of the Books listed above when I was 13 (a year ago!

) and if I had discovered them sooner, then I would have read them sooner!

So would I!

And now I'm probably going to start the rest of HoME (But £100!- maybe I'll wait a bit)

Maedhros_the_Tall · 06-11-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

So would I!

And now I'm probably going to start the rest of HoME (But £100!- maybe I'll wait a bit)

Is it worth trying at your local library? Either to get them from there or order them in from another library? On play.com they have them bundled into 3 volumes for about 45 pound each, and as much as I'd like to read them, theres no way I'm touching them at that price!! Lol. As soon as I'm from university for summer, I'm going to try my library for them!!

Eönwë · 06-11-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maedhros_the_Tall

Is it worth trying at your local library?

Not all libraries have them, sadly, as I found out earlier this year.

Ibrîniðilpathânezel · 06-11-2008, 05:22 PM

Actually, a university library might be more likely to have them than a local public, since they're more scholarly than entertaining to most folks. Though our local does -- just a weird little town I live in.

Eönwë · 06-12-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrîniðilpathânezel

Actually, a university library might be more likely to have them than a local public, since they're more scholarly than entertaining to most folks.

Then I'll just have to wait until I go to university *sigh*

Maedhros_the_Tall · 06-12-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

Then I'll just have to wait until I go to university *sigh*

Only a few years!

cesar.ewok · 06-14-2008, 03:58 PM

I have read:

By J.R.R. Tolkien:

The Lord of the Rings
The Hobbit

Edited by C.T.:

The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales
The Book of Lost Tales I and I (except for the last chapter)
The Shaping of Middle-earth
Morgoth's Ring
War of the Jewels
Peoples of Middle-earth
Some parts of the Lost Road
The Children of Húrin

I'm currently reading the Letters, and hope to read the History of the Lord of the Rings after it.

Though I am Brazilian, I really enjoy reading the Lost Tales, despite its archaic English.

kementari · 06-14-2008, 10:48 PM

Is the Silmarillion a good read, because there is so much unexplained history in Lotr. I thought the Sil' might quench my thirst for more knowledge.

Nerwen · 06-14-2008, 11:35 PM

Yes, the Silmarillion does fill in a lot of the history.

Is it a good read? Well, it's written in an archaic style, and some people find it very hard-going. On the other hand, I read it first when I was ten or eleven and loved it, so... *shrugs*

Out of curiosity, Kementari, how did you come to name yourself after a character in a book you haven't read yet?

skip spence · 06-15-2008, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Is it a good read? Well, it's written in an archaic style, and some people find it very hard-going. On the other hand, I read it first when I was ten or eleven and loved it, so... *shrugs*

You read the Silmarillion when you were 10 and loved it? Jeez, aren't you a clever girl!?

Nerwen · 06-15-2008, 02:09 AM

That does sound rather smug, doesn't it?

skip spence · 06-15-2008, 03:38 AM

I didn't really mean to highlight your smugness (well, maybe a little

) rather your cleverness. I read (most of) LotR when I was maybe 10 and although I enjoyed it, there was a lot I didn't understand. For example, I wasn't sure Sauron and Sauruman were different people until I saw the Bakshi cartoon a few years later.

cesar.ewok · 06-15-2008, 01:37 PM

It happened to me while I was reading Harry Potter I. I thought Snape was a ghost until I saw the film!

06-06-2008, 08:19 PM	#41
Groin Redbeard Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Facing the world's troubles with Christ's hope! Posts: 1,735	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	#42
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	#43
Eönwë Flame Imperishable Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Right here Posts: 3,995	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	#45
Elmo Pittodrie Poltergeist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: trying to find that warm and winding lane again Posts: 659	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	#46
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	#47
Borromino Newly Deceased Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In the Dreaming Land Posts: 4	All..............

06-10-2008, 04:17 AM	#48
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	#50
Ibrîniðilpathânezel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the Helcaraxe Posts: 743	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

06-11-2008, 05:22 PM	#56
Ibrîniðilpathânezel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the Helcaraxe Posts: 743	Actually, a university library might be more likely to have them than a local public, since they're more scholarly than entertaining to most folks. Though our local does -- just a weird little town I live in. __________________ Call me Ibrin (or Ibri) :) Originality is the one thing that unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of. — John Stewart Mill

06-14-2008, 03:58 PM	#59
cesar.ewok Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 25	I have read: By J.R.R. Tolkien: The Lord of the Rings The Hobbit Edited by C.T.: The Silmarillion Unfinished Tales The Book of Lost Tales I and I (except for the last chapter) The Shaping of Middle-earth Morgoth's Ring War of the Jewels Peoples of Middle-earth Some parts of the Lost Road The Children of Húrin I'm currently reading the Letters, and hope to read the History of the Lord of the Rings after it. Though I am Brazilian, I really enjoy reading the Lost Tales, despite its archaic English.

06-14-2008, 10:48 PM	#60
kementari Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2003 Location: Amongst the Ferns: New Zealand Posts: 58	Is the Silmarillion a good read, because there is so much unexplained history in Lotr. I thought the Sil' might quench my thirst for more knowledge. __________________ ~ Kementari ~ Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo.

06-14-2008, 11:35 PM	#61
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,701	Yes, the Silmarillion does fill in a lot of the history. Is it a good read? Well, it's written in an archaic style, and some people find it very hard-going. On the other hand, I read it first when I was ten or eleven and loved it, so... shrugs Out of curiosity, Kementari, how did you come to name yourself after a character in a book you haven't read yet? __________________ "Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo.

06-15-2008, 02:09 AM	#63
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,701	That does sound rather smug, doesn't it? __________________ "Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo.

06-15-2008, 03:38 AM	#64
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,143	I didn't really mean to highlight your smugness (well, maybe a little ) rather your cleverness. I read (most of) LotR when I was maybe 10 and although I enjoyed it, there was a lot I didn't understand. For example, I wasn't sure Sauron and Sauruman were different people until I saw the Bakshi cartoon a few years later. __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

06-15-2008, 01:37 PM	#65
cesar.ewok Pile O'Bones Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 25	It happened to me while I was reading Harry Potter I. I thought Snape was a ghost until I saw the film!