I've taken the plunge.

[butterfly]

I checked The Lord of the Rings out of the library today, to see if reading Return of the Shadow has affected my view of Tolkien's writing. The last time that I attempted to read the book was just before Two Towers came out in theaters.

I've only read a little bit so far -- still in Concerning Hobbits.

I don't remember it being this good.

The affection with which the hobbits are discussed... that feeling that this is a real world, that this is a found history of a real world, is so very strong.

I'm sure that it'll start annoying me soon.

Right?

Comments

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

The affection with which the hobbits are discussed... that feeling that this is a real world, that this is a found history of a real world, is so very strong.

That's why Tolkien's always worked so well for me, and where so much speculative fiction goes wrong. As an author, Tolkien was first and foremost concerned with making sure his world felt real and believable within it's own terms. He's no doubt far more meticulous than absolutely necessary, but it gives his stories a firm foundation even with the fantastic setting.

[elz.livejournal.com]

Hee. I had to skim heavily to get through the books the first time I read them; when I found myself really getting into Concerning Hobbits on my last read-through, I knew I was officially a goner. I can't tell you how many times I picked up and put down The Fellowship of the Ring as a kid because I just could *not* get past the first few chapters, but I guess once you're into it, there's no going back. :)

[thawrecka]

Oh, that's part of why I love that book so much -- cause he just loves his characters and world so much. And, oh, I could geek out over the foreshadowing in FotR all day long.

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

It was the immense backstory that gave them the richness I so admire; but, the use of the hobbits as the POV characters that the reader can relate to runs a close second.

Why do you think you are enjoying it more?

[jlove2403.livejournal.com]

Sunday March 28, 2004 9PM EST The E True Hollywood Story ~ *NSync!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Exactly. He's got the base upon which his world can stand. And I'm appreciating it this time around, partly, I think, because I've been exploring the process. Return of the Shadow was fascinating.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I'm doomed, then? You'd think that being doomed would be a less cheery feeling.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

And now I could geek out with you. Because! I'm actually liking the way the book is written this time around! It's a miracle!

Seriously though, I'm really happy that my diabolical 'read about the writing of the book in order to appreciate said writing' plan worked.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Ooo. That'd be cool to see. I'll have to try to catch it.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I think it's because I'm reading it differently.

Before, I was reading it as a fantasy book dressed up as a history book, now, I'm reading it as a history that took place in a time of fantasy. It's the opposite approach and one that I think I was incapable of taking until recently.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

I found almost the entire History of Middle Earth series to be fantastic, although some parts are rather tedious. You really have to be both a hardcore Tolkien fan, and deeply into cosmology and mythic worldbuilding to read all of that.

What's so fascinating is that Tolkien essentially wrote in a reverse manner from most typical writers. He started with the language, built up a culture and a climate around those languages - before he ever really started writing the story. Rather than building a world around his stories.