[champ]

I don't mind Bombadil, mainly because he leaves you with mystery... who the hell is he/what is he!?

[Abyss]

champ, on 28 February 2023 - 09:07 PM, said:

I don't mind Bombadil, mainly because he leaves you with mystery... who the hell is he/what is he!?

It's not much of a mystery. He's the living embodiment of all the drugs JRR was doing at the time.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Sam's dad was named...Ham? I mean, come on 🤣

It's going to be fun to see, after 15 years, how much I don't recall from these books!

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 06 March 2023 - 02:08 AM

[polishgenius]

If it's any comfort, Sam's real name is Banazîr Galbasi so I assume his dad was... I dunno, Fanazir?



I understand why people find Bombadil frustrating to read but I love, absolutely love, the position and role his section fulfills in the book.

(mild spoilers, for the book through Bombadil's section in full, so to the end of Fog on the Barrow-Downs)

Spoiler

Basically, it's Tolkien's transition out of the more lovably goofy humour and adventure of the Hobbit into the more serious threats of LotR proper. The part of the journey leaving the Shire is still quite jolly, the biggest outright moments of action are comic- the farmer with his vegetables for example. You also have an interlude with the elves that, while not comic in itself, is a lot less serious than the Elves later are. All this culminates in a genuinely dangerous but still rather silly threat in Old Man Willow. Then a rather goofy, silly man rescues them, gives them some deep lore, proves his powers are not silly, then sends them on their way. They run straight into another threat, but this one is much more in line in tone and style to the feel of the rest of the book, with the barrow-wights feeling like a dry-run on the Nazgul, almost. Tom rescues them again, outfits them for the true danger, then they leave the Shire and beging the true adventure.

It's brilliant.

Also: I love Tolkien's use of rest-stops throughout Fellowship, in general. The journey is continually punctuated by moments to chill and rest, and as the stakes get more clear, the tone of the rest stops gets more serious. They elevate the sense of scale as much as the action does.

[Tiste Simeon]

I love the rest stops as you say, there's usually a scene of "we can't wait here for long, as danger is drawing ever closer, but let me just sing you a song about that tree over there"

[Abyss]

...and hey, who's hungry? Third breakfast time!

[QuickTidal]

Sigh. Even though I finished this on a reread recently, I could use the pickmeup I get from LOTR, and I just completed getting my hardcover Harper Collins collection versions of these that completes my collection, so I’m going to catch up…where is everybody?

[JPK]

QuickTidal, on 12 March 2023 - 12:05 PM, said:

Sigh. Even though I finished this on a reread recently, I could use the pickmeup I get from LOTR, and I just completed getting my hardcover Harper Collins collection versions of these that completes my collection, so I’m going to catch up…where is everybody?

I think it's just Tiste and I that have started. I finished A Knife in the Dark last night and plan to read Flight to the Ford today.

[Tiste Simeon]

JPK, on 12 March 2023 - 04:54 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 12 March 2023 - 12:05 PM, said:

Sigh. Even though I finished this on a reread recently, I could use the pickmeup I get from LOTR, and I just completed getting my hardcover Harper Collins collection versions of these that completes my collection, so I’m going to catch up…where is everybody?

I think it's just Tiste and I that have started. I finished A Knife in the Dark last night and plan to read Flight to the Ford today.

Technically I've finished as I read this very recently. It's still fresh so I'm happy to join in conversations hah

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

JPK, on 12 March 2023 - 04:54 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 12 March 2023 - 12:05 PM, said:

Sigh. Even though I finished this on a reread recently, I could use the pickmeup I get from LOTR, and I just completed getting my hardcover Harper Collins collection versions of these that completes my collection, so I’m going to catch up…where is everybody?

I think it's just Tiste and I that have started. I finished A Knife in the Dark last night and plan to read Flight to the Ford today.

I'm in too! Frontdoor and Arable and the rest of the Bobbits just made it to Rivendell

[Slow Ben]

Tiste Simeon, on 12 March 2023 - 08:44 PM, said:

JPK, on 12 March 2023 - 04:54 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 12 March 2023 - 12:05 PM, said:

Sigh. Even though I finished this on a reread recently, I could use the pickmeup I get from LOTR, and I just completed getting my hardcover Harper Collins collection versions of these that completes my collection, so I’m going to catch up…where is everybody?

I think it's just Tiste and I that have started. I finished A Knife in the Dark last night and plan to read Flight to the Ford today.

Technically I've finished as I read this very recently. It's still fresh so I'm happy to join in conversations hah

Same. Just finished a reread in the fall, just following along.

[Abyss]

I reread all the Tom Bombadil chapters while under the influence of various liquids and substances of dubious nutritious value wheeEEEeeee

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 13 March 2023 - 03:36 AM, said:

I reread all the Tom Bombadil chapters while under the influence of various liquids and substances of dubious nutritious value wheeEEEeeee

Fairly sure he was written whilst certain liquids were being imbibed so it's probably a good way to read it!

[Macros]

Probably starting today if I have my it on my ebook

Looking forward to this, I see me rolling on to the whole trilogy, haven't reread in years

[JPK]

Macros, on 16 March 2023 - 08:44 AM, said:

Probably starting today if I have my it on my ebook

Looking forward to this, I see me rolling on to the whole trilogy, haven't reread in years

I plan to do the full thing as well, though I'm taking my sweet time with it. Any interest in chasing it with The Silmarillion? I've never actually read that one before.

[Macros]

mmmmmm

I'll not commit to more than maybe, I can see me wanting too at the end, but won't say yes right naow

[Abyss]

If people are engaged we could keep it going as the 'old' half of the book club. I wouldn't mind trying The Silmarillion in earbook, if only to see whether i can stay awake and finish it this time.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 21 March 2023 - 02:29 PM, said:

If people are engaged we could keep it going as the 'old' half of the book club. I wouldn't mind trying The Silmarillion in earbook, if only to see whether i can stay awake and finish it this time.

Fairly soon there will be an audiobook version read by Andy Serkis!

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 21 March 2023 - 02:46 PM, said:

Abyss, on 21 March 2023 - 02:29 PM, said:

If people are engaged we could keep it going as the 'old' half of the book club. I wouldn't mind trying The Silmarillion in earbook, if only to see whether i can stay awake and finish it this time.

Fairly soon there will be an audiobook version read by Andy Serkis!

very clever casting, that.

[worry]

It's just lembas bread and Serkises!