Tolkien Talk: Stephanie from Chasm of Books

As part of our Tolkien Reading Celebration, we’ll be interviewing different bloggers about their love for Tolkien and what makes his works so special for them.

---

Stephanie is the mind behind Chasm of Books and takes great pleasure in revisiting the works of Tolkien over and over again. She considers herself a great champion of Nicole Castroman’s debut novel, Blackhearts, and dabbles in photography while working towards obtaining an associates in Marketing. By day she is a QA Analyst; by night she is a blogger and a writer with many ambitions.

Tell us about yourself! How did you come to love Tolkien and what do you enjoy reading about his works?

My first experience with Tolkien was The Hobbit. My older brother convinced me to read it, probably after I watched The Fellowship of the Ring movie. Shockingly, I actually didn’t enjoy it that much, but one chapter in particular caught my eye: “Riddles in the Dark.” From there, I decided to read The Fellowship of the Ring. Tolkien’s work is uniquely inspirational. The more I learn about his process, the more inspired I am. His writing is precise and striking. He could be writing about the most horrible thing one moment, but switch to describing the most beautiful scene in just a few words.

What’s one thing you learned from Tolkien you think everyone else should know?

Never give up. I began learning about the process Tolkien went through to create The Lord of the Rings and Middle Earth itself and I couldn’t be more impressed. If anyone can teach you to never give up, it would have to be him. The massive amount of changes he made to the first chapter itself are breathtaking. It’s easy to get discouraged when you’re working on a long project. Tolkien taught me to enjoy the journey and keep at it.

Tell us about one of your favorite passages or scenes.

There are quite a few passages I love; I could search The Lord of the Rings trilogy for quite some time trying to choose one. The wisdom and truth in those pages is amazing; but I’d have to say that “Riddles in the Dark” remains a firm favorite of mine. It was one of the first scenes I read growing up that creeped me out. Just thinking about Bilbo in the Mines of Moria exchanging riddles with Gollum in an attempt to live… that is chilling.

Do you have any Tolkien confessions?

It took me years to finish The Lord of the Rings trilogy for the first time. It took me approximately a year to finish each book after I’d started it and I took long breaks between each book. I used to have to tell people that it wasn’t taking me that long because it wasn’t good (still do sometimes).

If you could visit any place in Middle Earth, where would you go?

Oh gosh. What a question. I’m caught between The Shire and Rivendell. Perhaps I’d have to say Rivendell. I just think it’d be such a peaceful and beautiful place to be. Although, if I could stay

Tolkien Talk: Seraphina from Seraphina Reads

As part of our Tolkien Reading Celebration, we’ll be interviewing different bloggers about their love for Tolkien and what makes his works so special for them.

---

Nevey (Seraphina) blogs at Seraphina Reads.

Tell us about yourself! How did you come to love Tolkien and what do you enjoy reading about his works?

I am Neveen (Pen name: Seraphina), a 28-year-old girl who is a math teacher by day and a Tolkienist for the rest of the day. I came to Tolkien not by the books –unfortunately- but by the films; I remember being 13 when I saw the poster for The Fellowship of the Ring. I was so excited to watch it. I was so excited to explore that fantasy because living in Egypt and not having a Tolkien fan or even a chance to learn about the man who inspired modern fantasy is like living inside a cage, but finally I learnt about him thanks to Peter Jackson and to the local newspapers that had full-sized pages with the film posters, which I kept on my wall. Unlike other teens, who had posters of bands, I had Lord of the Rings.

When I turned 17, I was finally allowed to explore the world on my own.  So I took upon myself to buy myself The Lord of the Rings, and that’s when I learnt it’ s not about the trilogy but more books and many volumes. Out of excitement my journey began. Reading the rings spell for the first time brought tears to me; I could not believe that I was holding a book with all of this grace. Tolkien’s words felt like they had been only written to me. So pure and profound; that’s my true beginning with Tolkien.

What’s one thing you learned from Tolkien you think everyone else should know?

It’s not something about the novel itself but about the world building and how it took him 12 years to finish The Lord of the Rings and the deep secret about why the Fellowship is 9 not more and not less.

Tell us about one of your favorite passages or scenes.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

“We have to decide what to do with the time that is given to us.”

It’s one of the deepest lines in literature.  It has always inspired me and always will. I never gave up on living because of this line. I always see hope and brightness because of Tolkien.

Do you have any Tolkien confessions?

My confession would be that I watched the movies first .  Also I used to turn guys down when I knew they were not Tolkien fans:  “Never trust a man who never knew Tolkien.” That was until my perfect man turned to be not a fan of Tolkien, but he has respect for all my madness.

If you could visit any place in Middle Earth, where would you go?

I would have a full tour but rest forever in Lothlórien.

PICTURE TIME! SHOW US YOUR TOLKIEN SHELF OR SOME TOLKIEN MERCHANDISE YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT.

Tolkien Talk: Sara Letourneau

As part of our Tolkien Reading Celebration, we’ll be interviewing different bloggers about their love for Tolkien and what makes his works so special for them.

---

Sara Letourneau is a Massachusetts-based writer who practices joy and versatility in her work. In addition to working on her YA fantasy novel, she reviews tea at A Bibliophile’s Reverie and explores literary themes at DIY MFA. Her poetry has been published in The Curry Arts Journal, Soul-Lit, The Eunoia Review, Underground Voices, and two anthologies. Learn more about Sara at her website / blog, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Tell us about yourself!  How did you come to love Tolkien and what do you enjoy reading about his works?

 I was a “late bloomer” when it came to reading Tolkien’s works. I had heard of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings for years, but didn’t read the latter trilogy until 2004 – and after having seen Peter Jackson’s film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings. (I know. Blasphemous, isn’t it? *lol*) But I had loved the films, and I figured it was only right that I read the books. That choice changed my life forever.

It’s hard to say what I specifically enjoy about Tolkien’s work. There’s a sentimentality about it, since Tolkien was my gateway into fantasy literature. Also, his world-building skills are and always will be second to none. He makes Middle-Earth seem so real, as if the stories are chapters from its history. I also love the characters and the themes Tolkien explored in his stories, especially friendship and loyalty.

But on a personal level, I’ll always remember how The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien’s writing in general reinvigorated my love of reading. Most of what I read in high school didn’t appeal to me, so for several years I stopped reading outside of school assignments. In other words, reading was no longer fun for me. Then I read The Lord of the Rings, and something reawakened. I had rediscovered the pleasure and magic of storytelling, thanks to Middle-Earth and Tolkien. That sense of gratitude is what drives me to continue reading his stories. I’ve since read The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and the novel-length version of The Children of Húrin. This year, I’m planning on reading Unfinished Tales.

What’s one thing you learned from Tolkien you think everyone else should know?

Everyone can be heroes. Kings, warriors, and wizards aren’t the only ones who save the day. Sometimes it’s the everyperson, someone like you or me who finds the courage to do what needs to be done. Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are wonderful examples of this. Hobbits like Frodo and Bilbo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee may be shorter and less physically powerful than their Men, Dwarf, and Elf companions, but they’re not lacking in heart, selflessness, or determination.

Tell us about one of your favorite passages or scenes.

 How about this one from Chapter 2 of The Fellowship of the Ring? It comes after Gandalf explains the history of the One Ring to Frodo:

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

This bit of wisdom speaks volumes. It reminds me that we have to rise to the challenges that come our way, and to take advantage of the time we have while we’re alive. We might question why fate tests us and wish certain things had never happened, just as Frodo does. However, we can choose how to respond to those challenges – and that choice can make all the difference between succeeding or failing, growing from experience or running away in denial.

 Do you have any Tolkien confessions?

Well, I’ve already confessed to seeing the LOTR films before reading the books. The only other “Tolkien confession” I can think of is that The Hobbit (or, rather, the first installment of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy) inspired my current fantasy WIP.

Of course, when I first got the idea, I didn’t want it to be Middle-Earth fanfiction, but a story with its own world and totally different characters. So, I began asking myself questions like, “How would my quest story be different from The Hobbit?” and “How can I make the world I’m creating and the people who inhabit it different from those in Middle-Earth?” There may be a nod or two to the inspiration, but the WIP has developed a life of its own and I couldn’t be more proud of it.

One last “Tolkien confession,” if it counts: I’m using Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings as an example character in the Character Evolution Files, an ongoing blog series about character arcs. You can check out the series here.

If you could visit any place in Middle Earth, where would you go?

Everywhere!  Rivendell would be high on my list. It’s so ethereal, lush, and pristine. I’d probably walk through Elrond’s gardens and watch the waterfall for hours! And I can’t forget the Shire, either. Hobbits are so down-to-earth and friendly – I think I’d feel right at home with them! One day I’d love to go to New Zealand, visit the actual Hobbiton set, and stand at the threshold of Bag End. That in itself would be magical.

Picture time! Show us your Tolkien shelf or some Tolkien merchandise you’re excited about.

Here’s my current stack of Tolkien novels! I’ve read all of them except Unfinished Tales, but that will change soon. 😉

From top to bottom: The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers, Return of the King, The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, The Children of Húrin, and Unfinished Tales.

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

Information

Goodreads: The Return of the King
Series: The Lord of the Rings #3
Source: Purchased
Published: 1954

Summary

Frodo and Sam are continuing their journey to Mount Doom, in hopes of destroying the One Ring and saving Middle Earth from destruction.  In the West, the Men of Gondor and Rohan are rallying for battle and preparing to take on the greatest Enemy of their time.

Review

(Potential spoilers)

The Return of the King is a breathtaking conclusion to The Lord of the Rings, bringing readers the dramatic finales of all the tangled plotlines they have been following.  The book takes leaps of imagination, satisfying readers even as it thwarts their expectations.

This installment of the story certainly has its share of adventure and epic warfare, as Frodo and Sam continue their journey to Mount Doom and the Men of Gondor and Rohan ride to face Sauron at his own Gate.  More compelling, however, may be the final views readers are given of the characters and their growing relationships.  The friendships the characters have developed are shown in full bloom here: Frodo/Sam, Merry/Pippin, Legolas/Gimli, and Aragorn/Gandalf.  Some new, unexpected relationships arise, as well, and The Return of the King, unlike the previous two novels, is surprisingly romantic.  These bonds and this happiness, readers realize, are what the characters have been fighting for all along.

The Return of the King is also more moving than The Fellowship of the Ring or The Two Towers, as the characters experience a series of endings and new beginnings.  Even though good prevails, so much of what the characters, and readers, love about Middle Earth has to pass away.  A new Age, the Age of Men, begins.  It makes me cry every time.

Some have accused the story of having “too many endings” (and the Jackson filmmakers seemed to have agreed, and cut some scenes out), but I have always found each chapter of The Return of the King to be interesting, and even necessary.  The set-up of the entire story leads readers to a point where they cannot be happy stopping with the destruction of the Ring or even the return of the King.  The audience  know the War has been bigger than that, that the reach of Mordor is long.  The infection of the Shire, and Frodo’s enduring wound, complete the tale and emphasize the scope of what was at stake in this adventure.  Besides, seeing the sleepy Shire wake up is just fun.

The Return of the King has always been my favorite part of The Lord of the Rings.  It features the very best things of the story: the epic battle between good and evil, the beauty of Middle Earth, the complex relationships among the characters.  Readers have known these things all along, but they are highlighted here because we come to the moment where everything is at stake: the Cracks of Doom.  The Return of the King is not a standard fantasy story, where good triumphs and the world rejoices.  Things have still been lost in the War.  More things will be lost.  But the book promises new future and hope.  Its bittersweet ending is unique, beautiful, and moving.  A highly recommended series.

Tolkien Talk: Briana

As part of our Tolkien Reading Celebration, we’ll be interviewing a different blogger each day about their love for Tolkien and what makes his works so special for them.  Today, we’re featuring me, Briana!

1.) When and how were you first introduced to Tolkien?  What did you read first?

I read The Hobbit in sixth grade, after I’d seen The Fellowship of the Ring movie (which I admit to not fully understanding without the context of the book).  And…I didn’t love The Hobbit at first.  A friend had to persuade me to continue on to The Lord of the Rings by reassuring me they have very different writing styles and tones.  I have since come to appreciate The Hobbit more, but it’s taken time and several readings.

2.) What attracts you to Tolkien’s writing?

So much about Tolkien’s work speaks to me and inspires me.  His writing and his use of language are particularly unique; he has a knack of wording each sentence in a particularly effective way, and of creating sentences that truly sound as if they are from some faraway time.

I also enjoy Tolkien’s world building, his subcreation.  I concur with the critic who said Tolkien’s books read not as if he invented Middle Earth, but as though it really exists and he simply discovered it.

3.) What would you say to those who haven’t read any of Tolkien’s books yet?

You don’t have to love fantasy to love Tolkien’s books.  It helps, of course, but I think that the magic and the epic swordfights aren’t the real reason people love Tolkien’s works.  They fall in love with the spirit of them, the philosophy.  So, it’s worth giving them a try.  And if f you don’t like one book, read another, because that’s how I became a Tolkien fan.

4.) What is your favorite Tolkien book?  What makes it special?

When I invited readers to answer this survey, I was hoping at least one person would mention a book besides The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings.  However, I’m going to join the bandwagon and say my favorite Tolkien book is The Lord of the Rings, or, more specifically, The Return of the King.  I love the language and the world building and the characters—so much that it’s difficult to explain in a short answer.  I do have a review of The Return of the King coming up Monday, however, which I hope touches on its merits a little more.

5.) Can you share one of your favorite Tolkien quotes with us?

One of my favorite quotes is from the Battle of the Pelennor Fields in The Return of the King.  It’s not one of Tolkien’s philosophical quotes (though I have lots of love for those, as well); it’s just part of the plot.  However, I am always so moved by this little ray of unexpected hope and defiance in the darkest of times.

(Spoiler Warning for The Return of the King!)

“Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest.  It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. ‘But no living man am I! You look upon a woman.  Eowyn I am, Eomund’s daughter.  You stand between me and my lord and kin.  Begone, If you be not deathless!  For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.’”

-Eowyn, speaking to the Witchking of Angmar

Tolkien Talk: Nora

As part of our Tolkien Reading Celebration, we’ll be interviewing a different blogger each day about their love for Tolkien and what makes his works so special for them.  Today, we’re featuring Pages Unbound contributor Nora.

1.) When and how were you first introduced to Tolkien? What did you read first?

I think my grandparents tried to get me, my brother, and all my cousins to watch the Bakshi version of The Fellowship of the Ring, but there was a mix-up at Blockbuster, or wherever they’d gone to get the film, and they ended up with The Return of the King instead. None of us knew what was going on (to be completely honest, none of us really cared, either), and I ended up forgetting about the whole thing until I heard that the Jackson movies were coming out and I started reading The Fellowship, and something about Frodo wearing the Ring around his neck dredged up a memory and I thought, “Oh, hang on, I know this story. Frodo and Sam are walking along and that ring totally gets heavy. I got this.” But I hadn’t even met Merry and Pippin yet, or even Tom Bombadil, so… that scene took a while to get there.

2.) What attracts you to Tolkien’s writing?

His mastery of the language just blows me away every time. I haven’t encountered Tolkien’s level of grammatical elegance anywhere else. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why I can’t really deal with other high fantasy novels I’ve tried reading. Nothing else sounds as good in my head. Nothing else has been worth the effort.

3.) What would you say to those who haven’t read any of Tolkien’s books yet?

At least read The Hobbit. It’s easy, it’s fun, and if you like it you can move on to The Lord of the Rings, and then you’re hooked forever. If you don’t enjoy it, I guess we have nothing more to talk about, because who doesn’t like The Hobbit?

4.) What is your favorite Tolkien book? What makes it special?

I’m going to stick with The Return of the King because of the Appendices. I love the Gimli/Legolas and Sam/Frodo friendships more than anything else in this world, and it’s in the Appendices that you learn that they all go and party together in the Undying Lands. That is one of the most beautiful things that has ever happened in Middle Earth, and if you take that away from me my life becomes utterly meaningless.

5.) Can you share one of your favorite Tolkien quotes with us?

Literally the only things I can bring up from memory are his songs. (Apparently I don’t remember things if they don’t rhyme? Okay.)

I really love Bilbo’s old walking song, which Frodo adapts when he’s at the Grey Havens into,

“Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate
And though I oft have passed them by
A day may come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon and East of the Sun.”

You can’t tell me that Frodo regaining hope for his own future, and voicing that hope in his uncle’s song, isn’t a wonderful thing. No, I’m not crying, you’re crying. Shut up.

Tolkien Talk: Jon of Scott Reads It

 

As part of our Tolkien Reading Celebration, we’ll be interviewing a different blogger each day about their love for Tolkien and what makes his works so special for them.  Today, we’re featuring Jon of Scott Reads It.

1.) When and how were you first introduced to Tolkien?  What did you read first?

I first attempted to read The Hobbit in elementary school because I heard Tolkien’s books were similar to The Chronicles Of Narnia. I didn’t make it too far into The Hobbit when I realized that this book was beyond me, there was something about it that I didn’t get and I just found it incredibly dull. Later on in high school, I decided to give The Fellowship of the Ring a chance and I instantly became addicted.

2.) What attracts you to Tolkien’s writing?

Tolkien’s writing, while extremely verbose, has this magical quality to it that easily allows readers to be transported to magical realms. Tolkien writes some of the most vivid prose and he always manages to wow readers with his in-depth description. Because of Tolkien’s prose, Hobbiton doesn’t feel like a fictional world, it’s a home to millions of readers.

3.) What would you say to those who haven’t read any of Tolkien’s books yet?

I would definitely recommend Tolkien’s books to those who love the Game Of Thrones TV Show and The Song Of Fire And Ice Novels; just like G.R.R. Martin’s books, Tolkien’s books are extremely slow-moving, but extremely rewarding in the end.

4.) What is your favorite Tolkien book?  What makes it special?

 My favorite Tolkien book is definitely The Two Towers because there’s something so incredible about this book. Usually 2nd books in a trilogy suffer from “middle-book” syndrome, but The Two Towers is even more intense and exhilarating than The Fellowship of the Ring. I absolutely love The Two Towers and it definitely can’t hurt that my favorite character, Gollum, plays a key role in this book.

5.) Can you share one of your favorite Tolkien quotes with us?

Call me cliche, but I love the classic, mainstream Tolkien ones that everyone seems to know.

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

“Not all those who wander are lost.”

“There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

I could go on and on, but you get the point. Tolkien’s books are always filled with such wisdom and even though Tolkien is no longer with us, his clever books will continue to perpetuate his legacy.

Tolkien Talk: Lianne of Caffeinated Life

 

As part of our Tolkien Reading Celebration, we’ll be interviewing a different blogger each day about their love for Tolkien and what makes his works so special for them.  Today, we’re featuring Lianne of Caffeinated Life.

1.) When and how were you first introduced to Tolkien? What did you read first?

I remember first hearing about Tolkien when I was 11/12 (around the time I first started to read fantasy novels) but I did not get around to his books until I was 15. The first LOTR movie was about to be released in December 2001 and I figured it was time to read his books. So The Lord of the Rings was the first book by him that I read.

2.) What attracts you to Tolkien’s writing?

Firstly, it was honestly a bit difficult getting into Tolkien’s writing the first time around. It was very different from any other book I had ever read up to that point in terms of speech, style, etc. It still is one of the most unique/different books I’ve ever read. I find it’s very reminiscent to the old Anglo-Saxon/Scandinavian epics that he studied and loved, which is perfect for his books set in Middle Earth because it adds a certain epic quality to the stories: a little older and particular in the way things are expressed and referenced, a little grander but also familiar.

Otherwise what really attracts me to Tolkien’s writing is just the storytelling, really. I mention a little later on about LOTR and how all-encompassing it can be—epic in scope but also focusing on the smallest of peoples, quiet feats of bravery—but at the end of the day, it really comes down to the story itself and from there how he’s able to express and form this whole world and history around these characters and the things that are affecting them. But yeah, definitely the storytelling and how relatable the fundamental emotions and experiences that the characters go through can be for us, the reader.

3.) What would you say to those who haven’t read any of Tolkien’s books yet?

You’re missing out!

lol, in all seriousness, I would say that it may look daunting and the writing at first may seem odd but once you get pass that and you get into the story, it’s just this rich tapestry of character, experience, history/culture, language, humour, just everything. It really feels like Middle Earth exists, or existed, somewhere out there. It’s just such an experience. Even his non-Middle Earth works are just as wonderful, as a reader you get a sense that he truly loved the early Anglo-Saxon/Scandinavian/Northern epics of old. So the books may seem intimidating but it’s totally worth it

4.) What is your favorite Tolkien book? What makes it special?

The Lord of the Rings remains my favourite Tolkien book. I’ve read a number of his books over the years and there’s just something about LOTR: the storytelling, the scope of and the stakes involved, the histories and cultures that populate Middle Earth, the themes presented, the characters, etc. I also love how, despite of the epic scope of the story, of these massive armies facing each other and the return of the king to Gondor, the story comes down to characters fighting for love, for doing the right thing, to protect the simple quiet life that they want. That it’s especially highlighted by the hobbits—doing great deeds, performing small acts of bravery despite of their size or where they’re from—is wonderful and something that, as readers, we can relate to. It’s just amazing how all these elements and themes are in this one book.

Plus, it was the first Tolkien book I ever read, so that in itself makes it special to me too. 🙂

5.) Can you share one of your favourite Tolkien quotes with us?

Just one? =P Okay, from The Fellowship of the Ring: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” It’s such a simple statement from Gandalf and yet it’s so poignant, something to remember and live by.

Tolkien Talk: Rinn of Rinn Reads

As part of our Tolkien Reading Celebration, we’ll be interviewing a different blogger each day about their love for Tolkien and what makes his works so special for them.  Today, we’re featuring Rinn of Rinn Reads.

 

1.) When and how were you first introduced to Tolkien? What did you read first?

I remember that when I was about seven or eight, my mum bought me a copy of the graphic novel version of The Hobbit. I’ve always been a big reader, particularly of fantasy novels, so I guess she knew it was perfect for me! Not long after that I read The Hobbit itself, and then when I was ten I read The Lord of the Rings for the first time – and shortly after that, the films were released, which meant I had so many more people to obsess over Tolkien’s work with, and so many Lord of the Rings related things to buy!

 2.) What attracts you to Tolkien’s writing?

Some find his style a bit stuffy, but I absolutely love it. It’s his, it’s so unique and I think it’s just perfect for his books. I love fantasy stories that are written in an older tone, they feel more ‘genuine’ to me, which doesn’t even make sense as they’re about imaginary worlds! Tolkien was an absolute genius, and in creating Middle-earth and its history, languages and more he created an entire culture in which I can happily immerse myself. One of my favourite things is how much background information he created, even though he didn’t need to – he just wanted to.

3.) What would you say to those who haven’t read any of Tolkien’s books yet?

Give them a try! If you’re a big fantasy fan then they should seem familiar. If you’re not, then I’d advise starting off with The Hobbit as it’s shorter. I think you have to really be willing to give them a go though – there’s a lot of information to take in. Some people probably get a bit put off by the books as I think that sometimes Tolkien’s writing style is described as being a little archaic, but I say don’t make any decisions until you’ve at least tried it.

4.) What is your favorite Tolkien book?  What makes it special?

Can I count The Lord of the Rings as one book, as that’s how Tolkien originally intended it? I’ve read it at least once a year since I was ten, apart from one year, so that’s at least twelve times now. There’s just something about it – it’s hard to explain, but it makes me feel like I’m at home. It brings back this warm rush of nostalgia from the days when I ran Lord of the Rings fansites, and had loads of online friends that were massively into Tolkien’s work. We even had a roleplay forum at one point! You can see my copy of The Fellowship of the Ring here: it’s well read, yellowing and falling apart. My copy of The Hobbit is in pretty much the same condition! I want new editions (well I want ALL the editions) but I also love how well read and loved my copy looks.

5.) Can you share one of your favorite Tolkien quotes with us?

“Out of doubt, out of dark to the day’s rising; I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. To hope’s end I rode and to heart’s breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!”

— The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
(Chapter VI, The Battle of the Pelennor Fields), page 137.

Theoden is the one to say this to the Rohirrim in the film version of The Return of the King, and I still think it’s a beautiful line even then. But in the book, Eomer actually says it, as he plants the flag of Edoras, laughing the whole time. They’re still in the middle of the battle, they have no idea if they will win or even if they stand a chance. But he says it almost jokingly, and to me it signifies that Eomer is completely one hundred percent dedicated to this battle, he will fight whatever the cost. It shows that he is definitely deserving of his position as heir to Theoden (after the death of Theodred, Theoden’s son). Ultimately, it just sums up the whole book for me. The good people of Middle-earth will keep this fight going, and will keep fighting until the very end, no matter what it takes to rid Middle-earth of these evil forces.