I can’t remember specifically what brought me to the realm of the Lord of the rings, but I think it was the animated movie The Hobbit. I remember seeing that movie when I was very young, long before I ever read the books. And it has always stayed with me. It’s probably why I’ve always wanted to write fantasy stories myself.
As one of those who encountered the trilogy in the sixties and seventies, i find that it has become a reference for interpreting the present. As I read it again with the knowledge of what will come next in the story, it gives me a kind of clarity and light and hope that I bring back into a cloudy world.
I find myself coming back to 'The Lord of the Rings' especially in tough seasons. There are all the emotions one feels when going through the "shadow-lands of life". Fear, sorrow, despair, being unequal to a task, but also camaraderie, hope, courage, and finally, victory, vindication and a return to better days, although, as in an encounter with the Faeries, not unchanged.
When my daughter suffered the loss of a child, along with her Bible, this was THE book that she turned to. And maybe therein lies the secret of my obsession with this book when "cast down" by life. Tolkien, though adamantly opposed to the idea of analogy in his book, nonetheless could not suppress his ideology that was largely formed by his faith. And so there are myriad parallels to the truths of that ancient text that has become so sidelined in our modern culture. But which is also chock full of the same story line....
I am re-reading the LOTR series along with Tea with Tolkien this year. I realized it's been several years since I sat down to read the books. I've listened to multiple audiobook narrator versions over the last 5 or 6 years, but I was pulling those out as a comfort read. It's been enjoyable to pivot to a more analytical deep dive of the stories, engaging my brain in a different way. I love this about Tolkien's writings: we can turn to them for comfort, or for a more robust study.
I think I found FOTR on a shelf at a branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Either that, or my Grandma gave it to me in a bag of books from the thrift store. Thank you, Grandma!
Either way, it was meant. 😉 Fell in love. I’ve read the series again and again over the decades because the beauty of it gets me every time. The landscapes, creatures, cultures. The selfless acts of bravery…
Great piece! I first read Lord of the Rings when I was maybe ten years old, and it has been shaping my worldview ever since. When I finished it, I think I literally believed I had been to Middle-earth, so I can definitely agree you do not leave these books unchanged.
This is so, so beautiful. Whether intentional or intentional, I feel like I've never read a more truthful (and moving) testament to why the Tolkien legendarium has endured. Brava and ty!!
I can’t remember specifically what brought me to the realm of the Lord of the rings, but I think it was the animated movie The Hobbit. I remember seeing that movie when I was very young, long before I ever read the books. And it has always stayed with me. It’s probably why I’ve always wanted to write fantasy stories myself.
DO it!!
As one of those who encountered the trilogy in the sixties and seventies, i find that it has become a reference for interpreting the present. As I read it again with the knowledge of what will come next in the story, it gives me a kind of clarity and light and hope that I bring back into a cloudy world.
YES!
I had the good fortune of having a teacher introduce Tolkien to me in school, and ever since I have always seen him with a scholarly awe.
🙂
I find myself coming back to 'The Lord of the Rings' especially in tough seasons. There are all the emotions one feels when going through the "shadow-lands of life". Fear, sorrow, despair, being unequal to a task, but also camaraderie, hope, courage, and finally, victory, vindication and a return to better days, although, as in an encounter with the Faeries, not unchanged.
When my daughter suffered the loss of a child, along with her Bible, this was THE book that she turned to. And maybe therein lies the secret of my obsession with this book when "cast down" by life. Tolkien, though adamantly opposed to the idea of analogy in his book, nonetheless could not suppress his ideology that was largely formed by his faith. And so there are myriad parallels to the truths of that ancient text that has become so sidelined in our modern culture. But which is also chock full of the same story line....
I am re-reading the LOTR series along with Tea with Tolkien this year. I realized it's been several years since I sat down to read the books. I've listened to multiple audiobook narrator versions over the last 5 or 6 years, but I was pulling those out as a comfort read. It's been enjoyable to pivot to a more analytical deep dive of the stories, engaging my brain in a different way. I love this about Tolkien's writings: we can turn to them for comfort, or for a more robust study.
I was introduced to both Lewis and Tolkien by an older friend as a college freshman, and my vision was transformed.
I think I found FOTR on a shelf at a branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Either that, or my Grandma gave it to me in a bag of books from the thrift store. Thank you, Grandma!
Either way, it was meant. 😉 Fell in love. I’ve read the series again and again over the decades because the beauty of it gets me every time. The landscapes, creatures, cultures. The selfless acts of bravery…
"selfless acts of bravery'.... where do we see that nowadays?? rare. beautiful.
Great piece! I first read Lord of the Rings when I was maybe ten years old, and it has been shaping my worldview ever since. When I finished it, I think I literally believed I had been to Middle-earth, so I can definitely agree you do not leave these books unchanged.
I think that maaaayyyybeee, this IS Middle-earth and we just haven't been told....
This is so, so beautiful. Whether intentional or intentional, I feel like I've never read a more truthful (and moving) testament to why the Tolkien legendarium has endured. Brava and ty!!