following the Fellowship, TWO TOWERS begins post 281 - Page 2

[wombatclay]

I think I was 7 or 8 when my dad bought us (bro and I) a copy of Bored of the Rings. He remembered it (obviously VERY vaguely) and it was only 5 cents (friend of the library book sale final day) so he thought why not. I only got about 30-40 pages in before my mom found out exactly what this book involved. Didn't see it again till college.

[LadyAlathia]

I have Bored of the Rings... haven't read it yet, though. I inherited it from my husband. I wonder if he's realized I claim all his sci-fi books as my own...

[CariOfOz]

EEEKKKK ok the 22nd apparently snuck up and past me! Going to have to hit the library tomorrow, just checked and the books are there... will have them hold them for me! Can't believe I missed starting with you guys

[wombatclay]

I think we're pretty laid back Cari... you're not late! I imagine that with one chapter a week some mamas will read it right off the bat while others might cram it in at the last minute and that's all good. And the first couple of chapters are a bit "slow" in terms of having much to talk about...

Wait till the later chapters when everyone is off on their own doing who know's what!

Actually, I was looking at the timeline (at the end of RotK) and was sort of surprised at the "near misses" in the story. It isn't in the first chapter, but there are a few places early on in FotR where people miss each other by hours. Obviously it's a book and the author isn't going to "solve it" at the end of the first chapter, but it makes me think about how the story could have gone if things had been just a little different. I can't decide if it makes it more or less realistic to have that sort of "almost".

Anyone want to weigh in on that?

[nummies]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

Actually, I was looking at the timeline (at the end of RotK) and was sort of surprised at the "near misses" in the story. It isn't in the first chapter, but there are a few places early on in FotR where people miss each other by hours. Obviously it's a book and the author isn't going to "solve it" at the end of the first chapter, but it makes me think about how the story could have gone if things had been just a little different. I can't decide if it makes it more or less realistic to have that sort of "almost".

Anyone want to weigh in on that?

I haven't seen the timeline yet. This is my first time reading the books. I wonder if I should go ahead and check out the other two from the library. Hmm...

Anyway, I totally enjoyed the first chapter! I love the descriptiveness. I loved the build-up to the party. I was feeling the excitement along with all the Hobbits.

Oh and I thought Frodo's family history was so interesting. I enjoyed reading about his mother and father and how he came to be Bilbo's heir. And it was a fun fact that Frodo is turning 33. I always thought of him as a teenager/ young adult.

"Don't go getting mixed up in the business of your betters, or you'll land in trouble too big for you."

I loved this. I will have to use that one.

Anyway, so sorry if I seem all jumbled. Like I said, this is the first time reading this for me so I am a tad excited! :

[wombatclay]

Go ahead and bounce! LotR is a wonderful book with so much depth...

About checking out the timeline... well, the books and the movies are a bit different. If you've seen the movies then there are still places where the books will surprise you, and some of the characters you meet will be very different than their movie counterparts. The timeline is part of the appendices and it's good geeky fun. But it might take away a few of the surprises and it's certainly not "necessary" to read the timeline in order to enjoy the story. So it's sort of up to you and how you like to read a book.

How's that for a wishy washy answer?

If you enjoy backstory though, the appendices will be much good fun (lots of family trees and historical records... the intro to FotR describes some of the things in the appendix, like the Red Book of Westmarch) and you might enjoy the Silmarillion, the Lays of Beleriand, or the Books of Lost Tales.

[nummies]

I love wishy washy! I think that I will wait for the surprise then.

Thanks for the links too!

[LadyAlathia]

Originally Posted by nummies

And it was a fun fact that Frodo is turning 33. I always thought of him as a teenager/ young adult.

33 IS a young adult for a Hobbit. Just the way they reckon things, and how they grow and age, 33 is considered about equivalent to our 18 or 21 - it's their adulthood.

He actually doesn't even start the journey until he's 50!

and if you think THAT's bad, Aragorn is 87 - 88 years old during the Quest. A very sexy 88, mind you.

[nummies]

Originally Posted by LadyAlathia

33 IS a young adult for a Hobbit. Just the way they reckon things, and how they grow and age, 33 is considered about equivalent to our 18 or 21 - it's their adulthood.

He actually doesn't even start the journey until he's 50!

and if you think THAT's bad, Aragorn is 87 - 88 years old during the Quest. A very sexy 88, mind you.

So fasincating!

[aweynsayl]

i'm so excited because i figured out i can read along with you all, still finish simarillion, AND also read this diss i've had on my shelf forever.. from my prof in undergrad, a student of his... it's on tolkien and my area of brit hist.... anyhow,. totally nerdy, very excited.
:

[wombatclay]

Yeah, "age" is an interesting element.

Let's see... I'll let ya'll do the math but here are the birthdays...

THIRD AGE
241 Arwen is born (Galadriel is her maternal Grandmother BTW)

Legolas doesn't have a specific birth date given in the LotR, but he is older than Gimli (estimates are he is roughly 400 years older than Gimli... oh, and Legolas' father is the elf king who imprisoned Gloin during the Hobbit. Other silly trivia, Tolkien never specifically describes how Legolas looks. Legolas is one of the Sindar elves who are generally dark haired but his father is described as having golden hair. So different adaptations have given him very different looks! Oh, and his name "Legolas" translates to GreenLeaf.)

2879 Gimli born (son of Gloin who traveled with Bilbo in The Hobbit)

2890 Bilbo born September 22

2931 Aragorn born March 1st (Elrond is his many generations removed Uncle BTW)
---2933 Aragorn is taken to Rivendell for protection, Elrond accepts him as a foster son and names him Estel (hope) to hide his true identity
---2951 Aragorn and Arwen meet (Arwen had been living in Lorien)---

2968 Frodo born September 22

2978 Boromir born

2982 Merry is born

2983 Sam and Faramir born

2990 Pippin born (Merry's cousin)

2991 Eomer born

2995 Eowyn born

In terms of where these birthdays fall:

2942 Bilbo brings the Ring to the Shire (the Hobbit)
Sept 22, 3001 the Long Expected Party (chap 1 FotR)
3008 last time Gandalf visits Frodo in the Shire (chap 2 FotR)
Sept 23, 3018 Frodo leaves Bag End with the Ring (chap 3 FotR)

And DH and I were watching the commentaries to the first film the other day and Lee's comment about the wizards is a good one... it's important to remember that the wizards are not human. Gandalf is much older than the other characters, even older than the elves, and was taught by the "Goddess" of mercy and healing before humanity was born.

[nummies]

That is so interesting. It really puts things into perspective as far as when the events take place.

Looking forward to the next chapter!

[fullofgrace]

ACK! How did I miss this!! I'm subbing!

Originally Posted by wombatclay

If you enjoy backstory though, the appendices will be much good fun (lots of family trees and historical records... the intro to FotR describes some of the things in the appendix, like the Red Book of Westmarch) and you might enjoy the Silmarillion, the Lays of Beleriand, or the Books of Lost Tales.

I have The Silmarillion, but now I want to check out the others.

[wombatclay]

They're all part of the History of Middle Earth series "authored" by Christopher Tolkien. I think there are eleven or twelve volumes.

And welcome! The more the merrier!

[ian'smommaya]

why do i join these things late?

okay joining you all. tell me exactly what to read. spell it out dearies.

[fullofgrace]

I've been holding on to this Barnes & Noble giftcard the ILs got me for my birthday. Now might be the right time to use it.

[wombatclay]

okay joining you all. tell me exactly what to read. spell it out dearies.

You're not late! We're going slowly so that everyone can participate... basically one chapter a week. We started on Sept 22 (the joint birthday party) so we're only just now finishing chapter one. Tomorrow I'll post for chapter two, but since there isn't a heck of a lot going on in Chapter One the conversation has mostly been about the back story.

So if you want to "catch up" just read chapter one (~50 pages) and join in on chapter two.

[binkin]

Man! I keep initiating a trade for the Silmarillion on Swaptree (if you're not signed up and need a referrer, let me know -- you get free postage if you refer someone >.>) and it keeps expiring, and then the person with the copy I want initiates, I accept, and then she doesn't follow through and it expires... this is SO FRUSTRATING. Maybe I should just buy a used copy, eh?

I have to admit I still haven't re-read chapter 1, but I should get to it tonight!

[ian'smommaya]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

You're not late! We're going slowly so that everyone can participate... basically one chapter a week. We started on Sept 22 (the joint birthday party) so we're only just now finishing chapter one. Tomorrow I'll post for chapter two, but since there isn't a heck of a lot going on in Chapter One the conversation has mostly been about the back story.

So if you want to "catch up" just read chapter one (~50 pages) and join in on chapter two.

thanks wombat...

binkin i am reading it today and tonight too. btw LOVE your blog but i cant figure out how to subscribe to it.

[binkin]

Wow, thank's Maya! I am not sure what you mean by subscribe... if you mean RSS, I think I have a link on all of my blogs to add an RSS feed to your reader.

I need to stop knitting and get reading but it's such a knitting kind of day here....