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Roverandom
J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy story about the adventures of a bewitched toy dog, written before The Hobbit.
While on holiday in 1925, four-year-old Michael Tolkien lost his beloved toy dog on the beach at Filey in Yorkshire. To console him, his father, J.R.R.Tolkien, improvised a story about Rover, a real dog who is magically transformed into a toy and is forced to seek out the wizard who wronged him in order to be returned to normal.
This charming tale, peopled by a sand-sorcerer and a terrible dragon, by the king of the sea and the Man-in-the-Moon, was Tolkien’s first full-length children’s book, written before The Hobbit. Now, nearly 90 years later, the adventures of Rover – or, for reasons that become clear in the story, ‘Roverandom’ – are published in this delightful pocket hardback edition. Rich in wit and wordplay, Roverandom is edited and introduced by Tolkien experts Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, and includes Tolkien’s own delightful illustrations.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
475 people are currently reading
12706 people want to read
About the author
J.R.R. Tolkien
764 books77.1k followersJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien: writer, artist, scholar, linguist. Known to millions around the world as the author of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien spent most of his life teaching at the University of Oxford where he was a distinguished academic in the fields of Old and Middle English and Old Norse. His creativity, confined to his spare time, found its outlet in fantasy works, stories for children, poetry, illustration and invented languages and alphabets.
Tolkien’s most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns – love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride – giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this ‘legendarium’ that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children’s stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
Tolkien’s most popular works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are set in Middle-earth, an imagined world with strangely familiar settings inhabited by ancient and extraordinary peoples. Through this secondary world Tolkien writes perceptively of universal human concerns – love and loss, courage and betrayal, humility and pride – giving his books a wide and enduring appeal.
Tolkien was an accomplished amateur artist who painted for pleasure and relaxation. He excelled at landscapes and often drew inspiration from his own stories. He illustrated many scenes from The Silmarillion, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sometimes drawing or painting as he was writing in order to visualize the imagined scene more clearly.
Tolkien was a professor at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford for almost forty years, teaching Old and Middle English, as well as Old Norse and Gothic. His illuminating lectures on works such as the Old English epic poem, Beowulf, illustrate his deep knowledge of ancient languages and at the same time provide new insights into peoples and legends from a remote past.
Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1892 to English parents. He came to England aged three and was brought up in and around Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 1915 and saw active service in France during the First World War before being invalided home. After the war he pursued an academic career teaching Old and Middle English. Alongside his professional work, he invented his own languages and began to create what he called a mythology for England; it was this ‘legendarium’ that he would work on throughout his life. But his literary work did not start and end with Middle-earth, he also wrote poetry, children’s stories and fairy tales for adults. He died in 1973 and is buried in Oxford where he spent most of his adult life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,242 reviews
February 26, 2017
This is a fantastically childish book that is thoroughly charming; it really captures the essence of Tolkien’s softer themes and humour. Not everything has to be constantly dark and foreboding for his writing to be successful. This is simple, imaginative and a good little bit of fun.
The tale is quaint and fairly short in which a dog, initially named Rover, is turned into a toy as an act of revenge because he bit a mean old sand sorcerer. Some people really are that petty. This leads to a series of events in which the toy is washed up on a beach, learns to fly and finally ends up in the company of the Man in the Moon.
However, the Man in the Moon already has a dog named Rover; thus, he dubs the toy Roverandom. He temporarily grants him wings resulting in him and the other Rover being chased by a Dragon during one of their flights. A friendship blossoms between the two Rovers, though eventually Rover seeks to be a normal dog once more. He wants to go back to his normal life. And the only person who can reverse the magic is the one who cast it in the first place, but wizards are always tricky: he won’t simply do it for nothing.
The thing I enjoyed most about this story is learning about where it came from. Tolkien’s son lost his precious toy, so Tolkien wrote this story about what could have happened to it and where it might of gone after he lost it. Doesn’t he sound like a wonderful farther?
“I did nothing but run away from the time I was a puppy, and I kept on running and roving until one fine morning - a very fine morning, with the sun in my eyes - I fell over the world's edge chasing a butterfly.”
The tale is quaint and fairly short in which a dog, initially named Rover, is turned into a toy as an act of revenge because he bit a mean old sand sorcerer. Some people really are that petty. This leads to a series of events in which the toy is washed up on a beach, learns to fly and finally ends up in the company of the Man in the Moon.
However, the Man in the Moon already has a dog named Rover; thus, he dubs the toy Roverandom. He temporarily grants him wings resulting in him and the other Rover being chased by a Dragon during one of their flights. A friendship blossoms between the two Rovers, though eventually Rover seeks to be a normal dog once more. He wants to go back to his normal life. And the only person who can reverse the magic is the one who cast it in the first place, but wizards are always tricky: he won’t simply do it for nothing.
The thing I enjoyed most about this story is learning about where it came from. Tolkien’s son lost his precious toy, so Tolkien wrote this story about what could have happened to it and where it might of gone after he lost it. Doesn’t he sound like a wonderful farther?
“I did nothing but run away from the time I was a puppy, and I kept on running and roving until one fine morning - a very fine morning, with the sun in my eyes - I fell over the world's edge chasing a butterfly.”
July 18, 2016
A fun little tale.
A little bit manic in parts but full of imagination and a bit of fun.
Definitely one from the days when a kids book was supposed to challenge rather than mimic a childs vocabulary.
A little bit manic in parts but full of imagination and a bit of fun.
Definitely one from the days when a kids book was supposed to challenge rather than mimic a childs vocabulary.
September 30, 2021
Rover was a living, breathing dog who gets transformed into a toy replica and must venture to the depths of the ocean and across the valleys of the moon in the hopes of returning himself to his former state and his previous owner. This little children's tale was as sweet as it was sad, as full of adventure and exploits as it was messages and ethics for its younger readers to enjoy yet learn from. I found it a charming tale and I loved the fantastical direction Rover's journey took.
December 12, 2017
Roverandom is a novella by J.R.R. Tolkien, originally told in 1925, about the adventures of a young dog, Rover. In the story, an irritable wizard turns Rover into a toy, and Rover goes to the moon and under the sea in order to find the wizard again to turn him back into a normal-sized dog.
It was very heart-warming to see how much Tolkien cared about his children. After searching for Michael's toy for two days and deciding to write a story to cheer him up, Tolkien, in December that year, mentioned Rover and the Man in the Moon in one of his Father Christmas letters as well, ensuring that the tale would become a favorite with the boys.
Roverandom includes a number of childish colloquialism, such as whizz, splosh and tummy, which are of particular interest for their like is rarely met with in Tolkien's published writings, having been omitted ab initio in his manuscripts or deleted in revision (as tummy was altered in The Hobbit to stomach). Here they are surely survivals from the story as it was originally told to the Tolkien children.
It's interesting to compare Tolkien's earlier fiction with his magnum opus, The Lord of the Rings. The wizard Artaxerxes, who 'walked into the story, came wandering up the garden-path in a ragged old coat, with an old pipe in his mouth', really reminded me of Gandalf.
Additionally, it's interesting to note one of Artaxerxes' special features, he wore a 'blue feather stuck in the back of his green hat'. He shares this piece of clothing with Tom Bombadil (see: The Fellowship of the Ring), supporting the theories that there's more to Tom than Tolkien would led on.
Even Rover, who 'was beginning to get used to extraordinary things happening to him', was reminiscent of some of Tolkien's later and more beloved character. His vexation about adventures and his struggles with dragons really reminded me of good o'le Bilbo at times.
Roverandom is also essential in understanding the root of Tolkien's fascination with dragons and the Faery – both of which are discussed in the tale:
Of the moon garden, Tolkien wrote: 'Pale blue leaves that never fell […] Later in the year the trees all bursts together into pale golden blossoms'. These descriptions are foreshadowing, perhaps, the mallorn trees of Lothlórien: 'Far in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold.' (see: The Fellowship of the Ring, bk.2, ch. 6)
Naturally, it's just as interesting to analyze how his writing style changed over the years. Whether we're looking at Farmer Giles of Ham (1937) or Roverandom (1925) it becomes clear that his earlier fiction was much more whimsical, light-hearted and funny:
Despite being a short children's tale, Roverandom has many interesting things to offer. The mythology that runs through the novel is rich and refreshing and the themes discussed are actually worth while. I was especially fond of Rover's adventures on the moon and his discovery about how good dreams and nightmares are made and how children are dealing with it.
Furthermore, I liked the exploration of friendship between Rover and the moon-dog and how their dynamic changed after Rover tasted freedom and the scent of his home on earth, where he truly belonged. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is let go of a person and allow them to move on as well.
Roverandom is a truly heart-warming tale that comes full circle by the end and really didn't feel half-assed. I genuinely think that Tolkien put much thought and effort into it and I would recommend it to anyone interested in his work or just looking for a good children's story.
The blind was down; but outside the moon rose up out of the sea, and laid the silver path across the waters that is the way to places at the edge of the world and beyond, for those that can walk on it.Tolkien wrote this children's tale for his son Michael to amuse him upon the loss of his favorite toy, a little leaden dog which he lost on a beach of grey shingle stones in Filey, a town on the Yorkshire coast where the Tolkiens spent their holiday.
It was very heart-warming to see how much Tolkien cared about his children. After searching for Michael's toy for two days and deciding to write a story to cheer him up, Tolkien, in December that year, mentioned Rover and the Man in the Moon in one of his Father Christmas letters as well, ensuring that the tale would become a favorite with the boys.
Roverandom includes a number of childish colloquialism, such as whizz, splosh and tummy, which are of particular interest for their like is rarely met with in Tolkien's published writings, having been omitted ab initio in his manuscripts or deleted in revision (as tummy was altered in The Hobbit to stomach). Here they are surely survivals from the story as it was originally told to the Tolkien children.
It's interesting to compare Tolkien's earlier fiction with his magnum opus, The Lord of the Rings. The wizard Artaxerxes, who 'walked into the story, came wandering up the garden-path in a ragged old coat, with an old pipe in his mouth', really reminded me of Gandalf.
Additionally, it's interesting to note one of Artaxerxes' special features, he wore a 'blue feather stuck in the back of his green hat'. He shares this piece of clothing with Tom Bombadil (see: The Fellowship of the Ring), supporting the theories that there's more to Tom than Tolkien would led on.
Even Rover, who 'was beginning to get used to extraordinary things happening to him', was reminiscent of some of Tolkien's later and more beloved character. His vexation about adventures and his struggles with dragons really reminded me of good o'le Bilbo at times.
Roverandom is also essential in understanding the root of Tolkien's fascination with dragons and the Faery – both of which are discussed in the tale:
It would take the whole of another story, at least, to tell you of all their adventures in Uncharted Waters and of their glimpses of lands unknown to geography, before they passed the Shadowy Seas and reached the great Bay of Fairyland (as we call it) beyond the Magic Isles; and saw far off in the last West the Mountains of Elvenhome and the light of Faery upon the waves. Roverandom thought he caught a glimpse of the city of the Elves on the green hill beneath the Mountains, a glint of white far away...In Tolkien's mythology the Shadowy Seas and the Magic Isles hide and guard Aman (Elvenhome, and the home of the Valar) from the rest of the world.
Of the moon garden, Tolkien wrote: 'Pale blue leaves that never fell […] Later in the year the trees all bursts together into pale golden blossoms'. These descriptions are foreshadowing, perhaps, the mallorn trees of Lothlórien: 'Far in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold.' (see: The Fellowship of the Ring, bk.2, ch. 6)
Naturally, it's just as interesting to analyze how his writing style changed over the years. Whether we're looking at Farmer Giles of Ham (1937) or Roverandom (1925) it becomes clear that his earlier fiction was much more whimsical, light-hearted and funny:
Only the shrimps heard him, and they asked him what was the matter. He told them all bout it, and expected them to be very sorry for him but they only said:I'm aware that this is a reach but I really feel like WWII sucked the joy out of Tolkien. :(
'How would you like to be boiled? Have you ever been boiled?
Despite being a short children's tale, Roverandom has many interesting things to offer. The mythology that runs through the novel is rich and refreshing and the themes discussed are actually worth while. I was especially fond of Rover's adventures on the moon and his discovery about how good dreams and nightmares are made and how children are dealing with it.
Furthermore, I liked the exploration of friendship between Rover and the moon-dog and how their dynamic changed after Rover tasted freedom and the scent of his home on earth, where he truly belonged. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is let go of a person and allow them to move on as well.
Roverandom is a truly heart-warming tale that comes full circle by the end and really didn't feel half-assed. I genuinely think that Tolkien put much thought and effort into it and I would recommend it to anyone interested in his work or just looking for a good children's story.
March 2, 2025
This was to be a story for Dogs, in general, and for Bewitched Dogs, in particular! Apparently pretty long for a short story but in this case the length doesn’t kill the pleasure of reading. On the contrary, it asks for more length, reason for which we can say it’s a novella. Being a story for dogs or puppies, as the main character
Rover(andom)
is a little sized-dog and extremely young, probably less than a year old, this very little book has no need of psychology or fine writing. But there is in fact plenty of psychology and fine writing carried through it just because its author is the one and only JRR Tolkien.
The tale is world-wide enough and even more, the Moon and the Ocean being all obligatory scenes, and in a way the reader is taken into and out of it upon a foot of fairy lightness. A little gem to be enjoyed by everyone…
The tale is world-wide enough and even more, the Moon and the Ocean being all obligatory scenes, and in a way the reader is taken into and out of it upon a foot of fairy lightness. A little gem to be enjoyed by everyone…
January 24, 2019
I'm ashamed to admit it took me years to read Roverandom, but I'm so glad I finally did. I actually started the book years ago at the repeated insistence of my now-best friend, but I only made it a third of the way through before it went back to the library. I wasn't interested enough to check it out again and finish it then, though I always meant to. As a teenager, I just wasn't very interested in any Tolkien except Middle-earth, even though I was a die-hard Tolkien fan and was very much obsessed with Middle-earth. Tolkien was and still is my very favorite, so I really should have read Roverandom sooner than this.
But I did at last! It happened because I introduced my little sister to Tolkien for the first time by beginning our read-aloud of The Hobbit. She was head over heels in love with it from the first page, and since she loves animals and fantasy, I knew she would like Roverandom. As soon as I told her about the book, she was so excited to read it, and I resolved to finally read the whole thing myself as well. When I got it for her, she loved it, and she even read the whole thing with excitement and without losing interest,which is unusual for her attention span. That is a testament to how good the book is. All that to say . . . my little sister, the budding new Tolkien fan, beat me, the veteran! Wow. *smiles sheepishly*
But I did read it, from the beginning, and I finished it this time! And unlike before, I enjoyed and appreciated it as much as it deserves!
Things I liked:
-I loved the dog Roverandom so very much. He's so sweet, and I enjoyed his point of view and his way of thinking about his experiences and acquaintances. And I loved seeing him grow up and become wiser as the story goes on.
-I enjoyed the other characters very much as well - the sweet, wise, cantankerous, strange, annoying, and foolish characters alike. I especially loved Little Boy Two and the Man in the Moon. Also, Psamathos and, by the end, Artaxerxes.
-I laughed or smiled almost constantly while reading the book. I loved the wry wit, hilarious satire, tongue-in-cheek references and parodies, and comical events and people. The amusing, clever humor throughout was one of my very favorite things about the book. I love that it has a wide range of humor that do you like children and adults alike, as well as making adults of the time laugh at references a child would not understand. I enjoyed the notes at the back that helped me understand all the hilarious references to history and to the contemporary culture Tolkien lived in.
-All the parts with Roverandom and his little boy, and their love for and devotion to one another. So much sweetness!
-The whole feel and heart and theme of the book. It is so utterly sweet and golden and wonderful and heartwarming!! It was such a comforting read, especially when I wasn't feeling well.
-Illustrations by Tolkien himself. I have always adored his artwork for his books and his beautiful style of illustration. And his handwriting!
-Some of the characters were cold, difficult, unhelpful, and unkind toward Rover, just exactly like real life, and written in such a skilled and rare way. I appreciated so much how humorously perceptive of and accurate to real life Tolkien's portrayal was. And sweet Roverandom's downcast reaction to the cold shoulders and conflict was so sweet and relatable!
-The sea-dog's tale of his own origin and adventures, since I love Vikings and history - and I love Tolkien's far greater love of them both. And the sea-dog himself was so sweet and wise, especially his devotion to his master
-The wizards, as I mentioned before, and also the relationships and humorous conflict between them. It made me laugh hard during the part when one wizard was telling another wizard about the third wizard's foolish shenanigans.
-The writing style, which was both exquisite and like a story being told aloud, and the lovely descriptions.
-Tolkien's insertion of himself and his family at the center of the book. It is so sweet!! I adore the story behind the book - that he told the tale to his sons to comfort his son Michael after the loss of his toy dog at the seaside. The roots of the tale are very evident in even the settings of the story.
-The perfect, joyous ending! I guessed and hoped that the story would end a certain way, and it did!
-There was literally nothing I didn't like!
All in all, Roverandom is a wonderful, humorous, sweet, and gently magical tale that will appeal to Tolkien fans and non-Tolkien fans alike. It makes a wonderful read-aloud for parents to read to children of any age, even very young children, and it can be enjoyed by anyone, from young children to adults.
Updated Rating: I'm raising my star rating from 4 stars to at least 4.5 stars, because in the few months since I've read it, this book has remained fabulous in my memory. There was really nothing to keep it from being a very high rating - it's a great book, well worthy of Tolkien's caliber, and super sweet. Some books are forgettable, and the star rating drops after a few months - but it's the opposite with this one.
But I did at last! It happened because I introduced my little sister to Tolkien for the first time by beginning our read-aloud of The Hobbit. She was head over heels in love with it from the first page, and since she loves animals and fantasy, I knew she would like Roverandom. As soon as I told her about the book, she was so excited to read it, and I resolved to finally read the whole thing myself as well. When I got it for her, she loved it, and she even read the whole thing with excitement and without losing interest,which is unusual for her attention span. That is a testament to how good the book is. All that to say . . . my little sister, the budding new Tolkien fan, beat me, the veteran! Wow. *smiles sheepishly*
But I did read it, from the beginning, and I finished it this time! And unlike before, I enjoyed and appreciated it as much as it deserves!
Things I liked:
-I loved the dog Roverandom so very much. He's so sweet, and I enjoyed his point of view and his way of thinking about his experiences and acquaintances. And I loved seeing him grow up and become wiser as the story goes on.
-I enjoyed the other characters very much as well - the sweet, wise, cantankerous, strange, annoying, and foolish characters alike. I especially loved Little Boy Two and the Man in the Moon. Also, Psamathos and, by the end, Artaxerxes.
-I laughed or smiled almost constantly while reading the book. I loved the wry wit, hilarious satire, tongue-in-cheek references and parodies, and comical events and people. The amusing, clever humor throughout was one of my very favorite things about the book. I love that it has a wide range of humor that do you like children and adults alike, as well as making adults of the time laugh at references a child would not understand. I enjoyed the notes at the back that helped me understand all the hilarious references to history and to the contemporary culture Tolkien lived in.
-All the parts with Roverandom and his little boy, and their love for and devotion to one another. So much sweetness!
-The whole feel and heart and theme of the book. It is so utterly sweet and golden and wonderful and heartwarming!! It was such a comforting read, especially when I wasn't feeling well.
-Illustrations by Tolkien himself. I have always adored his artwork for his books and his beautiful style of illustration. And his handwriting!
-Some of the characters were cold, difficult, unhelpful, and unkind toward Rover, just exactly like real life, and written in such a skilled and rare way. I appreciated so much how humorously perceptive of and accurate to real life Tolkien's portrayal was. And sweet Roverandom's downcast reaction to the cold shoulders and conflict was so sweet and relatable!
-The sea-dog's tale of his own origin and adventures, since I love Vikings and history - and I love Tolkien's far greater love of them both. And the sea-dog himself was so sweet and wise, especially his devotion to his master
-The wizards, as I mentioned before, and also the relationships and humorous conflict between them. It made me laugh hard during the part when one wizard was telling another wizard about the third wizard's foolish shenanigans.
-The writing style, which was both exquisite and like a story being told aloud, and the lovely descriptions.
-Tolkien's insertion of himself and his family at the center of the book. It is so sweet!! I adore the story behind the book - that he told the tale to his sons to comfort his son Michael after the loss of his toy dog at the seaside. The roots of the tale are very evident in even the settings of the story.
-The perfect, joyous ending! I guessed and hoped that the story would end a certain way, and it did!
-There was literally nothing I didn't like!
All in all, Roverandom is a wonderful, humorous, sweet, and gently magical tale that will appeal to Tolkien fans and non-Tolkien fans alike. It makes a wonderful read-aloud for parents to read to children of any age, even very young children, and it can be enjoyed by anyone, from young children to adults.
Updated Rating: I'm raising my star rating from 4 stars to at least 4.5 stars, because in the few months since I've read it, this book has remained fabulous in my memory. There was really nothing to keep it from being a very high rating - it's a great book, well worthy of Tolkien's caliber, and super sweet. Some books are forgettable, and the star rating drops after a few months - but it's the opposite with this one.
June 25, 2021
نمیخوام فقط چون اسم تالکین روشه بهبه و چهچه کنم، راورندوم داستان کودکانهای سطحی و بیسروته بود. نیل گیمن زمانی گفت: «هرچی دلت میخواد بنویس، بعد توی بازنویسی داستان کاری کن اینجور به نظر برسه انگار کل مدت میدونستی قراره پیرنگ چه جوری باشه.» خب این کتاب اصلا بازنویسی نداشت انگار. مدام ماجراها و ایدهها میریختن سر یه سگ بینوا و نه هدف داشت نه حرفی برای گفتن.
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November 12, 2022…he was beginning to get used to extraordinary things happening to him.
Roverandom is Tolkien’s take on a child’s flight of fancy with Rover as our little dog adventurer. A whimsical exploration of what-could-happen-next.
Might make a good bedtime read for the wee ones. For the adults, it makes you wish you were still a child when all of this was still possible.
Roverandom is Tolkien’s take on a child’s flight of fancy with Rover as our little dog adventurer. A whimsical exploration of what-could-happen-next.
Might make a good bedtime read for the wee ones. For the adults, it makes you wish you were still a child when all of this was still possible.
November 6, 2018
Random is right.
I read this one many years ago, when the throes of my LOTR obsession were still young. I was reading everything by Tolkien I could get my hands on.
This one was a bit disappointing after the scope and characters of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. It was a fun enough story, I enjoyed it and all, but it was completely forgettable.
Not my fave Tolkien by a long shot, but if you're a fan you kinda have to read it anyway, right?
I read this one many years ago, when the throes of my LOTR obsession were still young. I was reading everything by Tolkien I could get my hands on.
This one was a bit disappointing after the scope and characters of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. It was a fun enough story, I enjoyed it and all, but it was completely forgettable.
Not my fave Tolkien by a long shot, but if you're a fan you kinda have to read it anyway, right?
January 3, 2022
Yazılma amacı, yazımından daha keyifli bir kitap
Senenin ilk kitabı, Roverandom. Yazılma amacı çok güzel, çok kıymetli. Çocuğuna böyle güzel bir armağan bırakabilmek ne yüce. Açıkçası Narnia serisi gibi hafif ve keyifli bir hikaye çok daha hoşuma giderdi. Bayıldığımı söyleyemeyeceğim. Bir de kitabın boyutu neden bu kadar küçüktü? Aşırı büyük kitaplara alıştım ama aşırı küçük bu basım biraz garip geldi.
Geçenlerde benden daha kitap kurdu bir arkadaşımla çocuklarımıza bırakacağımız kitaplıkları ve onların bu kitaplarla ne yapacağını konuştuk.
Oğlum (3 yaşında) kitaplarımı ne yapar bilemiyorum. Angarya toz yığınları olarak da görebilir. Ben olsam görmezdim ama yine de Kindle ve diğer e-book'ları düşünürsek ileride böyle fazla yer kaplayan temizlemesi zor kilolarca kağıt yığınındansa minik bir e-book'u bile tercih edebilir.
Benim için önemli olan sadece "ona" bıraktıklarımı ne yapacağı. Mesela 2005'ten beri çok aktif seyahat ediyorum ve o zamandan beri çocuğuma bırakmak üzere seyahatnameler hazırlıyorum. Gittiğim ülkeler, gezdiğim yerler, yaşadığım maceralar, fişler, haritalar, broşürler, resimler dolu dolu 7 cildim var şu anda. Seyahatnamenin her sayfasında o sayfayı yazarken dinlediğim şarkının adı var. Bunun haricinde iş fikirlerimi biriktirdiğim "Allah bana akıl fikir versin" isminde bir defterim var. İki tane 2013'ten beri Girişimcilik serüvenimde yaşadıklarımı gün gün anlattığım "Kaptanın Seyir Defteri" var. 2016'dan beri tüm okuduğum kitapları, kaç sayfa olduklarını, hangi tarihte başlayıp bitirdiğimi ve puanlarımı el yazımda yazıyorum.
Bir Tolkien değilim ama ben de oğluma birşeyler bırakıyorum. Yüzlerce kitabımı ne yapar bilemem ama sadece ona bıraktığım bu eserlere değer verirse de çok mutlu olurum.
Herkese keyifli okumalar!
Senenin ilk kitabı, Roverandom. Yazılma amacı çok güzel, çok kıymetli. Çocuğuna böyle güzel bir armağan bırakabilmek ne yüce. Açıkçası Narnia serisi gibi hafif ve keyifli bir hikaye çok daha hoşuma giderdi. Bayıldığımı söyleyemeyeceğim. Bir de kitabın boyutu neden bu kadar küçüktü? Aşırı büyük kitaplara alıştım ama aşırı küçük bu basım biraz garip geldi.
Geçenlerde benden daha kitap kurdu bir arkadaşımla çocuklarımıza bırakacağımız kitaplıkları ve onların bu kitaplarla ne yapacağını konuştuk.
Oğlum (3 yaşında) kitaplarımı ne yapar bilemiyorum. Angarya toz yığınları olarak da görebilir. Ben olsam görmezdim ama yine de Kindle ve diğer e-book'ları düşünürsek ileride böyle fazla yer kaplayan temizlemesi zor kilolarca kağıt yığınındansa minik bir e-book'u bile tercih edebilir.
Benim için önemli olan sadece "ona" bıraktıklarımı ne yapacağı. Mesela 2005'ten beri çok aktif seyahat ediyorum ve o zamandan beri çocuğuma bırakmak üzere seyahatnameler hazırlıyorum. Gittiğim ülkeler, gezdiğim yerler, yaşadığım maceralar, fişler, haritalar, broşürler, resimler dolu dolu 7 cildim var şu anda. Seyahatnamenin her sayfasında o sayfayı yazarken dinlediğim şarkının adı var. Bunun haricinde iş fikirlerimi biriktirdiğim "Allah bana akıl fikir versin" isminde bir defterim var. İki tane 2013'ten beri Girişimcilik serüvenimde yaşadıklarımı gün gün anlattığım "Kaptanın Seyir Defteri" var. 2016'dan beri tüm okuduğum kitapları, kaç sayfa olduklarını, hangi tarihte başlayıp bitirdiğimi ve puanlarımı el yazımda yazıyorum.
Bir Tolkien değilim ama ben de oğluma birşeyler bırakıyorum. Yüzlerce kitabımı ne yapar bilemem ama sadece ona bıraktığım bu eserlere değer verirse de çok mutlu olurum.
Herkese keyifli okumalar!
November 5, 2025
My father remarried a few months ago, and my stepmother still owns her own house. She's been cleaning it out for a while, and getting rid of odds and ends (mostly belonging to her ex-husband). She came across this and my father grabbed it to give to me since he knows I like Tolkien. I'm very glad he did. I had never heard of this book before, and was interested in checking it out.
Evidently Tolkien wrote it for, or maybe just told it to, his second son after said son had lost a toy dog on a beach outing. He liked it so much that he tried to have it published after The Hobbit, but the publishers wanted a sequel instead of this kid's tripe, so he put this away and wrote The Lord of the Rings instead. Now, I'm glad he wrote LOTR, but surely the publishers could have just nipped this in their printing press, but oh well.
The story involves a dog who steps afoul of a wizard. The wizard turns him into a toy dog, who gets purchased by a mother for her boy, and the boy loses the dog on the beach. Another wizard turns him into a real dog again, but he's still toy size. There's a trip to the moon, more wizards, a dragon, spiders, sea serpents, dreams, merpeople, a whale, sea goblins, and all kinds of Tolkienish things. These are the bedtime stories the Tolkien children heard, and it makes me wonder if a Tolkien child ever got a wink of sleep.
At any rate, while some of these creatures are inherently creepy, Tolkien spins his yarn in the same light vein as The Hobbit, and it all winds up being very amusing. I'm sure if it was written in the same heavy language of LOTR with its multiple lexicons, then this would be nowhere near as enjoyable. Best of all, there is not a single song in it. Well, songs are sung, but we don't have to read the lyrics to any of them, and everything is in English. In short: Roverandom is the anti-The Silmarillion as far as writing style is concerned. (Actually, that's just a guess. I've never made it through The Silmarillion, and know far more people who have attempted it and failed than I do people who succeeded to make it to the end).
The wit and humor in this story is superb, and I enjoyed every page of it. All the wizards, and some of the other characters, have the Gandalf/Thorin grumps going on, which has always been highly entertaining to me. Roverandom almost inadvertently destroys the world when he bites a shark's tail-fin for a bit of fun because it causes a chain reaction that upsets the sea-serpent, a beast so powerful that not even the most powerful wizard, the man in the moon, can do much with him. (The last time he tried, they accidentally sank Atlantis before the sea serpent just went back to sleep). Just think of the scene in Police Academy when Fackler tosses an apple out the window of his cruiser which starts a riot, and you'll understand.
It's only 89 pages, and I finished it in a single evening. This version of the book has a lengthy introduction which I skipped, so I can tell you nothing about it, but that doesn't mean there isn't interesting stuff in it. I almost never read introductions that aren't written by the author himself, and I might even stop doing that. (I'm still smarting from that introduction to The Scarlet Letter). It also has about a million end notes which talk about various changes from the original text, sources of some odd phrases, and what not. I also skipped these, and it was easy to do it. The end notes are just at the end of the book and give the corresponding page number, but there are no end note numbers included in the text of the story, so you have no idea when there's an end note included unless you mark them yourself or constantly flip back to the end notes to see.
I recommend this to just about anyone who enjoys a light, kid's fantasy story packed with humorous and witty elements, and especially to dog lovers.
Evidently Tolkien wrote it for, or maybe just told it to, his second son after said son had lost a toy dog on a beach outing. He liked it so much that he tried to have it published after The Hobbit, but the publishers wanted a sequel instead of this kid's tripe, so he put this away and wrote The Lord of the Rings instead. Now, I'm glad he wrote LOTR, but surely the publishers could have just nipped this in their printing press, but oh well.
The story involves a dog who steps afoul of a wizard. The wizard turns him into a toy dog, who gets purchased by a mother for her boy, and the boy loses the dog on the beach. Another wizard turns him into a real dog again, but he's still toy size. There's a trip to the moon, more wizards, a dragon, spiders, sea serpents, dreams, merpeople, a whale, sea goblins, and all kinds of Tolkienish things. These are the bedtime stories the Tolkien children heard, and it makes me wonder if a Tolkien child ever got a wink of sleep.
At any rate, while some of these creatures are inherently creepy, Tolkien spins his yarn in the same light vein as The Hobbit, and it all winds up being very amusing. I'm sure if it was written in the same heavy language of LOTR with its multiple lexicons, then this would be nowhere near as enjoyable. Best of all, there is not a single song in it. Well, songs are sung, but we don't have to read the lyrics to any of them, and everything is in English. In short: Roverandom is the anti-The Silmarillion as far as writing style is concerned. (Actually, that's just a guess. I've never made it through The Silmarillion, and know far more people who have attempted it and failed than I do people who succeeded to make it to the end).
The wit and humor in this story is superb, and I enjoyed every page of it. All the wizards, and some of the other characters, have the Gandalf/Thorin grumps going on, which has always been highly entertaining to me. Roverandom almost inadvertently destroys the world when he bites a shark's tail-fin for a bit of fun because it causes a chain reaction that upsets the sea-serpent, a beast so powerful that not even the most powerful wizard, the man in the moon, can do much with him. (The last time he tried, they accidentally sank Atlantis before the sea serpent just went back to sleep). Just think of the scene in Police Academy when Fackler tosses an apple out the window of his cruiser which starts a riot, and you'll understand.
It's only 89 pages, and I finished it in a single evening. This version of the book has a lengthy introduction which I skipped, so I can tell you nothing about it, but that doesn't mean there isn't interesting stuff in it. I almost never read introductions that aren't written by the author himself, and I might even stop doing that. (I'm still smarting from that introduction to The Scarlet Letter). It also has about a million end notes which talk about various changes from the original text, sources of some odd phrases, and what not. I also skipped these, and it was easy to do it. The end notes are just at the end of the book and give the corresponding page number, but there are no end note numbers included in the text of the story, so you have no idea when there's an end note included unless you mark them yourself or constantly flip back to the end notes to see.
I recommend this to just about anyone who enjoys a light, kid's fantasy story packed with humorous and witty elements, and especially to dog lovers.
June 16, 2018
داستان در مورد یک سگ کوچولو به نام رُوِره که به خاطر یک مسئلهی بی اهمیت، به یک جادوگر پارس میکنه و شلوارشو گاز میگیره. جادوگر هم عصبانی میشه و اونو تبدیل به یک سگ اسباببازیِ ریزهمیزه میکنه. رُوِر هم که حالا خیلی کوچولو شده، به دنبال جادوگر تا ماه و بعد تا ته اقیانوس میره تا راضیش کنه طلسمش رو باطل کنه.
مخاطبان کتاب بچهها هستن، اما کلی از موجودات موردعلاقهی تالکین اینجا هم هستن: عنکبوت، اژدها، گابلینها و ... اینجا هم آتشفشان هست و زمین صافه.
قلم تالکین هم به قدری فوقالعادهست که من کلی از خوندنش لذت بردم. گویا ترجمه هم شده و از این نظر میتونه انتخاب خوبی برای هدیه دادن باشه.
مخاطبان کتاب بچهها هستن، اما کلی از موجودات موردعلاقهی تالکین اینجا هم هستن: عنکبوت، اژدها، گابلینها و ... اینجا هم آتشفشان هست و زمین صافه.
قلم تالکین هم به قدری فوقالعادهست که من کلی از خوندنش لذت بردم. گویا ترجمه هم شده و از این نظر میتونه انتخاب خوبی برای هدیه دادن باشه.
December 18, 2021
"Düşler gerçek olur mu?"
"Benimkilerin bazıları oluyor," dedi yaşlı adam. "Bazıları, hepsi değil; hemencecik oldukları da çok nadir, daha düşü görürken olmaları da. Ama neden düşleri soruyorsun?"
"Yalnızca merak ettim."
//
Michael yaa, şapşal çocuk.
"Benimkilerin bazıları oluyor," dedi yaşlı adam. "Bazıları, hepsi değil; hemencecik oldukları da çok nadir, daha düşü görürken olmaları da. Ama neden düşleri soruyorsun?"
"Yalnızca merak ettim."
//
Michael yaa, şapşal çocuk.
February 28, 2025
Υπήρχε μια εποχή, παλιά, περίπου το 1988, που ένας φαν του Τόλκιν, μόλις είχε τελειώσει το 3 μέρος της τριλογίας του Άρχοντα των Δαχτυλιδιών και βίωνε έντονες αναγνωστικές χαρμάνες. Τότε, το ξενόγλωσσο βιβλίο ήταν δύσκολα προσβάσιμο, ενίοτε πανάκριβο όταν το έβρισκες (συνήθως στην οδό Νίκης, να θυμούνται οι παλιοί και να μαθαίνουν οι νεώτεροι) και γενικώς δεν αποτελούσε καθημερινή επιλογή αγοράς.
Τότε, οι ευφυέστατοι Έλληνες εκδότες μας έδωσαν μεθαδόνη με τη μορφή του "Γίλη του γεωργού από το χωριό Χαμ", μια ιστορία που αν δεν είχε το όνομα του Τόλκιν στο εξώφυλλο, δε θα σκεφτόσουν ούτε να σκουπίσεις τα οπίσθιά σου με δαύτην μετά από μια εκρηκτική διάρροια, πήραμε μια μικρή ανάσα με το μάλλον κακομεταφρασμένο Σιλμαρίλιον και τότε, το 1998 (νομίζω δυο χρόνια μόλις πριν τις μάλλον απογοητευτικές στα ελληνικά "Ατέλειωτες Ιστορίες") ήρθε σα χαστούκι σε ναυαγό που παλεύει να ανασάνει, το Ροβεράντομ. Ναι, είναι ένα χέρι με απλωμένη την παλάμη που έρχεται προς το μέρος σου, ναι, έχεις ανάγκη μια χείρα βοηθείας, ναι... σκάει στο μάγουλό σου και σε βυθίζει λίγο περισσότερο.
Ένα παιδικό βιβλίο, που χάνει οποιαδήποτε γοητεία αν είσαι μεγαλύτερος από 7 χρονών (και ίσως ούτε μέχρι τότε έχει κάποια ιδιαίτερη) και που θα ξεχάσεις 15' μετά την ανάγνωση.
Αργότερα, σε σαφώς ωριμότερη ηλικία, συνειδητοποίησα σε τι αγελάδα είχε μετατραπεί παγκοσμίως ο Τόλκιν και μόνο σημειώσεις του για ψώνια σε χαρτοπετσέτα δεν εξέδωσαν οι απανταχού εκδότες μαζί με το γιο του Κρίστοφερ, προκειμένου να ξεζουμίσουν το κοινό που αγάπησε τη Μέση Γη. Οπότε, το Ροβεράντομ, δεν είν��ι ό,τι χειρότερο, άλλωστε, γράφτηκε με καλό σκοπό, για να ξεπεράσει ο γιος του συγγραφέα Μάικλ την απώλεια ενός αγαπημένου του παιχνιδιού με τη μορφή σκύλου. Δυο αστεράκια για την πρόθεση. Αλλά, μέχρι εκεί.
Τότε, οι ευφυέστατοι Έλληνες εκδότες μας έδωσαν μεθαδόνη με τη μορφή του "Γίλη του γεωργού από το χωριό Χαμ", μια ιστορία που αν δεν είχε το όνομα του Τόλκιν στο εξώφυλλο, δε θα σκεφτόσουν ούτε να σκουπίσεις τα οπίσθιά σου με δαύτην μετά από μια εκρηκτική διάρροια, πήραμε μια μικρή ανάσα με το μάλλον κακομεταφρασμένο Σιλμαρίλιον και τότε, το 1998 (νομίζω δυο χρόνια μόλις πριν τις μάλλον απογοητευτικές στα ελληνικά "Ατέλειωτες Ιστορίες") ήρθε σα χαστούκι σε ναυαγό που παλεύει να ανασάνει, το Ροβεράντομ. Ναι, είναι ένα χέρι με απλωμένη την παλάμη που έρχεται προς το μέρος σου, ναι, έχεις ανάγκη μια χείρα βοηθείας, ναι... σκάει στο μάγουλό σου και σε βυθίζει λίγο περισσότερο.
Ένα παιδικό βιβλίο, που χάνει οποιαδήποτε γοητεία αν είσαι μεγαλύτερος από 7 χρονών (και ίσως ούτε μέχρι τότε έχει κάποια ιδιαίτερη) και που θα ξεχάσεις 15' μετά την ανάγνωση.
Αργότερα, σε σαφώς ωριμότερη ηλικία, συνειδητοποίησα σε τι αγελάδα είχε μετατραπεί παγκοσμίως ο Τόλκιν και μόνο σημειώσεις του για ψώνια σε χαρτοπετσέτα δεν εξέδωσαν οι απανταχού εκδότες μαζί με το γιο του Κρίστοφερ, προκειμένου να ξεζουμίσουν το κοινό που αγάπησε τη Μέση Γη. Οπότε, το Ροβεράντομ, δεν είν��ι ό,τι χειρότερο, άλλωστε, γράφτηκε με καλό σκοπό, για να ξεπεράσει ο γιος του συγγραφέα Μάικλ την απώλεια ενός αγαπημένου του παιχνιδιού με τη μορφή σκύλου. Δυο αστεράκια για την πρόθεση. Αλλά, μέχρι εκεί.
October 11, 2019
This was an adorable, quirky little tale about a dog named Rover, who ticks off a wizard - as one ought not to do - and gets turned into a toy dog and all the adventures that follow as he tries to get himself turned back into a real dog. This was a light bit of fantasy and thoroughly charming, though perhaps made more so by knowing that Tolkien wrote this for his son Michael after Michael lost his favorite toy dog on the beach while on holiday. It reminded me of all the bedtime stories my dad used to tell me and my brother when we were little, only he didn't have the presence of mind to write them down for posterity.
And of course, there are some very important lessons, like don't bite wizard's trousers if you know what's good for you, and be polite if that gets you what you want, and don't piss off dragons. Lessons to live by.
And of course, there are some very important lessons, like don't bite wizard's trousers if you know what's good for you, and be polite if that gets you what you want, and don't piss off dragons. Lessons to live by.
September 30, 2009
Tolkien *can* write a story with a happy ending! It's a very charming tale, closer in style to "The Hobbit" than LOTR, but lighter and full of colloquialisms and word plays (many of which were lost on me!) that are rare in his other books. As he never prepared it to be published, there are a few loose ends and anomolies, but they are easily overlooked.
February 4, 2025
Absolutely loved reading this to my kids. They were entranced. Tolkien was an incredible story teller.
March 9, 2020
Re-Read 2020:
Original Review:
Unlikely some of Tolkien’s more depressing offerings to the world of literature, Roverandom is a whimsical little adventure bursting at the seams with old-fashioned romps. The world building is wild and unfettered and reminds one of a slightly manic but happy chef throwing in “a bit of this and a bit of that” into a pot to make an irresistible concoction. The world building is the true highlight here, along with the heartwarming backstory as to why Tolkien wrote this story, for his enthusiasm in entertaining (and comforting) his children is definitely present in these pages. Amusing, clever, and droll, this is a truly imaginative fantasy novella that I highly recommend.
Original Review:
Unlikely some of Tolkien’s more depressing offerings to the world of literature, Roverandom is a whimsical little adventure bursting at the seams with old-fashioned romps. The world building is wild and unfettered and reminds one of a slightly manic but happy chef throwing in “a bit of this and a bit of that” into a pot to make an irresistible concoction. The world building is the true highlight here, along with the heartwarming backstory as to why Tolkien wrote this story, for his enthusiasm in entertaining (and comforting) his children is definitely present in these pages. Amusing, clever, and droll, this is a truly imaginative fantasy novella that I highly recommend.
July 3, 2021
It feels like a Hobbit reinterpreted George MacDonald
January 29, 2014
Oh my goodness this was an adorable read!
It is a book for very young children, so don't expect anything heavy and involved - I finished the book in two hours (an hour a sitting).
That said, one of the things I really, really, really love about Tolkien is that he doesn't pander to his audience. There are words and puns, usages and phrases that one would think that you would have to be older to understand and appreciate. Tolkien, however, does not ever so insult his audience. His complicated words and humorous phrases are intended to be read to (and by, I would assume) young children.
I love that as, I've probably stated before, I as a young girl hated reading books that treated me like I was an imbecile with the vocabulary of your average orang-utan. I hated it as much as being talked down to by "adults" and not taken seriously.
In fact, I read the foreword to the book, and in it the editors noted that Tolkien specifically decried the dumbing down of vocabulary in children's books. I feel I would have liked the man almost as much as I love his works.
As a children's book, it is sublime. I seriously want children just so I can read them this book! Just kidding. That's not the only reason. The point is, this book is a wonderful tale from a wonderful imagination.
Just be sure to remind yourself that you are reading a book intended for children, and you shouldn't be ever disappointed.
Oh, and if you're a Tolkien nut enamoured with his works (like I am), do take the time to read the foreword. It sheds some light on how all of Tolkien's work, including this one, are interrelated. It's simply fascinating.
It is a book for very young children, so don't expect anything heavy and involved - I finished the book in two hours (an hour a sitting).
That said, one of the things I really, really, really love about Tolkien is that he doesn't pander to his audience. There are words and puns, usages and phrases that one would think that you would have to be older to understand and appreciate. Tolkien, however, does not ever so insult his audience. His complicated words and humorous phrases are intended to be read to (and by, I would assume) young children.
I love that as, I've probably stated before, I as a young girl hated reading books that treated me like I was an imbecile with the vocabulary of your average orang-utan. I hated it as much as being talked down to by "adults" and not taken seriously.
In fact, I read the foreword to the book, and in it the editors noted that Tolkien specifically decried the dumbing down of vocabulary in children's books. I feel I would have liked the man almost as much as I love his works.
As a children's book, it is sublime. I seriously want children just so I can read them this book! Just kidding. That's not the only reason. The point is, this book is a wonderful tale from a wonderful imagination.
Just be sure to remind yourself that you are reading a book intended for children, and you shouldn't be ever disappointed.
Oh, and if you're a Tolkien nut enamoured with his works (like I am), do take the time to read the foreword. It sheds some light on how all of Tolkien's work, including this one, are interrelated. It's simply fascinating.
March 26, 2021
This book is such a charming glimpse into Tolkien's sillier side. It is a little upsetting that so many Tolkien fans out there have no idea this book exists. I had a total and complete blast with it. It was cute and surprisingly emotional at moments. It would make a great Disney film, in all honesty. But, considering Tolkien was no fan of Walt Disney, I don't think we'll be seeing that in this timeline. Even if it wasn't Disney, a short animated movie would be really cool.
I loved the tale of the toy dog and his adventures to the moon. Which, admittedly, I really did not see coming. The moon, Tolkien? What's in that pipe?
I actually picked Roverandom up in a bundle from a bookstore in London, right by Oxford. I can't remember the bloody name of it. I was perusing all the Tolkien merchandise when the lady working there told me Tolkien himself used to shop in the store with his friends. Once I heard that I had to buy everything in sight. I bought bundle after bundle and edition after edition, just for the memory of getting them from London. I don't regret all the money I spent, as I am Tolkien's biggest fan. I just hope that lady was telling me the damn truth.
If I ever become a father someday, this is one of the books I will read to my son/daughter. I look forward to that.
I loved the tale of the toy dog and his adventures to the moon. Which, admittedly, I really did not see coming. The moon, Tolkien? What's in that pipe?
I actually picked Roverandom up in a bundle from a bookstore in London, right by Oxford. I can't remember the bloody name of it. I was perusing all the Tolkien merchandise when the lady working there told me Tolkien himself used to shop in the store with his friends. Once I heard that I had to buy everything in sight. I bought bundle after bundle and edition after edition, just for the memory of getting them from London. I don't regret all the money I spent, as I am Tolkien's biggest fan. I just hope that lady was telling me the damn truth.
If I ever become a father someday, this is one of the books I will read to my son/daughter. I look forward to that.
June 6, 2015
How could I NOT give this five stars? It was just too funny and adorable. Is it the best thing ever written? Certainly not. It's not even the best thing Tolkien ever wrote. But it is a really quirky story about magic and mischief and a lost dog. It doesn't hurt that the story was written as a way to cheer up Tolkien's son Michael when he lost a toy dog on a trip to the seaside. Just a short children's fantasy book, that would no doubt be a classic if it were not so overlooked and forgotten.
August 1, 2018
My first Tolkien after a decade, maybe. Nice, fluffy and heartwarming story. Since he wrote this before The Hobbit, there were many proto-LOTR characters in it. I had fun trying to draw parallels.
March 14, 2019
از لحاظهایی شبیه به "خوشبختانه شیر" نیل گیمن بود. که درواقع پدری، برای اتفاقی که واسه بچههاش افتاده، بیاد و داستانهای جذاب و افسانهای تعریف کنه.
خیلی لذت بردم از خوندنش.
خیلی لذت بردم از خوندنش.
June 5, 2025
As from the blurb:
So a sweet story, and Tolkien's wordplay is always fun. It won't go down as being remotely close to the best stuff he wrote, but it is interesting as a piece of his early children's work (and its later snubbing as Tolkien was hounded for a sequel to The Hobbit).
While on holiday in 1925, four-year-old Michael Tolkien lost his beloved toy dog on the beach. To console him, his father J.R.R. Tolkien improvised a story about Rover, a real dog who is magically transformed into toy, and his quest to find the wizard who can return him to normal.
The adventures of Rover, or 'Roverandom' a he becomes known, include encounters with an ancient sand-sorcerer and a terrible dragon, by the king of wordplay, the story underwent a number of revisions and was originally considered for publication in January 1937, the same year as The Hobbit, was abandoned when the publishers asked instead for a sequel, which culminated in The Lord of the Rings. Roverandom was finally published in 1998.
So a sweet story, and Tolkien's wordplay is always fun. It won't go down as being remotely close to the best stuff he wrote, but it is interesting as a piece of his early children's work (and its later snubbing as Tolkien was hounded for a sequel to The Hobbit).
December 2, 2018
This was just so cute, sweet, and adorable! Very simple seeing how it was written for children, but I love a simple, enjoyable read now and then that I don't have to think too hard about, and this fit the bill perfectly. I recommend it to anyone who thinks a story about a dog who gets turned into a toy after biting a wizard's pants, and then goes on adventures everywhere from the moon to the ocean, sounds fun.
October 1, 2022
Che storiella simpatica ❤️
March 21, 2024
absolutely delightful; would have loved this as a kid, too, and can't wait to read it to the nephews!
March 25, 2023
You never know what will happen next, when once you get mixed up with wizards and their friends.
While on holiday in 1925, four-year-old Michael Tolkien lost his beloved toy dog on the beach. To console him, his father J.R.R. Tolkien improvised a story about Rover, a real dog who is magically transformed into a toy, and his quest to find the wizard who can return him to normal. Imagine having Tolkien as a dad. This was adorable and so sweet😭❤️
read for tolkien reading day 2023🥰
April 28, 2019
بامزه بود.
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