Michael’s Comments (group member since Jun 10, 2010)

Michael’s comments from the J.R.R. Tolkien group.

I found it an excellent read, Edward. I've only read the first volume, so far, but will probably read the second early next year.

I look forward to your observations :-)

Hi, Roland, Edward and Della :-)

I hope you enjoy exploring the Group discussions, etc., and meeting other Tolkienistas!

Jay-me (Janet) ~plum chutney is best~ wrote: "Quite a few full people after second breakfast ;) - I was another one. I have put an account and photos on my blog if anyone is interested..."

That looked like quite a spread, Janet!

This is the first time I've read Smith of Wootton Major; why have I denied myself this pleasure for so long‽ It's a great story and not at all what I'd expected, which was something rather more rollicking and humorous, like Farmer Giles of Ham.

Although the story is suitable for children, and there is some light humour to it, the tone is altogether more otherworldly and serious. The magic here is indeed perilous and there is an undercurrent of danger and, if not of malevolence, then of Smith's entry into faerie being on sufferance and he must be careful not to overstep his bounds.

It put me somewhat in mind of Sylvia Townsend Warner's Kingdoms of Elfin, which I read earlier this year, though her stories are much darker and not really suitable for children at all.

I had my second breakfast, but was then too full to eat my lunch. Appearances to the contrary, I'm obviously not a hobbit!

Lucy wrote: "Will be at work too but can eat at my desk, so I'm planning on a bagel,with chives and cream cheese and a mug of tea and honey! Will think of you all, while I'm enjoying my 2nd breakfast :)"

Oh, that sounds like a good 2B!

Logan wrote: "The 21st happens to be my birthday, so I've got a perfect excuse to celebrate."

Happy birthday, Logan :-)

Bummer - I'll be at work, too :-(

I'm not watching any more trailers - I want to see the films fresh.

I think I'm going to go with a toasted veggie-bacon, cheese and mustard sandwich, with a strong cup of tea. Maybe a little cake as well.

Michael wrote: "I think I'm going to go with a toasted veggie-bacon, cheese and mustard sandwich, with a strong cup of tea. Maybe a little cake as well."

Oops, I meant to post this under Second Breakfast!!

Samuel wrote: "If LOTR had been written by Frank Miller:

You bring the Nazghul to my city, you insult my hobbits, you threaten my people with slavery... perhaps it is you who should have chosen your words more c..."

Excellent!

My wife would consider that a dubious tribute, but I think that it's "maj"!

I think I'm going to go with a toasted veggie-bacon, cheese and mustard sandwich, with a strong cup of tea. Maybe a little cake as well.

Tengwar is the name for the Elvish characters

I've seen some posts here somewhere about members who've learned Elvish: can't think where offhand, but they're here somewhere I'm sure!

Although I never tried to learn Elvish, I could at one time use tengwar and runes to write English phonetically.

Well, I wouldn't discourage anybody from buying the book, quite the reverse, just not to satisfy the marketing department. An heirloom book is a fine thing :-)

The idea is actually a marketing promotion by Harper Collins Publishers to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publishing of The Hobbit. Their dedicated Second Breakfast website is here: http://www.hobbitsecondbreakfast.com/

But that doesn't mean we should all go rushing out to buy additional copies of the book, just celebrate the event in our own Hobbitish way :-)

NOT!!

Hi Dani, Joshua and Alana

Hope you find lots to interest you here (including the Second Breakfast event!).

Christa - Ron Paul 2012 wrote: "My friends and I are all getting together and having sees cakes and tea. But since it starts in London, is it 11 o'clock London time? Cause that might cause a problem :D"

Just go with 11:00 your local time. I quite like the idea of the "Global Hobbit Wave" - a ripple of Second Breakfasts sweeping the world from one time zone to the next :-D