Michael’s
Comments
(group member since Jun 10, 2010)
Michael’s
comments
from the J.R.R. Tolkien group.
Showing 21-40 of 455
Discussions and observations about the XXII chapters in Part Three of the book, and the two Appendices. May contain spoilers 🙂
Discussions and observations about the XVII chapters in Part Two of the book. May contain spoilers 🙂
Discussions and observations about the XXIII chapters in Part One of the book, together with the Introductory materials. May contain spoilers 🙂
Tara wrote: "Michael wrote: "Ok, so this is starting with some dense chapters, which I'm down for, but which I think a single thread will quickly get bogged down with, so I'm considering making the current disc..."Yes, it's split into three main parts, which would be more focused than a single thread, whilst also not too granular. That could be a good level to set things at - thanks 🙂
When are you expecting to get your copy?
Ok, so this is starting with some dense chapters, which I'm down for, but which I think a single thread will quickly get bogged down with, so I'm considering making the current discussion topic a general, no-spoilers thread and creating a new folder for this book, with separate threads for each of the 64 (!) chapters, but I'm not sure if that's overkill, or whether enough of the Group has an appetite for it. A few thoughts from others would be super helpful 🙂
A wrote: "When does this begin?"The official publication date is 2nd September 2021, so that's when the read officially starts, but also I got my copy today, sooo.... 😁
I'd unconsciously assumed from the title that this latest Tolkien book was about the natural history of Middle-earth, a sort of zoological and botanical guide. The subtitle makes it clearer: "Late Writings on the Lands, Inhabitants, and Metaphysics of Middle-earth". So, the quintessence of Tolkien's creation as he conceived of it in his final years.All other books on hold! 🧙🏼♂️
A wrote: "Downloading commenced."😃👍🏻
A NEW new Tolkien book is published on 2nd September 2021: The Nature of Middle-Earth. This topic is for general comments and impressions about the book: No spoilers, please 🙂For more detailed discussions and thoughts, we have a dedicated topic here
[Edited following the initial considerations in the thread below]
Manny wrote: "People in this group may be interested in joining the group read we've just started for the Völuspá, Tolkien's favourite poem. We're using an online edition that we've developed together with a gro..."Thanks for the heads up, Manny. I'm pleased to see that your discussion thread has already turned to Tolkien and Galadriel 👴🏻🧝🏻♀️😊
Stefan wrote: "https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...Sad news, thought that I needed to share. He brought us so much of his father's works, who will take up the ..."
Just seen the news, and it is sad indeed. I think the Tolkien legacy now passes to one of the Professor's nephews.
Patricia wrote: "Apart from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, thank you."As you seem already to have read the "Big Ones", I'd also suggest The Silmarillion, as it provides the world-building background of the other two books, especially LotR. However, as much as I personally love this book, many fans find it hardgoing, being almost entirely narrative with little dialogue, and written in an epic style. If that doesn't attract you, then The Children of Húrin might be a good alternative, as it's adapted from a Silmarillion episode, but in a more novelish style.
For something lighter (The Children of Húrin is dark!), then perhaps the poetry collection, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book might be more your taste. All of the poems have a direct or indirect connection with Middle-earth, Tolkien using the conceit that they are poems written by hobbits in The Shire, several attributed to Samwise Gamgee!
Stepping out of Middle-earth, I'm rather partial to the comic adventures of Farmer Giles Of Ham - it has a dragon! ☄🐲😁
Tara wrote: "Mira wrote: "I haven't seen it, too... I'm still worried that it'll bother me on some level or another, or that it might destroy the image I've of JRR for me (like what happened with the Mary Shell..."Thank you for your thoughtful review, Tara. I might watch it after all, holding a pinch of salt :-)
Since the immediately previous post, Tolkien has been released upon us. I haven't watched it myself, and possibly won't as I'm not usually taken with Hollywood's reimagining of my heroes' lives, however, I do wonder what others in the Group make of it.
Maria wrote: "Oh, thank you so much! ISBN match 100%! (Weird Google didn't find anything)
Also, the number of pages and the size in sm matches too!
And it says, that it's a 'Russian pirate edition'... Probabl..."
You're welcome - nothing worse than an itch you can't scratch 😄
The only place I can find anything enlightening about it is on World Cat, based on the calculated ISBN-13: 9785882300134.You'll see from the entry there that it's a bit of a mystery as to who it was published by, but that it matches a particular edition by Unwin, so your speculation that it's a bit dodgy might be right.
https://www.worldcat.org/title/hobbit...
Max wrote: "Thank you for putting it up, I'm very excited. This year I'm hoping to finish the last three books in the History of Middle Earth series. Also I'm rereading the Hobbit and LoTR books (like every ye..."You're welcome, Max :-)
Sounds like a year full of Tolkien for you! :-D
Max wrote: "Michael wrote: "Real life continues to intrude, so thank you for the gentle reminders. A 2019 Challenge will be available shortly ☺"Fun, thank you so much! No hurries!"
No hurries, no worries!! It's up and running now :-D
For this year's challenge, I've decided to read some of the several Tolkien biographies I have sitting unread on my shelves.What are your plans, if any, for this year's challenge?
