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

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

I read this book in one day: it's so beautiful and engaging (incidentally completing one third of my Tolkien Reading Challenge!) that I barely put it down.

As well as the finished art we're all familiar with from The Hobbit, the book includes all of the existing drafts, paint sketches and preparatory drawings and lettering that J.R.R. Tolkien made for the project.

It's fascinating to see the development of such well-loved images, many of which I thought were just as good as the final versions. I particularly liked Tolkien's drafts for The Elvenking's Gate.

What was particularly striking is how much detail there is in the illustrations. Being printed at a slightly larger size than the usual book versions, on high quality paper and copied at high resolution from the original artwork (except for Mirkwood, the original of which Tolkien gave to a student - I immediately felt a pang of jealousy when I read that!), they really do shine out.

I saw so much more detail than I'd noticed before in the reproduction of The Hill: Hobbiton-across-the Water: The kitchen garden at the front of the mill; the hen-coop at the back, with bare earth amongst the grass where the chickens have been scratching; the foam on the water-wheel; the chestnut trees in blossom, which were later destroyed in the Scouring of the Shire; the haystacks behind the grange and the beautiful contrast between the pastel-blue sky and creamy clouds. I must have seen then before - I've been reading the book for forty years - but this felt like the first time I'd really seen them.

There's all sorts of interesting details in the text and the book itself is a beautiful artefact: hard-covered in Elvish grey with a white-inked image of The Elvenking's Gate, in a slipcase adorned with Tolkien's illustration for the original dust jacket, with the colour-scheme he'd intended if Allen & Unwin could have afforded to print it.

Definitely worth the £25 cover price.

Hi, Tracey. Gundula said she was going to try and drum up some trade for us :-D Thanks for joining in.

Hi, Tim. Welcome to the Group: nice to have another Tolkienite on board :-)

There is a poll featured at the bottom of the Group home page for a J.R.R. Tolkien Group Read in March. The poll runs until 15 February, so be sure to get your vote in before then.

I've allowed a little time for members to make space in their reading schedules and also, if necessary, time to obtain the poll-winning volume.

I think we have a problem starting a J.R.R. Tolkien Group Read in that there is no longer a Moderator for this group who can make a decision.

At the moment, I'm not able to take on the mantle - does anybody else fancy the role. If there are no takers in the next month or so, I might take it on.

Ha, I'm a dufus! I was looking at an Arthurian Group and then clearly got confused when your notification flashed up. Obviously, my Arthurian suggestions are not really appropriate for a Tolkien Group read, unless it's his translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

I read the Hobbit a couple of months ago, so I'm not quite ready for that one again.

I haven't read The Silmarillion for a while, so I'd like to do that one. Also, The Children of Húrin, as I haven't read that yet.

Yes, Marta - those are my suggestions :-) but I'm open to other suggestions.

The Once and Future King

Arthurian Romances

The Three Damosels

Connor wrote: "Also, (nobody slap me please) if you can't get through the prologue in LOTR, skip it. I've never read it. I've started it, but it is very........... not entertaining. ;)"

Why, you little....! ;-)

I've done a couple of Middle-earth Botany quizzes, if you want to give them a try. You can find them, and a few others here

80% is a very respectable score - well done :-D

Roverandom is a great kids book, but lots of humorous bits for adults to appreciate, too.

You can read J.R.R. Tolkien's LOTR without reading The Hobbit, but I think you would get more enjoyment if you do.

The Hobbit is a classic in its own right, as well as being an introduction to Middle-earth. You will learn more about the nature of Hobbits and dwarves, wizards and elves, you will understand more about Gollum and why Bilbo's meeting with him was so important to the events of LOTR.

Most importantly, you will get to enjoy an incredibly good book. I'm jealous at the thought of you experiencing it for the first time!

I first read The Hobbit nearly 40 years ago when I was 8 and have read it dozens of times since, the last time just a couple of months ago. Each time it's like a visit from an old friend, and I still find little things that I hadn't noticed, or had forgotten.

It's a relatively quick, and definitely rewarding, read. Do it, Nelle: you know it makes sense :-D

Keith wrote: "I got a 53%. Very good quiz!"

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Keith :-D

Never apologise for your sense of humour - the world would benefit from more laughter :-D

Slow burners are the best, Connor :-)

Molly wrote: "That was hard! I only got 33% :("

It's the taking part that's important, Molly :-D

I've created a quiz about J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth Zoology. Hope you follow the link and enjoy it :-D

Looking at the extracts you quote in your review, it sounds like a pile of pants! I don't think I'll be bothering.

Connor wrote: "EVERYONE!!!

I have some quizzes too! To make it easier for me I just posted the link to all my quizzes.

http://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/by_u..."

I've taken all of Connor's quizzes and they're very good - well recommended!