Stefan’s Comments (group member since Mar 01, 2012)

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

No real deadline, but the group read is July 1-Aug 31.

They also comment on (view spoiler)[having eaten a village and a half worth of people since coming down the mountain. Those adventures would prove to be interesting possibly also the reasons that they came down the mountain. Was there a food shortage, were they driven out by something more powerful, were they sent here by their superiors on some mission that we are not told of, did the powers of Mordor put them here on purpose to break up this party? (hide spoiler)]

It's not really a "Tale of the Elder Days," but I'd really like to read the back-story of Bert, Tom and Bill's adventures before meeting up with Bilbo, Thorin and Co.

Just finished up with Bert, Tom and Bill. I think that I could easily read and enjoy a novella based on the three of them; quite entertaining!

Can't wait to get started on this. Need to finish The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King first. It's been quite a few years since my last reading of The Hobbit and I'm looking forward to re-connecting with all of my dear old friends!

Razmatus wrote: "if he wrote this in style of LOTR, it might have been twice or three times larger than LOTR itself "

Considering the sheer amount of time and the number of major events, I think that you would have one or two stand-alone volumes from almost any chapter. The source material here, if expanded, would be HUGE!

I agree. I think that it will "translate" a lot better in my head upon a second reading. This time through there's just a LOT of information coming at me. It's more like reading a history text than a novel, so as with a history text, I think that more will stick upon further review.

Slowly working my way through this still. I'm enjoying it, but I just don't get through much at one time.

I think the last line of "Of Maeglin" may be among the most powerful Tolkien lines (view spoiler)["Thus it was in Gondolin; and amid all the bliss of that realm, while its glory lasted, a dark seed of evil was sown." (hide spoiler)]

Welcome, Monique! Great to have you here!

(oh, and talk away about Tolkien! That's what we're here for!)

Just a quick follow-up on the whole Deep Rose/Tolkien debate since I just finished the book. I can see how reviewers could go along the path of comparing the book to Tolkien in some respects, comparing some parts to The Hobbit seems especially reasonable. However, any comparisons to The Hobbit in my humble opinion resonate solely in the feel of the town of the Vale and its peoples feeling a bit like Hobbiton and Gamgees, Baggins, Proudfeet and the lot in their mannerisms and quirky ways of doing things. Other than that (and at times having a bit of a fell of Wonderland and Oz) this book stands apart as truly unique in its own right.

Comparing something so new to Tolkien right of the bat is a little absurd anyway in my opinion. By that I mean, this is Mr. Denny's first book, let us give him some time to establish himself on his own as a writer before adding the heavy burden of carrying on in Tolkien's tradition!

I would also think that Bilbo wouldn't be as important to the reader in The Lord of the Rings without first getting to know him in The Hobbit. Without that background, his motivations might be taken WAY out of context.

I would think that a good point to split the film would be right after (view spoiler)[Bilbo's scene with Gollum. Jackson could then start the second film with the action packed escape from the goblins and go from there. (hide spoiler)]

FYI the Atlas of Middle-earth can also be found as a download in it's entirety.

I totally agree with you on the biblical feel. It has always amazed me how fleshed out Tolkien's mythology is in all of his works, and this is just reaffirming how well built his entire world is. It's one thing to set up a religion and deity/deities for a world's religions, it is another thing entirely to be able to put down in writing something this close to the actual religious text for your creation.

It's sitting on my shelf unread, so I'd definitely be in!

Welcome, Dalynn! You stalker!!

Good to see you here!

So, I've finished the Ainulindale and the Valaquenta. Lot of names to remember, I'll probably be referring back to the Valaquenta often to figure out who's who again.

Started this last night, only 15 pages in...interesting to this point.

Thanks, Michael! I just pulled The Silmarillion off of my Dusty Bookshelf and I'm ready to get started!

Thanks for the breakdown Raz. I'm really looking forward to starting the Silmarillion group read.