Buddy Read - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (March 2016)

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

AT LAST!

I've been wanting to do this for ages because I want to re-read this absolute favourite of mine so badly.

So who is up for a Buddy Read of the first of Tolkien's epic, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring? I'm planning on hosting this for the entire month of March, and will also be eager to do Buddy Reads for the other two LotR books.

This buddy read is going to be part of an event I'll be hosting on my blog in March, called 'March into Middle-earth'. Feel free to get involved :D

Just to say that this will also be the chat thread, so be sure to use spoiler tags when posting anything spoiler-ish! Although I feel that might be hard with this book since most of us have probably at least seen the films...

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Definitely up for this. Its been way too long since I've read the series

[Cupcakes & Machetes, Hybrid Creature]

I'm down for a buddy read of this. It will actually be my first time reading it.

[Andrew]

I think I'm down for that. I have my eye on an audio dramatization, but my library's digital service is acting strangely this month. Hoping it clears up by then.

[Jilly]

I'm in! I haven't read it yet, so I'm excited.

[Nic, Wormhole Technician]

I think I'll join in too, LOTR was one of the first books I read as an adult, and fellowship was my favourite one, so I'd like to re-visit.

[Veronica]

I was actually just thinking about rereading this a few days ago. I will join in and try to keep up. I have a pretty packed reading schedule at the moment.

[Sarah]

I'm definitely in! I haven't read this in probably ten years. Definitely due for a re-read.
Gives me time to track down my copy.

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

I'll participate by re-watching the movies :)

Not my favorite books but I love the movie adaptation.

[Sarah]

Roger wrote: "I'll participate by re-watching the movies :)

Not my favorite books but I love the movie adaptation."

I'll probably watch the movies too.

I really liked the books, but I LOVED the movies. One of the very few cases where I enjoyed the movie more.

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Feel free to discuss the movies too :D I most likely will.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I think we should all watch the 1970s animated film as well ;-)

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

I actually have that on DVD... it was kind of painful to watch.

[Sarah]

Paul wrote: "I think we should all watch the 1970s animated film as well ;-)"

Rinn wrote: "I actually have that on DVD... it was kind of painful to watch."

I've never seen it but I think our library has it. Now I'm curious!

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

I think it was intended to be several films because it stops halfway through the story with no explanation, so never gets wrapped up.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Its not bad, animation is reasonable, and The Hobbit is decent as well but the sound tracks are awful.

[Cristal]

I've watched the movies, but never read the books, so I'd be interested in joining in.

[Susie]

March into Middle Earth, love that! I recently rewatched the movies and it's been a longgg time since I read the books, count me in!

[imyril]

Oooooh I'm in! Hooray!

[Sarah]

Found my copy over the weekend, so I will be ready as soon as this starts :)

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

I'm hoping to start on 1st March, but I need to make sure I read another book for a blog tour by 10th March, so might end up starting a few days later.

Anyway you can be guaranteed I'll catch up quick because I love it so much ;)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

So many books so little time. I'll probably start a few days late as well.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Read it then talk about it

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

If you've already started it or have read it by the start of March, it's fine - I'm sure it will be fresh enough in your mind to discuss :D Also Claire I'm gonna FB message you about a possible idea...

[Tracey]

Hi - I just discovered this group! I read LotR annually for most of my life, but I haven't read it in years - and I've tried twice now to do a "Great LotR Re-read" and blog about it. And I've failed miserably, for various reasons. May I join the buddy read? I've listened to the first couple of chapters of the audiobook twice now - I think a buddy read would be just the thing to give me the boot I need.

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Of course, this is open to any member of the group - the more, the Merry-er (see my awful pun? mwhahah)

[Eli]

I'm totally down - LoTR is a huge gap in my reading list, and this is a great opportunity to finally get that trilogy under my belt.

[Lesleya]

I was just thinking about re-reading it! First saw the 70s cartoon, then the audio book on a road trip with my dad and sister. Very nostalgic for me as is one of the first stories my dad shared with me. I read the whole series a little more than ten years ago. It's time for a re-read! Looking forward to discussing! (I LOVED the movies!)

[ash |]

So excited!!

[Joanna]

Tracey wrote: "Hi - I just discovered this group! I read LotR annually for most of my life, but I haven't read it in years - and I've tried twice now to do a "Great LotR Re-read" and blog about it. And I've faile..."

!!! YOU TOO?!!! :) I'm also due (or even overdue) for a re-read... I mean, it's been over two years!! I read them first when I was about 13... and then read them again, and again, and again - usually about once a year (at least). It kind of became a ritual. But yeah, I haven't read them last year or the year before and I am feeling incomplete ;) I'm looking forward to joining the discussion and excited to see so many people reading it for the first time!

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

I am also two years behind on my annual re-read :D I love that so many of us do this!

[Joanna]

This is brilliant! I feel like I found my tribe... :)

[Sarah]

Joanna wrote: "This is brilliant! I feel like I found my tribe... :)"

Not long after I joined this group I told my parents I had found "my people". They just sort of rolled their eyes at me.

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Sarah wrote: "Joanna wrote: "This is brilliant! I feel like I found my tribe... :)"

Not long after I joined this group I told my parents I had found "my people". They just sort of rolled their eyes at me."

Hehe I love this <3

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

One of us, one of us. ;-)

[Andrew]

One Group to rule them all, One Group to find them,
One Group to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

If we could add a tagline to groups... that would be it. <3

[Tracey]

Andrew wrote: "One Group to rule them all, One Group to find them,
One Group to bring them all and in the darkness bind them"

*applause*

Joanna wrote: "!!! YOU TOO?!!! :) ..."

Me too!!! :D I read it every year from the age of 12 to about six years ago (see how cleverly I danced around my age there?), then had a blowout with a group devoted to Tolkien and simultaneously came to know and loathe the movies. I needed to let past associations and the taste of those ... things fade before reading it again.

[Sarah]

Andrew wrote: "One Group to rule them all, One Group to find them,
One Group to bring them all and in the darkness bind them"

Yes.

[Tracey]

In the land of Goodreads where Mount TBR rises high.

[Sarah]

Andrew wrote: "One Group to rule them all, One Group to find them,
One Group to bring them all and in the darkness bind them"

Tracey wrote: "In the land of Goodreads where Mount TBR rises high."

If we weren't so spread out, I would say that we needed to put those together and put them on a t-shirt with the group name.

[Lesleya]

Claire wrote: "Lesleya wrote: "I was just thinking about re-reading it! First saw the 70s cartoon, then the audio book on a road trip with my dad and sister. Very nostalgic for me as is one of the first stories m..."

The 70s cartoon was made by the same people who made The Last Unicorn, if you ever saw it. Gollum looks very similar to the look the used for the movies...anyway, i digress, I believe the animation company was Japanese. I feel very well done for the time.

[Jessica]

I'm in for this one!

[Kimberley]

I've started reading LotR last year to make up for the horrid shame I've been a huge LotR movie/world fan without having read the books, but it's kind of been a side read, so this is a great opportunity to catch up... It's been making me feel like Cersei for all you GoT fans out here.

*Ding! Ding!* SHAME!

[Roger, Knight Radiant]

Claire wrote: "I think tees would be amazzzzing"

I'd be down for a dragon and jetpacks t-shirt myself

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

So I have already started this, but it's so I can get blog posts scheduled on time.

I will post my thoughts bit by bit from Tuesday, to keep up with others :)

[Veronica]

Andrew wrote: "One Group to rule them all, One Group to find them,
One Group to bring them all and in the darkness bind them"

Perfect!

I'd be down with tees as well.

[LittleBookDruid]

First experience with this book. I needed a nudge of buddy read to actually sink my teeth on it. The sheer size of the book is extremely daunting.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Just started today and loving the birthday party. I forgot how musical the descriptions of the Hobbit family trees could be

[Milou]

I started yesterday. Last time I read this was 7 years ago, for school (I had an awesome English teacher). I am listening to it in Dutch with my boyfriend. The guy that reads it is amazing (comparable to Stephen Fry's Harry Potter). We just started chapter 3, and are loving it. I forgot how much time passed between Bilbo's disappearance and Frodo actually leaving home.