How did you begin to like LotR??

[shesabrandybuck]

I'm sorry if something like this has already been said, but I thought it would be cool to see how everyone began to like LotR.


Instead of being read bedtime stories before I fell asleep as a kid, my dad read me the Hobbit. I honestly don't remember how I felt about it, being so young, but it was a nice change. All my life my dad had LotR things around the house. My favorite was to play this LotR computer game he had, all I remember was being in Shelob's cave as Bilbo and thought it was the coolest thing ever. I am so happy that my dad got me into this whole "world of Tolkien" as you might say, and I am really proud of being a Tolkien for such a long time.


Also, my dad is the user Keith K if you remember him...

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

Well, I first heard about LotR in 5th grade or so, when the first one came out in theaters. Some of the kids in my class had already seen it and thought it was great. I thought I would never see it because it's PG-13 and by the time I would be 13, it would no longer be "in". So... I did a book report on the Hobbit a year later or so, but for some reason I didn't connect it to LotR.
Skip ahead to when TTT came out. I saw it in theaters, and it confused the heck out of me (I hadn't seen FotR yet.) We bought FotR and TTT both extended and non-extended. Then I saw RotK in theaters (still confused) and bought it. I watched all three an insane amount of times. Then I read the book. I read it all (not including appendices) in 12 days. Then I joined Entmoot and all it's awesomeness.:cool:

[Curufin]

Well, I first heard about LotR in 5th grade or so, when the first one came out in theaters.
:eek:
*feels very, very, very, very old, as she was 23 when the first one came out in theaters*

Well, I guess my very first introduction to Tolkien was when I was staying at my grandma's and found an illustrated book of the Hobbit that belonged to my uncle. I started to read it, but as I was only 6 or 7 the pictures of Gollum scared me to death, so I only read a very little.

Skip forward to 2001! I like Sci Fi at this point, but fantasy isn't really my thing. I guess I'm one of the group that sees D&D and all that stuff for nerds. :rolleyes: Well, my brother and his friends are going to see FotR, and they insist that I go with them. Kicking and screaming (well, not literally, but I didn't have much desire to go, nonetheless), I went to the theater with them, and was blown away. I went and bought the books and read them as soon as possible, followed by The Sillmarillion, the UT, the Hobbit, and the HoME.

Unfortunately, having read all of this, I was sorely dissapointed (and disgusted) when TTT came out. My best friend had to hold me in my seat to keep me from storming out when we got to Window on the West...:mad:

It's kind of odd that I became a Tolkien fan because of the movies, and now can't stand the movies other than the fact that they introduced me to this incredible world!

[Valandil]

:
:
Also, my dad is the user Keith K if you remember him...

:eek:

Well... WELCOME to Entmoot, shesabrandybuck, daughter of Keith K! Please tell your father that Valandil says 'Hello'! And that we'd love to see him around some more. He could teach riddling to a whole new generation! :)

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

I'm a late bloomer. I had heard of Tolkien my whole life but never got around to reading his works. In the late 90s when rumors spread about a possible LotR movie I recalled that Tolkien was on my "to read" list and had been for years. Picked up the books and the rest is history.

[The Gaffer]

I remember Keith K. Does that make you our first "second generation" mooter?

I think the maps did it for me, especially the one of the Shire in the early chapters where you could follow where they were.

[katya]

I didn't know that! I always noticed Keith K because I had a teacher with the same name in high school. How fun! EDIT: I just realized I have another Keith K professor at college. How 'bout that.

I was forced to watch the Hobbit movie when I was little (scary!!) and my dad was always really into LotR when he was a kid too, but I didn't really like The Hobbit all that much.. The real trigger for me, I have to admit, was the FotR movie. I think I glimpsed a bit of Tokien's magic in it! I read the books the summer after that came out and that's when I joined the 'moot. :)

[Curufin]

Yay, Katya! Glad to know I'm not alone...we had almost the same introduction to it. ;) The book version of the Hobbit that I found at my grandma's was illustrated with pictures from the movie, and it was scary!!!:eek:

Too bad that after I read the books I started hating the very movies that introduced me to them. :mad:

[Mari]

My friend didn't believe that I could read fast in English. We made a bet, she pulled out the thickest book from her fathers shelve and let me read it. The book was LoTR and once I got into the story I read it within the time set for the bet. Must say that the English was quite difficult though.
I read it again in Dutch not long after and got much more out of the story ;)

[The Sasquatch of Fangorn]

I grew up with LotR. My mum used to read it to me when I was 5 and I didn't realy like it. But than when FotR came to DVD on my birthday I wanted to read the books before I got the movie

[BeardofPants]

I read the Hobbit when I was 11, but didn't really enjoy it at the time (we had an awesome teacher - I wish I could go back and tell her how much I enjoy Tolkien now). I picked up LOTR when I was 14 after my boyfriend rec'd it. Powered through it, and have re-read both it & Hobbit several times now. I read the Silm more recently (post-movie, so aged 22-ish), and enjoyed it sufficiently enough to read through the bulk of the Histories of Middle-Earth & Unfinished Tales (and Letters).

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

In the 4th grade, I was kind of a problem, because I whipped through the lessons so fast. So my teacher gave me The Hobbit to keep me quiet, and I read the rest of them.

We had to wait for the Silmarillion to come out. Years later. It was a big deal. :o

[shesabrandybuck]

:eek:

Well... WELCOME to Entmoot, shesabrandybuck, daughter of Keith K! Please tell your father that Valandil says 'Hello'! And that we'd love to see him around some more. He could teach riddling to a whole new generation! :)

I will be sure to tell him you said so! I will also try and convince him to come around more often. Glad to see some of you are familiar with him. He's a pretty cool guy :cool:

[Earniel]

My first brushes with Middle-earth were the David Day's Bestiarium and only years later the Hobbit, which I liked well enough but not overly. It took a long time, until after reading LoTR and the Silmarillion that I even connected the two books.

The moment I actually started to like Tolkien's writings was while reading LoTR, just after the birthday party, when Frodo, Sam and Pippin leave Bag's End at night. It connected with some half-magical childhood-memories of how we used to leave at early night on our yearly holiday (we left late because of the traffic) and bam, I was entranced in the story. It only got better as I read on.

Give my regards to your father, shesabrandybuck. He's well remembered here. And a warm welcome to you too. :)

[katya]

Yay, Katya! Glad to know I'm not alone...we had almost the same introduction to it. ;) The book version of the Hobbit that I found at my grandma's was illustrated with pictures from the movie, and it was scary!!!:eek:

Too bad that after I read the books I started hating the very movies that introduced me to them. :mad:
Yay, I'm not alone too! I don't like the movies much anymore either.

[The Gaffer]

The moment I actually started to like Tolkien's writings was while reading LoTR, just after the birthday party, when Frodo, Sam and Pippin leave Bag's End at night. It connected with some half-magical childhood-memories of how we used to leave at early night on our yearly holiday (we left late because of the traffic) and bam, I was entranced in the story. It only got better as I read on.

I know what you mean. Those bits are highly vivid and familiar, yet magical.

[shesabrandybuck]

Give my regards to your father, shesabrandybuck. He's well remembered here. And a warm welcome to you too. :)


I shall, I'll call him tonight ;)
And thank you for your welcome....
if that last sentence made sense..:confused:

[Keith K]

I was in eighth grade when a kid got up and gave a book report on The Hobbit. That was the first inkling I had that Middle Earth existed. I was able to read it for myself the following year, and a year after that I read LoTR for the first time.

I've been a fan ever since, and have even raised a few fans, as shesabrandybuck can testify. I'm very proud of her many accomplishments, but she will have to study long to comprehend the riddles of Keith K. :p

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

I was in eighth grade when a kid got up and gave a book report on The Hobbit. That was the first inkling I had that Middle Earth existed. I was able to read it for myself the following year, and a year after that I read LoTR for the first time.

I've been a fan ever since, and have even raised a few fans, as shesabrandybuck can testify. I'm very proud of her many accomplishments, but she will have to study long to comprehend the riddles of Keith K. :p
lol Thus speaks the proud pater. :p:p:p

[The Gaffer]

Yo! Good to see you're passing on the good word Keith. I gave it my best shot but my eldest is more of a Pratchett man, but there you go. Can't win 'em all. And could be worse. Much, much worse in fact.

[shesabrandybuck]

I was in eighth grade when a kid got up and gave a book report on The Hobbit. That was the first inkling I had that Middle Earth existed. I was able to read it for myself the following year, and a year after that I read LoTR for the first time.

I've been a fan ever since, and have even raised a few fans, as shesabrandybuck can testify. I'm very proud of her many accomplishments, but she will have to study long to comprehend the riddles of Keith K. :p


:eek: I DIDNT KNOW YOU CAME HERE TODAY!!! What a pleasant suprise! Hi dad, hahaha...this is weird..

[Rían]

I remember Keith K. Does that make you our first "second generation" mooter? My son was on for awhile as Meriadoc, but got too busy with football and wrestling, although he still loves LOTR, as do my other two kids and the dog.


(ok, just kidding about the dog! :D )


My husband tolerates our LOTR, but is not a fan himself. But as he is great in so many other important areas, I forgive him for that :)

[Keith K]

..this is weird..

Agreed. Oh well, that's life in the Age of Communications, I reckon. Of course, I'm happy to see you wherever we meet!



My son was on for awhile as Meriadoc, but got too busy with football and wrestling, although he still loves LOTR, as do my other two kids and the dog.


(ok, just kidding about the dog! )


My husband tolerates our LOTR, but is not a fan himself. But as he is great in so many other important areas, I forgive him for that

LOL, good one, Rian!

I think it's safe to say that just like the Road, this story will go ever on and on. Each new generation will discover the magic of this well-told tale, and feel the thrill just as we do.

[Curufin]

I think it's safe to say that just like the Road, this story will go ever on and on. Each new generation will discover the magic of this well-told tale, and feel the thrill just as we do.

Of course, now we must hope that people, after seeing the movies, will find the need to read the books...:rolleyes:

To elaborate a bit on my story - I really didn't fall in love with Tolkien's works until I read The Silmarillion. I read LotR, and liked it well enough, but I wasn't caught up in the magic until I delved into The Silmarillion. That, and the HoME, especially Laws and Customs, Athrabeth Finrod an Andreth, and The Shibboleth of Fëanor. It was in these texts, and the expressions of Tolkien's essential theology and philosophy, that I found the true beauty of Tolkien's universe.

[katya]

I was in love as soon as I read LotR, and I didn't finish Silmarillion until a couple years later, though it's my favourite now. I remember it well.... For about a week I did nothing but read LotR (and discover Entmoot!). I kept having to walk to the bookstore to buy the next part. I didn't stop until I was done, and then there was much 'mooting and running around in the woods pretending it was Middle Earth. :)

[shesabrandybuck]

I didn't stop until I was done, and then there was much 'mooting and running around in the woods pretending it was Middle Earth. :)

I'm still in that phase...:o

[katya]

I envy you then. :) I'm supposed to be too old for that stuff now. It's getting harder to get away with, lol

[shesabrandybuck]

Never too old!! Im almost sixteen! I love running around being in middle earth haha, most people dont know this :evil:

[katya]

I was almost 16 back then too, now I'm over 20. :) A kid at heart though, certainly.

[shesabrandybuck]

always a kid at heart. and of course, never to old to pretend you are a rider of rohan:)

[katya]

Or a hobbit lass. :) Oh my, we are off topic somewhat.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

Never too old or too young... even the merry Elves were often thousands of years old. And some of us here are in their 40s. :eek:

[Curufin]

Well, I'm almost thirty and I still like it. ;) What is RP for, after all?

[Rían]

Of course, now we must hope that people, after seeing the movies, will find the need to read the books...:rolleyes:

To elaborate a bit on my story - I really didn't fall in love with Tolkien's works until I read The Silmarillion. I read LotR, and liked it well enough, but I wasn't caught up in the magic until I delved into The Silmarillion. That, and the HoME, especially Laws and Customs, Athrabeth Finrod an Andreth, and The Shibboleth of Fëanor. It was in these texts, and the expressions of Tolkien's essential theology and philosophy, that I found the true beauty of Tolkien's universe.
Oh, we had some great discussions on the Athrabeth a few years ago ... and I love the Shibboleth - great backstory on Fëanor!

[Curufin]

And I love everything about Fëanor! I think we've bumped some of the Athrabeth threads. :)

[Belwen_of_nargothrond]

I had a friend on the internet who told me how much he liked the movies. I was never into anything like that. I liked fantasy, but those movies never interested me. Then a girl at work told me she loved them. That caught my curiosity so I decided to buy them since I was a member of Columbia House and if I didn't like them, I could sell them. I watched them and found that I was very much interested.

It didn't take long to become obsessed and I would watch them every chance I got. Then I decided to buy the books because I'm an avid reader. I read The Hobbit and found it interesting. Then I read the LoTR trilogy and when I realized the changes that PJ had made, it angered me. I got to where I would rarely watch the movies at all. It took a while for me to get through the books because some parts just weren't interesting to me.

I had put off reading The Silmarillion because it was hard to get into. Finally I forced myself to read it and lo and behold, a terrible addiction began. After I finished it, I read it again and highlighted important parts. Now I'm lost without it and I'm going to have to read it again. I just love those elves!

[Aikanáro]

I loved The Hobbit as a child, tried to read LotR when I was about nine because I thought it might be similar and was amazed by it being such a long book. Unfortunately I didn't understand it enough for it to make much of an impression there.

Skip forward (quite a while :p ) to the movies, the first of which inspired me to try the book again. This time, I loved it. Then of course I got involved with Tolkien communities online and realized how much more there was to the world he was created. The Silmarillion remains my favorite book and it was reading that, I think, that really got me hooked. :D

[Coffeehouse]

I remember my father told me and my sister about the Hobbit when we were no older than 6-7 years old. I became so amazed at his short-version of how the hobbits rode on their ponies through the Middle Earth. And I remember he told us about the lord with the ring (Ofc i imagined at that time I can recall that the ring was a red ring, kinda diamondish and that Sauron was up in some mountain looking down on the world, which isn't that far off really:D) Ever since I've read LOTR both in norwegian and english, and I prefer the hobbit in norwegian and LOTR in english:)
I still think it's cool that the movie came about though even if it's way off on some of the original storyline.

[Curufin]

Greetings, Coffeehouse!

Can't say I agree with you about the movies, but each to their own, I suppose. :) Have you read the Silmarillion as well? That was the book that got me loving Tolkien...;)

[Mari]

There are quite a few members who were introduced to Tolkiens works by their parents. :eek:
I wonder if my parents even know who Tolkien is...

[Curufin]

I introduced my parents to it. ;) Read all of the second book of The Two Towers to my mom on a roadtrip home from Florida once. ;)

My uncle, however, had been a fan since publication. :)

[Coffeehouse]

Greetings, Coffeehouse!

Can't say I agree with you about the movies, but each to their own, I suppose. :) Have you read the Silmarillion as well? That was the book that got me loving Tolkien...;)

Greetings:) I stumbled upon this forum a few hours ago and now I'm cheerfully reading posts here and there:p

I tried having a go at the Silmarillion when I was 11-12 but it was only half-hearted. I actually still have that copy but can't say I've read it front to back:o

[Mari]

I introduced my parents to it. ;) Read all of the second book of The Two Towers to my mom on a roadtrip home from Florida once. ;)

My uncle, however, had been a fan since publication. :)

That will never work for me. My parents aren't into "weird unreal stories with elves and whatmore flying around". I did get my sister to read the Hobbit though and I know she liked it, but she now says that she can't remember reading it. (How can you NOT remember reading the Hobbit?!?)
But I'm not giving up. She WILL read LotR! :evil:

Welcome Coffeehouse! I'm glad you stumbled here. The Moot is a great place to stumble upon ;)

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Welcome coffeehouse. Check over in the general forum, when you have a chance. :)

[Kennashi]

I, of course, found Tolkien through the movies as many others...yes it is shameful. Don't look at me! I'm ugly...:(

But seriously though, I guess I got interested in seeing FOTR because I FREAKING LOVED EXCALIBUR (the film from 1981)! And after seeing that godly film, I became obsessed with anything that involved swords, sorcery, etc. And when I stumbled upon LOTR, I had finally found something that had simply satisfied my hunger for all things magical (although Excalibur will always hold a dear place in my heart).

[Curufin]

Nothing wrong with finding LotR through the movies. :) I did, after all. Have you read the book, though?

[Kennashi]

Would I be here if I had not? Of course!:D

[Curufin]

:D Good to hear it.

Have you read...all...the books? (including The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, Children of Húrin and the Histories of Middle Earth? ;))

Sorry, I'm a bit of a book freak. :)

[Willow Oran]

I first read The Hobbit through Return of the King when I was twelve and liked them, but didn't really connect with them. Then when the movies came out I decided to re-read the books... Tano might possibly have forbidden me to see the movies until I had, but I don't really remember and if she did, she was probably kidding. Anyway, re-read the trilogy and plodded through the Sil - mostly reading them under the desk in science class. Ents and Mendelian genetics don't mix, by the way.
I didn't so much become a fan as get hooked into researching as an antidote to all the little wtf moments triggered by coming across recycled names while trying to read the Sil and listen to the teacher at the same time and especially when I got to the Fall of Gondolin. I ended up reading through the key volumes in HoME for the sole purpose of figuring out just how many Glorfindels there actually were and now I'm officially obsessed.:D

[katya]

Don't you guys kind of think that it's been long enough since the movies came out that it doesn't really matter anymore? If someone's been a fan since way back then they can't not be a "real" fan, as far as I'm concerned. As long as they've actually read at least LotR, anyway.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

Don't you guys kind of think that it's been long enough since the movies came out that it doesn't really matter anymore? If someone's been a fan since way back then they can't not be a "real" fan, as far as I'm concerned. As long as they've actually read at least LotR, anyway.

Depends on what "it" in your question refers to. What doesn't really matter anymore? It also depends on what you're talking about being a fan of.

There are LotR fans, who could be people who have only seen the films and read the one/three/six books.

But a Tolkien fan, I think, (and this is obviously JMO) should have read LotR, Silm, and TH and likes them. Also it doesn't matter whether he/she has seen the films or not, or whether he/she likes or dislikes them.

I think it is too easy to say someone's a fan or not a fan. But without defining exactly what we're talking about, the same person could be both.

[Curufin]

Personally, I don't think there's an objective definition for 'fan.'

It should be something that is self-defined - if someone says they're a fan, they are. Of course, I would have problems with someone calling themselves a 'fan' if they've never read a single word Tolkien wrote down and have only seen the movies, but other than that, hey, whatever freaks their peaches.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

:D Good to hear it.

Have you read...all...the books? (including The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, Children of Húrin and the Histories of Middle Earth? ;))

Sorry, I'm a bit of a book freak. :)

Don't you guys kind of think that it's been long enough since the movies came out that it doesn't really matter anymore? If someone's been a fan since way back then they can't not be a "real" fan, as far as I'm concerned. As long as they've actually read at least LotR, anyway.

Depends on what "it" in your question refers to. What doesn't really matter anymore? It also depends on what you're talking about being a fan of.

There are LotR fans, who could be people who have only seen the films and read the one/three/six books.

But a Tolkien fan, I think, (and this is obviously JMO) should have read LotR, Silm, and TH and likes them. Also it doesn't matter whether he/she has seen the films or not, or whether he/she likes or dislikes them.

I think it is too easy to say someone's a fan or not a fan. But without defining exactly what we're talking about, the same person could be both.I selected these three quotes because the phenomenon of "fandom' seems to me a strange one, particularly in this context.

This thread, for example, asks "How did you begin to like LotR" and is in a book forum. One might, therefore, say, "Any conversation that refers to beginings outside the books is not germane." I think we'd lose a lot of information that way, however, not to mention bonhomie. ;)

I agree with DPR in that defining 'fan' is essential to where one winds up. But I'm not sure that people who believe LotR was 'channeled' to JRRT are actually expressing admiration for his talents...any more than people are complimenting a coffee pot's work when they rave about a cup of coffee. If he is not the agent of his own work, then credit is properly due to Illuvatar, I suppose.

But really, I don't know what purpose is served in dividing the sheep from the goats, on this one. Dismissing people usually winds up being negative, and impacts communities negatively. That's my experience of it, anyway.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

Not to drift too far off topic, but are there really people who believe LotR was literally channeled to The Professor? I realize Tolkien claimed something like that later in life but are there people who believe him?

Authors often feel like their characters take on a life of their own and make decisions and do things almost of their own volition, but literal channeling of a higher power? I'd question the mental state...or the ego...of the author making the claim.

[Curufin]

Nope.

But I have felt before that my creative process has been taken out of my hands and become something better (and bigger) than I thought I was capable of doing. That could be what he was talking about.

And my post quoted by sis was not supposed to be challenging anyone's fandom - I just push people to read all the books, because I like them.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

You don't think the impact of those questions (including your post before) is to intimidate people who have NOT read all the books you ask about?

I'm not saying your intention was that, but I'm sure that sort of thing has that effect, particularly on younger posters...of whom we see many. Same thing for moderating strategies that shut down or combine new threads. People don't like to spend their free time doing something "wrong."

And oh yes, DPR, there are a number of people who feel that any suggestion JRRT actually wrote a story, rather than taking dictation is heretical. ;)

[Curufin]

You don't think the impact of those questions (including your post before) is to intimidate people who have NOT read all the books you ask about?


I should hope not, and if it does that's their problem, not mine. I don't see what's wrong about asking people if they've read a book. I never would have found 'The Silmarillion' or any of the others if someone hadn't suggested them to me.

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

if it does that's their problem, not mine.

Okiedokie, then.

[Curufin]

I honestly don't see what the problem is here. I'm not judging anyone. Did you even read my other post?

Personally, I don't think there's an objective definition for 'fan.'

It should be something that is self-defined - if someone says they're a fan, they are. Of course, I would have problems with someone calling themselves a 'fan' if they've never read a single word Tolkien wrote down and have only seen the movies, but other than that, hey, whatever freaks their peaches.

I'm not judging whether anyone is a 'fan' or not, or trying to put myself on a higher pedestal than anyone else. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not that kind of a person. All I did was ask them if they'd read some books - I didn't give them a 20-questions-quiz on HoME that determined their eligibility to some secret 'True Tolkien Fans' society. :rolleyes:

[Mari]

I don't see what's wrong about asking people if they've read a book.

There's nothing wrong with that.
However, and now I'm not trying to point a finger at you or anyone else, sometimes I get the feeling that I'm "not allowed" to like Tolkien because I haven't read all of his books and am thus quite ignorant of some of the background.

It is the reason I haven't ventured into the upper sections of the board much. And indeed it is my problem and I will read the Sil someday. When I can make time >_<

Just keep in mind that we are not not reading the rest of the books because we like to irk you ;) :p

[Curufin]

However, and now I'm not trying to point a finger at you or anyone else, sometimes I get the feeling that I'm "not allowed" to like Tolkien because I haven't read all of his books and am thus quite ignorant of some of the background.

This isn't what I feel or mean to get across at all. :eek:

As I said (and will say again) - the definition of a 'fan' should be self-defined - if you say you're a Tolkien fan, then I'll believe you. :) As for the other books, well, it just depends what you like. If you're not interested in the topics in The Sil or The HoME, then don't read them! I'm not going to think any less of people who don't enjoy that stuff. Even I'll say that the HoME can get tediously academic sometimes (do I really care what color ink that note was written in...? :rolleyes:). I put off reading Children of Húrin for a year because I can't stand the character. I don't think that makes me less of a Tolkien fan. Just as I don't think less of you because you haven't read the Silm and The HoME. I asked Kennashi for two reasons - a) someone did something very similar to me when I joined the other board, that was how I found the texts in the first place. 2) I want to know who out there has read all these texts so I know who I can discuss them with. Nothing snobbish or 'uppity' about my intentions.

You've got to realize, people, I've come here from a board where the Lit forums are beyond snobby. I read most of the books the first time simply so that I could take part in discussion, and I still feel unable and unworthy in a lot of cases. It takes a bit of time to get over that kind of atmosphere.

[Mari]

Haha, I never meant to upset you and never felt like you tried to push me into reading something I don't want to read (I'm very difficult to push into anything really, if I don't want to be pushed).
Sorry. *hugs*

I just tried to raise awareness that if I can sometimes feel like that, that there are probably others feeling the same.



For the record, I don't consider myself a Tolkien-fan, but rather someone who loves the Hobbit and the LotR and all its possibilities. ;)

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

It seems to me that on an Internet Message Board based upon an author of several books, the question of who has already read what is more than appropriate, especially for new people. It isn't to put them down, it is to find out what they already know and what they don't. In addition to then being able to make recommendations, you also know when you're providing that person with desired information or spoilers.

For instance, one poster who has read LotR and TH, but nothing else from Tolkien may be interested in learning all the details of Aragorn's ring, The Ring of Barahir, here online.

Another poster in the same situation, may want to discover that information for himself/herself by reading The Silmarillion.

Without asking what a person has already read, one of the more-read posters might spill the beans and spoil that part of the story.

I find the assumption that people who have read a lot of Tolkien are condescending snobs a bit insulting, quite frankly.

[Mari]

I find the assumption that people who have read a lot of Tolkien are condescending snobs a bit insulting, quite frankly.

If you are referring to my post earlier, I think you misread it.
I do not assume people who have done so are "condescending snobs", or snobs at all. I did not even say that people are actively acting in such a way.
I just told you what I sometimes feel, which is my problem entirely, but that it may be possible that there are others who feel impressed too.
I'm sorry if you feel insulted, it was not meant in such a way. It wasn't even meant as a critique and if I made it sound as such, I apologize again.

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

I'm not referring to any specific post, Mari. It's all good. :)

[Mari]

Yay! ^_^

[sisterandcousinandaunt]

Look, guys. This is not your old board. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not that kind of a person. But no one here knows you, Curu. We're working on it, but we don't.

This isn't what I feel or mean to get across at all. :eek: Yes, that's why anyone is trying, here. This represents the benefit of the doubt, for a newbie.

I asked Kennashi for two reasons - a) someone did something very similar to me when I joined the other board, that was how I found the texts in the first place. 2) I want to know who out there has read all these texts so I know who I can discuss them with. Nothing snobbish or 'uppity' about my intentions.

You've got to realize, people, I've come here from a board where the Lit forums are beyond snobby. I read most of the books the first time simply so that I could take part in discussion, and I still feel unable and unworthy in a lot of cases. It takes a bit of time to get over that kind of atmosphere. How about saying it a little less confrontively? You spoke to someone with fewer than a dozen posts, who said they "found Tolkien through the movies" with what looked to me like a humorous take on that kind of political litmus test and you said, 'you've read the book?" then "ALL the books?" It struck me as aggressive, and I reflected that to you.

I reflected that to you because I thought you would not WANT to seem aggressive, here in your new online home. You can do with that what you will.

It seems to me that on an Internet Message Board based upon an author of several books, the question of who has already read what is more than appropriate, especially for new people. It isn't to put them down, it is to find out what they already know and what they don't. In addition to then being able to make recommendations, you also know when you're providing that person with desired information or spoilers.

For instance, one poster who has read LotR and TH, but nothing else from Tolkien may be interested in learning all the details of Aragorn's ring, The Ring of Barahir, here online.

Another poster in the same situation, may want to discover that information for himself/herself by reading The Silmarillion.

Without asking what a person has already read, one of the more-read posters might spill the beans and spoil that part of the story.

I find the assumption that people who have read a lot of Tolkien are condescending snobs a bit insulting, quite frankly.No one here thinks people who have read a lot of Tolkien are snobs. But if you really want to know what people have SAID about their experience, tastes or interests you can look at their posts. You can search the forums. You can start a thread (if there isn't one) about the Ring of Barahir, with a spoilers warning.

Jumping posters for their credentials (even if it's done out of excitement, and meant as a friendly overture) is being perceived as aggressive. Here. Not on your old board, not by people who know you well, not someplace where such behavior is common.

Personally, I like the Moot. I like talking, in a pleasant way, with people I don't know, who range in age and background. I would be very sad to see it become a "Tolkien board" in the manner of the ones I've heard about (and sometimes lurked) where every post is scrutinized and the poster evaluated. When this looks like that kind of bullying, I take an interest. :(

I am certainly relieved to be told none of this is meant that way. I would be more relieved to hear that the described behaviors are, at least theoretically, subject to reassessment. ;)

[Earniel]

Let me, as spokeperson for the mod team (don't look at me like that, let me feel important for a moment ;)) clarify that all people, regardless of what they've read are welcome. And that rank or appreciation of members does not depend on how much they have read. If we encourage people to read more, it should be because we want to spread the love around.

I would sadden me a great deal if people don't want to visit our Tolkien forums for fear of being judged by what books they have read.

[Curufin]

And that rank or appreciation of members does not depend on how much they have read. If we encourage people to read more, it should be because we want to spread the love around.

This is all I'm trying to do, Eärniel. I have never judged people as 'better' or 'lacking' because of what they have (or haven't) read, nor will I. Although I feel I am being judged in that way. I agree with DPR's quote: I find the assumption that people who have read a lot of Tolkien are condescending snobs a bit insulting, quite frankly.

[Earniel]

That's all I ask. :) (The trying bit of course, not the feeling judged bit, that latter is really not my intention.)

I find the assumption that people who have read a lot of Tolkien are condescending snobs a bit insulting, quite frankly.
I would find that insulting too, considering I count myself in that group, but I don't think that assumption is wide-spread here on the Entmoot.

Now I think we've all got a little more upset than the situation warrants. How about some drink in the Teacup? I'm buying. ;)

[Jon S.]

I hereby judge anyone who doesn't like the films a condescending snob.

Just kidding! :p

Seriously, I still remember reading the LOTR in high school. I learned nothing official for 3 days as a result but became a better man for it. :D

[The Dread Pirate Roberts]

Three days! :eek: That's some fast and/or intense reading right there. Good job. :cool:

[Curufin]

Yeah, no joke. That's like 24-7 reading, there.

[Varnafindë]

The first I ever heard about it, was when a friend of mine in high school was reading it. I remember her talking about Gandalf and Strider - I didn't try to tackle it myself. Too large a chunk of English at that time.

I read it a couple of years later when it had been translated.

Then a couple of years later again I went to England for a year to study "English Language and Literature for Overseas Students" for a year, and that's when I bought my own copy. I didn't buy The Silmarillion, though, even though that would have given me a First Edition - I flicked through it and found that it wasn't really my cup of tea.

It is an accquired taste.
Now I love that taste ;)

Even LotR wasn't my favorite set of books (that would be, and still is, The Chronicles of Narnia). What really piqued my interest about it after a while (and probably after having read it at least twice), was realising that Tolkien's alfabets were all about phonetics!

I told a friend about it, and she got me to give a small lecture about it in the Oslo Tolkien Society ("Arthedain"). One person in the audience - he was possibly the Arthedain chairman at the time - later translated Silmarillion into Norwegian (he's also done Unfinished Tales and The Children of Hurin).

I like the way Tolkien makes the Tengwar and the Cirth reflect the way sounds are articulated. I like the systematical nature of those alfabeths :)

[Coffeehouse]

Cool didn't know there was a Oslo Tolkien Society;) That's cool!

I should get to a lecture someday if they are held frequently (and I'm lucky enough to be in town:rolleyes:)

[Varnafindë]

Cool didn't know there was a Oslo Tolkien Society;) That's cool!

I should get to a lecture someday if they are held frequently (and I'm lucky enough to be in town:rolleyes:)

It's not called the Oslo Tolkien Society, though, that's just what it is ;)

It's called Arthedain, and they meet once a month at the University.

I went to several meetings a couple of years ago, but I haven't been for a long time now, even though I live in town. Do you live far away?
If you PM me your email address, I could mail you a link to their mailing list.

[katya]

I haven't read all the comments yet, but let me just clarify what I was getting at in my last post. It seems that everyone who says they found LotR though the movies is apologizing for it, or seem somewhat ashamed of it. I'm just saying that the movies have been out for a long time now, and there's a whole lot less of the "I love Lord of the Rings because Orlando Bloom is hawt!" people around. Also, if you're still into LotR/Tolkien even now, then obviously you must like it a lot, and so, fine. I just don't think there's a need for stigma anymore.

[Coffeehouse]

I haven't read all the comments yet, but let me just clarify what I was getting at in my last post. It seems that everyone who says they found LotR though the movies is apologizing for it, or seem somewhat ashamed of it. I'm just saying that the movies have been out for a long time now, and there's a whole lot less of the "I love Lord of the Rings because Orlando Bloom is hawt!" people around. Also, if you're still into LotR/Tolkien even now, then obviously you must like it a lot, and so, fine. I just don't think there's a need for stigma anymore.

I guess your on to something.
My younger sisters hadn't read the books before they watched the movies, yet now they are both fans of LOTR, and I think both have read the Hobbit;)

(Digressing here..):rolleyes:
Personally I was lost for words when I heard the movies would come (not in a negative way:)) cause it just seemed the perfect timing. I know some in here seem to not approve of the movies, but I think their excellent. Especially the music and the different themes conveyed throughout the movie. F.ex. the music played, "The Last March of the Ents", when the Ents move out to shake up Sarumann's evil, is just musical genious:)

But I see nothing wrong with people watching the movies first, then the books. Eventually they'll love the books more hehe;)

[Willow Oran]

I fully agree with you regarding the scene 'The Last March of the Ents' and the accompanying music. I can forgive a lot of the movies' flaws, just for that scene.

[Curufin]

I guess your on to something.
My younger sisters hadn't read the books before they watched the movies, yet now they are both fans of LOTR, and I think both have read the Hobbit;)
...But I see nothing wrong with people watching the movies first, then the books. Eventually they'll love the books more hehe;)

I hadn't read the books either, before my brother and his friend dragged me to see it. Fantasy wasn't my cup of tea, and at that time I thought Tolkien was for pimply sixteen-year old boys who stayed home and played Dungeons and Dragons and had no social lives. ;) I always have agreed with Katya - as much as I dislike the movies, the one good thing they have done is get some people to read the book, and I will always be grateful to PJ for introducing me to Tolkien's world, even if he did destroy it in the films. ;)


(Digressing here..):rolleyes:
Personally I was lost for words when I heard the movies would come (not in a negative way:)) cause it just seemed the perfect timing. I know some in here seem to not approve of the movies, but I think their excellent. Especially the music and the different themes conveyed throughout the movie.

The music was good, and I particularly like the Rohirrim theme.

I can't agree with you, however, that the movies were excellent. Sorry.

[Gordis]

Reading this thread left me open-mouthed. I can’t say I am really an old-timer, like Earniel, but I am here for at least three years, mostly in the Lits, and I have never seen before that a simple question: “What Tolkien books have you read?” was perceived as “jumping posters for their credentials” or “aggressive behavior.” Neither have I seen that people who have read a lot of Tolkien were implied to be condescending snobs.

That is something new, guys. Entmoot has always been friendly. Especially friendly to newbies (and don’t forget that Curufin and DPR themselves are still newbies). I don’t remember a single ugly brawl in the lits thread with calling names and such – thing that often happens on other forums. Here anyone can proudly say that he/she adores the movies and nobody would think less of them. Here anyone can fearlessly admit that they have read nothing but LOTR and Hobbit and (while keeping that in mind) the others would be happy to discuss Tolkien with them. Those who have read much more would only take care to quote the texts unknown to the others more extensively and give more explanations. In short, the Moot has always been friendly to people new to Tolkien.

But now we seem to swing into the opposite direction: when people who have read few of the books (and long ago at that) seem to feel frustrated by those who have read more and recently and try to “put them into their proper place”. Quite new for me is this line of reasoning: “I believe only LOTR and the Hobbit - and all the rest is crap not worth reading. If you draw your arguments from these sources, I won’t even consider them.”
And now it is prohibited to even ask what books another Mooter has read?:rolleyes:

[Zilbanne]

I'm glad people here know J.R.R. Tolkien's actual works. If they came to the books after seeing the movies, I think that's just fine. Because the movies at least spurred them on to enjoy the original books and genius of Tolkien! How cool is that!

Long before there were personal computers or the internet, decades ago... I read the Hobbit as a kid and LotR in my early teens and have enjoyed them ever since. I've been bathing in the Silmarillion more recently and have read some of HomE but by no means all of them.

My personal belief is enjoy Middle Earth in whatever way you want to and share it with whom you wish.

[ElizabethAnnRoger]

when i was six my dad read the hobbit to me every day and we just cont the story. now sixteen, i still read it. Therese just so much to learn!!

[shesabrandybuck]

Same story for me, EAR! My father read me the Hobbit as a bedtime story each night :)
but, I've already mentioned it haha :p

[shesabrandybuck]

Oh, that was my 400th post!! hahahahahah :D:D


this makes 401!

*curses the 'rule'*

[Varnafindë]

I can't remember when I first read the Hobbit. I'm only sure that it must have been after reading Lord of the Rings - I wouldn't have been aware of Tolkien before that, and I'm not even sure in what order those books were translated into Norwegian. The Hobbit may have come later.

Now, fortunately, both Silmarilion, Unfinished Tales and Children of Hurin have been translated. Children of Hurin was translated while the original was being prepared, so that it was published in Norwegian almost at the same time as the English.

I've finally bought it (in Norwegian) and read it - after having read the same story in Unfinished Tales, I thought it would be too depressing to be enjoyable, but found that I enjoyed it after all. There's such a lot of good writing in it. And having it as a proper story with normal flow of text, not with interruptions of comments every now and then, really helps.

I've already posted about LotR ;)

[bsj2312]

I have been a fan of Tolkien (Really, a fan) for over 20 years now and I will never forget how I was introduced to Middle Earth.

I was in the 8th grade, 14 years old and I had gone one Saturday morning to yard sales with my mom. About the third sale, I was pretty bored, and while my mom was looking at some clothes or something or other I was wandering around and on one table were some books. Among them, the LotR trilogy, paperback, fine condition, 1973 editions I believe.

I had heard of Tolkien, knew the name, but not much more exposure other than The Hobbit animated feature some time before. As I held them and read them, a woman approached me and said, "Don't tell me..." She proceeded to tell me my name, my age, and my birthday. I was stunned. I had no idea who this woman was. As I stared at her bewildered, she said, "You don't remember me. Mrs. Paisley."

It turns out she was my kindergarten teacher who I had not seen since I left for 1st grade at a different school across town. She had remembered my face, my name, and my birthday from 8 years previous, through the changes of growth and beginnings of puberty. She said it was good to see me, it was her home and sale, and she told me to take the books free of charge.

For about a year I was scared to read them. I felt there was something inside those pages but I knew not what. I joined the Science Fiction Book Club about a year later and found The Silmarillion among those I could choose for my 6 introductory books. I read The Silmarillion and was enchanted right off. After, I immediately sped through the LotR.

Around the same time, my friends and I got into role-playing, D&D mostly, but stumbled on Role Master as well, that had the Tolkein Mythos as a supplemental backdrop. But we were a strange lot, turned into Hippies and partiers soon, role-play during the day, and go out causing trouble and drinking beer at night. HaHa.

This post is way long, but I want to end by saying, I am one who enjoyed Jackson's film interpretation greatly. I am not a purest, nor a Tolkien "scientist" as I like to call them. It's all about the imagination. You take what you like and discard what you don't. No need to judge the scenes you don't care for.

So, I am new here, but will continue to lurk from time to time. Peace.

[Varnafindë]

Welcome! :)
I think you are the first person I've heard of who read The Silmarillion before reading LotR.

But it should make sense - you were reading them in chronological order, then ... ;)

[Amanda]

I started liking LOTR when I saw Leonard Nimoy do his little 60's "Bilbo Baggins" dance. Just kidding.. that was just remarkably scary...

My sister got me into it when I was very young. I don't know what initially drew me to it. She was always into reading a lot so that's how that happened.

[EllethValatari]

Sorry, my story's kindof long.

I had to read the Lord of the Rings in 6th grade, in Literature class. My older brother had already read it and I kindof knew about LOTR. We read the first chapter in class, had a reading assignment, and went home. At home, while reading it, I really got into the story and stayed up all night to finish FOTR. The problem was, we weren't allowed to read ahead so I had to keep my reading a secret. (dumb, huh?) I got my brother's copy of TT and started to read it the next day, but I finished that in three days because I was busy. Then I started ROTK, and that took me about a week, I read it REALLY slowly so that I would REALLY understand it. I then reread the books and by then, I was really obsessed.

Christmas was soon, so I asked for the Simarillion for Christmas. I got it, started to read it, but couldn't keep up with the story line because of all the gods. So I bought "Tolkien's Guide to Middle Earth", looked up all the gods, made an outline, and kept it by my side while reading. Finished the book in about 3 weeks.

By then, I was obsessed with elves, and wanted to learn Elvish. I search online for something that would help me with grammar, vocab, etc and finally found a FREE DOWNLOADABLE BOOK that teaches Sindarin. I'm still working on my Elvish....but its okay...LOL

It's been about two years, I'm in 8th grade now, (probably the youngest one on Entmoot) and I have quite a collection of Tolkien "stuff" including 50th Anniversiary LOTR Trilogy UK Edition, oe of the ONLY copies of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil printed in 1952, The Histories of Middle Earth, The Simarillion, and the LOTR DVD's Extended with Director's Cuts.

[shesabrandybuck]

I started LOTR at a young age too (and, I still am young, but whatever). Anyway, welcome to Entmoot :D

[EllethValatari]

thanks!

[Valarauko5]

I too grew up having the Hobbit and LotR read to me as a child. I have read them many times now and I actually do enjoy the movies. I am also one of those nerdy guys who likes Dungeons and Dragons so the fantasy setting was always cool.
This next part is only slightly related so forgive me, but I saw someone who seemed in need of help with Elven and rushed to aid. :)

If I might be so bold. I having, as I have posted in another thread, grown up in a four language household, love languages. Granted I do not actually speak fluently all four languages. (except of course English:D). But I am currently taking an online Quenya course. It is very well laid out and I very much suggest it to all who enjoy Elven. Elleth Valatari especially, if you are having any trouble at all with Sindarin, Quenya is a whole lot easier to learn in comparison. Please someone correct me if I do this wrong, being a newbie, but this is the url
http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/qcourse.htm
This is not a site of my own making or of one of my friends. I simply found it while looking for an Elven language course after failing utterly my first attempts with a rather sadly done Sindarin course. Please feel free to ask for assistance in any sort of pronunciation because I seem to have a nack for Quenya. Not so much Sindarin....... Oh well. I'm moving onto that after Quenya. Hooray for Elves!

[DARKastheRAIN]

My first introduction to Middle-earth was the cartoon Hobbit movie. It was during all the excitement before New Line's Fellowship was about to be released, I think. I was only about 9 at the time. We lived in South Africa at the time, so they were making a super big deal of Tolkien being born there. My dad was the closest thing to a Tolkien fan in the house at the time and he wanted to take my older brother to see the movie with him, and he thought my brother should read the books before seeing it. I wasn't invited :( I guess he thought I was too young (he was probably right. I'm glad I didn't go see the movie without reading the books which would have likely been totally over my head at the time) But we borrowed a video of the Hobbit cartoon from a friend of my Grandparents and all the kids watched it. I think we watched it about fifty times over :)

It wasn't until after many years and a move over the Belegaer to the U.S. that, in the Summer after my freshman year of highschool, I got bored while staying at my Grandparents' house and picked up my brother's copy of the Fellowship. I had read up to just after the Hobbits see the Black Riders for the first time when we left my grandparents' and my brother and his books stayed with them. (Long story. In Arda Marred, families don't work the way they were meant to)

Then finally, when school started, I had to choose a book to read for Literature (yes, in my little private school, everyone got to choose!) But everything there was to choose from looked extremely boring. All except for the Lord of the Rings Trillogy! So I chose the Fellowship as my literature book, and did what I'd failed to do during my previous two exposures to Tolkien, I fell in love with Middle-earth. I had this little study guide thing with a bunch of (pretty stupid) questions over each chapter. But still, literature had become my new favorite subject.

We had to read two literature books a year in that school, so the first chance I got I chose the Two Towers as my second book, read through it in a few days, did the study guide (much more slowly) and then resigned myself to waiting all the way until next year to read RotK :(

My patience lasted till that Summer when after rereading the first two, I said to hell with waiting, I can just read it again when school starts. (Which didn't happen since I had to switch from my wonderful little private school to evil public school, where they don't let you read cool things like LotR and make you read stupid things like To Kill a Mocking Bird instead)

I'll stop now before I go into the whole story of How I first read the Silmarillion and How I first started learning Elvish, neither of which were the question. :D

[DARKastheRAIN]

That will never work for me. My parents aren't into "weird unreal stories with elves and whatmore flying around". I did get my sister to read the Hobbit though and I know she liked it, but she now says that she can't remember reading it. (How can you NOT remember reading the Hobbit?!?)
But I'm not giving up. She WILL read LotR! :evil:

I got my 12 year old sister to read the Hobbit and she loved it. Then I tried to get her to give LotR a second chance, but she says 'no I don't like the language, it's not kid language like the Hobbit'

Then I tried to get her to listen to the Children of Hurin audio book with me and she started acting very rude halfway through the first chapter and saying she was bored and calling the writing style "icky language"

Which had me saying "Call Tolkien's beautiful writing style 'icky' one more time, and death shall find thee swiftly, baseborn mortal child!"

I have since decided to let her grow up a little before trying to force more Tolkien on her again

My current battle is trying to convince my mom to read the Hobbit to my six-year-old brother as a bedtime story. I could just read it to him myself, but by getting my mom to read it to him I'll have exposed her aswell. Two birds with one stone :evil:

[Varnafindë]

Please someone correct me if I do this wrong, being a newbie, but this is the url
http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/qcourse.htm
This is not a site of my own making or of one of my friends. I simply found it while looking for an Elven language course after failing utterly my first attempts with a rather sadly done Sindarin course.

Ardalambion (run by Helge Fauskanger) is a well respected site.
Good find.
I believe they've got a Sindarin course as well. I haven't invested the time to really learn either - I did learn a little bit of Quenya some years ago, just enough so that I might distinguish a Quenya text from a Sindarin one, even without understanding either of them ...

[DARKastheRAIN]

I believe they've got a Sindarin course as well

nope :( unfortunately not. Just an explanation of the grammer structure and stuff, not an actual course


Valarauko5, where did you find your sadly done Sindarin course? I haven't been able to find one, sad or otherwise.

[Varnafindë]

Valarauko5, where did you find your sadly done Sindarin course? I haven't been able to find one, sad or otherwise.

I just found a site with a Sindarin course - I haven't even followed the link, so it may of course be another sadly done one, but here's the page with the link:

http://www.elvish.org/gwaith/language.htm

Hope it may be of some use.

[DARKastheRAIN]

I can't get it to work :(

[Valarauko5]

Here's the Sindarin site I found.
http://khallandra.tripod.com/sindarin/classes.htm
I don't know how good it is. Like I said before, I'm trying Quenya first because it's simpler. I'm actually getting quite good at it. Thanks you guys for replying. I was really worried people would get upset about my tangent. :)

P.S. I can't get that other Sindarin one to work either...

[Valarauko5]

That's kind of weird to. I actually gave that same link (just found out looking:rolleyes:) to a friend of mine on Facebook and I KNOW it worked then. I'm not sure what I did to get it to work.:(

[Sicirus]

I started reading when my dad gave me the books stating "You will like these" and I did. I started with the trilogy and then The Hobbit. I read Silmarillion later when I got obsessed. Need to read the Unfinished tales, bought it quite a while ago and haven't had time to read it yet. :)

[Valandil]

I started reading when my dad gave me the books stating "You will like these" and I did. I started with the trilogy and then The Hobbit. I read Silmarillion later when I got obsessed. Need to read the Unfinished tales, bought it quite a while ago and haven't had time to read it yet. :)

Fortunately, UT is one you can read in bits - and you don't have to start with the first story. You can skip around to points of interest, or shorter segments to get you going - because each is a separate story that stands on its own - filling in part of the larger Middle Earth story. :)

[Sicirus]

Excellent!! I do that with Silmarillion now whenever I want to return to a certain story. I shall work on the book in that way. :)

[Thorir Orcbane]

I've loved the Hobbit first, but that was a long time ago. I now find everything written by Tolkien fascinating. The Silmarillion is one of my new favourites also.

[Morwen]

I finally read it after my parents kept telling me to when I was 14. Also, I wasn't allowed to watch the movies before I'd read the books, which annoyed me, everyone else was dressing up as Arwen and I had no idea who she was...
Now I'm so glad I read them before, as I think my images of all the characters would have been tainted otherwise. Immediately became a massive Tolkein nerd.

[Thorir Orcbane]

Fortunately, UT is one you can read in bits - and you don't have to start with the first story. You can skip around to points of interest, or shorter segments to get you going - because each is a separate story that stands on its own - filling in part of the larger Middle Earth story. :)

where could one buy the UT?

[Sicirus]

where could one buy the UT?

Borders should have it. Or Barnes and Nobles.

[katya]

I finally read it after my parents kept telling me to when I was 14. Also, I wasn't allowed to watch the movies before I'd read the books, which annoyed me, everyone else was dressing up as Arwen and I had no idea who she was...
Now I'm so glad I read them before, as I think my images of all the characters would have been tainted otherwise. Immediately became a massive Tolkein nerd.
I wish someone would've done that for me. Most parents obviously just don't care about their children nowadays, not in the places where it counts. :rolleyes:;)

[Morwen]

Well both my parents are Tolkien fans, so that's why, I guess :D
When I have children, I'll have read them The Hobbit and LOTR before they can speak, probably...

[katya]

My dad's side of the family are Tolkien fans. My uncles house started out as a party shack called "The Hobbit". But they're not really the type to worry about mental images of characters being tainted forever or anything like that.

I don't want to have children, but I'll do what I can for any nieces and nephews. :)

[Ingwe]

I got into it just after the first movie was released. My wife, who back then was just a friend of mine from college, got me to see the movie. I said to her before going to see it, "what is this Lord of the Rings, is this like Lord of the Dance?" She seemed surprised, asking me if I'd seen the previews for the movie. I said, nope. Well, we went to see the movie and it was just utterly amazing! Eventually she got me into reading the books, and that was even more amazing.

Thus it began!

[Peregrina_Took]

I started reading the books about a year ago...Everyone else in the family was reading them then, but I was convinced that the books were totally pointless and not worth my time. I held out for several months, until I had a breakthrough.

I was walking through my kitchen one boring day when I saw The Hobbit sitting on a counter. I grabbed it on impulse and read it all the way through in a matter of hours.

I enjoyed it, but I still refused to actually read LotR until a good bit later. When I did, it was also on impulse.

I've been hooked ever since. :)

[Pitchike12]

Well...I have found this book since I was 3rd grade, but never read it until I was 4th grade. I started liking this book after I finished the book called "The Hobbit" and after reading it I've watch the movie. But there is a little difference between the movie and the book. :)

[thekingofgondor]

When I was little I saw the cartoon Hobbit movie which I really liked, and then I read the book, which I loved, but for some reason I never knew that it was connected to anything else, and then over the summer before my freshman year of HS we had "The Hobbit" as part of our summer reading list, and I re-fell in love with it, only this time I was well aware of it being connected to LOTR, so I went out and bought the trilogy to read, followed by the Silmarillion some time later. It was around that time as well that the first film came out, so between the books and the films, I just ended up becoming a huge Tolkien fan. But "The Hobbit" will always have a special place in my heart for being one of the first "fantasy" books I really loved, and introducing me to the joys of sword-fighting, treasure-hunting, dragon-slaying, and cavorting with dwarves and elves and wizards.

[paul]

I came to LotR via the movieis . Then I read the set and find that as enjoyable . My favorite hobbitt Sam Wise Gamgee ,
Person I would wanted help in time of trouble Any of the Fellowship of the Ring
Least favorite charecter Saruman
Did I like the movies over the books ? Its a draw the books give one several hours/days of reading while the movis run to 12 hours more or less of watching.:):thumb:

[mithrand1r]

I'm sorry if something like this has already been said, but I thought it would be cool to see how everyone began to like LotR.


Instead of being read bedtime stories before I fell asleep as a kid, my dad read me the Hobbit. I honestly don't remember how I felt about it, being so young, but it was a nice change. All my life my dad had LotR things around the house. My favorite was to play this LotR computer game he had, all I remember was being in Shelob's cave as Bilbo and thought it was the coolest thing ever. I am so happy that my dad got me into this whole "world of Tolkien" as you might say, and I am really proud of being a Tolkien for such a long time.


Also, my dad is the user Keith K if you remember him...

Probably seeing the hobbit during the 80's. Eventually, I did read the books.

On rereads, I find it difficult to get through The Old Forrest, Tom Bombadil and Sam/Frodo delivering the ring to its final destination. It is not impossible, but I find myself wanting to get to other parts of the story.

[Beren3000]

I'm sorry if something like this has already been said, but I thought it would be cool to see how everyone began to like LotR.


Instead of being read bedtime stories before I fell asleep as a kid, my dad read me the Hobbit. I honestly don't remember how I felt about it, being so young, but it was a nice change. All my life my dad had LotR things around the house. My favorite was to play this LotR computer game he had, all I remember was being in Shelob's cave as Bilbo and thought it was the coolest thing ever. I am so happy that my dad got me into this whole "world of Tolkien" as you might say, and I am really proud of being a Tolkien for such a long time.


Also, my dad is the user Keith K if you remember him...
You're so lucky to have a father like that! I'm a late comer to the Tolkien world: I was introduced to it through PJ's the Fellowship of the Ring movie. I immediately became hooked and I finished LoTR and the Silmarillion before the second movie came out :)

[The Gaffer]

The maps.

A mate had drawn a large size copy of the maps and put it up on his bedroom wall.

That was it: hooked. I wanted to know what all these places were.

I never did find out WTF was going on with Forodwaith and Enedwaith. Grr

Anyway, how awesome is this?? A map of Middle-Earth superimposed on a map of Europe.

http://www.bogost.com/middle-earth.jpg (big file so I didn't embed it so as not to knacker the margins)

Looks a bit dubious, but I am off to Weathertop next week, apparently.. good enough for me.

[inked]

http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2011/pkelly_tolkienintvw_may2011.asp

The above is a book about Tolkien that I had not previously heard of. Has anyone read it?

I went from Narnia to Middle Earth because I knew that CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien were colleagues and friends ( a la Inklings). There are interesting connections between the works.

[Beren3000]

I went from Narnia to Middle Earth because I knew that CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien were colleagues and friends ( a la Inklings). There are interesting connections between the works.
Interesting! It was the other way around for me.

[Attalus]

I first saw the FotR in the pirated Ace edition in 1966, I think. I had no idea what it was, butI bought it and stayed up all night reading it. I was waiting at the door when the bookshop opened the next day. :)