Tolkien Reading Day

Today, Marxh 25, is Tolkien Reading Day, and, of course, the day the One Ring was destroyed. What are you reading this day?

I’m reading from Return of the King, Book VI, Chapter 3, Mount Doom.

I'm not reading fantasy at the moment, I'm reading Wild strawberries by Angela Thirkell, but I'd like to mention that we buried my mother today and it feels very fitting and consoling that it was on the day when the Darkness was defeated. When the church told us that today was the only available day for a burial, I thought it was a very good day, I couldn't have asked for a better one.

>3 anglemark: My deepest sympathy to you and your family. May God comfort and bless you today and in the days ahead.

>3 anglemark: Mina kondoleanser.

Hardly reading anything today, a couple pages in a history book.

Right now I am reading The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliffe. But no matter what I happen to be reading, I always choose a portion of a Tolkien book to read on this day. In addition to the Mount Doom chapter, I also read the final chapter of this great saga, The Grey Havens. So satisfying.

I've started to read The Lord of the Rings and am in around ten chapters. This is my first time and I'm enjoying the experience. The wealth of knowledge and imagination Tolkien gave to this story is unbelievable. It's almost as if Middle-Earth existed with its own culture and language. Tolkien is meticulous in his details and I find it soothing the "reminiscence" he's alluding to: a bygone era where friendship and countryside mattered more.

Yesterday, I was so excited that I couldn't let myself miss watching the extended edition of Peter Jackson's movie trilogy adaptation. I watched the first part: The Fellowship of the Ring and quite enjoyed scenes I had never seen before and how the movie and book differ. I know some don't like the trilogy but I find it entertaining.

I've also gone ahead and picked up both the BBC Radio adaptation on cassette of the Hobbit and LOTR:





And will listen to this after finishing the trilogy

>7 ironjaw: I’ve read the Ring trilogy three times but the first reading is the one I remember with the most unbounded pleasure. There’s nothing like it.

My husband and I watch the extended movie trilogy about once a year and enjoy it very much, but more as entertainment than a faithful adaptation to the books. I have a couple of pet peeves with the movies but on the other side of the coin, some things are depicted just perfectly. Even with the things that bug me in them, the movies enhance the wonder of Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

My daughter-in-law has listened to the BBC radio LOTR and really liked them.

I wish you happy days of reveling in the whole Tolkien reading experience and the movie watching as well.