Hello friendlies! I finished Fellowship of the Ring at long last, after reading it in snitches and in snatches at meals. The copy I was reading is a little worse for the wear, but in a loved way. A couple months ago, I purchased the 75th anniv. paperback set (not including the hobbit):
I have a few things to say about them.
First of all, Amazon seems incapable of sending me a copy in perfect condition, even though I wasn't buying them used.
First of all, Amazon seems incapable of sending me a copy in perfect condition, even though I wasn't buying them used.
Second of all, I kind of forgave Amazon when I realized how terribly fragile these books were. They scuff quite easily. The cover art is JRR Tolkien's original designs from the first editions (I think it was on the first? maybe a slightly later one), so yay 75th anniversary. Of course, the cover art on my 50th anniversary edition is also original awesomeness so.....
Despite being snazzy looking, these were the same price as most average length paperbacks 6-10 dollars depending on sellers etc. Because of that, I don't feel so protective of them that I can barely read them because I'm scared to open them all the way. Very down-to-earth, these books.
Now then, you
They look like this picture, they also have the original art, and I want them.
Are the hardcovers beautiful? Yes.
Do I have them? No.
Do I want them? Yes.
Do I intend to own them at some point in the future? Yes.
Can I, in any way, justify buying them considering how many copies of this book I already have? No, but that never stopped me before. Muahahahaha.
Has anyone ever stopped to consider how rich Christopher Tolkien must be? And yet he lives a quiet, decently normal (considering the circumstances) life with his wife somewhere in France. He is also member of that ancient generation that makes it to 92. Oh my goodness, he is terribly old. Now I'm sad. I think that Christopher Tolkien deserves an eleventy-first birthday. It's only fitting. Someday I ought to do a post on Simon Tolkien....I'm not at all happy with that chap. I honestly don't know anyone as easily sidetracked as myself. Anyway. Here is a quote from every chapter in the Fellowship of the Ring. Enjoy. I should make this a challenge. Um...Chapter by Chapter Challenge? Boom! Now it's a thing.
Time for some random rules:
Are the hardcovers beautiful? Yes.
Do I have them? No.
Do I want them? Yes.
Do I intend to own them at some point in the future? Yes.
Can I, in any way, justify buying them considering how many copies of this book I already have? No, but that never stopped me before. Muahahahaha.
Has anyone ever stopped to consider how rich Christopher Tolkien must be? And yet he lives a quiet, decently normal (considering the circumstances) life with his wife somewhere in France. He is also member of that ancient generation that makes it to 92. Oh my goodness, he is terribly old. Now I'm sad. I think that Christopher Tolkien deserves an eleventy-first birthday. It's only fitting. Someday I ought to do a post on Simon Tolkien....I'm not at all happy with that chap. I honestly don't know anyone as easily sidetracked as myself. Anyway. Here is a quote from every chapter in the Fellowship of the Ring. Enjoy. I should make this a challenge. Um...Chapter by Chapter Challenge? Boom! Now it's a thing.
Time for some random rules:
1. Add the Chapter by Chapter image to your post.
2. Leave a link to your post around here somewhere, so I can come see (the eye of Goldenrod is watching).
3. List a beloved (or favourite) quote from each chapter in The Fellowship of the Ring.
4. Sing a song or dance a jig, and make plans to watch LOTR sometime in the near future.
I shall be doing mine in two parts, Book I and Book II, for the sake of reasonably long posts (HA!). I also refuse to commit to picking my 'favourite' quotes because that is impossible. I shall choose mostly at random from among all the ones I have underlined. Book II will arrive at some point between now, and the day I die.
Chapter I: A Long-Expected Party
'I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.' This was unexpected and rather difficult. There was some scattered clapping, but most of them were trying to work it out and see if it came to a compliment.
Chapter II: The Shadow of the Past
'Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.'
Chapter III: Three is Company
'"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door," he used to say. "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."'
Chapter IV: A Short Cut to Mushrooms
"Ho! Ho! Ho! to the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe.
Rain may fall and wind may blow,
And many miles be still to go,
But under a tall tree I will lie,
And let the clouds go sailing by."
"Hobbits have a passion for mushrooms, surpassing even the greediest likings of the Big People. A fact which partly explains young Frodo's long expeditions to the renowned fields of the Marish, and the wrath of the injured Maggot. On this occasion there was plenty for all, even according to hobbit standards."
Chapter VI: The Old Forest
"Then another clear voice, as young and as ancient as Spring, like the song of a glad water flowing down into the night from a bright morning in the hills, came falling like silver to meet them:
"Then another clear voice, as young and as ancient as Spring, like the song of a glad water flowing down into the night from a bright morning in the hills, came falling like silver to meet them:
'Now let the song begin! Let us sing together
Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,
Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,
Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,
Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:
Old Tom Bombadil and the River-daughter!"
Chapter VII: in the House of Tom Bombadil
"Tom's words laid bare the hearts of trees and their thoughts, which were often dark and strange, and filled with a hatred of things that go free upon the earth, gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning: destroyers and usurpers."
Chapter VIII: Fog on the Barrow-downs
"Frodo heard a sweet singing running in his mind: a song that seemed to come like a pale light behind a grey rain-curtain, and growing stronger to turn the veil all to glass and silver, until at last it was rolled back, and a far green country opened before him under a swift sunrise."
Chapter IX: At the Sign of The Prancing Pony
"There were several Underhills from Staddle, and as the could not imagine sharing a name without being related, they took Frodo to their hearts as a long-lost cousin."
Chapter X: Strider
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
Chapter XI: A Knife in the Dark
"Immediately, though everything else remained as before, dim and dark, the shapes became terribly clear. He was able to see beneath their black wrappings. There were five tall figures: two standing on the lip of the dell, three advancing. In their white faces burned keen and merciless eyes; under their mantles were long grey robes; upon their grey hairs were helms of silver; in their haggard hands were swords of steel."
Chapter XII: Flight to the Ford
"Suddenly into view below came a white horse, gleaming in the shadows, running swiftly. In the dusk its headstall flickered and flashed, as if it were studded with gems like living stars. The rider's cloak streamed behind him, and his hood was thrown back; his golden hair flowed shimmering in the wind of his speed. To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining through the form and raiment of the rider, as if through a thin veil."
If anyone should notice any errors in these quotes, please point them out so that I can change them. Also excuse the inconsistent formatting in this post....I don't know what is going on.
"Tom's words laid bare the hearts of trees and their thoughts, which were often dark and strange, and filled with a hatred of things that go free upon the earth, gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning: destroyers and usurpers."
Chapter VIII: Fog on the Barrow-downs
"Frodo heard a sweet singing running in his mind: a song that seemed to come like a pale light behind a grey rain-curtain, and growing stronger to turn the veil all to glass and silver, until at last it was rolled back, and a far green country opened before him under a swift sunrise."
Chapter IX: At the Sign of The Prancing Pony
"There were several Underhills from Staddle, and as the could not imagine sharing a name without being related, they took Frodo to their hearts as a long-lost cousin."
Chapter X: Strider
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."
Chapter XI: A Knife in the Dark
"Immediately, though everything else remained as before, dim and dark, the shapes became terribly clear. He was able to see beneath their black wrappings. There were five tall figures: two standing on the lip of the dell, three advancing. In their white faces burned keen and merciless eyes; under their mantles were long grey robes; upon their grey hairs were helms of silver; in their haggard hands were swords of steel."
Chapter XII: Flight to the Ford
"Suddenly into view below came a white horse, gleaming in the shadows, running swiftly. In the dusk its headstall flickered and flashed, as if it were studded with gems like living stars. The rider's cloak streamed behind him, and his hood was thrown back; his golden hair flowed shimmering in the wind of his speed. To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining through the form and raiment of the rider, as if through a thin veil."
If anyone should notice any errors in these quotes, please point them out so that I can change them. Also excuse the inconsistent formatting in this post....I don't know what is going on.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love getting comments. Even ones that have nothing to do with anything.