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#Halloweenpoetrymatters #Goblin #skeletoncrew
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@TheSpineView @Emilymdxn
In this letter from November of 1944 while working on the final chapters of The Two Towers, Tolkien writes to his son Christopher.
“I have got the hero into such a fix that not even an author will be able to extricate him without labour and difficulty.”
#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien
#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien
Also, the publisher claimed they aimed to 'modernise' Tolkien's language so to make it more approachable by the younger generations.
I have my problem.with the whole idea of 'modernising'the classics, but then recently l came across this letter by Tolkien addressing his use of a 'more ancient language'.
In my opinion, this raises several questions about authenticity for such an operation. ⬇
Tonight's reads 😁
In January 2023, I completed 12 books including the tagged Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien that I‘ve been slowly working my way through for almost a year and a half. It was well worth the time and effort and completed a bingo! I read 2 of my #Roll100 selections and 3 #1001books in the mix as well. It was a good month!
#BookSpinBingo #ReadingStats #MonthlyStats
I‘m not really a sports fan, so I snuck in the last few letters during halftime of the Chiefs game while out with friends much more intent on the game and game discussion. This is a book I‘m so glad to have in ebook form since I doubt I will read it cover to cover again, but I will love being able to look up specific references. It is amazing to get Tolkien‘s own perspective on so many topics.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters #BooksAndBooze
It‘s been about 4 months since I posted anything from my reading of Tolkien‘s letters, but I‘ve been reading a few here and here with plenty of breaks between. I‘ve continued to enjoy the experience, but there hasn‘t been anything I‘ve felt the need to share out of context. I‘ve made it to letter 310 of 354 and will stop for now, switching to rereading the Letters to Father Christmas for December, and hoping to finish the rest in January.
I‘ve been missing my Tolkien reading while trying to stay caught up on other things. This morning before church I made time for at least a couple letters with breakfast.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters #BreakfastWithTolkien
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
@Daisey @BookwormAHN @wordslinger42 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa
Hey, gals! Raggi g e everyone, just to keep in touch 😁
I've had this ready for days and I keep forgetting to post.
I haven't Vought up to this (admittedly very loose) schedule, but I'm on my way.
I'm really enjoying the letters. Such a precious look into the life and thought of a remarkable man.
How's everyone faring? 😁
This letter made me laugh today; first of all just because of Tolkien‘s comments, but especially because this is my cat Gandalf who I have always assumed has at least a bit of Siamese in him. 🤣
#TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien #CatsOfLitsy
From Letter 215, an unsent draft in response to a question about writing for children vs adults among other questions
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters #KindleQuotes #TeachersOfLitsy
From Letter 213
I think we often over analyze author‘s lives and writing to find more than the author intended, so I find this comment about no person truly knowing the relationship between writer and writing very appropriate.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters #KindleQuotes
Today was a long day of work, but I did fit in a few pages of Tolkien‘s letters this morning while I was filling the overhead bin with corn. I was intrigued reading Letter 210 with Tolkien‘s comments about a possible film adaptation in the late 1950s. I often wonder what authors think about adaptations, so it‘s interesting to actually get some of his unsatisfied perspective.
#TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien
#BooksOnTheFarm
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
@Daisey @BookwormAHN @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42
I know I'm late, but here's the schedule for the second half of May.
I'll admit I'm still behind (May has been crazy), but l want to catch up so we can start reading together again 😊
I would agree that as a reader of Tolkien‘s work, I always want a little more, including some of these very topics. His world building is immersive in a way that makes it seem that information should be available.
From Letter 187 written April 1956
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters #KindleQuotes
And on this Easter day, let's go back to the letters 😁
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
Sunday morning perfection!
Yesterday my family got together to cut up pork and make sausage. A lot of it stayed at Grandpa‘s to be smoked, but this morning I had fresh sausage links for breakfast and finally made some time again for Tolkien‘s letters. I‘ve been busy with life and other reading, and I‘ve missed my Tolkien reading.
#BreakfastWithTolkien #BookAndBreakfast #TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien
I‘ve reached my January goal of reading through letter 150 of The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, and this fulfills my #BookSpin square 8 for January.
I tend to always be a bit amused when Tolkien writes about American publishers in his letters. He never seems to have a very good opinion of them. This quote is from letter 145 to Rayner Unwin.
#TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien
I‘m slowly continuing to read Tolkien‘s letters every few days. I feel I‘ve seen this letter answering an early reader‘s questions quoted before, but I think it‘s helpful to remember again that some aspects readers often question are meant to be that way. Certain things are there because he wanted to delve into them and others are missing because he didn‘t want them fully explained.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
It‘s just before 9:00pm in my part of the world, so I‘m continuing my Tolkien reading with Letter 131 and a hard cider for the Toast to the Professor. This is a very long letter which is meant to be a “brief sketch” of the main events of the first through third ages explaining how The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings should be published together. It‘s long but also fascinating to see his summary.
#TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
Ta-daaaa!!!!
Here it is! 😊
I Swift reread through the letters to Christopher to take down quotes for my Instagram feed. I really really love these letters 💙
@Daisey @wordslinger42 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BookwormAHN
My last completed book of the year was this great nonfiction listen, The Five.
My carryover book from 2021 to 2022 is The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. I may very well read another letter in the morning. #FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
The first new read I plan to start tomorrow is A Month in the Country.
#LastFirst
I realized it‘s been almost a month since I‘ve posted any of my Tolkien reading. I‘ve been reading letters here & there, but I haven‘t been sticking to anything like daily reading. So, this morning I settled down for breakfast & a few more pages. The letters are a mix of writing to various people, including this postcard in runes. I continue to be fascinated by this very personal look into Tolkien‘s life, especially his letters to Christopher.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
So many times, reading these letters addressed to Christopher away at war, l've heard echoes of things l read in The Lord of the Rings.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
"This book has come to be more and more addressed to you and so your opinion matters more than anyone else's".
I remember Christopher saying a couple of times in HoME that his father wrote The Lord of the Rings for him.
In this light, that of a conversation between father and son about war, the book takes up even a deeper meaning in my opinion.
From letter 77 to Christopher
This seems to express a lot about Tolkien‘s writing and view of life in one short and simple line.
#TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien #KindleQuotes
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkienLetters
This really moved me.
Once again, l got the strong impression that Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings for his children and especially for Christopher. I never imagined this kinship, this oneness of experience and desires.
What moves me here is that Tolkien speaks to Christopher (who was really a boy at the time) as a peer, as well as his beloved son. That was a very special bond.
I understand, now.
#FellowshipOfTolkien
Finally making some catching up with #TolkiensLetters.
I'm adoring these letters sent to Christopher off at war in South Africa. I love reading about Tolkien's everyday life. I never imagined he was a gardener! So now l know where Sam came from!
I enjoyed a few more of Tolkien‘s letters with supper tonight. These to Christopher about the writing of LotR and WWII at the same time provide a much more personal perspective than the biographical writing I‘ve previously read.
As for supper, I‘ve been meaning to try making étouffée for a while and finally did today. It‘s delicious, and I‘ve got meals prepped for a few more days.
#TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien #ReadAndEat
From letter 66 to Christopher in May 1944
I love these bits about the characters that just make themselves known as the story is written, especially with how much I like Faramir. I‘m also amused by the comment about him possibly joining other fascinating information that‘s been removed to the appendices if he keeps on about history.
#TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien #KindleQuotes
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
Hey, gals! Before the madness of #NaNoWriMo stars, here's November schedule 😜
I'm all caught up (unbelievable!) and loving the letters. They show the complexity of the man and of his life. I was surprised to read about the many health issues. I could see (not just read) the economic problems.
The letters to his published show his vulnerable side, those to his sons are candid and insightfull.
Living it!
I enjoyed a mug of spiked cider with more of Tolkien‘s letters this evening and am caught up with our October schedule. After all we‘ve read of Tolkien‘s writing process through the History of Middle-Earth, it‘s fascinating to see mentions of the same developments in his letters to Christopher. I think reading the books in this order gives a better appreciation of the details in the letters.
#TolkiensLetters #FellowshipOfTolkien #BooksAndBooze
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
I've had a feeling that this was how Tolkien felt when he wrote The Lord of the Rings. In a way, that story seems a conversation between father and son who face similar terrible experiences. And on Tolkien's part, it's almost an elaboration of the experience (of WWI) which he might have never done of his own volition, but now he must to give a sense to his sons' experience.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
Loved this letter. The health problem, the work closely mmitments, the newfound love for The Lord of the Rings, his insecurities about that story he loves, his children.
It isn't a personal letter, but it reveals so much personal matters. I truly loved it.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
Let's do some catching up! 😜💪
I took some time this morning with breakfast to play a little bit of catch up on my Tolkien reading. I even had coffee with the Tolkien inspired name Light of Earendil which is locally roasted in the Kansas City area. The letters I read today were mostly to his son Michael serving in the military.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters #BreakfastWithTolkien #BookAndBreakfast
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
@Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42 @BookwormAHN
Sorry for the delay, gals. The beginning of October was crazy at work, as it is every year. Which means I'm quite behind with my readings too 😟
But now things are getting back to normal, and l think I'll be able to catch up with the letters 😜
Here's October's schedule.
How's everyone getting along?
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
Just caught up with a week worth of letters and loved this selection.
His scathing reply to the German publisher asking about his ancestry was a masterpiece.
I loved reading about the beginning of the 'New hobbit'. Yes, we read most of it on HoME, but l like reading it in his life's context. While his mentions of economic difficulties are endearing to me. Never realised how pressant this was to him.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
I've read so many quotes from this letters over the years. Reading the 'entire' thing (or, at least, what we can read of it) was nice and endearing
Tolkien makes everything he can to belittle his success. He gives me the impression he doesn't want success to change him or his life, so he makes fun of it, though in places the pleasure come to the surface of seeing one of his story finding its own life 💙
Happy Hobbit Day!
I find it very appropriate that I‘m reading letter 22 on September 22, also known as #HobbitDay because it is Bilbo & Frodo‘s birthday, and Tolkien mentions his early drafts of the beginning of what became LotR.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
It arrived!!!! My English edition of Tolkien's Letters. At last!
How is it going, ladies?
I'm actually nearly a week behind, but l hope to catch up soon 😜
@Daisey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @wordslinger42 @BookwormAHN
I‘m appreciating reading the letters but usually don‘t have much to say about them. I was amused by these quotes from letters 14 & 15. Tolkien was apparently not a fan of Disney and absolutely did not want them in any way connected with illustrating American editions. Then he is “perturbed” that his comments were sent directly to the American publisher, as he could have expressed his opinions more tactfully.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
Tolkien candidated as an Anglo-Saxon professor at Oxford with this letter. He was 33, apparently very young. But they would have been crazy not be to take him on.
I smiled because, as characteristic of him, he presented everything he made as if small things that anybody would be able to do, but in between the lines you can feel the passion for his work, his involvement and his commitment.
A true Hobbit!💙
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
Such a pity this is the only letter included from the war period. John Garth included many excerpts from letters from and to Tolkien during the war. They were so insightful.
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters
I loved this one.
Ever since l discovered Edith make the fair copies of Tolkien's first stories, l've wondered how much she was involved in his creation.
From this letter, it looks like she was pretty much involved. At least at this stage.
Tolkien: l'll send this poem to the TCBS. No, l prefer to send it to you first, my dear Edith.
💙
I'm really enjoying the letters so far, even though they've been short. I think they offer an interesting look into his everyday life, and I'm excited to get to know Tolkien better in that way!
#FellowshipofTolkien
I‘m pretty sure I‘m going to be awful at sticking with the schedule for this one. I did read the introduction on the first, and then I caught up by reading the first few excerpts of letters to Edith tonight as well as perusing others‘ posts. I don‘t know that this is going to be quite as enjoyable to read, but I am thoroughly intrigued to see what it contains (and am also curious about what was left out).
#FellowshipOfTolkien #TolkiensLetters