Welcome to Litsy!

Unfortunately I just don't find much to enjoy in this underwhelming little story, but again, shout out to Pauline Baynes for the most charming illustrations. On the whole, I've enjoyed digging into these Tolkien minor works even if some of the individual stories and poems don't thrill me, and it was lovely spending January in the Professor's weird, whimsical, and singular worlds. #FellowshipOfTolkien

I've finished Tolkien's story & have moved into the ancillary material, which is fascinating. Some of the contemporary reviews were scathing, if not to say condescending, & it's gratifying from this point in time to see that they were wrong about the story's depth & longevity. I agree with one of the accepting reviews, which described "Smith" as a "sad, wise book", & as "a myth of great delicacy". As Tolkien's final composition, it has poignancy.

Oh, the things you can find at the thrift shop! The quilted star was framed in an embroidery hoop, but I tore that silliness apart and am going to sew a back on and make a pillow. Then it will be used as Book Pillow #2, to prop books on while reading with a dog on my lap. (Dogs make TERRIBLE book pillows.)

Sounds a lot like Bilbo
#LotRChapterADay #YearOfTolkien

(yes, yes, l'm one day behind)