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#FellowshipOfTolkien

I really enjoyed reading this first part of the Grey Annals. This is the material on which most of the published Silmarillion is based, still there are little details that didn't come in the final compilation, and l find those totally fascinating.

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I can't believe l'm still behind with this. But today l'll try to catch up. Work is seriously killing me.

Loved to read this. The Passing of the Grey Company is one of the most chilling chapters in the book. Tolkien could write some serious horror, if he wanted!

I'm so fascinated with the idea that Aragorn could be a new 'Lord of the Ring'.

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I liked this chapter because l think it showed, even more than the final book does, how central the theme of healing is for Tolkien. It almost seem that to him, a hero who can only kill and is unable to heal is not really a hero.

I am so behind with this. Crazy rhythms at work, then a horrible cold, and l fell so much behind.
But l'll catch up! 😁💪

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Denethor's character's arc is one of the most intense in the book, IMO.
Denethor is one of those awesome, but very difficult characters that Tolkien was brave enough to write, but that readers often seem to dismiss as just assholes.
Maybe l have a problem, but l really like these characters, like Turin, Morwen, Thorin, and of course my boy Feanor 😉

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Really loved reading the evolution of Eowyn's story over the last few chapters.
I've always felt that the Rohirrim kind of have their story inside the story, and seeing how Tolkien wrote LotR in big chunks at a time, l can even see how this might actually be the case.

First glimpes at Arwen's appearance. Can't wait to see her coming into the story.

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Really enjoyed this chapter, with that alternate story. Denethor meets Aragorn and Aragorn saved Faramir from his wounds. And Eowyn dies on the battlefield.
I do prefer the story how it ended up being, but this alternative was interesting too.

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So granted, l have an extremely soft spot for the Rohirrim, and the episode of the Druadain Forest perfectly shows why.

I find it incredible how Tolkien can pull off a completely new idea in the middle of the story and that idea doesn't feel at all as if it came out of the blue, but it feels as if it has always been there, waiting for the opportune moment to come to the surface.

Storyteller's power!

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Wow! In spite of the essencial structure of the chapter of tge Siege of Gondor was written down, there are so many interesting detail that differ from what we know.

At first, Denethor and Faramir's relationship isn't harsh. Surprised as l was, l wasn't as shock as when Gandalf said the Witch King of Angmar is a banned member of his order, back in Numenor. An idea is present that he won't be killed by a hero.

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Trying to catch up. I'm so behind!
This is the second half of the Muster of Rohan as first incarnated.
I'm so interested in the evolution of Eowyn's story. From the synopses so far it looked like she was going to ride with the riders openly, like Merry, but here it seems the story is changing. I'm so very curious.

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It's nice to be back to this book after so many days.
The chapter is mostly nitpicking, but l liked watching Minas Tirith taking up her personality.

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Now that most of the crazy month of September is over, it's time for some catching up.
And l have a lot to do. I'm only half way through this book 😭

I finished the last couple chapters tonight! I‘m not sure I enjoyed this third book about LotR quite as much as the first 2 just because it felt like there was less unknown here. We saw the development of a story we know, but without the very different early possibilities seen in the previous books. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to continuing these HoME books.

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I finished The War of the Ring tonight while Druzy was sleeping. I'm really enjoying reading about how Lotr developed 💫
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I fit in some time to read “The Houses of Healing” this evening. The paragraph at the top of this page that mentions the importance of Pippin and Merry being a part of the fellowship is what I love about this whole story. The story of the hobbits is a message about the impact that each of as individuals can have in the world.

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Well I spent the weekend catching up, and as I finished my section for today I realized there were just 5 pages left! Yes, I read them! And I can‘t believe that I‘ve finished another of Christopher Tolkien‘s History of Middle Earth books...something I never thought I‘d even attempt to read, but I‘m still here and still loving the backstories, side tangents, and sometimes outright sleuthing to piece together the story behind the story we know.

I may be behind on my readings, and playing a bit of catch-up this weekend....but with Éowyn out as a potential love interest for Aragorn and Arwen not yet developed yet, I have to admit that even though he didn‘t mean it this way....my first thought was now that‘s some fan-fiction I‘d read! ?

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This was the perfect way to start a Saturday. However, by the time I made & ate breakfast, then read the chapter, I had no time to make a post, so I‘m sharing several hours later. This chapter was fantastic! The first draft included is short without a lot of detail, but what a possibility to consider. Without spoilers, all I can say is Eowyn is seriously strong and amazing!

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I continually enjoy seeing the development of the big ideas in these books, but today this small development caught my attention. Simple word revisions like changing from “You are weary, my son,” to “You are weary, I see,” accumulate to create the harsh Denethor we know.

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The second part if the chapter is all about synopses and, as usual, l loved having a pick in Tolkien's creating process.
So many things that might have been, but never were. Like many parallel stories.

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Took me two weeks to read this chapter, and certainly it wasn't its fault. Crazy times at work.

There's a lot of work to pin down Dunharrow, one of the awesomest places in Lord of the Rings, in my opinion.
It was so different in the beginning, more like a keep.
I love the history surrounding Dunharrow. Is it my impression, or Tolkien had more trouble definire the Rohirrim than anyone else?

Steak nachos and a few more pages of Tolkien before I get back to updating grades and lesson planning tonight. I‘m thoroughly enjoying the development of the city and Pippin‘s adventures in “Minas Tirith.”

#ReadandEat #LotRHistory #FellowshipofTolkien #YearsofTolkien

#WeekendsReads @rachelsbrittain

1. The War of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
2. I like both but prefer mappe
3. "They had left and gone far away"

While I thought this whole chapter was interesting, I think my biggest takeaway is that I'm so glad Tolkien decided not to kill of Eowyn! She's one of my favorite characters 💚

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I read this chapter nearly one week ago, but the work got crazy and completely waylaid my life.

I totally loved this. Sam's chapter is one of my favourite in the entire trilogy. It's heatfelt, and so involving. I always feel as if l'm there with Sam, uncertain what to do.
I knew there must have been a lot of work behind such chapter, it's fantastic to have the possibility to see how it was built.

I finally finished the “Kirith Ungol” chapter tonight. There were many interesting developments in this section, but I think the most fascinating to me was change from many spiders to one and the use of the name Ungoliant. Since first reading The Silmarillion I‘ve wondered about the connection between Ungoliant and Shelob, and this seems to confirm their similarities.

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What a great first sketch of a city we would all come to know so well!

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I read a portion of the chapter for #LOTRHistory 💚 I continue to admire Christopher Tolkien's dedication to sorting out the puzzle that was his dad's writing process 😂

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I don't know how this is. I've always had a kind of phobia for spiders and still l'm fascinated with both Ungoliant and Shelob.

I loved reading Shelob's genesis. Imagine reading LotR without Shelob. Well, that's what we did in this chapter. Still, the episode with the many spiders barely resistete. She is the true main character of this chapter. Such a powerful presence.

I‘ve been busy the last few days with little time to read, but this weekend we‘re camping and I‘m hoping to make some progress. However, with this view from the hammock and quality family time I may not get as much reading time as planned. Either way, it will be a good weekend.

#LotRHistory #YearsofTolkien #FellowshipofTolkien

#SummersEndReadathon

Well, it could have been better. I was hoping is something better, considering that l read almost 10 hours in the first half of the challenge. But l was supposed to be on holiday this week... instead l wasn't, so...

This is l'm so impressed with @Clwojick achievement. She was also working, but managed an outstanding result.

I love readathons. I'm just not very good at them.

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Fascinating!
The writing was so fast and sure up to this point, and now it all became difficult for Tolkien. But it is undertandable. This is a very emotional part of the book.

I was fascinated to see the evolution of the episode of the spiders. Exactly! It seems impossible to.think at this episode without Shelob, and still Tolkien worked long at it without her.

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Poor Tolkien is once again fighting with the timeline.
But honestly now l want Shelob! 😆

Everyone, if you are on Instagram, a group will read along The Hobbit and discuss it in September. They told me we can still take part, if we have read the book recently.
The hashtag is #HobbitBirthdayMania

I started the Faramir chapter last night and finished it tonight. I truly enjoyed the historical aspect of this chapter, although with school getting into full swing I felt a bit rushed and wish I could have read it a bit more slowly. There just aren‘t enough hours in the day right now.

#LotRHistory #YearsofTolkien #FellowshipofTolkien

I am really loving the insights by his letters....and realizing how much we‘ve lost as letter writing has become a bit of a lost art.

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#YearsOfTolkien
#LOTRHistory

I love these little tidbits in his letter to his son, so long ago....nice to know Faramir was a lovely surprise to all of us. 😉

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#FellowshipOfTolkien #LOTRHistory

Well, that was fast!
l'm truly in awe that at this stage Tolkien could write such complex story with so little uncertanty. It's easy to say 'the story wrote itself", but when we're talking something as complex as LotR there's nothing simple or easy, in my opinion.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #LOTRHistory

Absolutely loved this chapter. Besides, Faramir is an awesome character.
In the book, Faramir is Middle-Earth's living history. The ancient values and wisdom lives on in Faramir and it looks as if he brought part to it even to his creator, who explore Numenor's history deeper through this character.

Fantastic!

#SummersEndReadathon @Clwojick
#24B4Monday @TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

Considering it was a busy day, l'm not displeased with my time.
Read all through today's (and tomorrow's) chapters dormire the #FellowshipOfTolkien #LOTRHistory readalong. Absolutely fascinating.

And now, l'm aiming to finish Spellbound. Still 26% to go.

Happy Saturday! I started the day getting a few things done around the house, but as beautiful as it is outside, I might just spend too much of my day right here reading in the hammock. I enjoyed the discussion of letter exchanges between Christopher and his father in the last chapter and am looking forward to exploring the next couple chapters this weekend.

#LotRHistory #YearsofTolkien #FellowshipofTolkien

#FellowshipOfTolkien #LOTRHistory

I'm not surprised that the dual timeline gave such headache to Tolkien.
It made me smile that he had to research how to stew a rabbit 😆

I can't wait to read about Faramir. I didn't expect someone on his place at first, since l've always thought Faramir appeared suddenly.
Let's see.

I know l'm a bit late, but l'm finally able to start my #SummersEndReadathon and #24B4Monday

First off, today's chapter per the #FellowshipOfTolkien #LOTRHistory #readalong

#SummersEndReadathon @Clwojick

I'm going to start now, but first...

1. To finish two of the books l'm reading/listening and read one from my #NetGalley pile
2. To finish A Duty to the Dead. It's charmed me!
3. Coffee
4. Set my click
5. Yes l mix both genre and formats, though as always l tend to stay close to my favourite genres: historical, fantasy, magic realism
6. @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

We could have had Bingo and Sam Goodchild! Oh no! 🙈 Thank goodness Christopher was as attached to Gamgee and Sam as we would all soon become!

#YearOfTolkien
#YearsOfTolkien
#FellowshipOfTolkien
#LOTRHistory

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So now the story 'wrote itself' and we don't get to read much about it.
But l loved reading about Christopher's letter exchange about the story (here regarding Sam's name). And it was amusing seeing Tolkien moving the chapter title Kirith Ungol later and later as the story evolved 😆
That pesky story didn't seem to have any intention to behave.

I‘m a bit late reading my section tonight, but I love these little tidbits about dating based on the letters the son received from his father, and his father‘s comments about the story running away with him a bit.

These little things always make me smile.😊

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I always enjoy seeing the reproductions of the actual manuscript pages. I can‘t even imagine struggling through all the mixed pages, some with writing over writing, and handwriting like this to decipher these early drafts. It definitely makes Tolkien‘s difficulty in figuring out the next phase of Frodo & Sam‘s journey more clear, and I enjoyed reading that process.

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In a way, l'm a bit sorry that Tolkien seems to come to the final version of the story so quickly in these later chapters because we don't get to read as much 'new' material as we did in the early stages.

The Dead Marshes is one of my favourite chapters in the book. I was eager to read more. But l suppose l'll have to wait for our reread 😆

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After concluding the Isengard/Helm's Deep episode, Tolkien got back to Frodo and Sam... after one year of hiatus.

As Christopher point out, it's easy to feel Tolkien‘s difficulty in getting back to the story. This first chapter is clearly a trial and mistake path.
But l adored reading Sam! Being a later addition to the story, we haven't read much of him so far. Certainly not as much as l'd like 😆

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Fantastic! I really enjoyed reading how the idea for the Palantiri emerged, on the page, just like it happend for the One Ring.
I especially like seeing how Tolkien slowly sank into his Silmarillion to explain the Stones.

Incidently, when l read of how The Palantir of Minas Tirith was found, l thought that if they play it right, the new series might turn out to be fantastic!