Welcome to Litsy!

When the #Elf on the shelf comes out, so does this meme (even if I‘ve shared it before)! #ChristmasCheer

We finally did it! We finally finished The Two Towers! My husband and I started it last year during a road trip but didn't pick it up again until this week's road trip.

It has been years since I've read the trilogy, and I have to say, Book 4 of this book was way more fun than the first parts. Andy Serkis doing Gollum was the best!

Real smooth, Aragon, real smooth

During April I participated in the magical read-a-thon.

My character, Veta Mae changed her Calling to a Scribe and had much more success and more fun.

This stack of books was for my Classes.

Love this book!!! Enjoyed the audiobook. I rated this book a 5 out 5 stars.

RIP Theoden king

#FellowshipOfTolkien

Again, I listened to the original American National Public Radio broadcast. Other than some different pronunciations than we‘re used to, this was another stellar performance. This was also around the 3-hour mark. If, like me, you‘re familiar with the story and just want to have some ear candy while crafting, give this a listen!

#Three-List-Thursday #TLT @dabbe

The Lord of the Rings
A Gentleman In Moscow
Outlander

Want to play? @BethM @Read4life @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm

The first part of this book is my favourite of the whole series because of Merry and Pippin. I just love those two ❤ But I also admire Sam's role in the story. Again, I was buffled by the importance of his character and how he grows in this story. I didn't really like the fight at the end, that's all. It was a bit too much for my taste. Which doesn't change anything about the greatness of this book (there could be more women, but you know that).

At loss of words in front of perfection.

FULL REVIEW: https://abookandateacup.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-two-towers.html

Háma is the real hero of Rohan let‘s be real. He deserves way more recognition

I‘m having a luxurious Christmas lord of the rings reread this #wintergames! Just finished the two towers which was a lot of readathon hours and a surprising number of bingo card squares - not quite the elves the bingo board makers thought of but eh its elves. #snowangels

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

I actually finished it a few days ago, but l didn't find time to post (l also have to catch up with all of your posts!).

Loved it, like always... Despite the questionable translation 🙄

It's such an incredible book. I lived the Siege of Helm's Deep, because l life the Rohirrim 😁 but Frodo and Sam's journey has grown on me ever the reads. This time, l enjoyed Faramir more than ever.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

It gets me, every, single, time!
Sam's turmoil, his doubts, his growing awareness, his acceptance of the task because no one else can do it. And yet his love and loyalty for Frodo. Abd the final decision that that's the most important thing. He must fulfil his loyalty to Frodo before accepting whatever comes.

It breaks my hear every single time.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

I mean. What can l say? This chapter is phenomenal. There's atmosphere, and feelings, and expectation. I live how Sam and Frodo work together, building Sam's feelings in the next chapter.
And even symbolically, going through the darkness of Shelob's lair. Both Sam and Frodo come out if it greatly changed.

I loved it. Andy Serkis is as always a fantastic narrator 💙🗡💙
#BlackCatCrew #Scarathlon #FellowshipofTolkien #LOTRChapterADay @JazzFeathers @Daisey #WickedWords #Shadow @AsYouWish #Rushathon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES #Readathon #31By31 @Catsandbooks #LittenListen @aperfectmjk #Falling4Books @Read4life #Spookoween @TheSpineView

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

I don't know whether it's because l read these three final chapters in one sit, but l adored them!
This chapters that introduces the Black Land has that particular horror vibe that Tolkien sometimes uses, and yet is also very personal. We experience Frodo's fear, and his determination. His doubts and his hesitation.
And again, l love how Tolkien's characters are perceptive of the world around them.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

This is one of those chapters where not much seems to happen and yet so much is happening
I love the interaction among the characters. I love how. How love how the feeling transitions from the light of Ithilien to the darkness of Mordor and how at that Crossroad, the chapters ends on a hopeful note as the Hobbits enter the Land of Shadow.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

Isn't this chapter just amazing?
All the tension in the episode with Gollum. Then that awesome dialogue between Faramir and Sam. And how Sam let slip the info about the Ring: I find it endearing every time. And Faramir reaction about the Ring. I don't remember ever noticing how his words echo Galadriel's about renouncing to claim the One Ring.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

Things l love about Faramir:
1. He's an honourable man. He is a man of valour. Because he's a man of valour, he recognises the valour in others.
2. He's exceptionally clear-minded. And he has this clarity of mind because his heart is true.
3. There's something magical about him. He foresees things and he understands untold things about strangers. Not even Aragorn is like this.

What do you like about Faramir?

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

What can l say. The episode of Fatamir is phenomenal in its entirety and l love it more every time l read it 😍

In a letter to Christopher, Tolkien said that Faramir appeared from nowhere, and you can almost see it, as he materialises in the book, almost silently. Then slowly but surely solidifies into an awesom character.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

I am so behind! 😭
With reading, with posting and with catching up with you.
But I'm trying to finish The Two Towers today (l'm climbing Cirith Ungol, at the moment), and catching up with everything else.
Let's see.

#ScarathlonPhotoChallenge
Day 23 Spider
#BlackCatCrew #Scarathlon
@Clwojick @StayCurious

I‘m flipping around the tv this weekend & passed a show on cryptids… creatures that may be myth or real. I stopped immediately as they were showing Shelob on the screen at the time, then Aragog and discussing giant spiders and the stories passed down about this monster myth in stories by the locals for ages. Who knew Shelob descendants infested both Mirkwood & the Congo 🤷‍♀️😂 There are even grainy videos like with Sasquatch & Nessie. J‘ba Fofi😱

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

Here's the schedule for the last leg of our journey.
I left out the Appendixes because last time, many people didn't care for them, so I thought we could do what we did then: create a schedule for the appendixes only for the readers who do want to read them.
I'll get that schedule ready soon 😁

This scene at the crossroads always reminds me of this Shelley poem.

They are literally and figuratively at the crossroads, and the “easy way back” wouldn‘t be as easy as they think since the legions of Mordor march towards Gondor and war…and are between them and their friends. And would lead to the doom of all.

And right here Tolkien places this scene, a scene that alludes to this poem in my mind, ⤵️

I‘ve seen the word landlubber fairly frequently when reading about ships and sailing, but I‘m not sure I‘ve seen just lubber much before. It seems an appropriate word for orcs to use with each other.

#WeirdWords #WeirdWordWednesday

What a cliffhanger before we start The Return of the King! Tolkien does such an amazing job of making me feel these emotions right alongside Sam. I‘m kind of glad I got so behind so that now I don‘t have to wait long to continue.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #LotRChapterADay #KindleQuotes #quote

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

Really enjoyed this chapter. I loved the interaction between the characters, the way their different personalities emerged, and the building dynamics.
I also loved Frodo inner discourse, half expressed, half hinted at.
Frodo has already started to fade from the narration, as only bits and pieces of his story are told, now.
One of Tolkien's wizardries.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

So. This is one of my favourite chapters in the book. Yet, l didn't enjoy it as usual this time, and l think it's because of the translation.

At a certain point, l realised that the prose was giving me disgust instead of uncertainty and anxiety as Tolkien's prose does.
The translator's choices have been too often questionable, in .y opinion, and here l felt how much this translator lack knowledge of Tolkien.

I haven't had much time to get on Litsy between work and family shenanigans (why is all my out-of-town family visiting during my busiest time of year?! Get it together, people! 😂) BUT I have still been reading quite a bit, which is great because I really felt like my mojo was lacking for a couple months. This week was a mix of #LMPBC, #LOTRChapteraDay, #KindredSpiritsBuddyRead, and some random books for #Scarathlon. All were enjoyable but ⬇

I‘ve been struggling to find actual reading time lately, although it should be a bit better now that I‘ve finished Clarissa. I read a couple chapters last night and this morning, and I just have the final chapter of The Two Towers left. I always love this discussion between Frodo & Sam about the people in stories that really happened. Nobody goes out planning to be the hero of a story, but the ones that don‘t give up do become those heroes!

Forgot to post that o finished this on time! Loved it! This book becomes two separate novels but they twine together effortlessly.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

I'm not done, but I'm not as far behind as l may look. I'm with Faramirvst the moment 😜

The change from the Battle of Helm's Deep to the more intimate battle of Frodo, Sam and Smeagol is very stark, but also very significant.
Tkien definitely has a mind for epic storytelling, and yet he is also a narrator of the soul. The Lord of the Rings, with its two main movements, certainly shows this.

I love it 🤩

Almost done! I saw this one on fb and immediately thought of #fellowshipoftolkien #lotrchapteraday

4✨ I was able to catch up to current. Since the fellowship is split up at the moment I like that it focuses on one group in the first half, and the other group in the second half. There is lots of danger and breaks in between. I really like the friendships that are forming between some unlikely pairs, and the humorous conversations they have when they are resting. Like the previous book it leaves off on a cliffhanger. #FellowshipofTolkien

I came across this on FB and found it fascinating… and then hilarious! And definitely fitting for our current #LOTRchapteraday read! #FellowshipofTolkien

My view tonight :) after today‘s chapter I quite like Faramir. #lotrchapteraday #fellowshipoftolkien

My view tonight :) after today‘s chapter I quite like Faramir. #lotrchapteraday #fellowshipoftolkien

I lost my book 😭 so I audio read to catch up. Frodo and Sam partner with Gollum to get them closer to where they need to be. They lose each other and the hobbits meet Boromir‘s brother. He seems trustworthy. They catch back up with Gollum and are going to continue their journey. #LotRChapteraDay #FellowshipofTolkien @JazzFeathers @Daisey

Only half way through todays chapter but she‘s a bit wordy again. #lotrchapteraday #fellowshipoftolkien

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

With no small delay, l come to the end of book 3. And l have to asset my reading schedule. I've always read at night, but this busy year is making me too tired and often l'm fighting sleep as l read. Not the way l want to read Tolkien!
So I'm trying a different thing. Let's read on the train to and from work. Let's see how it goes 😁

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

We might have thought that the peril was the Enemy's might, which would become greater if he gets the One Ring. But actually, in these last few chapters, we learn that Evil is more subtle and diverse. Saruman was once a wiseman. Theoden was and is a no le man. And even Pippin, who could think a pure if heart, is not immune to the power of Evil.
Tolkien's discourse becomes ever more complex.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

I always think that here we can really see Tolkien's ability with words.
Sure, Saryman uses magic in his voice, but he also uses sweetness and psychology in the way he chooses words.
To me, this is one of those instances where we see how Middle-earth is a fantasy world, but it could easily be our world too.

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

In part, the same is happening here. Aot of space is given to the friends' reunion, and yet, their personal life and feelings are merged with the backstory of what happend at Isengard while we were following events in Helm's Deep.
This helps bringing the epic into the personal, if in a different way than in the battle of Helm's Deep.

Finally finished the Palantir chapter, and I love this little light hearted banter between Gandalf & Pippin.

#FellowshipOfTolkien #LotRChapterADay #quote

#LotRChapterADay #FellowshipOfTolkien

Di n't you find that Tolkien is giving more space to the characters' perdinality in this chapter?
I particularly enjoyed Legolas and Gimli's interaction here. They friendship is becoming more important.

17 Aug-30 Sep 23 (audiobook)
Probably the weakest of the three books of the trilogy, although I do love the ents. It is just that I find Sam and Frodo‘s story drags once they leave the fellowship.
Looking forward to completing Return of the King and sharing all of the films with Trix.

This passage in Taming of Sméagol is more clear- small p himself, large P the ring. #fellowshipoftolkien#lotrchapteraday

Oops… I read a little ahead with Chapter 1 and 2 in book 4. #FellowshipofTolkien #LotRChapteraDay I thought I was behind and realized I read ahead instead. ? I‘m glad I did though. I really like the chapters with Sméagol helping Frodo and Sam on their journey. Sam is rightfully not very trusting at first, but they do start to really care for each other a bit. @Daisey @JazzFeathers