Re-reading Lord of the Rings
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I am editing all these posts to delete the content as I hated doing this, and there seems to be no way to delete the thread.
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Hi Vel! Interesting and detailed analysis of your first chapter. You'll have a task ahead to make it through all six books and lots of chapter. I hope you packed your bag real well. 
People up till the 21st century were always quite well versified in knowing about everything quite a bit and more. You are just by a year older than me. I hobble around here as Aik or Aiks in the most occasions and am a very old member of this community. I grew up in Dordrecht, Holland, where I live still. The book you talk off came to me by my dad who pressed it in my hands to read it, when I was about fifteen. The Hobbits never had my fancy, I liked the elves and humans more. Slow reading comes from a time, where we didn't have mobile phones to film everything ourselves and vlog around as much we like. The internet is just about thirty years old.
Antropology is an interesting field indeed, about ideas, habits and customs of all sorts of cultures, present and past (and perhaps future). Archeological items you might come across a long the way too, where the Fellowship is going. Tolkien gave us an invented world, in which he used old things/idioms, we recognise and are familiar with. It is the strengh behind the saga. Descriptions are the windows to the photos and pictures we miss to see, but help us to settle an image so we can see mindly where the main character goes.
Have fun with reading!
People up till the 21st century were always quite well versified in knowing about everything quite a bit and more. You are just by a year older than me. I hobble around here as Aik or Aiks in the most occasions and am a very old member of this community. I grew up in Dordrecht, Holland, where I live still. The book you talk off came to me by my dad who pressed it in my hands to read it, when I was about fifteen. The Hobbits never had my fancy, I liked the elves and humans more. Slow reading comes from a time, where we didn't have mobile phones to film everything ourselves and vlog around as much we like. The internet is just about thirty years old.
Antropology is an interesting field indeed, about ideas, habits and customs of all sorts of cultures, present and past (and perhaps future). Archeological items you might come across a long the way too, where the Fellowship is going. Tolkien gave us an invented world, in which he used old things/idioms, we recognise and are familiar with. It is the strengh behind the saga. Descriptions are the windows to the photos and pictures we miss to see, but help us to settle an image so we can see mindly where the main character goes.
Have fun with reading!
Just call me Aiks or Aikári. Notify is off.
Find me stuff in Gondolin.
And let us embark to Valinor!
Find me stuff in Gondolin.
And let us embark to Valinor!
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Wonderful thread! I subscribed! I just finished reading Lord of the Rings a couple months ago for the... hell, I lost count... seventh time PPJ (Post Peter Jackson) and with the added chapters from Unfinished Tales (Gladden Fields before I started, and Fords of Isen when I reached Rohan). The story never fails to bring some new light on some part to me, and sometimes even tweaks my way of thinking about scenes I had 'head-canoned' from previous readings. Hats off to your sharing your notes with us! Like Aikári said... you have set yourself quite a challenge! Look forward to your progression here, and will keep my eyes out for some of my favourite chapters when you get to them.!
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of The Black Company of the Dúnedain,
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Hi Vel: Nice to get you know too! Ah Amsterdam, I believe you it was great to visit. I haven't been there in ages. Reading Tolkien is like reading an historical novel in a sense. A princess of sorts, a swashbuckler and a ragtag of different characters always works somehow, less or more. Old elements and lot of descriptions. For roleplay it was always the advise to put all five senses in the posts. I read the Hobbit and Lotr a few years back.
Hanasian: I believe you wanted to connect my first post, but instead you got my profile.
Hanasian: I believe you wanted to connect my first post, but instead you got my profile.
Just call me Aiks or Aikári. Notify is off.
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Nice to meet you @VelvetineZone! Chapters. There are several that hold my interest more than others. Here is a list:VelvetineZone wrote: ↑Tue Sep 17, 2024 6:45 am Secondly hello @Hanasian. Wow that's a lot of readings! Also @Hanasian I'm interested to see which are your favourite chapters!
- Fog on the Barrow-downs
- Strider
- The Council of Elrond
- The Breaking of the Fellowship
- The Riders of Rohan
- The King of the Golden Hall
- Helm's Deep
- Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
- The Window on the West
- The Passing of the Grey Company
- The Ride of the Rohirrim
- The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
- The Last Debate
- The Field of Cormallen
- The Scouring of the Shire
Out of all the chapters, my favourite is Chapter II of Book V of Return of the King - Passing of the Grey Company'. I has always loved this passage ever since I first read the books.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
... They had not long passed the mounds at the Fords of Isen, when a Rider galloped up from the back of their line.
'My Lord,' he said to the king. 'there are horsemen behind us. As we crossed the fords I thought that I heard them. Now we are sure. They are overtaking us, riding hard.'
Théoden at once called a halt. The Riders turned about and seized their spears. Aragorn dismounted and set Merry on the ground, and drawing his sword he stood by the king's stirrup. Éomer and his esquire rode back to the rear. Merry felt more like unneeded baggage than ever, and he wondered, if there was a fight, what he should do. Supposing the king's small escort was trapped and overcome but he escaped into the darkness - alone in the wild fields of Rohan with no idea of where he was in all the endless miles? 'No good' he thought. He drew his sword and tightened his belt.
The sinking moon was obscured by a great sailing cloud, but suddenly it rode out clear again. Then they all heard the sound of hoofs, and at the same moment they saw dark shapes coming swiftly on the path from the fords. The moonlight glinted here and there on the points of spears. The number of the pursuers could not be told, but they seemed no fewer than the king's escort, at the least.
When they were some fifty paces off, Éomer cried out in a loud voice : 'Halt! Halt! Who rides in Rohan?'
The pursuers brought their steeds to a sudden stand. A silence followed; and then in the moonlight, a horseman could be seen dismounting and walking slowly forward. His hand showed white as he held it up, palm outward, in token of peace; but the king's men gripped their weapons. At ten paces the man stopped. He was tall, a dark standing shadow. Then his clear voice rang out.
'Rohan? Rohan did you say? That is a glad word. We seek that land in haste from long afar.'
'You have found it.' said Éomer. 'When you crossed the fords yonder you entered it. But it is the realm of Théoden the King. None ride here save by his leave. Who are you? And what is your haste?'
'Halbarad Dunedain, Ranger of the North I am.' cried the man 'We seek one Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and we heard that he was in Rohan.'
'And you have found him also!' cried Aragorn. Giving his reigns to Merry, he ran forward and embraced the newcomer. 'Halbarad!' he said. 'Of all joys this is the least expected!'
Merry breathed a sigh of relief. He thought that this was some last trick of Saruman's, to waylay the king while he had only a few men about him; but it seemed there would be no need to die in Théoden's defence, not yet at any rate. He sheathed his sword.
'All is well.' said Aragorn, turning back. 'Here are some of my own kin from the far land where I dwelt. But why they come, and how many they be, Halbarad shall tell us.'
'I have thirty with me.' said Halbarad. 'That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war. We rode swiftly as we might when your summons came.'
'But I did not summon you,' said Aragorn, 'save only in wish. My thoughts have often turned to you, and seldom more than tonight; yet I have sent no word. But come! All such matters must wait. You find us riding in haste and danger. Ride with us now, if the king will give his leave.'
Théoden was indeed glad of the news. 'It is well!' he said. 'If these kinsmen be in any way like to yourself, my lord Aragorn, thirty such knights will be a strength that cannot be counted by heads.'
Then the Riders set out again, and Aragorn for a while rode with the Dunedain; and when they had spoken of tidings in the North and in the South, Elrohir said to him :
'I bring word to you from my father : "The Days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead."'
'Always my days have seemed to me short to achieve my desire.' answered Aragorn. 'But great indeed will be my haste ere I take that road.'
'That will soon be seen.' said Elrohir. 'But let us speak no more of these things upon the open road!'
And Aragorn said to Halbarad : 'What is that that you bear, kinsman?'
For he saw that instead of a spear he bore a tall staff, as it were a standard, but it was close-furled in a black cloth bound about with many thongs.
'It is a gift that I bring you from the Lady of Rivendell.' answered Halbarad. 'She wrought it in secret, and long was the making. But she also sends word to you : "The days now are short. Either our hope cometh, or all hopes end. Therefore I send thee what I have made for thee. Fare well Elfstone!"'
And Aragorn said : 'Now I know what you bear. Bear it still for me a while!' And he turned and looked away to the North under the great stars, and then he fell silent and spoke no more while the night's journey lasted.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Hi Vel, you'll have always people who read your content. 
I skimmed briefly through it, because I tend to skip till where the Fellowships comes together. Samwise is the best to digest, but Frodo is even worse to me than Bilbo in the Hobbit. I don't like his character at all. Oh convo's like Ted and Sam are quite nice and quaint. It is little insight in daily Hobbit life, without the dramaqueen ambitions of Frodo about adventures. The introduction of Aragorn into the tale is wave of relief. The focus shifts.
I skimmed briefly through it, because I tend to skip till where the Fellowships comes together. Samwise is the best to digest, but Frodo is even worse to me than Bilbo in the Hobbit. I don't like his character at all. Oh convo's like Ted and Sam are quite nice and quaint. It is little insight in daily Hobbit life, without the dramaqueen ambitions of Frodo about adventures. The introduction of Aragorn into the tale is wave of relief. The focus shifts. Just call me Aiks or Aikári. Notify is off.
Find me stuff in Gondolin.
And let us embark to Valinor!
Find me stuff in Gondolin.
And let us embark to Valinor!
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I finished re-reading Lord of the Rings yesterday, really enjoyed Return of the King which I read in a day.
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Actually @Chrysophylax Dives I put loads of newer read through posts above and no one commented so I gave up bothering, posted on Facebook instead.
Last edited by VelvetineZone on Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
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I'd have deleted the entire thread as there was zero point to it, and will do once I work out how to.
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I presume if I just leave the board all my posts will go too? I decided I need to do this a few days ago after stupidly referring to my birthday.
Last edited by VelvetineZone on Sun Oct 13, 2024 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Hi Vel: I haven't been able to post really lately. I need a PC to post something intelligent. It would be nice if you left as they are and you stay too! You need around here to have a bit of patience. Priya is out there too, but she is once a week online or so.
It is just two weeks ago that I posted for the last time. I know from getting through the first part, when the Fellowship comes in play, the speed of the journey picks up and there is lots more interaction between different characters, than just four Hobbits. Frodo and Sam into Mordor I skipped a lot and in a movie I zip to a new scene on the adventures from either Merry/Pippin with Gandalf, or the ride of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. You have done your best by reading everyday and having it just finished.
It is just two weeks ago that I posted for the last time. I know from getting through the first part, when the Fellowship comes in play, the speed of the journey picks up and there is lots more interaction between different characters, than just four Hobbits. Frodo and Sam into Mordor I skipped a lot and in a movie I zip to a new scene on the adventures from either Merry/Pippin with Gandalf, or the ride of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. You have done your best by reading everyday and having it just finished.
Just call me Aiks or Aikári. Notify is off.
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And let us embark to Valinor!
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Yes thank you, you did respond. I wasn't really complaining at plaza people, I was a bit confused that @Chrysophylax Dives requested more posts, ignored them, then complained that I hadn't posted. One of those days / lives I guess, guess he just hadn't seen the additional posts.
I personally really like the hobbits and the Fellowship. I also like Aragorn, Fangorn, Éowyn and Faramir and many more. Really enjoyed re-reading it. I don't honestly think my thread was v worth reading to be honest I tried to keep it up out of politeness having started.
Thanks to all for having me, but due to some of the details I've put in my posts I'd rather clear my posts and self off the plaza as its a publicly viewable page.
I personally really like the hobbits and the Fellowship. I also like Aragorn, Fangorn, Éowyn and Faramir and many more. Really enjoyed re-reading it. I don't honestly think my thread was v worth reading to be honest I tried to keep it up out of politeness having started.
Thanks to all for having me, but due to some of the details I've put in my posts I'd rather clear my posts and self off the plaza as its a publicly viewable page.
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Hi Vel, as long you never share personal details, nobody knows who you truly are. Same counts for me. I am not afraid to post my opinions and on your reviews, they don't bother me at all. They are as most people create them, they don't blink as gold, if you get my meaning. 
You can always clear your posts by editing them and remove content. Deleting is not possible when someone posted after you. Something in the construction of the website, I don't know why.
You can always clear your posts by editing them and remove content. Deleting is not possible when someone posted after you. Something in the construction of the website, I don't know why.
Last edited by Aikári Salmarinian on Sun Oct 13, 2024 11:09 am, edited 2 times in total.
Just call me Aiks or Aikári. Notify is off.
Find me stuff in Gondolin.
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Yeah I'm not really one for following rules. I just saved some quotes and you kept asking for my read through so I pointlessly chucked them here and couldn't even be arsed to read them myself.
I'm probably grumpy this morning because I'm hungover and life is too busy.
I am going to figure out how to delete most things I regret posting including this thread which I didn't really want to do in the first place.
Glad you generally felt a bit better this morning as mentioned in the songs thread xx
I'm probably grumpy this morning because I'm hungover and life is too busy.
I am going to figure out how to delete most things I regret posting including this thread which I didn't really want to do in the first place.
Glad you generally felt a bit better this morning as mentioned in the songs thread xx
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Ta @Aikári Salmarinian and @Chrysophylax Dives , for the explanations, I've removed most of the content around the site I'd wanted to. Right, on with Sunday chores.
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It's like déjà vu all over again.
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Look. I'm used to being on a forum where it's very easy to delete or invisibalise stuff when I babble too much or change my mind. There were a couple of things in other threads I wanted to remove. Thanks to the advice I have been given here, I now have, although knowing I can't easily delete posts or threads is not useful functionality for me.
As for this thread, I'd been intending to reread LOTR for a while. I agreed to the read along idea thinking it might be a good way of engaging more widely with the forum, I was kinda trying to be polite and friendly. I didn't seem to be hitting the right tone in the role plays really, so thought ok I'll try this.
I quickly found I wanted to just read the book and gather quotes, not write long readalong notes. I also absolutely loved his writing and just wanted to enjoy his words. Hence why I always enjoyed English Language more than English Lit: the writing more than the discussing, although I like discussing a bit too, it slowed the sinking into the words. I did therefore stop. Having it noted that I'd stopped, I then tried to be polite again and stupidly threw my quote notes at the thread. I regretted that straight away. As the readalong didn't work, I've removed it as best as I can given that I can't delete the thread. I loved LOTR anyway, it was escapism.
I'm not here to be mocked or be deja vu, I wandered in randomly, tried to engage as its a topic of interest, am really busy with other stuff in real life like everyone else, and am obviously not hitting the right notes. Thanks anyway to those who replied amidst their busy lives.
Forget the readalong. Life is like that, you muddle along, some stuff works, some doesn't. I can only be me and interact as I interact, i.e. I've really enjoyed gathering his words and immersing myself into the book.
As for this thread, I'd been intending to reread LOTR for a while. I agreed to the read along idea thinking it might be a good way of engaging more widely with the forum, I was kinda trying to be polite and friendly. I didn't seem to be hitting the right tone in the role plays really, so thought ok I'll try this.
I quickly found I wanted to just read the book and gather quotes, not write long readalong notes. I also absolutely loved his writing and just wanted to enjoy his words. Hence why I always enjoyed English Language more than English Lit: the writing more than the discussing, although I like discussing a bit too, it slowed the sinking into the words. I did therefore stop. Having it noted that I'd stopped, I then tried to be polite again and stupidly threw my quote notes at the thread. I regretted that straight away. As the readalong didn't work, I've removed it as best as I can given that I can't delete the thread. I loved LOTR anyway, it was escapism.
I'm not here to be mocked or be deja vu, I wandered in randomly, tried to engage as its a topic of interest, am really busy with other stuff in real life like everyone else, and am obviously not hitting the right notes. Thanks anyway to those who replied amidst their busy lives.
Forget the readalong. Life is like that, you muddle along, some stuff works, some doesn't. I can only be me and interact as I interact, i.e. I've really enjoyed gathering his words and immersing myself into the book.
