The books of Tolkien

[Gaspard]

Yup, Pix, it was good ol' J. R. R. himself that sold the rights for filmmaking. He was low on cash and he got something ridiculous for it. Pennies.

 

[Atomkilla]

Also, my girlfriend quite likes the idea of me reading some of this to her. It being the only way we can both experience any book as a joint activity. We'll see how that experience goes.

That's not a bad idea. You might find it easier to follow The Silmarillion if you read it out loud. It helps to visualize what Tolkien is saying. There are also some recordings on the web of him reading from LotR so you can hear how he pronounced certain words (like Moooor-Doooor!). My copy of LotR also has a pronunciation guide in the appendix.

Some of the stuff floating on YT where he reads excerpts from stories, songs and letters are really amazing.

But I have to say, Christopher Lee's reading of Tolkien works is also a pleasant experience.

 

[UniversalWolf]

Christopher Lee's reading of Tolkien works is also a pleasant experience.

Count Dooku/1960s Dracula reads Tolkien? I didn't know there was such a thing!

Here's a challenge: find one single piece of evidence in any of Tolkien's published novels that hobbits are supposed to have pointy ears. As a bonus challenge, find one single piece of evidence in the same novels that elves have pointy ears.

 

[Akratus]

Two words: Artistic License.

 

[Atomkilla]

Christopher Lee's reading of Tolkien works is also a pleasant experience.

Count Dooku/1960s Dracula reads Tolkien? I didn't know there was such a thing!

Here's a challenge: find one single piece of evidence in any of Tolkien's published novels that hobbits are supposed to have pointy ears. As a bonus challenge, find one single piece of evidence in the same novels that elves have pointy ears.

I actually think it was mentioned for elves somewhere...in Silmarilion, maybe. Can't say for sure though.
But yeah, hobbits didn't have that, I believe. I didn't really mind it though.



Anyway:





There is no full reading of works, only some parts. This is more than enough for me though. It's amazing.



Fun fact: Christopher Lee was the only part of LOTR film crew who actually met Tolkien.

 

[Akratus]

Tolkien also promised Christopher the role of gandalf, but I think peter made the right choice giving him Saruman. He did not make the right choice removing his death scene however.

Anyhow, I'd like to focus this thread mostly on the books, and not the movies. At least from here on out. Fun facts or related bits I'll still post though.

My art filled edition of the silmarillion will be arriving in just a few days. . I think i'll make some pictures and post them here once I have the full set.

 

[Gaspard]

My art filled edition of the silmarillion will be arriving in just a few days. .

Oho! Which book is that? I didn't know there were illustrated Silmarillions going around. I googled and got one with Ted Nasmith's illustrations:

 

[Akratus]

Yeah I'm getting that one. I also have the alan lee illustrated Children of Hurin, and a hardback version of the Hobbit with a paper cover of the original cover art made by tolkien.

 

[Gaspard]

I actually have several sets without illustrations (Silmarillion through LotR) - both in English and in my home language - a calendar notebook with original Tolkien art that I never wrote in but kept with the books and an awesome old translated edition of The Hobbit with illustrations by an Estonian artist. You can see the art here: http://www.tolkien.com.pl/hobbit/collection/hobbit-estonian-1977-1st.php

I really dig the Gollum and imprisoned Thorin (below)

 

[Akratus]

It's always so nice to check your mail and find your package early.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1/400651_594474667311680_849639579_n.jpg
https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t31/1979898_594474663978347_1479435543_o.jpg
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/l/t31/1891591_594474660645014_1900038225_o.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t31/883242_594478643977949_624824983_o.jpg

The last photo shows the new arrival, illustr. children of hurin, the hobbit and the 3-in-1 version of the lord of the rings my dad once bought in like the eighties or seventies. Can't get rid of/replace a family heirloom like that.

 

[Atomkilla]

I think I have the same illustrated Children of Hurin, only translated.

Those books really look beautiful, but I personally don't like illustrated books much. I prefer my own imagination.
Still, those look nice. How much is all that?

 

[Akratus]

33 bucks for the Silmarillion, 20 for Children of Hurin, something like 20 too for the Hobbit. Worth every penny.

Is that the only version of the Children of Hurin you have? I personally wouldn't accept any substitute to english. Just knowing that those are the original words makes the english version not only definitive, but the only ones I would want to own. I have the dutch The Hobbit and Silmarillion tucked away to the side, never to be read again by me.

 

[UniversalWolf]

Here's a challenge: find one single piece of evidence in any of Tolkien's published novels that hobbits are supposed to have pointy ears. As a bonus challenge, find one single piece of evidence in the same novels that elves have pointy ears.

I actually think it was mentioned for elves somewhere...in Silmarilion, maybe.

Nope. As far as I know, there's only one piece of evidence to suggest that elves have pointy ears, and that's a single letter Tolkien wrote years after the publication of the books. Fans were asking him for more details and he was brainstorming ideas with a friend. Quite a flimsy piece of evidence, IMO.

Nowhere in any of the published books, and nowhere in any of his artworks is it said or shown that elves have pointy ears. That's pure carryover from D&D, IMO. In fact, physical description of elves is scant.

I think one can say with certainty that hobbits do not have pointy ears because Tolkien describes them in great detail without ever mentioning pointy ears. Why would he mention their furry feet, curly hair, and round bellies, but leave out pointy ears?

 

[Gaspard]

The image below is from Hobbit translated into Estonian and here the illustrator has drunk elves without pointy ears, but with BEARDS

 

[Atomkilla]

33 bucks for the Silmarillion, 20 for Children of Hurin, something like 20 too for the Hobbit. Worth every penny.

Is that the only version of the Children of Hurin you have? I personally wouldn't accept any substitute to english. Just knowing that those are the original words makes the english version not only definitive, but the only ones I would want to own. I have the dutch The Hobbit and Silmarillion tucked away to the side, never to be read again by me.

I for it as a gift AFAIK.
I only have translated Tolkien. I've read parts of English one as e-book. At the time when I was big into his works, having an English version was nigh impossible.
I suppose I could get one now, but I'm not overly interested, really. I will probably do so one day though.

Here's a challenge: find one single piece of evidence in any of Tolkien's published novels that hobbits are supposed to have pointy ears. As a bonus challenge, find one single piece of evidence in the same novels that elves have pointy ears.

I actually think it was mentioned for elves somewhere...in Silmarilion, maybe.

Nope. As far as I know, there's only one piece of evidence to suggest that elves have pointy ears, and that's a single letter Tolkien wrote years after the publication of the books. Fans were asking him for more details and he was brainstorming ideas with a friend. Quite a flimsy piece of evidence, IMO.

Nowhere in any of the published books, and nowhere in any of his artworks is it said or shown that elves have pointy ears. That's pure carryover from D&D, IMO. In fact, physical description of elves is scant.

I think one can say with certainty that hobbits do not have pointy ears because Tolkien describes them in great detail without ever mentioning pointy ears. Why would he mention their furry feet, curly hair, and round bellies, but leave out pointy ears?

I agree with you, but given that elves have scarce description, I imagine elf chicks as having three boobs
I also don't recall them being described as having long hairs either, but that seems to be dominant.

When you think about it, Tolkien (and many other writers for that matter) left out many details regarding his creations (i.e. Balrog debate), but given that his films, and popular culture in general are influencing us, the readers, so very much, it's kinda hard to imagine it otherwise.

I cannot recall how I imagined elves from Hobbit when I was a kid. Probably like some wingless fairies from other children books I've read.

The image below is from Hobbit translated into Estonian and here the illustrator has drunk elves without pointy ears, but with BEARDS

I've seen an old Soviet translation of Hobbit, with illustration. It's the single most beautiful take on Tolkien's work just because it is so unconventional. I can't seem to find it though, but it's floating the netz.


Also:

 

[Hassknecht]

I hate Tolkien with the passion of a thousand blazing suns.


Seriously though, I couldn't read through anything but The Hobbit without frequent thoughts of self mutilation, because raping my eyes with rusty razor blades would be a lot less painful than reading a fifty page description of a fucking tree.
Dunno, I just found them boring.

 

[Akratus]

Doesn't seem like you tried at all. "A fifty page description of a fucking tree" doesn't come close to describing Tolkien accurately.

After finishing the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the story seemed a little light to me. Especially the latter parts of the Return of the King. I guess you're just not the type of person who enjoys relatively long novels.

Tolkien was a linguist first and foremost. He's pretty top-tier amongst fantasy authors.

 

[Hassknecht]

I do enjoy long novels.
Him being a linguist is my biggest gripe, actually. He sacrifices the story for language, at least that's how I felt it.

 

[Akratus]

Well, you're in the minority I'd say.

Besides, the Hobbit isn't exactly the meat of the legendarium.

 

[Hassknecht]

Yeah, I know. But I'm not much of a phantasy guy anyway.
Also, it puts me in the great place of pissing Tolkien fans off