Public Research: Free Cheese
 

Part of Public Research Project

This one also allows multiple choices, since the books are many and ways of their acquisition are many as well. Per instance, The Hobbit was a 'heirloom', and LoTR I and SoWM I was given, the rest I've bought for myself. If all ways apply to you, click away all three

I was given all of them. In fact, my younger brother and sister got me a beautiful hardcover edition of "The Hobbit" (with all the original illustrations) for my graduation, and I spend so much time looking at Tolkien's sketches I haven't even read it all the way through yet.

Blast. I thought perhaps this poll would ask whether, in an ideal world, we would prefer to be given Stilton, pecorino, manchego, Roquefort, Camembert, chevre, saganaki, feta or Mature Cheddar...

Such a poll exists only in my mind's eye. Nevertheless, I vote Roquefort...

Is it inherited or gived if your dad gives his old books to you when he moves when your parents split up?

In my case, The Hobbit (which was translated way before LoTR, in 1976), was bought before I was born by my grandmother (she used to buy books in pairs, for my mothers and my uncle's families), so I count it inherited

In your case, it's up to you to decide, but I suppose inherited more than given though inherit be 'to receive from an ancestor as a right or title descendible by law at the ancestor's death', as I would rather leave the death part and count ancestral part only in the case

Ok, thanks Heren.

I voted for both inheriting (LotR, TH, UT, Sil) and buying (HoME:PoME, Letters). The vote is quite even, it seems.

And will the 'Downs be conquered by a massive public research invasion? :eek: ;)

How to win books and influence reading
 

I should probably qualify my vote, since I was given far fewer books than I've bought. Basically, my copy of The Hobbit, one of my copies of The Lord of the Rings and David Day's Tolkien Encyclopaedia (which, having read it, I would never buy) were presents; everything else is my own acquisition.

EDIT: So when do I get my free cheese? I thought some would turn up in my e-mail once I posted, but it hasn't. Is there any cheese? Even Moravian cat cheese with sorrel? At least the blood donation van lets you have a cup of tea and a biscuit in exchange for contributing.

I see 'stolen from public library' has been omitted as one of the options.

The Bible holds the record as the book most often stolen from libraries. Maybe we should research if Tolkien also inspires this light-fingered obsession? Perhaps there might be some kind of sociological/cultural/confessional link here between books of spirituality and/or myth?

Oh no, I'll have some Blacksticks Blue, please. Failing that some Tasty Lancashire always goes down well. Also, I wouldn't be averse to trying some Stinking Bishop if you can get your hands on any... I will feel sadly cheated if I don't get any now. :(

I have been given a fair few different Tolkien books; I suppose they make good presents for people to choose, especially nice editions and sets. I've also inherited my brother's old books, and have bought some editions myself. Quite a lot have been from charity or second hand shops where I've acquired some real bargains, but some have also come from e-bay which I find sooo tempting..... I'm most fond, at the moment, of retro sets, which can be had pretty cheaply and you often see well cared-for box sets.

I bought my first books (TH and LotR) in a booksale from the library. Though that's not quite the same thing.

Is a confession on its way, Bêthberry?

I'm starting to suspect that the "Free cheese" was merely a lure, to trick hapless dagas such as ourselves into voting...

Curse you, HI, and your tricksy cheeses!

Oh deear I just realised I forgot that I got my first set of LOTR from Father Christmas... but I had already bought the Hobbit for myself.

All three....

I've bought them, been given them, and "acquired" Dad's original LotR from 1977.

For cheese, I'd like some Emmentaler... classic Swiss cheese.

I votet that bought them my self, but my english versions was a gift frome my relatives. (who is currently living in England)

Hmm... I checked two boxes on the survey. The answer to this really depends on which book you are talking about. Esty can testify from my multiple overcrowded bookcases that I go a little crazy with book buying and have various editions of many titles. I especially collect hobbits.....books, I mean,.... not real ones. ;)

My first Hobbit and LotR were paperbacks I bought at the local bookstore when I was in my teens, both the dreaded Ace and the official Ballentines. My family has acknowledged my addiction to Tolkien in recent years, and have generously helped fund my "habit" on gift giving occasions. Even my kids have scrounged on e-bay to buy mom copies of Mr. Bliss, Roverandum, Father Christmas letters, etc.

Lalwende - I wouldn't be surprised if we have unknowingly bid against each other on e-bay, although I am trying to be good and resist too much expenditure at the present moment. I am also a big fan of library sales and have picked up some real bargains.

My friend discovered Tolkien's books and I wanted them quite badly, so I strangled him and took them all. When anyone asks about my books, however, I say they are birthday presents.

The books in question must be precious to you...

Phantom, you win.

Technically, my brother bought all the books and I stole them from him when he stopped 'being a nerd' a few years back. Except for The Hobbit, which is a very old copy (I'm not exactly sure how old, but it's really awesome) and I don't know where it came from. Just appeared in my room one day.

And as for the cheese...I haven't had a good camembert for years, not since my grocery store seems to have decided that 'it's the same thing as Brie, so why carry both?' and it's sad. Silly grocery store.

Books: Checked all three. My oldest copies of The Hobbit and LotR were passed down from my mother and uncle, respectively; I bought my other copies of those as well as Giles, Smith, UT and HoMe I, II, and III; The Silmarillion, Father Christmas Letters, Roverandom, and the remaining HoMe volumes were gifts (incidentally, I think The Silmarillion might just be the best gift I've ever received, on any occasion).

Cheese: I'll go with smoked gouda.

Well, I selected "bought them myself" although that is not completely accurate. Technically speaking, my parents bought it when I asked becuase I did not have my own money by then... but if I had, I would have bought them.

So Heren, this public research... when will all it's findings be made public? You have piqued mine and many others' curiosity.

So this "free cheese", is it in any way related to the "free shotgun"? Cuz i've seen neither sight nor sound of that yet... :D

i bought all mine, with the latest purchase being unfinished tales, and farmer giles of ham, jsut last week.

My, cannot one discuss the state of public libraries without being accused of the offenses under discussion? You must follow the belief that to read about something is to fall under the vile persuasions therein.

I've gotten them all three of the ways, and more.

I inherited LotR, was given Hobbit (copies 2 and 3) and some others, but don't remember exactly which ones, and bought my own copy of the rest, including them in Spanish. The more is how I got The Silmarillion which was by winning it in a Lord of the Rings trivia contest. I was at a Tolkien weekend for my church's diases or however that's spelt, and there was trivia at random points between presentations. The first two of the three trivia games I got second or third place and a bookmark. The third one I got second place, but by a tie breaker. It was because I had the highest total between the three days that I got the Sil as a prize.

I'd probably include that under given to me, but its not the best description.

Public research? Ha! Don't believe it for a minute. HerenIstarion is a fiendish fellow. Have you noticed his questions have become more and more personal? Soon, we will find that we have foolishly answered questions that we really shouldn't have answered, and then... he will own us.

That's where all of this is leading- blackmail! But it's not all his fault. As you know he got married recently, and Mrs HI really likes big shiny rocks. But big shiny rocks are awfully expensive, and so he has been driven to a life of internet crime.

For in that time Lord HerenIstauron was not yet evil to behold, and they received his aid and grew mighty in craft, whereas he learned all their secrets, and betrayed them, and forged secretly in the Mountain of Fire the One Dossier to be their master. But Phantorimbor was aware of him, as he heard secret incantation Lord HerenIstauron was muttering under his breath while he was crafting the polls:

Three Polls for the Book-worms over the Net,
Seven for the Quiz-Lords in their halls of Script,
Nine for Role-Players doomed to Write,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark Console
In the Land of Statistics where the Money lies.
One Dossier to rule them all. One Dossier to find them,
One Dossier to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Statistics where the Money lies

The first copy of The Lord of the Rings that I read was from a Library. But I did eventually buy my own copy. I think there are only a few that were gifts, mostly the History of Middle Earths.

You write on a Tolkien RP forum. 'Nuff said.

As fellow (but not fellow) newlywed, and as a girl, big shiny rocks are awfully nice. And as a computer geek in training, internet crime is FUN!

All three! :D

I was given the Ballantine's paperback red box with the Hobbit and LotR (4-volumes) by the boyfriend who had introduced me to Tolkien many years ago by lending me his books. That was all I had for many years, until I started buying further books myself - biography, letters, Sil, UT, minor works, HomE, supplementary works, etc...

If you want it done right then you have to do it yourself. Or whatever that saying is...
I bought all my books. My parents were never into fantasy and when I discovered LOTR five years ago, I was too eager to wait for birthdays or holidays for my husband could get them.

I bought my books myself, and with my own money too (score!). I was seventeen at the time and was already having serious issues with asking mummy and daddy for cash.

The Alan Lee hardback will come when I've a real job... So sometime in the next century, perhaps.

It was not actually meant as poignant....

Reviving the thread...
 

I first read The Hobbit and LotR using my mom's books (printed in the 60's), which she never actually read herself. After one read, the poor things got incredibly beat up and my mom didn't want me to wear out her books, so she bought me a set of my own, which are now extremely worn out.

Unfortunately, my mom picked out the movie edition set, which didn't really bother me at the time, but now I really wish I had a set that has pretty illustrations on it. Oh well...the cover shouldn't mean anything. It's the content inside that matters most.