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Lostgaeriel · 11-01-2002, 10:35 AM

My aunt gave me a one-volume edition of The Lord of the Rings for Christmas 1972 - I was in grade 5. I remember clipping Tolkien's obit from the paper the next year.

I think she had assumed that I had already read The Hobbit in school. But I hadn't. I remember reading the Forward and the Prologue and feeling quite confused. What were these 'Hobbits'? Then I jumped into the book and hardly came up for air.

My aunt gave me The Hobbit the next year, but it was a real disappointment to me. So 'childish'! (There's just no going back.) I think I've only read it the one time.

I read that first copy of tLotR at least once every year for almost 15 years - usually every summer. It fell apart and I replaced it with another one-volume edition which has the complete Appendices! My first copy only had the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen. So I missed out on a lot for many years. I haven't read the book as often over the last 15 years - life and all that. But since joining the Downs, I've read it again and studied it a bit. Such great insights posted here at the Barrow Downs.

11-01-2002, 10:35 AM	#63
Lostgaeriel Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto the Good Posts: 477	My aunt gave me a one-volume edition of The Lord of the Rings for Christmas 1972 - I was in grade 5. I remember clipping Tolkien's obit from the paper the next year. I think she had assumed that I had already read The Hobbit in school. But I hadn't. I remember reading the Forward and the Prologue and feeling quite confused. What were these 'Hobbits'? Then I jumped into the book and hardly came up for air. My aunt gave me The Hobbit the next year, but it was a real disappointment to me. So 'childish'! (There's just no going back.) I think I've only read it the one time. I read that first copy of tLotR at least once every year for almost 15 years - usually every summer. It fell apart and I replaced it with another one-volume edition which has the complete Appendices! My first copy only had the Tale of Aragorn and Arwen. So I missed out on a lot for many years. I haven't read the book as often over the last 15 years - life and all that. But since joining the Downs, I've read it again and studied it a bit. Such great insights posted here at the Barrow Downs. __________________ Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo, a star shines on the hour of our meeting.