[Diamond18]

First I should start with a disclaimer: I'm not altogether positive this is the right place to put this thread. But I considered the Novice section and decided no, because I want replies from veterens too and you might not venture in there. I considered Mayhem briefly, but figured that this isn't necessarily funny, just nostalgic. But if Estelyn thinks I'm wrong, hey, I won't protest (as if it would matter, but I wouldn't anyway).

All right. I want you to cast your minds back to the first time you read LotR, and my question is this: In what parts of the book did Tolkien fool you (like when someone is presumed dead, etc.) and/or did you correctly guess how a certain conflict would be resolved, or miss the mark? If you were wrong, did you prefer your idea, or were you relieved that Tolkien wrote something different?

I love to conjecture as to what the author is going to write next.

If you would like an example of what I am babbling on about: I didn't realize Dernhelm was Éowyn until Merry heard her laugh at the Nazgûl. (I know, I know, but I was so eager to see what was happening with Frodo and Sam that I read the intervening chapters in a frenzy). Plus, when Frodo put on the Ring for the last time, I thought for one awful nanosecond that Sam would be faced with the choice of letting Frodo go mad or *gasp* pushing him over the edge.

I love re-reading LotR, but there is a certain magic in not knowing what is going to happen next, isn't there? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]