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Formendacil · 04-22-2005, 09:14 PM

Okay, LMP, I'll try.

However, it is a very unconventional tactic I will take!

First of all, a big confession to make: I haven't read a Chapter of the Lord of the Rings properly in about two months. And I haven't read a single chapter of the Lord of the Rings in congruence with the CbC discussion since I've joined the community. And I'm not ashamed of it.

But Formendacil!!! you say, That's wrong!!!

Is it?

I would think that my contributions to the threads have been insightful and intelligent to a certain extent. Besides which, allow me to point out that I have read the Lord of the Rings so many times that the basic and complex storyline (if very little of the exact wording) is well-grounded in my head. And I would think that this ought to be the case with many or most of the "older" Barrow-downers set. In addition, there is Estelyn's marvelous discourse opening up the discussion that refreshes the memory, has it perchance forgotten in which chapter Faramir and Frodo have their farewell discourse, to name one example.

So am I saying that you shouldn't read the chapter??? Of course not!!! What I am saying is that it isn't 100% essential. What I do (or have started trying to do) is post my general impressions about the chapter, what it's highlights are for me, and make replies to any interesting points and ideas brought up in the previous posts on the thread.

My general point is that our well-experienced Barrow-downers should not feel that they NEED to read the Chapter prior to joining the discussion. This is a very noble pursuit, and definitely to be encouraged, but for those of us in the club that remember the plot details down to what happened to the lebethron staves, then it shouldn't be necessary to read the book.

I still have the book on hand in case I remember a specific reference I want to look up, or if (for some unearthly reason) I can't remember how something went, then I can check. And for those readers who DON'T belong to the half-memorised club, then look at this as a stimulus to reread, or at least browse. ONE chapter of Tolkien is NOT that much!

04-22-2005, 09:14 PM	#30
Formendacil Dead Serious Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers. Posts: 3,328	Okay, LMP, I'll try. However, it is a very unconventional tactic I will take! First of all, a big confession to make: I haven't read a Chapter of the Lord of the Rings properly in about two months. And I haven't read a single chapter of the Lord of the Rings in congruence with the CbC discussion since I've joined the community. And I'm not ashamed of it. But Formendacil!!! you say, That's wrong!!! Is it? I would think that my contributions to the threads have been insightful and intelligent to a certain extent. Besides which, allow me to point out that I have read the Lord of the Rings so many times that the basic and complex storyline (if very little of the exact wording) is well-grounded in my head. And I would think that this ought to be the case with many or most of the "older" Barrow-downers set. In addition, there is Estelyn's marvelous discourse opening up the discussion that refreshes the memory, has it perchance forgotten in which chapter Faramir and Frodo have their farewell discourse, to name one example. So am I saying that you shouldn't read the chapter??? Of course not!!! What I am saying is that it isn't 100% essential. What I do (or have started trying to do) is post my general impressions about the chapter, what it's highlights are for me, and make replies to any interesting points and ideas brought up in the previous posts on the thread. My general point is that our well-experienced Barrow-downers should not feel that they NEED to read the Chapter prior to joining the discussion. This is a very noble pursuit, and definitely to be encouraged, but for those of us in the club that remember the plot details down to what happened to the lebethron staves, then it shouldn't be necessary to read the book. I still have the book on hand in case I remember a specific reference I want to look up, or if (for some unearthly reason) I can't remember how something went, then I can check. And for those readers who DON'T belong to the half-memorised club, then look at this as a stimulus to reread, or at least browse. ONE chapter of Tolkien is NOT that much! __________________ I prefer history, true or feigned.