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I guess I'm wondering, is Tolkien's work a true mythology for you? (True as opposed to Fact!). Is it a "rock' that informs your life, relationships, creativity? Is it "always there" for you, in a mythic, perhaps subconscience sense? Does it teach you how to be whatever it is you hope to be? or think you are? Is it more for you than just a great work of fiction? If it is, why and how?
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Yes is my answer. His books mean more to me than anything I have ever read. I re-read them about once a year, and have done so since I was 12 years old. My life is frantically busy, I am married and run my own business and I find little time to call my own. And yes, I feel that Tolkien's work is "there for me" and I refer to it, even subconsciously when I find myself struggling with a problem. I find it hard to express myself about this, but I sense that Radagastly and many others here will know what I mean.
I live in a part of England that is very rural and fits the description of the Shire (minus the hobbit holes), so it is there in my face every time I go out my door (we even live near real barrows). When I walk my dogs, I imagine myself wandering through the Shire, following Bilbo and Frodo and pretending to myself there are elves peeking around trees. Silly I know for a grown woman, but it's harmless I guess. As you said, some people look to the Bible to fortify and comfort, well I look to Tolkien.