Rereading Tolkien - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 07-16-2002, 08:18 AM

Many of us here admit to reading LOTR, and Tolkien's other works, many times over. (For some, it is an annual affair.)

Why do we do this? Do these rereadings change us, or change the books? Is rereading a ritual which we return to for renewal or does it offer new enlightenment/ entertainment? (Maybe there's no difference between these two states?) Given that we are men and not elves, what does time do to our sense of Tolkien?

The span between my first and subsequent readings of LOTR was long, very long indeed, and so I will wait to hear from others before I try to give expression to my readings. (Assuming there are replies, of course!)

Bethberry

07-16-2002, 08:18 AM	#1
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Rereading Tolkien Many of us here admit to reading LOTR, and Tolkien's other works, many times over. (For some, it is an annual affair.) Why do we do this? Do these rereadings change us, or change the books? Is rereading a ritual which we return to for renewal or does it offer new enlightenment/ entertainment? (Maybe there's no difference between these two states?) Given that we are men and not elves, what does time do to our sense of Tolkien? The span between my first and subsequent readings of LOTR was long, very long indeed, and so I will wait to hear from others before I try to give expression to my readings. (Assuming there are replies, of course!) Bethberry __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.