When You Are Oppressed, Or Ten Weighty Reasons for Teenagers and Their Parents

[Mithalwen]

Encaitare: In the light of the above warning I deleted my answer - if you didn't read it and are interested PM me.

One "problem" with Tolkien, which might concern parents who don't generally disapprove, and actually concerns me about my own reading / online habits is just how absorbing it is.

I have a stack of books that interested me enough to buy them, lurking unread and I do have other interests but Tolkien seems to absorb the vast majority of my reading and my online time. I remember that after I first finished LOTR and the Sil, I found "single" volume novels unsatisfying. The only thing I really remember giving me anything like as much pleasure was "the Forsyte Chronicles" All nine novels and a collection of short stories. I don't think it waas merely an escapist response to adolescence since I had read and reread the Narnia books at primary school (though the affection for them hasn't lingered to anything like the same extent.

I can imagine that while parents want their children to read - reading nothing but one series of books could be a worrry. But there are far worse things (I tell myself firmly as I put down that Booker listed tome infavour of UT ...)

[Encaitare]

Mith-- I did read it, but didn't respond because of the warning. I'm sorry you had to go through all that.

But back on topic! I too have found myself being much more choosy in what I read, looking for books with more depth than the standard novel has. I'm currently reading "Dune" and that's living up to my expectations pretty well. It's especially affected my writing, since I would love to write fantasy but fear that I can't live up to my own high expectations.

LotR is absorbing, to say the very least. It's a huge part of my life, and my parents do get somewhat irritated at me for making constant references to it. (My dad thinks the name "Frodo" is the funniest thing ever, which I don't get, but to each his own.) But while complete obsession could be worrying, I would think that parents would consider their child's desire to delve deeper into a work to be a good thing. (Just my view. Since I'm not a parent, I could be completely wrong.) It shows a great interest in literature, and if the child makes it into HoME or similar books, an interest in the writing process. This would also depend on the parents' desires for their child: some parents don't want their children to go into the arts because it often doesn't make much money. Therefore the deep interest in fantasy literature could be seen as a waste of time.

I suppose it depends on the parent, though.

[Saurreg]

I am a good example of someone who has benefitted through my stay here at the BD forums.

English is not my mother tongue and from where I come from, there is an alarming drop in the standard of spoken and written English due to a blizzare fusion of eastern and western pop cultures, and an ever pertaining educational syllabus that do this wonderful language little justice by snuffling creative thinking and expression. Despite recent adjustments in the curicculum, the problem will continue to expand and worsen.

I may be able to write a good technical report or give a passable oral presentation based on academic researches, but my ability to conversate and write normal everyday English is very limited. Therefore I take every visit to the BD as a extra-curricular learning opportunity to brush up on my writing skills and also to familiarise myself with the speaking standards of English speakers world-wide.

And I'm not ashamed to say that much of what I've learned, I learned from forum users very much younger than myself, but far more profficent in the language.

[Mithalwen]

You are in Singapore? Amongst my LOTR film memorabilia is a Singaporean film magazine sent by a friend from another board. It is amazing how it appeals to so many people across the world. Anyway as we have said before - one of the nice things about the downs is that age is irrelevant as well as nationality. As an older, native speaker, I am frequently astounded by the level of English of many younger non-native speakers.... especially when it turns out that English isn't their speciality.

Many of my French friends learnt their English from pop music - but, it may be my age (that at which new pop music has largely turned into an indistinct burble, and I have, clearly, turned into my father....) but I would think that this forum would certainly expose you to better English ....