New Members - Introduce Yourself Here

[Maethehuntress]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

Mae govannen...ummm....Mae.

Haha
Well played!


Thanks for the warm welcome everybody!

[Desert Kris]

Hello, I am new here. I've been a Tolkien fan to varying degrees for several decades. Tolkien is partly a family affair, and somewhat of an heirloom. It is a family affair in the sense that "My precious!" was a family joke that I didn't have context for. Later I was taken to see a showing of the animated Hobbit film when I was really little, probably because of the connection. My first attempt to read The Hobbit was a partial success, I got halfway through and thought it was great (but maybe also a little overwhelming).

Later on during a Thanksgiving we were watching the animated LotR, which I was young enough to enjoy without being critical about it. I loved it, but we had to stop watching in the middle somewhere. My father said, "Don't worry, I'll show you something when we get home." And he showed me the hardcover set he had of LotR. I made two failed attempts to start reading; getting a little further each time.

Eventually in middle school I buckled down and read the whole story; the third attempt was a success!

Now I'm making my way through The Silmarillion for the second time, with that book supplimented by materials from The History of Middle-earth. THoMe I haven't been able to get into until now; The Silmarillion has worked well as a road-map for reading across the History volumes to see alternative or expanded versions of the narratives, and explore the essays that elaborate on what Tolkien had in mind. I've now reached The Fall of Gondolin.

It's vaguely on my mind to read through the material covering the Second and Third Ages (including from the Appendices) before returning to The Hobbit and LotR once more.

I read many other fantasy and science fiction as well. A favorite from my youth is Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. I also really like Dune by Frank Herbert.

[Galadriel55]

Welcome to the Downs, Kris! Always lovely to have new people joining! Kick back, enjoy, and make use of this cozy place for all your Tolkien needs.

It's fascinating to hear about your family "heirloom". Did you have an AHA moment when you first saw the "my precious" source material?

[Desert Kris]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Welcome to the Downs, Kris! Always lovely to have new people joining! Kick back, enjoy, and make use of this cozy place for all your Tolkien needs.

It's fascinating to hear about your family "heirloom". Did you have an AHA moment when you first saw the "my precious" source material?

Thanks for the welcome!

I was pretty young, but when I watched The Hobbit animated movie, and saw the character Gollum and heard him saying "Precious" and "My precious" I asked about it and knew after that that the joke came from that story. And I vaguely understood when introduced to LotR that they were connected, The Hobbit first followed by LotR.

I was so young though, The Hobbit was epic and daunting! Even after being shown the bulky hardcover box set of LotR, which was even more intimidating. I wondered how the story could go on and on to fill all those pages with all those words.

But yeah, I understood that the character Gollum in both stories was the origin of a shared joke in my family, when I saw the animated films. That shared family joke is why Tolkien's work kind of feels like part of the family, or inheritance. Something that bonded us, that I could explore in my own way when I was ready.

[Alassë Estel]

Welcome, Desert Kris!
It's really nice to hear about your experience with Tolkien's great works!
The books were at first quite intimidating to my younger self too.

[Alassë Estel]

Oh, and I also really enjoyed reading The Prydain Chronicles!

[Desert Kris]

Originally Posted by Alassë Estel

Welcome, Desert Kris!
It's really nice to hear about your experience with Tolkien's great works!
The books were at first quite intimidating to my younger self too.

Thank you for the welcome!

Originally Posted by Alassë Estel

Oh, and I also really enjoyed reading The Prydain Chronicles!

The Chronicles of Prydain are special to me in a different way, for several reasons. For one thing, they served as a surrogate for LotR until I was ready. So I was fortunate to experience The High King before Return of the King, and wasn't put off by the similar endings, didn't judge it too harshly.

Also, it was one of those rare books/series that I knew I was looking for but didn't realize it until I found it, the right kind of fantasy that I knew I wanted but didn't know how to look for.

The final thing with Prydain is it is something I discovered on my own, through my own reader's journey. I can only ever find people online who know those books, I hardly ever meet anyone in life who has ever heard of them or read them. So in life, they are kind of a hidden, secret series that know one else seems to know about. I am happy and relieved that I found them where so few other have, and been one of the few people who experienced their story come alive in my mind!

[Mithadan]

Welcome Desert Kris!

I will admit that I taped (audio) the animated Hobbit movie. That, of course, was decades before streaming and videotape was rare or non-existent. I saw the Bakshi LoTR film in the theater, and I had the poster of Gandalf with Glamdring, on my wall for several years.

[Alassë Estel]

Originally Posted by Desert Kris

Also, it was one of those rare books/series that I knew I was looking for but didn't realize it until I found it, the right kind of fantasy that I knew I wanted but didn't know how to look for.

I know just how that feels!
And it is a wonderful feeling when one finally finds it.