More! More! More! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mark12_30 · 10-29-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindil

As for the layers of M-E glimpsed one behind the other in TH, LOtR, Silm, UT etc. sooner or later one will reach the end of the story, and we must choose one of 3 things:

*go back to page one of TH
*go back to life and see how we can approach it in a more real/magical/virtuous, etc fashion
*log into the Downs

Ah, lindil. Thank you for saying so. I have been ravenous for, if not eucatastrophe, at least revelation. And so back-- not to Tolkien, but through or behind him, to St John and St Paul; back to the Ainulindale, forward to the Final Music-- the soul of Valinor is Agape, even to the elves strewing jewels on the sands, the shining of Valinor is Shekinah-- ...Lord, Enlighten me.

But even then I still log onto the Downs, or listen-- one more time-- to "Use Well the Days".

Selador · 11-28-2008, 04:44 PM

I am reminded of the move The Prestige, wherein Michael Caine's character explains the second act of every magic trick:

"The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you’re looking for the secret. But you won’t find it. Because of course, you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to know. You want to be fooled."

I did feel like that after reading Lord of the Rings. That is, I didn't feel any need to know any more, and I did sense that all the glimpses of the greater story were better left as such and only made the story itself more fascinating. What I did crave, however, was more of JRRT's storytelling. I suppose that is why I was never overly thrilled with the Silm. I do like it, and it is very interesting and informative, but it is all too brief and sketchy for me. I much prefer the fuller, more descriptive texts of UT (overlooking all the academic interruptions). And Eru bless Christopher for finishing and publishing CoH! Yes! A fully rendered tale from the master storyteller himself interrupted only by Alan Lee's amazing artwork. Bliss!

Lush · 11-28-2008, 05:52 PM

How do most of us see human history? Even the history of our own little lives?

Through glimpses - remembered, or imagined.

mark12_30 · 12-05-2008, 02:15 PM

And sometimes, the glimpses of our real world that somehow cry "Eriador!" to us, make the glimpses of the legendarium that much more poignant.

Once, driving with my mom when I was a young teen, I caught sight of a hillside that cried out "Shire!" to me. I said "Ooooh!" out loud. And then cound't explain why to my mom.

11-28-2008, 05:52 PM	#3
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	How do most of us see human history? Even the history of our own little lives? Through glimpses - remembered, or imagined. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

12-05-2008, 02:15 PM	#4
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	And sometimes, the glimpses of our real world that somehow cry "Eriador!" to us, make the glimpses of the legendarium that much more poignant. Once, driving with my mom when I was a young teen, I caught sight of a hillside that cried out "Shire!" to me. I said "Ooooh!" out loud. And then cound't explain why to my mom. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

11-28-2008, 04:44 PM	#2
Selador Pile O'Bones Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 16	I am reminded of the move The Prestige, wherein Michael Caine's character explains the second act of every magic trick: "The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you’re looking for the secret. But you won’t find it. Because of course, you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to know. You want to be fooled." I did feel like that after reading Lord of the Rings. That is, I didn't feel any need to know any more, and I did sense that all the glimpses of the greater story were better left as such and only made the story itself more fascinating. What I did crave, however, was more of JRRT's storytelling. I suppose that is why I was never overly thrilled with the Silm. I do like it, and it is very interesting and informative, but it is all too brief and sketchy for me. I much prefer the fuller, more descriptive texts of UT (overlooking all the academic interruptions). And Eru bless Christopher for finishing and publishing CoH! Yes! A fully rendered tale from the master storyteller himself interrupted only by Alan Lee's amazing artwork. Bliss!