When did you first read Lord of the Rings?

[Morsul the Dark]

I'd read the Hobbit when I was like 8 or 9 nd likedit... but somehow it slipped from my mind until the trilogy came out. I loved the first movie, and so I read the trilogy, I was partway through ROTK when Two Towers the movie came out.

I've tried to reread it numerous times... But I always get stalled around the middle of book two. For me it is a great book, however it does seem to ramble in parts(I realize this as an odd thing.) it reminds me of 1984 in that regard I want to know what happens next because it's fascinating but on the other hand it drags a lot.

Oh and I do have to add one thing. Depending on the definition I still haven't READ the trilogy....
I kind of...skipped the songs...

[Lastande Took]

It's kind of complicated. My parents didn't want me reading fantasy because they knew I'd get totally sucked in to the point where it messed up real life. Until a couple months ago, Narnia was far as I'd gone. Then, LotR came up on a Sherlock Holmes forum I frequent, and I was called a "despicable heathen" for living in ingnorance and told to "go, and read." I thought, "Hey, I'll be 18 in a few months, I can wait that long to read what I like."

Enter little brother, who checked out The Hobbit from the library. I thought to myself, "You know, they've got the Trilogy in the staff lounge at work. I guess it won't hurt to read it now instead of in July." I borrowed the Trilogy, one volume at a time, and read the whole thing, plus Hobbit, in about a week. If I'm careful, I can keep my LotR obsession down to quotes, the soundtrack on YouTube, and learning Quenya.

It may very well be early training, but I've found I don't care for fantasy outside of Narnia, LotR, Star Wars, and mythology.

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Lastande Took

Then, LotR came up on a Sherlock Holmes forum I frequent, and I was called a "despicable heathen" for living in ingnorance

Give my love to your fellow Sherlock Holmes fans for that choice of words! (From one who deserves the same epithet as far as SH is concerned - meaning I have some idea about his role in popular culture, but can't claim to have studied the works of Arthur Conan Doyle like I'm sure they deserve to be. But out of curiosity, what was that connection between LotR and SH?)

Originally Posted by LT

I borrowed the Trilogy, one volume at a time, and read the whole thing, plus Hobbit, in about a week.

Sounds vaguely familiar (see above).

Originally Posted by LT

If I'm careful, I can keep my LotR obsession down to quotes, the soundtrack on YouTube, and learning Quenya.

That's more self-restriction than most of us can boast of (and kudos for learning Quenya!). Speaking of soundtracks on YouTube, have you discovered this?

Originally Posted by LT

It may very well be early training, but I've found I don't care for fantasy outside of Narnia, LotR, Star Wars, and mythology.

Scrap Star Wars (not really - I quite like the movies myself, but they're not exactly what I call fantasy), and Narnia is a chapter to itself, but yeah, there isn't much that can compete with Tolkien and true mythology. (If you're interested in recommendations, see here.)

[Guinevere]

I never told my story in that old thread, it must have been somewhere else... But anyhow that was years ago and there are many new members now.

when did you first read Lord of the Rings? What prompted you to read it? And what was your reaction (first and last)?

I am certainly among the very oldest of you, and I am apparently quite an exception because I have NOT read LotR as a teenager, but only became acquainted with Tolkien’s works at the age of 50! (rather like Bilbo and Frodo who started out for adventure at 50 as well! )

I only wonder why on earth I had never come across Tolkien earlier in life. Probably because I don’t live in an English speaking country… Though I did spend a year in England (1971 and half a year in the USA (1973), none of my friends, teachers and acquaintances ever gave me a hint ( I used to borrow books from everyone)

Anyhow, it was only when my elder son (then 15) got the Hobbit and LotR (several of his friends from the boy-scouts were Tolkien fans) and started reading them (in German) , that I got interested. (I had already read "Harry Potter" at his advice, but in English, while he read in German) . So I got myself an English copy of the Hobbit and later LotR and we read about simultaniously. (I finished FotR right before the first of the movies came out.)

I was soon more of a fan than my son was! For him, it was just an exciting adventure story, but I got more out of it - it was quite a revelation for me! I have read a lot of books in my life , (also many English ones), yet I can honestly say that hardly any other book has so fascinated, thrilled and moved me, and none has stimulated my fantasy and enriched my life as much as LotR.

I proceeded with the Silmarillion (Rather hard to begin with, but fortunately I have a good memory for names…I was more troubled by the deep sadness in this work.) Thereafter, I reread LotR with a new understanding and appreciation. In between I had also read “On Fairy-stories”(Marvellous! I found so much truth in there!) and “Leaf by Niggle” which stirred a deeper interest in Tolkien’s life and thoughts, so I got his biography and the book by T.Shippey “Tolkien, author of the century”. In the mean time I had joined the Barrowdowns and have since then read ever so many interesting and thought-provoking threads.(Btw, that’s another side-effect of my Tolkien-craze: being rather a luddite, I had never touched a computer before, but my son taught me to use the internet so I could get in touch with other Tolkien- fans all over the world.) In the BD I came across several beautiful quotations from Tolkien’s letters, so of course, I had to have those treasures too!

My younger son (about 12 at that time) soon read the books as well and since he had to read aloud to me (on the teacher’s request) and alternately I read to him, I could compare his German copy to my English one. Alas, in no way does the translation justice to the original! Much of the charm of Tolkiens wonderful language is lost.

[Lastande Took]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

Give my love to your fellow Sherlock Holmes fans for that choice of words! (From one who deserves the same epithet as far as SH is concerned - meaning I have some idea about his role in popular culture, but can't claim to have studied the works of Arthur Conan Doyle like I'm sure they deserve to be. But out of curiosity, what was that connection between LotR and SH?)

That's more self-restriction than most of us can boast of (and kudos for learning Quenya!). Speaking of soundtracks on YouTube, have you discovered this?

Scrap Star Wars (not really - I quite like the movies myself, but they're not exactly what I call fantasy), and Narnia is a chapter to itself, but yeah, there isn't much that can compete with Tolkien and true mythology. (If you're interested in recommendations, see here.)

Whoa, lots of questions! First one first:

On one thread about going on a date with Sherlock Holmes, someone used an LotR quote, which sparked about three pages of quotefests, sharing LotR activities (writing in Tengwar, scaring siblings with your Gollum voice, etc.), and ended up with the suggestion of starting a "On a Date with Gollum" thread. We eventually did wind up back on topic.

I'm finding Quenya to be a fascinating language, even if I am going very slowly. Yes, I've found that video, thanks for linking anyway. I found it hilarious, partly because the maker did such a good job with the editing.

I include Star Wars in 'fantasy' because in my twisted mind, science fantasy, as opposed to science fiction, generally gets lumped in with regular fantasy.

PS- You might want to try reading a copy of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" or watching some of the Granada TV series episodes starring Jeremy Brett on YouTube. Doyle's fans are every bit as devoted as Tolkien's, and just as crazy. Pretending Holmes and Watson are real is standard procedure.

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by Lastande Took

On one thread about going on a date with Sherlock Holmes, someone used an LotR quote, which sparked about three pages of quotefests, sharing LotR activities (writing in Tengwar, scaring siblings with your Gollum voice, etc.), and ended up with the suggestion of starting a "On a Date with Gollum" thread. We eventually did wind up back on topic.

And I was thinking it might have been someone drawing a scholarly parallel between Reichenbach Falls and Sammath Naur! (Yeah, I've assimilated some particles of SH lore via the usual hearsay channels...)

Originally Posted by LT

I'm finding Quenya to be a fascinating language

It is. Have you been to Ardalambion?

Originally Posted by LT

I include Star Wars in 'fantasy' because in my twisted mind, science fantasy, as opposed to science fiction, generally gets lumped in with regular fantasy.

OK, see your point - and Lucas did rely quite heavily on fantasy tropes, of course. (While we're talking genre terminology, I've long thought that 'fantasy' should perhaps more properly be called 'magic fiction', analogous/opposed to 'science fiction'...)

Originally Posted by LT

Doyle's fans are every bit as devoted as Tolkien's, and just as crazy.

I've noticed that - a good friend of mine belongs in both categories, and SH has long been on my 'should read' list. Thanks for the recommendations!
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Originally Posted by Guinevere

Alas, in no way does the translation justice to the original! Much of the charm of Tolkiens wonderful language is lost.

Which German translation did you read, Carroux/von Freymann or Krege? The former rocks (it's not the real thing, but it comes very close for me), the latter deserves to rot in the same purgatory as Peter Jackson.

[Lastande Took]

Thanks for the link. I'm accumulating a lot of language-related sites on my favourites bar.

Sorry for the Doyle/Holmes plug. I know it's off topic, but I like my detective. You might want to check out this forum: http://holmesian.net It's the one I was talking about above.

[Guinevere]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

Which German translation did you read, Carroux/von Freymann or Krege? The former rocks (it's not the real thing, but it comes very close for me), the latter deserves to rot in the same purgatory as Peter Jackson.

Well, my boys have the newer (Krege) translation. You can imagine how puzzled/appalled I was at certain things!!
But in a German Tolkien forum where I was a member there was a lively discussion about the old and the new translation. This interested me so much that I finally bought a copy of the Carroux translation just for comparison! It's better than Krege, but still a long way from the original!
If you're interested see this old thread of mine on Tolkien Translations .

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I read them in 2001. I had been putting it off but I knew the films were coming out so the pressure was on.

I liked them immediately; but the second time I read LotR was better. I caught much more of the story.

[Galadriel]

Originally Posted by Lastande Took

It's kind of complicated. My parents didn't want me reading fantasy because they knew I'd get totally sucked in to the point where it messed up real life. Until a couple months ago, Narnia was far as I'd gone. Then, LotR came up on a Sherlock Holmes forum I frequent, and I was called a "despicable heathen" for living in ingnorance and told to "go, and read." I thought, "Hey, I'll be 18 in a few months, I can wait that long to read what I like."

It may very well be early training, but I've found I don't care for fantasy outside of Narnia, LotR, Star Wars, and mythology.

Yay! Someone who is around the same age as me!