Tolkien reading in Karlsruhe on the 25th

[Pitchwife]

Yep, no time for a city tour before the reading (besides, I've been to Karlsruhe a few times); but if you're free in the evening, maybe we could find a cozy pub afterwards? Let's discuss everything else by PM, shall we?

[Bêthberry]

For those of you unable to participate in a Tolkien Reading Day with others, here's a lovely essay on this year's theme, Tolkien's Trees.

I'm looking forward to the Wellinghall smial gathering tomorrow.

[Galadriel55]

How did it go?

Pitch? TM? Bethberry? (Even though you're probably not home yet)

[Bêthberry]

I'm home, Galadriel55! We had an afternoon meeting to accommodate members who drive in from several cities outside the GTA.

We had alot of fun and laughter.I suppose in the vernacular I could say it was awesome. The group was smallish--well, larger than the Fellowship by a bit--but there is a wide range in the ages of members. I'm sure your parents would have found people of interest their own age and there were also some young adults, probably a bit older than you. After lunch we made a concerted effort to read all our passages to each other--interesting how "trees" can take readers in so many different ways; time allowed us to make some comments and observations on each passage. I read two pieces: the paragraph from Tolkien's essay on Beowulf and the critics where he refers to certain critics as "flitting from one tum-tum tree to another"; and part of the poem "Korterion Among The Trees" from Cottage of Lost Play in BoLT 1.

Wellinghall Smial has a very dynamic group of people. They've started (or helped to start) the White Tree Fund to amalgamate the world wide Tolkien community to support various charities and raise awareness of literacy initiatives (among several goals).

They also produce the Silver Leaves Journal in support of that fund. I saw the three past issues of the journal this afternoon and they are beautiful, interesting works, with contributions from around the world. Jef Murray and Ted Nasmith are just some of the contributors.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at one of the Reading Day events some year soon, G55.

EDIT: Probably the most fitting reading was the passage from the chapter "Treebeard" which describes Wellinghall. We all agreed it should be the closing reading for future Reading Day moots.

[Galadriel55]

I'm so jealous! I wish I could go!


Ah, you guys are probably tired of me ranting on this subject. "Those teenagers never know what they want", right? *sighs*

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Ah, you guys are probably tired of me ranting on this subject. "Those teenagers never know what they want", right? *sighs*

No, but I"m a bit embarassed that we are actually off topic and hijacked The Might's and Pitch's thread about the German meeting.

Had you attended, G55, I could have posted about the meeting on the proper thread, as Pitch has done.

Judging from Estelyn's reports of the German TS, I'd say it is a very dynamic group of keen (Tolkeen?) fans. I like the idea of doing readings in a bookstore.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I had originally planned to participate in the Reading Day in Hannover. Alas, a nasssty cold took me out of things the past few days. However, a friend who was actively involved called to tell me about it. The local smial had fun reading various passages from different stories, the bookstore sold several Tolkien books, and even people who didn't actually sit down and stay, hung around the fringes to listen. Sounds like a success to me!

I agree, Bb - cooperating with bookstores to do the readings is an excellent idea. Everyone benefits from it. And yes, the German Tolkien Society is definitely active!