This may be long and a bit jumbled.. but I finished last night and my heart is aching. I relished the last few pages. I am not a crier but as I turned to the last few paragraphs, my chest tightened to see it end. What an adventure to have shared with you all.
Sam - I think he is everything! :) The faithful friend with more courage and bravery than his family would have him believe. His loyalty to Frodo and his friends has found him beloved in my heart. His friendship and care for Bill definitely helps in that! I shared his happiness and relief to hear of Bill's safe return.
Maybe a little controversially, I spent most of the Two Towers disliking Frodo. I understand he was carrying the weight of the ring but I just didn't care much for him during that. He really had to fight the power of the ring. It was interesting to see Sam's perspective when he held the ring. While he only had it a short time, it shows we all have the capacity to be tempted by evil and power but he chose his own garden, worked by his own hands! I love that. Like Bombadil, the ring didn't affect him, is there some link there ? Or is it a case, that pushed enough my fear or greed, we will all turn?
The other character who has a special place in my heart is Treebeard and the Ents. Tolkien's views on the effects of industrialization and men's greed is what we all need to hear. When our wars are long forgotten, the land, just like Isengard and The Shire will recover. Yet, we kill needlessly for what ? Those poor children in Palestine! Needless. "There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a passing thing: there was a light and high beauty for ever beyons its reach." ❤️
My journey isnt quite over yet. I am a little behind on the audiobook so I get to listen to Andy Serkis bring this tale to its end over the next week or so. I am so glad to have taken part and I look forward to visiting Bombabil & Goldberry again. I look forward to thinking more of the Entwives and what that all means... thank you so much again, John and all the contributors who have made this arriveal in middle earth an amazing journey and in which I hope to stay a little longer.
Thanks very much, AnnMarie! I have been vicariously enjoying the feeling of reading for the first time through your reading. I think Sam is the favorite of many, and he gets the last line in the book, which I’ll be writing about on Friday.
John, great stuff as always. You have enlighted my experience of one of my favorite stories.
I enjoyed the movies but I agree that the exclusion of Tom Bombadill and the scouring of the Shire were tragic. I realize some creative license has to take place and also that a lot of folks who never read the books probably enjoyed the movies, however, for me it was really frustrating. Not every story has a happy ending but in our era it seems appealing to the masses is more important than truth.
Thanks, Matthew. It has been a treat getting your perspective on this. And yes, I realize that the movie was already long, but I think that they could have cut some other less vital material (ten minutes of action sequences?) to make room for the Scouring.
Thank you, John. Your guidance and curation has deepened my experience of a text I thought to have understood well. I mentioned I have walked with Frodo and the company for 60 years now, and certainly my own age and life experience have brought different events and characters into greater relief. But this has been my most remarkable and treasured journey to middle earth and LOTR. You have given JRRTolkein a voice in this future of his work. thank you.
I'm not generally a fan of endings that have to dot every i and cross every t. They can feel insulting to the audience (looking at *you*, Star Wars Revenge of the Sith). This one works for me both because of the way it balances the beginning, and because it re-establishes all the things that the war was fought to preserve: friendship and music and beauty, good beer and good governance.
In the end that was my biggest complaint about the movies - they left out almost all of what made the characters' sacrifices worth it.
I have enjoyed this reading very much. Thank you. I will probably not read the books again next summer (only so many reading hours available), but I look forward to reading your writing about it.
First, thanks for calling my attention to the typewriter. Now I have to own one! I must! Lord knows what it may cost me, but I'll look into it.
Second, thanks for my word of the month: finifugal (fin-IF-u-gal)! I can't tell you the wormhole I went down seeking where that came from. OED says only evidence for it is L. A. Tollemache, and he provide a curious representation of Victorianism.
Finally, I'm struck by what you report about the film adaptation of The Return of the King, that "When the hobbits returned to the Shire, nothing had changed." I haven't seen the film, and if I haven't made this clear before, I haven't read LOTR. I've never been a fan of fantasy fiction and in my contrary way, resisted reading it when all around me in high school and college were. But I knew you'd provide a fascinating education in it for me regardless, and I wasn't wrong. I'm more likely to read it now, seeing its real-world connections as I'm now able, though that will probably have to wait until you lead readers through it again in 2025.
But back to Jackson again and how strongly you feel about his omission. I understand. At least as far back as Odysseus, we ever learn that warriors return to a changed home-scape. In writing I've done on the combat film I note about Lewis Milestone's All Quiet on the Western Front, that one of its themes is that soldiers don't go to war, as we commonly say, but that rather they bring the war with them from home. And they bring it back home. Imagining home as cut off from the struggle, in a separate world of its own has been done: recently I mentioned on Notes a James Clavell scripted and directed film from the 1970s titled The Last Valley, about the Thirty Years War. The valley of the film, in the Alps, is outstanding for its discovery by mercenaries as a separate pastoral reserve cut off from the war all around. I'm eager to see the long inaccessible film again, but my memory is that the ending includes the inevitable end of that impossible ideal of a separate world in a separate peace.
Our department has a series of stickers called “We have the best words,” and finifugal was our word for F. It has since become a regular part of my vocabulary! And gosh, what a great point about the return of Odysseus—I wish I had used that example. I’ve never heard of that Clavell film—this is the novelist James Clavell? I’ll keep a lookout for it. Any chance of a Criterion release?
And I hope you’ll join us for LOTR 2025; I would love to follow your first reading! (And for the record, most so-called “fantasy” literature is abysmal. It’s really all about the prose for me, regardless of genre, and Tolkien is a great prose stylist.)
John, you have been a wonderful wizard all along the road with this LOTR reading project, and I have been much enriched in ways I didn’t expect. You know I agree with you about cutting the “Scouring of the Shire” from the movie version - and I definitely think other things could have been cut (such as two the battle scenes at Osgiliath (sp?), one a flashback with Boromir and Faramir, that add little, especially if you haven’t read the books). And in the movie version, doesn’t Sam see a version of the “Scouring” in Galadriel’s mirror? Seems like that was brushed away, no muss, no fuss.
As for Tom Bombadil, I was glad he was cut from the movie, because there the limits of the form could have really undercut what he’s supposed to be. I have limited tolerance for twee elves and fairies and such like, sir 😉
Thanks, Martha—it has been great having you along for the ride! Yes, I’ve always thought it strange that we see a vision of the Scouring in the first film and that they don’t return to it.
We’ll agree to disagree about Tom 🤓. But I concur that the Scouring is the more problematic omission.
I am in agreement that the scouring of the Shire omission from the film was egregious, but at the same time, I do understand why it was omitted in light of an already-overlong ending (unlike the change to Faramir's character, which I think was unjustified). That's why it's so essential to me that people read the books and understand that there are so many nuances and layers in the books that never made it to the films. While excellent in their own ways, the movies are woefully limited because of the medium. I do wish it had at least been added back in for the extended versions though, but I guess there wasn't going to be a smooth way to accomplish that with the ending they already filmed.
I agree that it’s largely a limitation of the medium. I still think that they could have made some cuts elsewhere in the film to allow for the Scouring. And you’re right, the changes to Faramir were badly handled.
This whole series has been fascinating. I’ve read Shippey and others but nobody’s done it quite like this. Thank you very much indeed for your efforts and for posting them here.
This may be long and a bit jumbled.. but I finished last night and my heart is aching. I relished the last few pages. I am not a crier but as I turned to the last few paragraphs, my chest tightened to see it end. What an adventure to have shared with you all.
Sam - I think he is everything! :) The faithful friend with more courage and bravery than his family would have him believe. His loyalty to Frodo and his friends has found him beloved in my heart. His friendship and care for Bill definitely helps in that! I shared his happiness and relief to hear of Bill's safe return.
Maybe a little controversially, I spent most of the Two Towers disliking Frodo. I understand he was carrying the weight of the ring but I just didn't care much for him during that. He really had to fight the power of the ring. It was interesting to see Sam's perspective when he held the ring. While he only had it a short time, it shows we all have the capacity to be tempted by evil and power but he chose his own garden, worked by his own hands! I love that. Like Bombadil, the ring didn't affect him, is there some link there ? Or is it a case, that pushed enough my fear or greed, we will all turn?
The other character who has a special place in my heart is Treebeard and the Ents. Tolkien's views on the effects of industrialization and men's greed is what we all need to hear. When our wars are long forgotten, the land, just like Isengard and The Shire will recover. Yet, we kill needlessly for what ? Those poor children in Palestine! Needless. "There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a passing thing: there was a light and high beauty for ever beyons its reach." ❤️
My journey isnt quite over yet. I am a little behind on the audiobook so I get to listen to Andy Serkis bring this tale to its end over the next week or so. I am so glad to have taken part and I look forward to visiting Bombabil & Goldberry again. I look forward to thinking more of the Entwives and what that all means... thank you so much again, John and all the contributors who have made this arriveal in middle earth an amazing journey and in which I hope to stay a little longer.
Thanks very much, AnnMarie! I have been vicariously enjoying the feeling of reading for the first time through your reading. I think Sam is the favorite of many, and he gets the last line in the book, which I’ll be writing about on Friday.
John, great stuff as always. You have enlighted my experience of one of my favorite stories.
I enjoyed the movies but I agree that the exclusion of Tom Bombadill and the scouring of the Shire were tragic. I realize some creative license has to take place and also that a lot of folks who never read the books probably enjoyed the movies, however, for me it was really frustrating. Not every story has a happy ending but in our era it seems appealing to the masses is more important than truth.
Thanks, Matthew. It has been a treat getting your perspective on this. And yes, I realize that the movie was already long, but I think that they could have cut some other less vital material (ten minutes of action sequences?) to make room for the Scouring.
Thank you, John. Your guidance and curation has deepened my experience of a text I thought to have understood well. I mentioned I have walked with Frodo and the company for 60 years now, and certainly my own age and life experience have brought different events and characters into greater relief. But this has been my most remarkable and treasured journey to middle earth and LOTR. You have given JRRTolkein a voice in this future of his work. thank you.
Thank you, Leslie. That means a lot to me, especially since you have been reading it for so long.
I'm not generally a fan of endings that have to dot every i and cross every t. They can feel insulting to the audience (looking at *you*, Star Wars Revenge of the Sith). This one works for me both because of the way it balances the beginning, and because it re-establishes all the things that the war was fought to preserve: friendship and music and beauty, good beer and good governance.
In the end that was my biggest complaint about the movies - they left out almost all of what made the characters' sacrifices worth it.
I have enjoyed this reading very much. Thank you. I will probably not read the books again next summer (only so many reading hours available), but I look forward to reading your writing about it.
Thanks, Kathryn. I’m glad you enjoyed it, and yes, I know what you mean about limited reading hours.
John!
First, thanks for calling my attention to the typewriter. Now I have to own one! I must! Lord knows what it may cost me, but I'll look into it.
Second, thanks for my word of the month: finifugal (fin-IF-u-gal)! I can't tell you the wormhole I went down seeking where that came from. OED says only evidence for it is L. A. Tollemache, and he provide a curious representation of Victorianism.
Finally, I'm struck by what you report about the film adaptation of The Return of the King, that "When the hobbits returned to the Shire, nothing had changed." I haven't seen the film, and if I haven't made this clear before, I haven't read LOTR. I've never been a fan of fantasy fiction and in my contrary way, resisted reading it when all around me in high school and college were. But I knew you'd provide a fascinating education in it for me regardless, and I wasn't wrong. I'm more likely to read it now, seeing its real-world connections as I'm now able, though that will probably have to wait until you lead readers through it again in 2025.
But back to Jackson again and how strongly you feel about his omission. I understand. At least as far back as Odysseus, we ever learn that warriors return to a changed home-scape. In writing I've done on the combat film I note about Lewis Milestone's All Quiet on the Western Front, that one of its themes is that soldiers don't go to war, as we commonly say, but that rather they bring the war with them from home. And they bring it back home. Imagining home as cut off from the struggle, in a separate world of its own has been done: recently I mentioned on Notes a James Clavell scripted and directed film from the 1970s titled The Last Valley, about the Thirty Years War. The valley of the film, in the Alps, is outstanding for its discovery by mercenaries as a separate pastoral reserve cut off from the war all around. I'm eager to see the long inaccessible film again, but my memory is that the ending includes the inevitable end of that impossible ideal of a separate world in a separate peace.
Our department has a series of stickers called “We have the best words,” and finifugal was our word for F. It has since become a regular part of my vocabulary! And gosh, what a great point about the return of Odysseus—I wish I had used that example. I’ve never heard of that Clavell film—this is the novelist James Clavell? I’ll keep a lookout for it. Any chance of a Criterion release?
And I hope you’ll join us for LOTR 2025; I would love to follow your first reading! (And for the record, most so-called “fantasy” literature is abysmal. It’s really all about the prose for me, regardless of genre, and Tolkien is a great prose stylist.)
John, you have been a wonderful wizard all along the road with this LOTR reading project, and I have been much enriched in ways I didn’t expect. You know I agree with you about cutting the “Scouring of the Shire” from the movie version - and I definitely think other things could have been cut (such as two the battle scenes at Osgiliath (sp?), one a flashback with Boromir and Faramir, that add little, especially if you haven’t read the books). And in the movie version, doesn’t Sam see a version of the “Scouring” in Galadriel’s mirror? Seems like that was brushed away, no muss, no fuss.
As for Tom Bombadil, I was glad he was cut from the movie, because there the limits of the form could have really undercut what he’s supposed to be. I have limited tolerance for twee elves and fairies and such like, sir 😉
Thanks, Martha—it has been great having you along for the ride! Yes, I’ve always thought it strange that we see a vision of the Scouring in the first film and that they don’t return to it.
We’ll agree to disagree about Tom 🤓. But I concur that the Scouring is the more problematic omission.
I am in agreement that the scouring of the Shire omission from the film was egregious, but at the same time, I do understand why it was omitted in light of an already-overlong ending (unlike the change to Faramir's character, which I think was unjustified). That's why it's so essential to me that people read the books and understand that there are so many nuances and layers in the books that never made it to the films. While excellent in their own ways, the movies are woefully limited because of the medium. I do wish it had at least been added back in for the extended versions though, but I guess there wasn't going to be a smooth way to accomplish that with the ending they already filmed.
I agree that it’s largely a limitation of the medium. I still think that they could have made some cuts elsewhere in the film to allow for the Scouring. And you’re right, the changes to Faramir were badly handled.
Yes, that's true. The Pelennor Fields battle didn't have to be that long, for one thing.
This whole series has been fascinating. I’ve read Shippey and others but nobody’s done it quite like this. Thank you very much indeed for your efforts and for posting them here.
Thank you! I’m glad you have enjoyed it. It has been fun to write.