As today is the 118th birthday of John Rail Road Tolkien, we present this scarce item, a cartoon from around 2002. The original, which was in color, was given to our friend Ben, who got us tickets to the DC premier of the Two Towers at the fabled Uptown Theater (the last movie theater around here with a balcony). This was scanned off a copy, so it's not too high-grade. My dad gave me The Hobbit when I was about 10 and sick in bed and I still remember reading it for the first time and having weird and intense dreams. It took me a few years to get through the Rings trilogy (or nonology, or whatever it is), and in high school I got in trouble in English class for laughing because I was reading Bored of the Rings (the teacher confiscated the book and gave it back two days later saying, jeez, that's hilarious). I didn't really reread it until the late 90s, when I heard they were making a movie (that I thought would be lousy). I've got several friends who read it every year or so, and one guy I knew years ago read it on a long cross-country motorcycle trip. That seems like the ideal way to make your way through it. Just imagine there are Black Riders on your tail, and watch those miles whiz by.
Don't post stuff like this. I've got a chest cold and it really, really hurts when I laugh so much that I launch into a coughing fit and end up curled on the floor trying to pool the drool. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat book made most of my life, as it is today. Rings.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Mr.F, hope you're feeling better soon. So stop reading this unhealthy nonsense and go to bed!
ReplyDeleteKioskerman, I know how you feel. When I reread Rings after not having opened it for almost 20 years, I was shocked how moved I was when I reached the end. (as I type this Return of the King's on TV and Shelob is slavering after Mr. Frodo...)
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
ReplyDeletesource unknown
Woodrowfan: Nice zinger there.
ReplyDeleterichardthomapson: I'm feeling much better now (said in a John Astin voice).
I wonder what percentage of these comments were left by the male of the species? I've not known many women, myself include, that could get through more that 10 pages of Tolkien.
ReplyDeleteTwo typos for the copy editor/writer. Hangs head in shame.
ReplyDeleteHere is a female who re-read all Rings and The Hobbit when the movies came out. I first read them in high school in the 60's. Re-reading all of the appendix section in "King" was so fabulous it sent chills down my spine.
ReplyDeleteTom Bombadil was a Banjo Man?!?
ReplyDeleteFar freakin' out...
Really? I'm female, and I love LOTR!
ReplyDelete