"He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains he had never seen came into his dreams." - The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R Tolkien
My books are stacked by my desk, my tea is sending tendrils of hot steam into the morning air and the sun is just beginning to crack open the eastern rim of the sky. It’s time to return to Middle-earth again.
Today is the first official day of our 2024 Lord of the Rings read-through. Who’s in?!
4 quick tips for your read through:
Choose the reading style that works for YOU. Whether that’s reading a physical book, e-reader, listening to an audiobook, or taking turns reading aloud with a family member/or close friend—go with what fits in your current lifestyle. It all counts!
Take the book with you everywhere. Taking the book (or audio/e-reader version) with you wherever you go increases your chances of getting through pages of it during the “in-between” times. Riding in the car, waiting on an appointment, during a lunch break, waiting to pick up the kids from school, etc. Basically, the times you’d find yourself just casually scrolling your phone, try picking up the book instead!
Don’t compare your reading pace to anyone (especially mine). I’m naturally a fast reader. Plus, I’ve read The Lord of the Rings so many times I’ve lost count. It’s the difference between hiking a trail you’ve been on numerous times vs. hiking one for the first time. Reading LOTR feels very familiar to my brain. If it feels unfamiliar to yours and you need to take things slower, that’s ok!
Just remember: THERE IS NO FALLING BEHIND because there’s no schedule to keep. Read when you can, where you can and come join the Middle-earth Monday conversations from wherever you’re at in the books. You’re always welcome.
If you haven’t done so already, subscribe to this Substack. This is where I’ll be posting weekly check-ins (Middle-earth Mondays) for paid subscribers to have a place to ask questions and share their own thoughts with others reading alongside them.
While the LOTR read-through will be free, I will also be sharing bonus posts, resources and private discussions for paying subscribers here. If you want access to that, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
The best part of this read-through will be getting to do it together. This substack is where that can happen.
From Bilbo's party and Gandalf's fireworks to Tom Bombadil’s masterfully whimsical influence in the Old Forest to the banks of the Great River, Anduin--let me be your tour guide through the first phase of this epic story for the ages.
Why? Because my heart needs a beautiful story about small good defeating seemingly impossible evil and maybe yours does too. Because wholesome escapism calls us to lift our eyes to One writing all stories into The Best Story. Because as much as we'd love to claim the nobility and grandeur of the elves, we're all just Hobbits at heart who want a simple life with good food, community and a safe place to call home.
So whether you’re celebrating with a Hobbit Day feast like us, or simply cozying up with The Fellowship of the Ring + a warm drink to toast Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday, I’m wishing you a beautiful day full of all the small comforts that matter in the biggest ways.
Questions for you:
1. Is this your first time reading The Lord of the Rings or have you gone through them before?
2. Please introduce yourself below. Where are you reading from? I'm here to cheer you on today!
Coming this Monday (September 23rd): our first Middle-earth Monday check-in! *paid subscribers only*
Hello! I’m Rachel from NC (originally OR). My dad read LOTR to me when I was a child, and it’s been my favorite book ever since. I don’t even know how many times I’ve read it at this point. This time, I’m listening to the audiobook with my kids on the drive to school—they’ve only seen the movies, so I’m excited to share it with them!
Also really excited to find this community of fun Tolkien-nerds! I don’t have enough of that irl.
Hello, Mary here. First read LOTR while Tolkien was still alive, that was in the early ‘70s, and was thrilled when LOTR was named the #1 book of the 20th century back in 1999. Everything about it came alive in my imagination from turning the first page and I’ve never stopped loving it. Harry Potter doesn’t hold a candle to Tolkien’s fascinating novels, imo. Looking forward to this adventure!