Thank you Breanne for making life better & more interesting by connecting me to my favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien in whole new ways. The quality, depth & breadth of your commentary so impresses me. I have amassed a book collection about Tolkien and your thoughts & words are on a level that often exceeds professional and academic works. Bless you and yours.
I just finished this afternoon and started the appendices. I am entirely grateful that I found you on TikTok after watching Rings of Power. I first read The Hobbit and LoTR many years ago at age 12, in the 1960s. I read it 2 or 3 more times over the years, the last time shortly prior to
PJ’s Fellowship release. Since then, I’ve watched the movies several times and watched the extended versions last year.
So the movies had colored my memory of the books, and I had forgotten many details. Reading with you and this group is one of the best things I’ve done. Reading brings much more depth to the characters and to the story. As I finished the last 2 chapters today, I was wrecked. Reading it in such a short time, I recalled details of the previous books, which really impacted how I feel about the story. Bittersweet is a good word as well as admiration for each of the hobbits, especially Frodo and Sam. This time I was amazed as I went to Mt Doom with them and realized Sam’s incredible courage and fortitude. I teared up many times reading this last book. Bittersweet.
Again, thank you so very much. I don’t think I would have been so reliable in reading this through so quickly (for me). I will certainly join you again next time. With gratitude, Patti
Loved the music Breanne! Thank you for leading this read through. It's been so much fun talking and learning more things. I don't know where my head was when I first read the books, but this has been like a first time for me.
I am finally to the Steward and the King. I can't remember if it was touched on in the last article, but I was struck by Sam's mercy toward Gollum. I love the consensus that everyone hates Gollum, but he's so pathetic you can't kill him. Even Sam, who swore up and down that he would do the deed. How many chances did Gollum get, and he couldn't let the ring go. And it ended up being his doom. It speaks to how addiction really can take root in our lives. We know something is bad for us, but it's not a problem. Or in some cases, it is a problem, but I don't care. Then, we get into this destructive behavior that makes us lose everything by our own hand.
Late to the game this week. Hopefully some will see this!
I really enjoyed this journey together. I've read LotR many times over but this is the first time in such good company.
While the last chapters pass by quickly, I do enjoy the leisurely journey home for the Hobbits, the slow partings along the way and the tarrying in familiar places now free from shadow and fear.
Tolkien was gracious in allowing us a slow goodbye to this most important chapter in the history of his world, giving nods to the people and places we met along the way.
And then the Scouring of the Shire. I understand its exclusion from the films, but it remains so poignant and critical to the end. "You are quite grown up now," Gandalf tells them as he leaves to visit Bombadil. There was no longer any doubt or fear the Hobbits couldn't handle how the darkness had touched their homeland.
The resistance to tyranny in the Shire is inspiring. It makes me think of how we can all be better neighbors and realize that together we are strong and able to keep injustice and dark times at bay.
Thank you Breanne! I look forward to more adventures.
This is my first year reading with a group of people and my second time reading this book all the way through. I’ll admit there were times where life was too busy to finish the book but I am so thankful that I stuck with it. As mentioned in previous posts, this book has become a great comfort during a really hard season. I’ve told so many people about this Substack, I hope to recruit a few friends to join me next year. In a season where I wrestled with my faith, Tolkien reminds me there is great light in the darkest of seasons, and it’s only fitting to write this on Christmas as the birth of Christ is the greatest light in all of history.
I just finished the Lord of the rings tonight on Christmas eve. I was so moved how Lobelia stood up to be the ruffians. She was a hero in my eyes. She was brave. Some just submitted but not Lobelia. She stood up to them all. The parting at the Grey havens is so sad but good for Frodo. I can’t wait to see what else we will be reading together. Yes, I agree we need rest now. But only a little, lol.
This time when I finished the story, it really hit me how much Tolkien is honoring Frodo's PTSD and giving voice to that. It felt very personal and as if he was trying to grant some form of peaceful ending for anyone who has ever had to carry something like that.
I also loved how each hobbit had their own role in reestablishing the Shire based on their own strengths, personalities and experience.
Also had never noticed how forward Rosie Cotton is. Girl knew what she wanted!
Thank you, Breanne for hosting us. Have loved what you have shared.
Thanks Breanne for hosting this read thru. It has been a delight! I have loved all the insights from everyone. Taking a short break from JRR but planning to dive into the Silmarillion in the new year. Thanks all for making this world a little less scarier when I step out that door.
Thank you again for this place of refuge. This reading has been the most peaceful. I look forward to my favorite parts. I excitedly look forward to Mondays. See you in 2025!
I’ve been listening to the Andy Serkis narrated LOTR and I am at the point where they are listening to the minstrel singing the ballad of Frodo of the nine fingers and ring of doom! And the tears and laughter afterwards. After all the darkness, it is a delight how Tolkien takes his time with the moments of joy as he does darkness. A bit of happy sunshine that I needed.
Amen. Tolkien really knows how to balance the joyful with the sad and the light with the dark. The whole LOTR feels like a symphony with the action slowly crescendoing up at the beginning and slowly decrescendoing down at the end. I don't find the ending too long or slow, it's the length that it needs to be resolve all the plot threads.
I’m not at end of LOTR yet (don’t worry, I’ve read it before so there were no spoilers) but I’m enjoying this slow reread and noticing a lot of small details I missed before.
Right now I’m in the House of Tom Bombadil and Gold Berry, and just enjoyed a small but thought provoking paragraph about how Frodo feels deeply moved when he talks to Gold Berry, but moved in a different way than he is when he talks to elves. I’ve been wondering about Gold Berry. She’s not an elf, human, hobbit, or dwarf. She’s the “daughter of the river,” but that description only deepens her mystery (perhaps I’ve missed a paragraph in The Sillmarillion or other works that would tell me more about who and what exactly Gold Berry and her nature magic are).
I also agree that Lobelia is redeemed at the end of the story. I wonder if her redemption actually started when Frodo sold Bag End to her, and if her redemption slowly and steadily grew so that she was able to stand up to Saruman, help the homeless hobbits, and make amends with Frodo at the end of her life.
This has been my second year in this community, as well as my second read of The Lord of the Rings. I love that i have a cosy and safe space to have conversations about something that has become so important in my life. Mondays are more bearable with these posts, and i love Breanne's input on everything. Thanks you, Breanne, for creating such a wholesome community.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, Maria! Hosting these read-throughs has become a highlight of my year and I'm honored to know that you returned for a second time. I'm SO glad you're here!
Thank you Breanne for making life better & more interesting by connecting me to my favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien in whole new ways. The quality, depth & breadth of your commentary so impresses me. I have amassed a book collection about Tolkien and your thoughts & words are on a level that often exceeds professional and academic works. Bless you and yours.
I just finished this afternoon and started the appendices. I am entirely grateful that I found you on TikTok after watching Rings of Power. I first read The Hobbit and LoTR many years ago at age 12, in the 1960s. I read it 2 or 3 more times over the years, the last time shortly prior to
PJ’s Fellowship release. Since then, I’ve watched the movies several times and watched the extended versions last year.
So the movies had colored my memory of the books, and I had forgotten many details. Reading with you and this group is one of the best things I’ve done. Reading brings much more depth to the characters and to the story. As I finished the last 2 chapters today, I was wrecked. Reading it in such a short time, I recalled details of the previous books, which really impacted how I feel about the story. Bittersweet is a good word as well as admiration for each of the hobbits, especially Frodo and Sam. This time I was amazed as I went to Mt Doom with them and realized Sam’s incredible courage and fortitude. I teared up many times reading this last book. Bittersweet.
Again, thank you so very much. I don’t think I would have been so reliable in reading this through so quickly (for me). I will certainly join you again next time. With gratitude, Patti
Loved the music Breanne! Thank you for leading this read through. It's been so much fun talking and learning more things. I don't know where my head was when I first read the books, but this has been like a first time for me.
I am finally to the Steward and the King. I can't remember if it was touched on in the last article, but I was struck by Sam's mercy toward Gollum. I love the consensus that everyone hates Gollum, but he's so pathetic you can't kill him. Even Sam, who swore up and down that he would do the deed. How many chances did Gollum get, and he couldn't let the ring go. And it ended up being his doom. It speaks to how addiction really can take root in our lives. We know something is bad for us, but it's not a problem. Or in some cases, it is a problem, but I don't care. Then, we get into this destructive behavior that makes us lose everything by our own hand.
Late to the game this week. Hopefully some will see this!
I really enjoyed this journey together. I've read LotR many times over but this is the first time in such good company.
While the last chapters pass by quickly, I do enjoy the leisurely journey home for the Hobbits, the slow partings along the way and the tarrying in familiar places now free from shadow and fear.
Tolkien was gracious in allowing us a slow goodbye to this most important chapter in the history of his world, giving nods to the people and places we met along the way.
And then the Scouring of the Shire. I understand its exclusion from the films, but it remains so poignant and critical to the end. "You are quite grown up now," Gandalf tells them as he leaves to visit Bombadil. There was no longer any doubt or fear the Hobbits couldn't handle how the darkness had touched their homeland.
The resistance to tyranny in the Shire is inspiring. It makes me think of how we can all be better neighbors and realize that together we are strong and able to keep injustice and dark times at bay.
Thank you Breanne! I look forward to more adventures.
This is my first year reading with a group of people and my second time reading this book all the way through. I’ll admit there were times where life was too busy to finish the book but I am so thankful that I stuck with it. As mentioned in previous posts, this book has become a great comfort during a really hard season. I’ve told so many people about this Substack, I hope to recruit a few friends to join me next year. In a season where I wrestled with my faith, Tolkien reminds me there is great light in the darkest of seasons, and it’s only fitting to write this on Christmas as the birth of Christ is the greatest light in all of history.
I just finished the Lord of the rings tonight on Christmas eve. I was so moved how Lobelia stood up to be the ruffians. She was a hero in my eyes. She was brave. Some just submitted but not Lobelia. She stood up to them all. The parting at the Grey havens is so sad but good for Frodo. I can’t wait to see what else we will be reading together. Yes, I agree we need rest now. But only a little, lol.
This time when I finished the story, it really hit me how much Tolkien is honoring Frodo's PTSD and giving voice to that. It felt very personal and as if he was trying to grant some form of peaceful ending for anyone who has ever had to carry something like that.
I also loved how each hobbit had their own role in reestablishing the Shire based on their own strengths, personalities and experience.
Also had never noticed how forward Rosie Cotton is. Girl knew what she wanted!
Thank you, Breanne for hosting us. Have loved what you have shared.
Rosie also has good taste
Thanks Breanne for hosting this read thru. It has been a delight! I have loved all the insights from everyone. Taking a short break from JRR but planning to dive into the Silmarillion in the new year. Thanks all for making this world a little less scarier when I step out that door.
Thank you again for this place of refuge. This reading has been the most peaceful. I look forward to my favorite parts. I excitedly look forward to Mondays. See you in 2025!
I’ve been listening to the Andy Serkis narrated LOTR and I am at the point where they are listening to the minstrel singing the ballad of Frodo of the nine fingers and ring of doom! And the tears and laughter afterwards. After all the darkness, it is a delight how Tolkien takes his time with the moments of joy as he does darkness. A bit of happy sunshine that I needed.
Amen. Tolkien really knows how to balance the joyful with the sad and the light with the dark. The whole LOTR feels like a symphony with the action slowly crescendoing up at the beginning and slowly decrescendoing down at the end. I don't find the ending too long or slow, it's the length that it needs to be resolve all the plot threads.
I’m not at end of LOTR yet (don’t worry, I’ve read it before so there were no spoilers) but I’m enjoying this slow reread and noticing a lot of small details I missed before.
Right now I’m in the House of Tom Bombadil and Gold Berry, and just enjoyed a small but thought provoking paragraph about how Frodo feels deeply moved when he talks to Gold Berry, but moved in a different way than he is when he talks to elves. I’ve been wondering about Gold Berry. She’s not an elf, human, hobbit, or dwarf. She’s the “daughter of the river,” but that description only deepens her mystery (perhaps I’ve missed a paragraph in The Sillmarillion or other works that would tell me more about who and what exactly Gold Berry and her nature magic are).
I also agree that Lobelia is redeemed at the end of the story. I wonder if her redemption actually started when Frodo sold Bag End to her, and if her redemption slowly and steadily grew so that she was able to stand up to Saruman, help the homeless hobbits, and make amends with Frodo at the end of her life.
Thanks for your insights and the playlist, Ms. Rodgers! Merry Christmas!
P.S. Have you heard of the band, The Gray Havens? They’re a folk-rock band with several songs inspired by Tolkien and Lewis. You might like them.
This has been my second year in this community, as well as my second read of The Lord of the Rings. I love that i have a cosy and safe space to have conversations about something that has become so important in my life. Mondays are more bearable with these posts, and i love Breanne's input on everything. Thanks you, Breanne, for creating such a wholesome community.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, Maria! Hosting these read-throughs has become a highlight of my year and I'm honored to know that you returned for a second time. I'm SO glad you're here!