Sorry to be late to this but my name is Tom and this is one of many re-reads I have done over the course of the last twenty or so years. Thanks for having me. I am from Rhode Island.
Hello! I'm reading from Adelaide, South Australia and this is my second time through The Lord of the Rings. First time was the Alan Lee illustrated edition, this time I'm listening to the amazing Andy Serkis!
Hiya folks! My name is Chel and I'm reading from the UK. I've read The Hobbit once as a teen, but never any of the others. I'm glad to be here with you all.
Hi all! My name is Emily, reading from Boston MA. I'm so excited to read along with everyone! I first read the Lord of the Rings about 12 years ago and have reread them every few years, but recently started re -exploring the legendarium and extended works. It's been a blast already to begin something so familiar with fresh eyes.
Hello friends! My name is Caelyn, and I’m from Franklin, Tennessee. The past several times I’ve tried to read the books I’ve gotten derailed somewhere in the latter half of the Fellowship. I read them a couple of times on my own in middle/high school, and my dad read them aloud to our family several times over:) Autumn is just the perfect time to begin, and on top of that I’m just about finished listening to Little Women and need another outside-of-school-literature to pick up.
Hi everyone. My name is Dustin and I’m reading from Houston. I’ve read the books a few times before but this is my second year doing a consistent group read along (I loved it so much last year that I couldn’t wait to start again.) Last year I went through the Rob Inglis narrated Audible series. This year I’ve discovered the Andy Serkis set and I’m excited to dive in. On Sunday we had a lovely party, watched Fellowship and celebrated with a friend who also shared the 22 of September birthday with the illustrious hobbits. I’m so happy to have this lovely group to read and share with
Hello! I’m Stephanie and I’m from Ontario Canada. I read the Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers back when I was in high school about 20 years ago! I had tried to read The Return of the King but found it difficult at the time. I loved the movies and I am quite enjoying The Rings of Power. I have been wanting to pick the series up again to read for a while now and thought this would be the perfect opportunity.
Hi! I’m Katherine. Haven’t read LOTR in maybe 10 years and realize I’ve forgotten quite a lot. Like Sam, I’m looking forward to meeting the Elves. Lothlorien was one of my favorite parts last time I read it. Looking forward to sharing this read through with everyone!
Hello! My name is Noelle. I’m 31 years old and this is my first time reading through the trilogy. I read The Hobbit for an English class in high school and thoroughly enjoyed it. I purchased the trilogy second hand shortly after in hopes of reading them one day but slowly they were forgotten. I recently watched the films for the first time ever back in March of this year and I was so moved by that journey. I spent weeks dissecting the films and reading commentary on Tolkien. I knew it was time to revisit this series after an absence that has exceeded well over a decade. I’m excited to venture through this series with Tolkien admirers of all kinds. I hope to learn a lot from you all.
Hi! This is my first time reading the series, and I thought it is such a great idea to do it as a community-based read through. I'm reading on a paper back I picked up. Nice to be a part of this community!
Hi all! My name is Peter and I’m from Waupun, WI (hour north of both Madison and Milwaukee). This will be my third time reading through the Lord of the Rings. These stories mean so much to me that I can’t even put them into words.
JRR Tolkien (my favorite 20th century author) was a brilliant scholar, an Oxford don whose analysis of Beowulf is still in standard use almost 100 years after it was written. He fought in WWI and had to experience WW2 as a father of three sons in various types of military service. He insisted that LOTR wasn’t allegory, but his way of giving England a mythology that he felt must have existed but got destroyed by the Norman invasion of 1066 which uprooted much Anglo Saxon culture.
Today - we are confronted by different challenges. Our species has become a potent geological force, things are moving seemingly beyond our control as we head towards a climate abyss of our own making.
I’ve also read and re-read LOTR numerous times. But never feeling as though we are going through something big and large and important in our own times.
Today started climate week in NYC. I attended an event hosted by a major consulting company with discussions led by industry and government leaders. The consulting firm’s analysis is that the UN’s thresholds for average temperature change will be breached by 2050. Someone from an Asian country said their Gov’t was still working towards the UN’s goals. But … it’s not happening.
Tolkien gives me courage and hope. Especially in chapter 2. Some of my favorite inspiring quotes from the chapter.
“All we have to do is decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.”
“…you must use such strength and wits and heart as you have.”
It’s more than a story to me. It’s inspiration and wisdom about life and a call to action.
Hi Breanne - I’m Becky from OH (grew up in WI, went to college in IL and grad school in GA). I fell in love with the Tolkien stories through the Rankin/Bass animated movies in the 70’s/80’s when I was in grade school, and I’ve read The Hobbit several times. I’m listening to the audiobook for this read through and I’m loving it. Thank you for organizing us and sharing your love of the Tolkien lore. You came up on my TikTok FYP while I was recovering from surgery a few months ago and reminded me that I really should give the LOTR books some attention!
Sorry to be late to this but my name is Tom and this is one of many re-reads I have done over the course of the last twenty or so years. Thanks for having me. I am from Rhode Island.
Hi, I’m Anna (I live in Germany) and am listening to the book for the second time since 2002 maybe. Super excited to be part of the read through!
I’m from Wisconsin and this is my first time! So excited to be here! I’ll be listening to the audiobooks.
Hello! I'm reading from Adelaide, South Australia and this is my second time through The Lord of the Rings. First time was the Alan Lee illustrated edition, this time I'm listening to the amazing Andy Serkis!
Andy Serkis is spectacular!!!
I am absolutely loving it!
Hiya folks! My name is Chel and I'm reading from the UK. I've read The Hobbit once as a teen, but never any of the others. I'm glad to be here with you all.
Hi all! My name is Emily, reading from Boston MA. I'm so excited to read along with everyone! I first read the Lord of the Rings about 12 years ago and have reread them every few years, but recently started re -exploring the legendarium and extended works. It's been a blast already to begin something so familiar with fresh eyes.
Hello friends! My name is Caelyn, and I’m from Franklin, Tennessee. The past several times I’ve tried to read the books I’ve gotten derailed somewhere in the latter half of the Fellowship. I read them a couple of times on my own in middle/high school, and my dad read them aloud to our family several times over:) Autumn is just the perfect time to begin, and on top of that I’m just about finished listening to Little Women and need another outside-of-school-literature to pick up.
Hi everyone. My name is Dustin and I’m reading from Houston. I’ve read the books a few times before but this is my second year doing a consistent group read along (I loved it so much last year that I couldn’t wait to start again.) Last year I went through the Rob Inglis narrated Audible series. This year I’ve discovered the Andy Serkis set and I’m excited to dive in. On Sunday we had a lovely party, watched Fellowship and celebrated with a friend who also shared the 22 of September birthday with the illustrious hobbits. I’m so happy to have this lovely group to read and share with
Hello! I’m Stephanie and I’m from Ontario Canada. I read the Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers back when I was in high school about 20 years ago! I had tried to read The Return of the King but found it difficult at the time. I loved the movies and I am quite enjoying The Rings of Power. I have been wanting to pick the series up again to read for a while now and thought this would be the perfect opportunity.
Hi! I’m Katherine. Haven’t read LOTR in maybe 10 years and realize I’ve forgotten quite a lot. Like Sam, I’m looking forward to meeting the Elves. Lothlorien was one of my favorite parts last time I read it. Looking forward to sharing this read through with everyone!
Hello! My name is Noelle. I’m 31 years old and this is my first time reading through the trilogy. I read The Hobbit for an English class in high school and thoroughly enjoyed it. I purchased the trilogy second hand shortly after in hopes of reading them one day but slowly they were forgotten. I recently watched the films for the first time ever back in March of this year and I was so moved by that journey. I spent weeks dissecting the films and reading commentary on Tolkien. I knew it was time to revisit this series after an absence that has exceeded well over a decade. I’m excited to venture through this series with Tolkien admirers of all kinds. I hope to learn a lot from you all.
It’ll be interesting to see how you like the books after getting so into the films!
Hi! This is my first time reading the series, and I thought it is such a great idea to do it as a community-based read through. I'm reading on a paper back I picked up. Nice to be a part of this community!
Hi all! My name is Peter and I’m from Waupun, WI (hour north of both Madison and Milwaukee). This will be my third time reading through the Lord of the Rings. These stories mean so much to me that I can’t even put them into words.
Hi all y’all!! This is my fourth time reading through the books and third time with Breanne! Excited to be back again.
I’m an audiobook girl but also love having the hard copies to reference. Andy Serkis has a voice of gold (he narrates the books on Audible).
Reading from my own slice of Middle Earth in Portland, OR.
JRR Tolkien (my favorite 20th century author) was a brilliant scholar, an Oxford don whose analysis of Beowulf is still in standard use almost 100 years after it was written. He fought in WWI and had to experience WW2 as a father of three sons in various types of military service. He insisted that LOTR wasn’t allegory, but his way of giving England a mythology that he felt must have existed but got destroyed by the Norman invasion of 1066 which uprooted much Anglo Saxon culture.
Today - we are confronted by different challenges. Our species has become a potent geological force, things are moving seemingly beyond our control as we head towards a climate abyss of our own making.
I’ve also read and re-read LOTR numerous times. But never feeling as though we are going through something big and large and important in our own times.
Today started climate week in NYC. I attended an event hosted by a major consulting company with discussions led by industry and government leaders. The consulting firm’s analysis is that the UN’s thresholds for average temperature change will be breached by 2050. Someone from an Asian country said their Gov’t was still working towards the UN’s goals. But … it’s not happening.
Tolkien gives me courage and hope. Especially in chapter 2. Some of my favorite inspiring quotes from the chapter.
“All we have to do is decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.”
“…you must use such strength and wits and heart as you have.”
It’s more than a story to me. It’s inspiration and wisdom about life and a call to action.
Hi Breanne - I’m Becky from OH (grew up in WI, went to college in IL and grad school in GA). I fell in love with the Tolkien stories through the Rankin/Bass animated movies in the 70’s/80’s when I was in grade school, and I’ve read The Hobbit several times. I’m listening to the audiobook for this read through and I’m loving it. Thank you for organizing us and sharing your love of the Tolkien lore. You came up on my TikTok FYP while I was recovering from surgery a few months ago and reminded me that I really should give the LOTR books some attention!