I was about 12 when my friends and I (all avid readers) read The Hobbit. This was the mid ‘60s. We were enthralled by it and quickly then read the Trilogy. When I moved from a beach town to the forest, I met similarly minded friends. We played in the woods pretending we were in Middle Earth and had many adventures. I later met my husband who, thankfully, is another fan. Together we bought a boxed set of LoTR, which has been read several times over the long years. We were thrilled with PJ’s films and went to the first viewings all 3 years with similarly enthusiastic friends, which made it the anticipation so much fun. I’m enjoying Rings of Power, which has inspired me to read The Silmarillion and his other books. I am very appreciative of your presence online. I’m looking forward to reading Lord of the Rings with you.
I aspire to be a great storyteller like Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. I imagine sharing brandy with them, what it would have been like discussing philosophy and human nature. Fantasy, to me, isn’t about escape but exploring the human story with a gentler touch, full of wisdom, kindness and deep integrity for the worlds and characters they’ve created.
My first experience was as a child of the 80s, the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Hobbit and the read along books on tape.
My dad used to have a pickup that had a covered bed and my sister and I would cuddle up in there for the annual 12-hour drive to our grandmother’s house at Christmas time. I’d listen to The Hobbit and the other LOTR books over and over on that trip.
I was captivated from “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit” all the way to “Well, I’m back.” But I almost never read the books. My dad made me read Watership Down first and said if I liked it I would love Tolkien. I absolutely HATED Watership Down so I thought I’d hate Tolkien, too. A couple years later I encountered the first paragraph of The Hobbit somewhere and was hooked. Could not rest until I’d read it. Barely came up for air until I’d finished The Return of the King.
I recently purchased a one volume version of the Lord of the Rings illustrated by Tolkien. It’s the one with the gray dusk jacket and the eye of Sauron. I found it at a local bookstore before I discovered your Substack. So pretty excited to delve into it. I’ve listened to the audio version narrated by Rob Inglis many times and loved it! I’m happy to see other Middle Earth inhabitants here on Substack!
I'm excited to join this year! I was planning on it last year, but then life happened, and I couldn't even get started. It's been a rough year for me, and I'm so ready to finally read these books. I saw the movies for the first time nearly a decade ago and have been intrigued (and daunted) by the books ever since.
Excited to join the readalong this year!! I first watched the trilogy when I was something like twelve, and it truly altered my brain chemistry. For a long time I had a tradition of watching "Return of the King" (extended, of course) over the New Year holiday, and it remains such a comfort movie to me.
Can’t remember what first prompted me to read LOTR. I can remember that it was in the late 1970s when I asked my parents to buy me the single volume paperback published by Allen & Unwin on their next visit to the bookshop in the city where I live. I read it and fell in love with the story and its world. I remember watching the Bakshi animated film at a showing in the Student’s Union of the University I was attending. Looked forward to the follow-up which sadly never came and had to make do with re-reads of the book in the form of 3 volume hardback which was one of my first purchases when I started earning money (£5.95 a volume). Loved the Peter Jackson films but had a long hiatus from reading the books until last year when I came to this substack via TikTok. Very much looking forward to starting another autumn read through.
When I was 11 (way back in 1975) we were given The Hobbit as one of the texts for our English classes. It was my first year in high school (year 7 these days 😂) and I absolutely fell in love with it - read it through so quickly!! And have loved Tolkien ever since. When they made the movies I was awestruck! My local independent cinema did a Ringathon where they showed all 3 films back to back and it was soooo good!! Really looking forward to the read-through starting next week 😁
When the movies were announced my highschool friends said I had to read the books. My mother had copies of the lord of the rings, I think I had to get the hobbit from the library. And I loved them. And then loved the movies when they came out.
Then I met my husband. In the first month we were dating he asked me to read three of his favorite books, one of which was the silmarillion. It was a tough read but I got through, then I reread the hobbit and fellowship with brand new eyes. Then read the silmarillion again. And the book of Lost tales.
Breanne, I am an Elder, born 1952 and and discovered LOTR in my youth. I have read it many times over my life. In fact, in times of deep depression in my failing college years...I would close my door and blast through all three books in a couple of days, immersed until the grief would lift a bit. Tolkien is one of the Masters of authors, along with C.S. Lewis. I return again and again to the books and LOVED Peter Jackson's masterpiece movies, all three, a labor of love that also stand the test of time. While I will not be joining the readalong, I will be there in spirit. LOVE the painting of Gildor and the hobbits... and remember, "A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna miriel..." Love to all from a woman of God and fellow Elf-hobbit! Wendy (the blunt Oregon girl)
If never even heard of the Lord of Rings or Tolkien until I spent a night at a friend's. We watched 2.5 movies that night and I woke early to finish the last one the next morning. The movies had me full out sobbing, laughing and on the edge of my seat. I couldn't believe I'd never heard of this even! It took me a few years to finally read the books, and I don't know how much I understood. I'm now finally listening to the Silmarilian on audiobooks and will need to go through that a few more times before I fully understand it. I can't wait for this read through. I'm so happy to finally get a truly better understanding of Tolkien's works.
I first learned about everything really by watching Peter Jackson’s adaptations of the books in the movies. I remember watching them and then came the hobbit movies which got me more into them. I’d only ever read the hobbit fully. Last year I went on a road trip with my brother and best friend that lasted two weeks. The whole time all we did was a lot of driving, so instead of listening to music, we put on audible. We listened to all of the smillarion, unfinished tales, the hobbit and all the trilogy of the lord of the rings ect. I really enjoyed it and life changing. I came home and even did a marathon watch of everything. I have learned so much from your videos and other creators. I can’t wait to start on autumn equinox
I first encountered Middle-earth by watching the Rankin/Bass animated Hobbit on VHS, probably around third grade in the late 80s. I actually read The Hobbit on my own in eighth grade, and immediately went onto LOTR, and almost as immediately fell asleep before finishing the prologue. I let it sit for a few years until I finally read LOTR just before the first film came out, and have been obsessed ever since! I think I’ve read the books at least a half dozen times since then, but I’m a slow reader, so I stay in the world most commonly via podcasts and creators now! Per the now-outdated meme, my Roman Empire has always been Arda!
I wasn’t exposed to the Lord of the Rings until I was a junior in college so it hasn’t been a part of life for very long (about 5 years now). However, it is now a HUGE part of my life (and I don’t use that word lightly) - my younger brother and now my mom (who is deeply upset about the fate of the entwives) are involved with me. I can’t imagine life without Tolkien.
I was about 12 when my friends and I (all avid readers) read The Hobbit. This was the mid ‘60s. We were enthralled by it and quickly then read the Trilogy. When I moved from a beach town to the forest, I met similarly minded friends. We played in the woods pretending we were in Middle Earth and had many adventures. I later met my husband who, thankfully, is another fan. Together we bought a boxed set of LoTR, which has been read several times over the long years. We were thrilled with PJ’s films and went to the first viewings all 3 years with similarly enthusiastic friends, which made it the anticipation so much fun. I’m enjoying Rings of Power, which has inspired me to read The Silmarillion and his other books. I am very appreciative of your presence online. I’m looking forward to reading Lord of the Rings with you.
I aspire to be a great storyteller like Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. I imagine sharing brandy with them, what it would have been like discussing philosophy and human nature. Fantasy, to me, isn’t about escape but exploring the human story with a gentler touch, full of wisdom, kindness and deep integrity for the worlds and characters they’ve created.
My first experience was as a child of the 80s, the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Hobbit and the read along books on tape.
My dad used to have a pickup that had a covered bed and my sister and I would cuddle up in there for the annual 12-hour drive to our grandmother’s house at Christmas time. I’d listen to The Hobbit and the other LOTR books over and over on that trip.
I was captivated from “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit” all the way to “Well, I’m back.” But I almost never read the books. My dad made me read Watership Down first and said if I liked it I would love Tolkien. I absolutely HATED Watership Down so I thought I’d hate Tolkien, too. A couple years later I encountered the first paragraph of The Hobbit somewhere and was hooked. Could not rest until I’d read it. Barely came up for air until I’d finished The Return of the King.
I recently purchased a one volume version of the Lord of the Rings illustrated by Tolkien. It’s the one with the gray dusk jacket and the eye of Sauron. I found it at a local bookstore before I discovered your Substack. So pretty excited to delve into it. I’ve listened to the audio version narrated by Rob Inglis many times and loved it! I’m happy to see other Middle Earth inhabitants here on Substack!
I'm excited to join this year! I was planning on it last year, but then life happened, and I couldn't even get started. It's been a rough year for me, and I'm so ready to finally read these books. I saw the movies for the first time nearly a decade ago and have been intrigued (and daunted) by the books ever since.
Excited to join the readalong this year!! I first watched the trilogy when I was something like twelve, and it truly altered my brain chemistry. For a long time I had a tradition of watching "Return of the King" (extended, of course) over the New Year holiday, and it remains such a comfort movie to me.
I'm revisiting LOTR after a near 30 year absence!
I so can't wait to commence again within this Fellowship!
Can’t remember what first prompted me to read LOTR. I can remember that it was in the late 1970s when I asked my parents to buy me the single volume paperback published by Allen & Unwin on their next visit to the bookshop in the city where I live. I read it and fell in love with the story and its world. I remember watching the Bakshi animated film at a showing in the Student’s Union of the University I was attending. Looked forward to the follow-up which sadly never came and had to make do with re-reads of the book in the form of 3 volume hardback which was one of my first purchases when I started earning money (£5.95 a volume). Loved the Peter Jackson films but had a long hiatus from reading the books until last year when I came to this substack via TikTok. Very much looking forward to starting another autumn read through.
When I was 11 (way back in 1975) we were given The Hobbit as one of the texts for our English classes. It was my first year in high school (year 7 these days 😂) and I absolutely fell in love with it - read it through so quickly!! And have loved Tolkien ever since. When they made the movies I was awestruck! My local independent cinema did a Ringathon where they showed all 3 films back to back and it was soooo good!! Really looking forward to the read-through starting next week 😁
When the movies were announced my highschool friends said I had to read the books. My mother had copies of the lord of the rings, I think I had to get the hobbit from the library. And I loved them. And then loved the movies when they came out.
Then I met my husband. In the first month we were dating he asked me to read three of his favorite books, one of which was the silmarillion. It was a tough read but I got through, then I reread the hobbit and fellowship with brand new eyes. Then read the silmarillion again. And the book of Lost tales.
Breanne, I am an Elder, born 1952 and and discovered LOTR in my youth. I have read it many times over my life. In fact, in times of deep depression in my failing college years...I would close my door and blast through all three books in a couple of days, immersed until the grief would lift a bit. Tolkien is one of the Masters of authors, along with C.S. Lewis. I return again and again to the books and LOVED Peter Jackson's masterpiece movies, all three, a labor of love that also stand the test of time. While I will not be joining the readalong, I will be there in spirit. LOVE the painting of Gildor and the hobbits... and remember, "A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna miriel..." Love to all from a woman of God and fellow Elf-hobbit! Wendy (the blunt Oregon girl)
If never even heard of the Lord of Rings or Tolkien until I spent a night at a friend's. We watched 2.5 movies that night and I woke early to finish the last one the next morning. The movies had me full out sobbing, laughing and on the edge of my seat. I couldn't believe I'd never heard of this even! It took me a few years to finally read the books, and I don't know how much I understood. I'm now finally listening to the Silmarilian on audiobooks and will need to go through that a few more times before I fully understand it. I can't wait for this read through. I'm so happy to finally get a truly better understanding of Tolkien's works.
I first learned about everything really by watching Peter Jackson’s adaptations of the books in the movies. I remember watching them and then came the hobbit movies which got me more into them. I’d only ever read the hobbit fully. Last year I went on a road trip with my brother and best friend that lasted two weeks. The whole time all we did was a lot of driving, so instead of listening to music, we put on audible. We listened to all of the smillarion, unfinished tales, the hobbit and all the trilogy of the lord of the rings ect. I really enjoyed it and life changing. I came home and even did a marathon watch of everything. I have learned so much from your videos and other creators. I can’t wait to start on autumn equinox
I first encountered Middle-earth by watching the Rankin/Bass animated Hobbit on VHS, probably around third grade in the late 80s. I actually read The Hobbit on my own in eighth grade, and immediately went onto LOTR, and almost as immediately fell asleep before finishing the prologue. I let it sit for a few years until I finally read LOTR just before the first film came out, and have been obsessed ever since! I think I’ve read the books at least a half dozen times since then, but I’m a slow reader, so I stay in the world most commonly via podcasts and creators now! Per the now-outdated meme, my Roman Empire has always been Arda!
I wasn’t exposed to the Lord of the Rings until I was a junior in college so it hasn’t been a part of life for very long (about 5 years now). However, it is now a HUGE part of my life (and I don’t use that word lightly) - my younger brother and now my mom (who is deeply upset about the fate of the entwives) are involved with me. I can’t imagine life without Tolkien.