Mad Baggins & Elf-Hobbit Engineering
middle-earth monday (pt. 1)
“For Frodo the Halfling, it is said, at the bidding of Mithrandir took on himself the burden, and alone with his servant he passed through peril and darkness and came at last in Sauron’s despite even to Mount Doom; and there into the Fire where it was wrought he cast the Great Ring of Power, and so at last it was unmade and its evil consumed.” -J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion
Happy Middle-earth Monday!
This is the first of our official ‘check-ins’ for the 2024 Lord of the Rings read through. I’ll be sending these out each Monday to paid subscribers to share where I’m at in the book and invite you to do the same. This is where you’ll have space to ask questions, give thoughts and talk about anything that’s standing out to you with the group.
And no, it’s not too late to sign up to read The Lord of the Rings with us! Because this read-through is self-paced, you’re welcome to join us anytime by subscribing below.
(Right now we have people joining the read-through from NINE different countries, wow! I’m so thrilled to welcome everyone into these stories).
Today’s post includes some notes on Bilbo and Frodo’s ancestry and its effect on their characters, the surprising reason behind why Gandalf believes the wicked Gollum should be alive, and finally an adorable birthday tradition for Hobbit toddlers found in one of Tolkien’s letters.
Let’s get into it.