Yellow Boots & Haunted Graves
middle-earth monday (pt. 2)
“Because I think fairy story has its own mode of reflecting ‘truth’, different from allegory, or (sustained) satire, or ‘realism’, and in some way more powerful. But first of all it must succeed just as a tale, excite, please, and even on occasion move, and within its own imagined would be accorded (literary) belief. To succeed in that was my primary object.” -J.R.R. Tolkien, on The Lord of the Rings, Letter #181
Happy Middle-earth Monday!
This is our second ‘check-in’ for the 2024 Lord of the Rings read through. And yes, you still have time to join us since everyone is reading at their own pace.
No schedules, deadlines or falling behind here!
I send these posts 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 in particular that’s standing out to you with the group.
Today’s post includes some fascinating history behind The Old Forest, my ‘once-and-for-all’ rebuttal against the arguments that Tom Bombadil is anything more than he is (with receipts!) and some notes on why the Hobbits ending up in the Barrow-downs has a connection that reaches far back in their ancient past.
Let’s get into it.