Tolkien himself is the one who refers to the Hobbit as a work for Children, but it is a Novel and in no way a simple bed time story and complex enough that it’s enjoyable to adults.
There sure is a lot of LoTR fans on this board - wonder if there’s some connection between whistles and LoTR
I think you may be on to something. Interestingly, I caught the Tolkien mania around the same time that I was diagnosed with WhOA…
I agree with Eldarion about the Silmarillion. Just make sure you read The Hobbit and LOTR first. Once you’re hooked you’ll definately enjoy it.
Hiya!
I just bought The Hobbit and am going to start reading it tonight! Once I get through the first few chapters or so, I’ll let you know what I think of it so far!
On 2002-01-13 20:22, Eldarion wrote:
Tolkien loves describing landscapes, this very apparent in LoTR especially. When I read it years ago I felt it was draggy because of this (esp Return of the King and a half of 2 Towers) relative to other fantasy books. I just browsed those parts without thinking.
However, it occurred to me that he doesn’t spend so much effort on it for nothing. I soon realised that if you give yourself a visual image of the geography he spends paragraphs describing, it makes for a more engaging read. So if you ever have the same experience as me for a first-time LoTR read that might help.
I’ve always liked reading books which describe in detail the landscape, etc - when I read a book, I love to be able to get a clear picture in my mind of what everything looks like - so I have a feeling I will enjoy these books.
Was The Silmarillion written by Tolkien as well? I’m going to hopefully go see the movie - for the story and to see Elijah Wood - he is soooooo cute sigh! hehe 
Imagine peace,
Sara
The Hobbit was written as a kid’s book, but adults enjoy it just as much. I did’nt read it until I was in my 30’s and I couldn’t put it down. It is worth reading because it fills in some of the background details of how bilbo found the ring.
Yup Sara, Silmarillion is written by Tolkien. It consists of a long history consisting mainly the stuff of elves and men, and will help you understand the bits of elvish history scattered in LoTR. Not a necessary read but good if you’re into that kind of stuff. Its also written in a different style as Hobbit and LoTR as well.
Wasn’t the Silmarillion published after Tolkien’s death by his son, or something? And wasn’t it cobbled together out of bits that Tolkien had written?
I remember the satirical magazine Private Eye referring to it as “The Sellamillion.” I think they thought it was not only unbelievably boring but a craven attempt to milk some more cash out of the Lord of the Rings cow.
My favorite–well one of my favorite–topics rears itself again on this board, though off-topic. I think we whistlers harbor a secret soft spot for fantasy.
I must agree with all said here. One word of caution, though: never say Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter in the same breath. Don’t even try to compare them. LOTR sets the standard, and HP doesn’t come close.
Keep in mind that we’re really talking only two books: The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. The latter was published in three installments, however, so that has led to the misconception of LOTR as a trilogy. It’s not.
I bought Balantine’s softcover set of LOTR so my daughter could read it: my set from college literally fell apart when she opened the first book. Anyway…the publisher includes an introduction that describes the initial publication process Tolkien went through. Very interesting. Did you know, for example, that Tolkien’s penchant for creating language cause him considerable rework? The editors would correct his “mistakes” and Tolkien would have to go back and restore the text!
But I digress…
Read the Hobbit first. It describes how the ring was found, yes, AND give one a very good handle on Tolkien’s story-telling style.
-Tom
On 2002-01-13 20:31, CraigMc wrote:
I am currently reading the Hobbit to my kids and really liking it.
I felt the Hobbit starts out very much as a bedtime story book, almost speaking down to the reader (or listener) , but develops a more mature tone as the story progresses, much as the hobbit himself develops from his isolated idyllic existance to appreciate the world at large, with its good and bad, and become a part of it. Many times Bilbo wishes himself back home, much as adults can look back to childhood as a golden period when everything was safe and cosy.
Another book I would recommend for reading to, or with, kids, is Watership Down by Richard Adams. Another “journey” book with parallel themes to The Hobbit, but with rabbits as the main characters.
On 2002-01-14 08:53, StevieJ wrote:
Wasn’t the Silmarillion published after Tolkien’s death by his son, or something? And wasn’t it cobbled together out of bits that Tolkien had written?I remember the satirical magazine Private Eye referring to it as “The Sellamillion.” I think they thought it was not only unbelievably boring but a craven attempt to milk some more cash out of the Lord of the Rings cow.
Yes, the Silmarilion was published posthumously from manuscripts that were in an unfinished state. It is very boring reading if you are not a tolkien junkie or get some craving satisfy curiosity (where I fall now). JRR wanted to publish it but identified several points that would not make it a sucessful work in its own right. That leads into the question about “history of middle earth” that I added to the end of my previous post.
On 2002-01-14 08:53, StevieJ wrote:
Wasn’t the Silmarillion published after Tolkien’s death by his son, or something? And wasn’t it cobbled together out of bits that Tolkien had written?I remember the satirical magazine Private Eye referring to it as “The Sellamillion.” I think they thought it was not only unbelievably boring but a craven attempt to milk some more cash out of the Lord of the Rings cow.
Tolkien came to the story-telling through his love of language. Even as a kid he invented languages and fantasy worlds. As a mature scholar of ancient language this led him to seriously consider the role of mythology, heroic or faery tales in culture and history. These two interests, in language and in the role of mythology, merged when he started creating his elven languages and Middle earth. In that sense, the Silmarilion is much older than both the Hobbit and LoTR. Ironically it is the book that Tolkien really wanted to publish, that he felt was his most serious contribution. The hobbit started as a story that he told to his children at bed time and the LoTR was originally to be a sequel (that is why the tone of the first chapter of the Felloship resembles the Hobbit). After retirement and after the success of the LoTR had brought Tolkien an unexpected prosperity he redoubled his efforts on the Silmarilion on which he had been working all his life. At this point, however, he morned the loss of his wife, he was somewhat disorganized and got distracted by the volume of detail and his whimsical intrest one aspect or another. His publisher, Allen Unwin, kept urging him on but Tolkien died before the Silmarilion was ever published.
What there was of it in relatively finished form, Tolkien’s son, Christopher, published as the book now called “The Silmarilion”. Christopher Tolkien later published a lot of the notes, scribbles and drafts that Tolkien left behind, first as The Lost Tales. Unfortunately, as Christopher buried deeper into his father’s pile of drafts and notes, the amount of editing came to almost outweight the amount of J.R.R. Tolkien’s writing. And Christopher is neither the writer nor the visonary that his father was.
The Silmarilion contains some of the most powerful stories Tolkien has written, among the Lay of Beren and Luthien. The first story in the Silmarilion is an account of the creation of the world: The world is created through music, and evil is introduced into it as a discordant theme by the being most like the creator, and most jealous of creative power. It is amazing. (The name is Ainulindale, and it is short: you can just read it just browsing in the book store…)
The rest the books that follow, put out by Christopher Tolkien, I think are not nearly as essential as the LoTR. Once you have read the LoTR a dozen times or more, you might want to pick them up, but before you have attained that state of Tolkien-fandom, I think you are better advised reading other great books, or re-reading the LoTR.
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-01-14 09:43 ]
Unfortunately, I don’t understand half of the conversation you all are carrying on - but it’s very interesting to read! You guys are quite an intellectual lot!
So, I’ve started reading the book - I’m not through with chapter one yet - but I’m so enjoying it already! I love his style of writing, it’s funny and very unique. I can’t wait to see what the adventure is going to be!
Imagine peace,
Sara
As an old time Tolkien fan I am really glad to see the new intrest in the books. Anyone who has not read any of them should definately read The Hobbit first. I first read them in the sixties and have re-read them about every 2-5 years. The thing that most facinates me is that any one individual could have such a great immiagination to give us not only the books, but a complete working language AND music to go with the songs.Many years ago I came upon a hardback music score written by Donald Swan in collaboration with Tolkien titled “The Road Goes Ever On”. Swann wrote the music and got Tolkien’s input on whether they sounded as he heard them and made the suggested changes. Tolkien also did the decorations on the book and in the back are Professor Tolkien’s scripts( in elvish) translations and comments on particular songs. This music book is one of my favorites and a must for those who want to know whatTolkien thought the tunes should sound like. It’s lots of fun.
I’ve got to add that although I am a whistler who is NOT a fantasy literature fan (prefer historical/biography)I consider The Hobbit and LoTR among the best books I’ve EVER read. And believe me I’ve read a LOT of books!
I agree that the Donald Swan collection has some good songs in it (I used to play them a lot on the piano years back), but I would have to say that there are other, better interpretations of Tolkien’s songs out there. Specifically, the Danish Tolkien Ensemble ( http://www.tolkienensemble.dk/ ) has made some marvellous music, which I believe is internationally available (through Amazon?).
And now for something completely different! Which LOTR character are you?
http://www.vista-ray.net/~matt/lotr/
Jens
[ This Message was edited by: Jens_Hoppe on 2002-01-15 04:26 ]
On 2002-01-14 08:55, fiddling_tenor wrote:
…never say Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter in the same breath. Don’t even try to compare them. LOTR sets the standard, and HP doesn’t come close.
Speaking as one who has read both (all my nieces and nephews read harry potter, then their parents read them, and when they found out I had’nt read them, they loaned me the books. I enjoyed them immensely.) Comparing Harry Potter to LoTR is like comparing Whodunits to westerns. Yes they are all fantasies, but they tell totally different stories in totally different ways. Both authors tell their stories brilliantly well and gain and keep the attention of the readers. God bless Harry and Frodo.
Many years ago I came upon a hardback music score written by Donald Swan in collaboration with Tolkien titled “The Road Goes Ever On”. Swann wrote the music and got Tolkien’s input on whether they sounded as he heard them and made the suggested changes.
Where did you get this book? Do you know if it is available on the internet?
I also have a musical adaptation titled The Starlit Jewel. It is done by the Celtic group Broceliande and it is available on CD and Book with accompaniment. Most of the musical compositions are by Marion Zimmer Bradley (the author of the Mists of Avalon books). You can check it out here http://www.flowinglass.com/sjewel.html
I got it because it had arrangements for recorder :roll: which I was able to easily play on my whistle. Some of my favorite songs include “The Road Goes Ever On,” “Galadriel’s Lament” (the one she sang when the Fellowship was leaving Lorien), and “Elvish Lullaby.” This last tune is a duet for two recorder/whistles that even has a spot where the bodhran can accompany the lead whistler (if only I knew how to play it) 
BTW Jens, I took the LOTR character test and I am most like Faramir.
Stonewall
I took that quiz thingamajig (is that how you spell it?) and I’m most like Samwise Gamgee, whoever that is - is said he was a close friend to Frodo.
Imagine peace,
Sara
Jens- good to hear of someone else who enjoyed playing these Swann tunes on piano.
I’ll definately check out the Danish tunes.
And, I took the test- most like Gandalf!!!
Stonewall
I gotta say it’s been so long since I bought this book that all I remember is that I found the book in a piano music store many years ago- here’s the info from the inside of the book, it might help you locate it-
the copyright is 1967
published by Houghton Mifflin Company Boston
Title- The Road Goes Ever On
A Song Cycle
Poems by J.R.R.Tolkien
Music by Donald Swann
Hope this helps and good luck!
The quiz was funny - I actually got Frodo! Oh well then again a friend of mine also said that I reminded him of Farmer Maggot.
Thanks. I found the book on Alibris for about $50. I’m going to try getting it because Tolkien himself endorsed it. I also have a feeling that its rendition of “The Road Goes Ever On” is the same one that Gandalf and Bilbo sung in the movie.
I hope it will work for the whistle…
Stonewall