As it appears that Tolkeinalia is being tolerated for now... My first exposure to LOTR was in the summer of 1970 at age 12. I've lost count of how many times I've read it. Reading The Hobbit and all of LOTR aloud to my children is a cherished memory, and I treasure the leather-bound edition of LOTR that my wife gave me one year for Christmas.
As to the movies, much was well done, but the truncation of the hobbits' return home was disappointing. I understand it in cinematic terms, but much of the lasting meaning of the books (for me) comes in the completion of Sam's story arc. It was many years after that first reading before I realized that it was Sam's story that inspired me, not Frodo's. Frodo was a mature man at the outset of their journey but returned shattered from his burden. Sam left home very young (another problem in the movie - Sam was much younger than Frodo, their relationship should be more father-son than the movie presents) on a journey he barely understood, but he returned a mature man, strong but not boastful or brash. We see this in his actions after the Scouring. He used the gift of Galadriel to heal the wounds of the Shire, not for his own gain. He planted the Mallorn to replace the party tree where all could enjoy it, married the prettiest girl in town, raised a big family, and became the Mayor of the Shire. And, deep in the footnotes, we learn that at the end of his like, Sam too was allowed to pass over the Sundering Seas, as befit a Ring bearer. IMO, Sam is the real hero, the true protagonist of LOTR, and the movie lost that. Hobbits would have ridden single speeds - quiet and simple, but durable and speedy if need be. Bill --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
