The Hobbit, J.R.R.Tolkien
The first time I read The Hobbit, I didn't really care for it. I was probably too young, between ten and twelve. In my teens, after I discovered and fell in love with the romance, chivalry and adventure of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, I came to appreciate the charm of the prequel.
I've read and read the entire set so many times the bindings have cracked and corners are missing from a few pages here and there (thanks to a literary cat). It's ok, I know what the missing words are.
Following the Peter Jackson movies, fancy new editions proliferated and I thought about getting a shiny new set. But there is something about the soft vellum feel of the worn pages, the gentle browning of the paper, and the suppleness of the cover, that makes me feel as though I am reading a ancient tome found in a forgotten corner of a historian's library. I think I will keep my ragged set, after all "all that glitters is not gold".
'On the Banks of Plum Creek' is my 'The Hobbit'. Many moves have kept me from wearing out the pages or watching the paper turn brown because I have had to replace it a number of times since grade school. I did not read any other Laura Ingalls Wilder books. This one was it for me I don't think I actually understood in my youth days that there Were more books in the series. The reference to 'the literary cat' reminded me of books in a series that I did, and do, read by Lillian Jackson Braun. Do not believe there is a 'Jackson' connection. Had to pull myself away from indulging in a wonderful fantasy world of the 'Historian's Library' and the Ancient tome found in a corner there. Will have to look at Lord of the Rings and search for the romance in it that you have seen. Finding it in Pride and Prejudice is much easier for me.
ReplyDeleteThe Peter Jackson movies are fantastic for sure, but nothing beats a good book. I would take a tattered original over a shiny new one any day! :)
ReplyDeleteRight after I posted this, the back cover fell off of The Two Towers...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I can find Hobbit Themed Duct tape somewhere.....
I read the Hobbit many times long before I read the lord of the Rings. Seeing your blog on books has inspired me to do one my books as well so look for it in the near future.
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