What got you started?

Strange-Looking Lurker · 03-05-2002, 09:27 AM

Just wondering, how did you get into Tolkien?

For me, it started when I was pretty young listening to an tape versioin of the Hobbit. I don't really remember that much about it, just that the goblin door in the pass freaked me out completely. Then in probably '98 I read the Hobbit and the next year LOTR.

markedel · 03-05-2002, 10:05 AM

When I was in grade 5 (7 years ago) for whatever reason my parents bought me the 1st two books of Lord of the Rings, I read them, while never getting the sequel. I do remember finally finding a copy of ROTK in the library. I read the silmarillion in around Grade 7 or so but it was way over my head. As the movie was coming out I bought a bouth a new FOTR and ROTK (my TT from grade 5 was still around), bought the Silmarillion to take a new stab at it and now I'm a firm addict. I also bought the hobbit and read it for the first time. A mistake IMHO, that I read it after the Silmarillion, to big a transition.

barrelrider110 · 03-05-2002, 10:20 AM

I was in my early twenties (nineteen-seventy something) and working in a medical lab. Several people in my department had read it or were reading it at the time and they were always talking about it. I wasn't too anxious to get into a 1,000+ page book, but someone suggested I start with the Hobbit. Soon after I started reading The Hobbit, the Rankin-Bass animated feature appeared on television, so my first impression of Gollum was that of a mutated frog.

Arathorn · 03-05-2002, 10:53 AM

My beginnings with the collection are quite fuzzy, to say the least. I first saw the Rankin-Bass version of The Hobbit on beta format in the early 80's in 4th or 5th grade (same first impressions as barrelrider110's of Gullum) at a friends house and then the Bakshi animation after about a week later. I was surprised then to see Gollum again since I thought the two were not related and they didn't look alike. I kept hearing about the books in high school while playing D&D with some friends when I get the time.

I kept seeing a copy of FOTR in my dad's collection of books but kept putting of reading it after get reminded that it's part of a series of 3 vols and the other two were no where to be found.

I finally got my own full (Hobbit to ROTK) set in college but had to put off reading them since I had to finish my degree. I finally remembered them after graduation when suddenly I had nothing else to do. I finished them in a week and got The Silmarillion a few months later after scouring the bookstores.

I would like to think that I'm at least lucky enought to be able to read them in that order.

I read them again from time to time but had to start over at least last year and now because of the film.

Laurelyn · 03-05-2002, 10:56 AM

My dad is a big Tolkien Fan, and he read me the Hobbit when I was five ( I used to demand a story before I went to bed, and he ran out of ideas, so he got out the Hobbit). I read it on my own when I was 6 1/2, and then later, in the third grade, I read LotR. I read the Silmarillion shortly after seeing PJ's movie (6th grade) and I'm currently working on the Unfinished Tales and H.o.M.E.

Twilight · 03-05-2002, 11:00 AM

I also had the hobbit read to me as a child. I wasn't much of a reader when I was small. I think lord of the rings was the first book that I have ever voluntarily read. That must have been in fifth grade when I first read it, and I read the sil soon after.

Hercco · 03-05-2002, 12:20 PM

Nine years ago, me and couple of friends started playing roleplaying games. One of the games we played was Lord of the Rings adventure game... so I went to my parents bookshelf and picked up Lord of the Rings book (which my mom had got for present and never read it, although she reads a lot... Why she hasn't still read LotR is something I can't undertand) and read it.
I first read the Fellowship -part, and it was a year or so when I had to do a book review at school so I read the Two Towers. After that I finished the whole book.

Elvet · 03-05-2002, 02:14 PM

When I was a teenager (back in the seventies), I became interested in LotR because I was reading a lot of fantasy fiction.
( Thomas Covanent books, Dune, Ursula le Guin etc.) I read it a few times back then and even bought the Silmarillion when it first came out. But the Sil. didn't hold my interest, and the next year I was off to University and didn't have much time for recreational reading. My interests changed over the years. Fast forward to 2000. I started playing an adventure game called Riven and then became hooked on the
computer fantasy worlds of Myst and Riven. I had read somewhere that the maker of these games was an avid Tolkien fan. Rediscovered the books then, read the Sil., and now can share the wonder with all of you at the Moot.

Elbereth Gilthoniel · 03-05-2002, 02:41 PM

I read the Hobbit because my uncle (that read the LOTR) bought it to my birthday. then when I asked him who was Aragorn he told me in short the Silmarilon and told me that Aragorn is a mortle and his father of father......(I don't know how to write it in other way) came from Nominor. I was curios and started to read the LOTR.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 03-05-2002, 02:55 PM

I was introduced to the Hobbit and the LotRs by my older brother when I was a teenager about 16. I went on to read the Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and some of the HoMe series on my own. Unfortunately my brother lost interest after reading the Silmarillion, and never read LotRs or Tolkien again. I still try to talk to him about it and hope to spark his interest again someday.

Elf Girl · 03-05-2002, 03:03 PM

Awhile ago I got a full set for my birthday, and what could I do but read them?

Arathorn · 03-05-2002, 03:07 PM

Well in that case, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Elf Girl!

Finrod Felagund · 03-05-2002, 03:37 PM

When I was like, eight years old, my dad read me the Hobbit, then the LoTR. After that I read them again and read the Silmarillion and other Tolkien stuff. What can I say? I'm addicted.

eowyn144 · 03-05-2002, 03:48 PM

i read the hobbit ages ago but never got around to reading lotr. then when the movie came out it inspired me to read it. from then on i've been hooked, have finished lotr and the sil, and am currently trying unfinished tales.

Laurelyn · 03-05-2002, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Finrod Felagund
What can I say? I'm addicted.

Join the club!!!

StrawberryIcecream · 03-05-2002, 05:16 PM

Well I read the hobbit iin Year 6 but I really got into it when I saw the movie.

I'd always been around it though cos my dad has read it so many times he cant remember but its in doublr figures!

olsonm · 03-05-2002, 06:18 PM

When I was little I saw rankin-bass 'Hobbit' and Bakshi Lotr.
Over the years these fused in my mind and I could barely remember them. Ironicly, I only remebered it because of the roto-scoping in Bakshi.
When I was 20 (in 2000) I came across reference to the Hobbit online and was intrigued. I found the Hobbit at the library and began reading it. I was surprised to discover LoTR and I read the Prologue when I was half way through the Hobbit. The migratory history of the Hobbits hooked me. I thought it was so cool that Tolkien would get that into the 'history'.
That's when I saw it. The footnote. Footnote!?! I innocently flipped open RoTK to the appendices and was completely blown away. I knew that I HAD to read this book; just so I could read the appendices!
Of course the I did, and the story was so good I forgot about the appendices!

Elvellon · 03-05-2002, 07:39 PM

I was in a bookstore and just picked up a curiously named book from the shelf. It was the Lord of the Rings, by someone named J.R.R.Tolkien.

I knew nothing about the book or the writer so, out of curiosity, I opened it and started to read a description of Hobbits. What a mistake!

I found myself compelled to keep reading it, so I bought it and took it home.
Just as I finished reading the LotR, I found myself wanting to know more about Middle-Earth and it’s inhabitants. I looked in all bookstores for the Silmarillion, but to no avail. Then, when I was nearly giving up, I actually found it, a lost, nearly forgotten copy, in a dusty old bookstore. To my great joy I found it even more compelling that I had expected.

Khadrane · 03-05-2002, 11:08 PM

About three years ago (when I was in fifth grade) my neighbors borrowed my copy of The Hobbit. I decided I wanted to read it, and I did. I drove my friends crazy for the rest of the year. That summer, I read LOTR, and I was totally hooked.

Renille · 03-06-2002, 12:06 AM

I got my first set of the books when I was in fifth grade. I tried, but I just could not get into them without putting them down all the time. FINALLY, when I was in 7th grade, I finished the books and begged for more. I read the Hobbit and then did a horrible first read through of the Silm. in which I had to keep returning it to the library because I never had a second to read it!

Now I'm in 9th grade, and I'm more than(?) half way through Unfinished Tales. I can't wait...HOMES, here I come!

03-05-2002, 09:27 AM	#1
Strange-Looking Lurker Elven Warrior Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: OK, USA Posts: 213	What got you started? Just wondering, how did you get into Tolkien? For me, it started when I was pretty young listening to an tape versioin of the Hobbit. I don't really remember that much about it, just that the goblin door in the pass freaked me out completely. Then in probably '98 I read the Hobbit and the next year LOTR. __________________ <hr>Check out my site: www.christianjugglers.org

03-05-2002, 10:05 AM	#2
markedel 'Sober' Mullet Frosh Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Queen's Posts: 1,245	When I was in grade 5 (7 years ago) for whatever reason my parents bought me the 1st two books of Lord of the Rings, I read them, while never getting the sequel. I do remember finally finding a copy of ROTK in the library. I read the silmarillion in around Grade 7 or so but it was way over my head. As the movie was coming out I bought a bouth a new FOTR and ROTK (my TT from grade 5 was still around), bought the Silmarillion to take a new stab at it and now I'm a firm addict. I also bought the hobbit and read it for the first time. A mistake IMHO, that I read it after the Silmarillion, to big a transition. __________________ "Earnur was a man like his father in valour, but not in wisdom"

03-05-2002, 10:20 AM	#3
barrelrider110 Peer of the realm of Sanguine Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Hill, Marlton, NJ Posts: 798	I was in my early twenties (nineteen-seventy something) and working in a medical lab. Several people in my department had read it or were reading it at the time and they were always talking about it. I wasn't too anxious to get into a 1,000+ page book, but someone suggested I start with the Hobbit. Soon after I started reading The Hobbit, the Rankin-Bass animated feature appeared on television, so my first impression of Gollum was that of a mutated frog. __________________ “"I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider," Fear Complacency! ___________________ Something under the bed is drooling Last edited by barrelrider110 : 03-05-2002 at 10:23 AM.

03-05-2002, 10:53 AM	#4
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	My beginnings with the collection are quite fuzzy, to say the least. I first saw the Rankin-Bass version of The Hobbit on beta format in the early 80's in 4th or 5th grade (same first impressions as barrelrider110's of Gullum) at a friends house and then the Bakshi animation after about a week later. I was surprised then to see Gollum again since I thought the two were not related and they didn't look alike. I kept hearing about the books in high school while playing D&D with some friends when I get the time. I kept seeing a copy of FOTR in my dad's collection of books but kept putting of reading it after get reminded that it's part of a series of 3 vols and the other two were no where to be found. I finally got my own full (Hobbit to ROTK) set in college but had to put off reading them since I had to finish my degree. I finally remembered them after graduation when suddenly I had nothing else to do. I finished them in a week and got The Silmarillion a few months later after scouring the bookstores. I would like to think that I'm at least lucky enought to be able to read them in that order. I read them again from time to time but had to start over at least last year and now because of the film. __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures... Last edited by Arathorn : 03-05-2002 at 10:56 AM.

03-05-2002, 10:56 AM	#5
Laurelyn Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Valinor, right next to Telperion . . . what did you expect, Michigan? Posts: 1,315	My dad is a big Tolkien Fan, and he read me the Hobbit when I was five ( I used to demand a story before I went to bed, and he ran out of ideas, so he got out the Hobbit). I read it on my own when I was 6 1/2, and then later, in the third grade, I read LotR. I read the Silmarillion shortly after seeing PJ's movie (6th grade) and I'm currently working on the Unfinished Tales and H.o.M.E. __________________ The Third Age of Entmoot has begun. Angel of music, guide and guardian! Grant to me your glory! The country I eat and spend the day in is by no means the country I sleep and dream in. Define patriotism. Hold the boat, you spastic monkey! ~ Elenka

03-05-2002, 11:00 AM	#6
Twilight Elven Warrior Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wilmore, KY Posts: 269	I also had the hobbit read to me as a child. I wasn't much of a reader when I was small. I think lord of the rings was the first book that I have ever voluntarily read. That must have been in fifth grade when I first read it, and I read the sil soon after. __________________ Sometimes I wonder how many monkeys with typewritters it would take to reproduce what I just wrote.

03-05-2002, 12:20 PM	#7
Hercco Sapling Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Lappeenranta, Finland Posts: 5	Nine years ago, me and couple of friends started playing roleplaying games. One of the games we played was Lord of the Rings adventure game... so I went to my parents bookshelf and picked up Lord of the Rings book (which my mom had got for present and never read it, although she reads a lot... Why she hasn't still read LotR is something I can't undertand) and read it. I first read the Fellowship -part, and it was a year or so when I had to do a book review at school so I read the Two Towers. After that I finished the whole book. __________________ Yksi Sormus löytää heidät, se yksi heitä hallitsee, se yksi heidät yöhön syöksee ja pimeyteen kahlitsee maassa Mordorin joka varjojen saartama on.

03-05-2002, 02:14 PM	#8
Elvet Elven Warrior Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Orillia, Ontario Posts: 221	When I was a teenager (back in the seventies), I became interested in LotR because I was reading a lot of fantasy fiction. ( Thomas Covanent books, Dune, Ursula le Guin etc.) I read it a few times back then and even bought the Silmarillion when it first came out. But the Sil. didn't hold my interest, and the next year I was off to University and didn't have much time for recreational reading. My interests changed over the years. Fast forward to 2000. I started playing an adventure game called Riven and then became hooked on the computer fantasy worlds of Myst and Riven. I had read somewhere that the maker of these games was an avid Tolkien fan. Rediscovered the books then, read the Sil., and now can share the wonder with all of you at the Moot. __________________ "But do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know."

03-05-2002, 02:41 PM	#9
Elbereth Gilthoniel Enting Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: israel Posts: 80	I read the Hobbit because my uncle (that read the LOTR) bought it to my birthday. then when I asked him who was Aragorn he told me in short the Silmarilon and told me that Aragorn is a mortle and his father of father......(I don't know how to write it in other way) came from Nominor. I was curios and started to read the LOTR. __________________ O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! We still remember, we who dwell In this far land beneath the trees, thy starlight on the Western Seas.

03-05-2002, 02:55 PM	#10
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	I was introduced to the Hobbit and the LotRs by my older brother when I was a teenager about 16. I went on to read the Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and some of the HoMe series on my own. Unfortunately my brother lost interest after reading the Silmarillion, and never read LotRs or Tolkien again. I still try to talk to him about it and hope to spark his interest again someday.

03-05-2002, 03:03 PM	#11
Elf Girl Lurker Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lothlórien Posts: 3,419	Awhile ago I got a full set for my birthday, and what could I do but read them? __________________ There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium...

03-05-2002, 03:07 PM	#12
Arathorn Bard of Mangled Songs Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila Posts: 2,679	Well in that case, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Elf Girl! __________________ Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert *Accio, Ash Nazg!* Elennuru s?la lúmenn' omentielvo* (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures...

03-05-2002, 03:37 PM	#13
Finrod Felagund King of Nargothrond Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Canada! eh? Posts: 2,002	When I was like, eight years old, my dad read me the Hobbit, then the LoTR. After that I read them again and read the Silmarillion and other Tolkien stuff. What can I say? I'm addicted. __________________ "THE EAGLES ARE COMING, THE EAGLES ARE COMING......AND A MOTH!!!!!"

03-05-2002, 03:48 PM	#14
eowyn144 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 435	i read the hobbit ages ago but never got around to reading lotr. then when the movie came out it inspired me to read it. from then on i've been hooked, have finished lotr and the sil, and am currently trying unfinished tales. __________________ If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe

03-05-2002, 05:16 PM	#16
StrawberryIcecream Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: In my jeans Posts: 915	Well I read the hobbit iin Year 6 but I really got into it when I saw the movie. I'd always been around it though cos my dad has read it so many times he cant remember but its in doublr figures! __________________ www.foolofatook.com for all you pippin's out there.

03-05-2002, 06:18 PM	#17
olsonm Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: minneapolis MN Posts: 920	When I was little I saw rankin-bass 'Hobbit' and Bakshi Lotr. Over the years these fused in my mind and I could barely remember them. Ironicly, I only remebered it because of the roto-scoping in Bakshi. When I was 20 (in 2000) I came across reference to the Hobbit online and was intrigued. I found the Hobbit at the library and began reading it. I was surprised to discover LoTR and I read the Prologue when I was half way through the Hobbit. The migratory history of the Hobbits hooked me. I thought it was so cool that Tolkien would get that into the 'history'. That's when I saw it. The footnote. Footnote!?! I innocently flipped open RoTK to the appendices and was completely blown away. I knew that I HAD to read this book; just so I could read the appendices! Of course the I did, and the story was so good I forgot about the appendices! __________________ Gandalf lives...oh and Frodo too. Haldir Lives!!!

03-05-2002, 07:39 PM	#18
Elvellon Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Lindon Posts: 637	I was in a bookstore and just picked up a curiously named book from the shelf. It was the Lord of the Rings, by someone named J.R.R.Tolkien. I knew nothing about the book or the writer so, out of curiosity, I opened it and started to read a description of Hobbits. What a mistake! I found myself compelled to keep reading it, so I bought it and took it home. Just as I finished reading the LotR, I found myself wanting to know more about Middle-Earth and it’s inhabitants. I looked in all bookstores for the Silmarillion, but to no avail. Then, when I was nearly giving up, I actually found it, a lost, nearly forgotten copy, in a dusty old bookstore. To my great joy I found it even more compelling that I had expected. __________________ **************************************** "None are more hoplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Reality is just an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein The Caffeine Mantra It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of Brazil that the thoughts aquire speed, The hands aquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion... Elvellon Erelion

03-05-2002, 11:08 PM	#19
Khadrane Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Middle Earth (I wish) Posts: 670	About three years ago (when I was in fifth grade) my neighbors borrowed my copy of The Hobbit. I decided I wanted to read it, and I did. I drove my friends crazy for the rest of the year. That summer, I read LOTR, and I was totally hooked. __________________ Few know whither their road will take them till they come to its end. -Legolas FRODO LIVES! ABORTION IS HOMICIDE

03-06-2002, 12:06 AM	#20
Renille Elven Lady of Speed-posting Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the cheese state Posts: 988	I got my first set of the books when I was in fifth grade. I tried, but I just could not get into them without putting them down all the time. FINALLY, when I was in 7th grade, I finished the books and begged for more. I read the Hobbit and then did a horrible first read through of the Silm. in which I had to keep returning it to the library because I never had a second to read it! Now I'm in 9th grade, and I'm more than(?) half way through Unfinished Tales. I can't wait...HOMES, here I come! __________________ Oh the thinks you can think! Think and wonder and dream...far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there's another world there... (from Seussical the Musical. Listen to it...watch it...really.)

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