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b2memB2MeM Challenge: Wildcard (Athelas)
Format: Non-Fiction
Genre: Autobiographical
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Characters: Frodo, me, the books
Pairings: None
Summary: I thought Frodo would die.
I was a teenager when I first read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Like many things I end up falling in love with, my sister encouraged me to read it. Plus, there were movies coming out, and I certainly wasn’t going to see them before reading what they’re based off of. My school library’s copy of The Two Towers had the last page missing. I asked for and received the trilogy for Christmas that year. I reread the first two books-- and promptly stopped reading.
You see, I was convinced Frodo would die, and I didn’t want that to happen. (Even the “Frodo Lives!” mentioned in Peter S. Beagle’s introduction didn’t help.)
It took nearly a year for me to pick up Return of the King. Of course, Frodo didn’t die. But neither did he return unscathed. “The Grey Havens” is still my favorite chapter in LotR. The bittersweet ending fits the story beautifully, and there’s just something about it that speaks to me and breaks my heart.
In the summer of 2004, my sister introduced me to both Tolkien fanfic and The Silmarillion. I would have gotten around to reading the latter eventually. But I literally could not understand why people would write LotR fics; the story had been told. She told me to read one specific fic (which, as far as I am aware, can no longer be found online). I didn’t look back.
There were more stories that could be told. And even though other fandoms may draw me away for a while, I always return to Tolkien. (Though rather than Fourth Age Gondor, my interests now lie firmly with the Silm.)
As for The Silmarillion itself: I fell in love at the Ainulindalë. I love the language, the style, and the sheer scope of the work. My favorite chapter is “Of Beren and Lúthien.” I love their story, and Lúthien is awesome. But my favorite passage is the Doom of Mandos. I adore how it’s written, and it never fails to send shivers down my spine.
I hadn’t expected to love the Silm as much as I do. My sister warned me ahead of time about the language and dissimilarities to LotR. (In fact, while I was buying my second copy of the book-- an illustrated one-- at a used bookstore, the employee at the checkout warned me. I told her it was my favorite Tolkien book.) But something about the book grabbed me. I still don’t know what.
Like the rest of Tolkien’s works, it won’t let me go. I don’t want them to. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.
Format: Non-Fiction
Genre: Autobiographical
Rating: General
Warnings: None
Characters: Frodo, me, the books
Pairings: None
Summary: I thought Frodo would die.
I was a teenager when I first read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Like many things I end up falling in love with, my sister encouraged me to read it. Plus, there were movies coming out, and I certainly wasn’t going to see them before reading what they’re based off of. My school library’s copy of The Two Towers had the last page missing. I asked for and received the trilogy for Christmas that year. I reread the first two books-- and promptly stopped reading.
You see, I was convinced Frodo would die, and I didn’t want that to happen. (Even the “Frodo Lives!” mentioned in Peter S. Beagle’s introduction didn’t help.)
It took nearly a year for me to pick up Return of the King. Of course, Frodo didn’t die. But neither did he return unscathed. “The Grey Havens” is still my favorite chapter in LotR. The bittersweet ending fits the story beautifully, and there’s just something about it that speaks to me and breaks my heart.
In the summer of 2004, my sister introduced me to both Tolkien fanfic and The Silmarillion. I would have gotten around to reading the latter eventually. But I literally could not understand why people would write LotR fics; the story had been told. She told me to read one specific fic (which, as far as I am aware, can no longer be found online). I didn’t look back.
There were more stories that could be told. And even though other fandoms may draw me away for a while, I always return to Tolkien. (Though rather than Fourth Age Gondor, my interests now lie firmly with the Silm.)
As for The Silmarillion itself: I fell in love at the Ainulindalë. I love the language, the style, and the sheer scope of the work. My favorite chapter is “Of Beren and Lúthien.” I love their story, and Lúthien is awesome. But my favorite passage is the Doom of Mandos. I adore how it’s written, and it never fails to send shivers down my spine.
I hadn’t expected to love the Silm as much as I do. My sister warned me ahead of time about the language and dissimilarities to LotR. (In fact, while I was buying my second copy of the book-- an illustrated one-- at a used bookstore, the employee at the checkout warned me. I told her it was my favorite Tolkien book.) But something about the book grabbed me. I still don’t know what.
Like the rest of Tolkien’s works, it won’t let me go. I don’t want them to. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.
