Posted on 03/14/2002 5:07:26 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
This is a continuation of the infamous thread New Zealander Builds Hobbit Hole originally posted on January 26, 2001 by John Farson, who at the time undoubtedly thought he had found a rather obscure article that would elicit a few replies and die out. Without knowing it, he became the founder of the Hobbit Hole. For reasons incomprehensible to some, the thread grew to over 4100 replies. It became the place for hobbits and friends of hobbits to chit chat and share LoTR news and views, hang out, and talk amongst ourselves in the comfort of familiar surroundings.
In keeping with the new posting guidelines, the thread idea is continuing here, as will the Green Dragon Inn, our more structured spin-off thread, as soon as we figure out how to move all the good discussion that has been had there. As for the Hobbit Hole, we will just start fresh, bringing only a few mathoms such as the picture above with us to make it feel like home, and perhaps a walk down memory lane:
Our discussion has been light:
It very well may be that a thread named "New Zealander builds Hobbit hole" will end up being the longest Tolkien thread of them all, with some of the best heartfelt content... Sorry John, but I would have rather it had been one with a more distinguished title!… post 252 - HairOfTheDog
However, I can still celebrate, with quiet dignity, the fact that what started as a laugh about some wacko in New Zealand has mutated and grown into a multifaceted discussion of the art, literature, and philosophy that is Tolkien. And now that I've managed to write the most pompous sentence of my entire life, I agree, Rosie… post 506 - JenB
Hah! I was number 1000!! (Elvish victory dance... wait, no; that would be too flitty) … post 1001 - BibChr
Real men don't have to be afraid of being flitty! Go for it. – post 1011 – HairOfTheDog
Seventeen years to research one mystical object seems a bit excessive… post 1007 - JenB
Okay...who's the wise guy who didn't renew Gandalf's research grant?… post 1024 – Overtaxed
To the very philosophical:
…Judas Iscariot obviously was a good man, or he wouldn't have been chosen to be one of the Apostles. He loved Jesus, like all of the Apostles, but he betrayed him. Yet without his betrayal, the Passion and Crucifixion would never have occurred, and mankind would not have been redeemed. So without his self-destruction infinite good would not have been accomplished. I certainly do not mean this to be irreverant but it seems to me that this describes the character of Gollum, in the scenes so movingly portrayed above… Lucius Cornelius Sulla
To fun but heartfelt debates about the integrity and worth of some of the characters…
…Anyone else notice how Boromir treats the hobbits? He's very fond of them but he seems to think of them as children - ruffling Frodo's hair, calls them all 'little ones'. He likes them, but I don't think he really respects them… post 1536 - JenB
Yes... Tolkien told us not to trust Boromir right off the bat when he began to laugh at Bilbo, until he realized that the Council obviously held this hobbit in high esteem. What a pompous dolt… post 1538 - HairOfTheDog
…I think almost every fault of his can be traced directly back to his blindness to anything spiritual or unseen. He considers the halflings as children, because that is what they look like. He considers the only hope of the ring to be in taking it and using it for a victory in the physical realm. He cannot see what the hobbits are truly made of, he cannot see the unseen hope of what the destruction of the ring might mean--the destruction of Sauron himself, and he cannot see the unseen danger that lies in the use of the ring itself… I just feel sorry for Boromir--he is like a blind but honorable man, trying to take the right path on the road but missing the right path entirely because he simply cannot see it… post 1548 - Penny1
Boromir isn't a jerk, he's a jock… post 2401 – Overtaxed
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Oh, I think by the time Frodo reaches the Cracks, he's not even himself anymore! I think he's not only on the brink of a dangerous place physically, he's on the brink of losing himself completely during the exchange with Gollum. But for some reason, the take-over isn't complete till he actually has to throw the Ring in. The person speaking to Gollum is not Frodo, but the "Wheel of Fire" that Sam sees. After the Ring is destroyed, Frodo not only comes back to himself, but comes back with the unbearable (to him) knowledge of what it's like to be completely without compassion. I think that's why it's so important to him to be compassionate in the Shire… post 2506 - 2Jedismom
…Regarding Frodo's compassion... it's a little too much at the end. Even Merry tells him that he's going to have to quit being so darn nice. But you're right. He's learned a lesson about evil that very few ever learn since it wasn't an external lesson but an internal one. (Those kinds of lessons have the greatest impact) Not only did he totally succumb to it, but he was rather ruthless to my little Smeagol… post 2516 - carton253
Well that Frodo was a big mean bully! (to Smeagol)… post 2519 – Overtaxed
So as you can see, everything JRR Tolkien (and Peter Jackson) is welcome here in our New Row, our soon-to-be familiar New Hobbit Hole…; philosophy, opinion, good talk and frequent silliness.
I'm drooling...
Where the heck is your wife and why isn't she slapping you?
sigh... I don't feel nearly twice their age...
I don't know, those Williams sisters look like Amazons.
Yeah, the O'Brian novels are similarly set, they follow Jack Aubrey's career as a British Navy officer from his early days as a junior officer in the early 1800's through to his becoming an admiral, along with his close friend, Stephen Maturin, the Navy surgeon. Very well written and researched, lots of fun too. Folks consider them to be literature.
OK, I think I'll follow your kind advice and get one of the Hornblower books. This thread is great, it provides you with reading suggestions, along with everything else.
Yes, venison pasty is a meat (venison) pie, has lots of sage, too. I really enjoy them, I'm sure you're right, any kind of meat would work fine.
This morning had a two hour drama workshop, then a break and a two hour dance workshop. Then came home briefly, went to the neighborhood picnic (I am no longer the president of that association). Then went to Corin Jr's first football game of the season (they won 13-0). We just got home. Wife is working (she quits Walmart at the end of the month) and little one is asleep (was out by the 3rd quarter).
I'm too pooped to sneak...(plus my mouse is misbehaving...)
Yeahhhhhh... isn't individual taste a wonderful thing? :) I think Serena has a beautiful smile...
Pasties originated in Cornwall in England... they came to the U.S. with immigrant Cornish iron miners who came to find work in the Upper Michigan and Minnesota iron ranges. Here's a link I found with some pasty recipes and info. I haven't tried any of them out, though...
Do you know how weird it is to come in on the middle of that conversation?
Thanks for the pasty link. I had never heard of them before reading the books, where they're always eating the things, along with all kinds of other great sounding stuff.
I'm definitely making one of those suet and sugar puddings.
Course, I misunderstood this morning, and thought Sam said Venison Pastry, Which sounded so gross I didn't want to ask any follow up questions!
I am exhausted too.... going to go put ponies to bed and probably hit the couch for the evening! - If I don't return, I shall see you all in the morning!
The brewmaster at a local restaurant is one of our neighbors. He always brings beer to the picnic. But I'm not really into dark beer...
One of my favorite works of fiction of all time.
You're welcome! Pasties were a very practical meal; they were tasty, very filling, easy to make, easy to transport, and easy to re-heat. Miners would re-heat them over their helmet lamps at lunch time.
My maternal grandfather was a Cornish miner, born in the U.S, by the way. Unfortunately he died before I was born, so I never knew him.
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