Posted on 03/25/2017 2:07:51 PM PDT by NYer
Each year on March 25, Tolkien fans around the world mark the day by reading one of the many works penned by the popular Catholic author. According to the Tolkien Society, the annual event “has been organised by the Tolkien Society since 2003 to encourage fans to celebrate and promote the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien by reading favorite passages.”
The date of March 25 has special significance to fans and Catholics alike. It is the day in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth when the One Ring is destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom and the evil empire of Sauron is defeated. In medieval Europe this day was believed to be the actual date when Christ died on the cross and destroyed death, opening the gates of heaven. Being a medievalist and a faithful Catholic, Tolkien likely knew the significance and specifically chose March 25 for the most earth-shattering event in his fantasy realm.
A most appropriate way to commemorate Tolkien Reading Day would be to listen to the author himself read portions of his great works. Thankfully, Tolkien recorded himself reading his own writings and left us with a rare treasure that brings his stories to life.
According to the website Brain Pickings, “In the summer of 1952, sixty-year-old J.R.R. Tolkien encountered a tape recorder for the first time [and]…So enchanted was Tolkien with this novel technology that he proceeded to record himself reading much of his work over the years to come.” A reader of that website compiled many of these recordings and shared them with Brain Pickings, which posted them online for all to enjoy.
So sit back and listen below to the entire compilation, which begins with one of the most famous lines from The Fellowship of the Ring:
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Happy Tolkien Reading Day!
CLICK LINK - scroll to bottom for audio. There is an additional link to SoundCloud, where you can hear additional Tolkien tracts.
The Hobbit was required reading in high school. I couldn’t get past the first chapter. It bored me to tears. I saw about 25 minutes of the first movie... bored me to tears.
I have no desire for science fiction... but Dune was grabbed me and held me there. Go figure.
My birthday. Its my understanding that is used to be the first day of the year long ago. And of course it’s the feast of the Annunciation. And finally it’s the day that Frodo threw the ring into the crack of doom.
My mother read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy every year. She died before the movies came out. When I went to see The Fellowship of the Ring and it started with a view of Hobbiton, I cried - it was so accurate. I still read it about every year. The Kindle version of the Hobbit that I have has Tolkien reading some of it.
Don’t wish to sound snobbish, but LOR is fantasy. Ever read Foundation Trilogy?
Hope it's a good one. May you enjoy many more.
Dawn of the Valiant (The Valerious Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition ($0.00)
Bookmark.
The Brave and the Dead Kindle Edition ($0.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Dead-Dave-Robertson-ebook/dp/B00SZ84CJ4/ref=sr_1_30?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490481398&sr=1-30&refinements=p_20%3AEnglish%2Cp_36%3A0-0
The Ice Queen Kindle Edition ($0.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Ice-Queen-Rebecca-Bauer-ebook/dp/B01L2KOUJI/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490481689&sr=1-2&refinements=p_20%3AEnglish%2Cp_36%3A0-0
The Kingdom through the Swamp: The Courts Divided - Book 1 Kindle Edition ($0.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-through-Swamp-Courts-Divided-ebook/dp/B010KB52D8/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490480690&sr=1-9&refinements=p_20%3AEnglish%2Cp_36%3A0-0
The General’s Legacy - Part One: Inheritance (The General of Valendo Book 1) Kindle Edition ($0.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Generals-Legacy-Inheritance-General-Valendo-ebook/dp/B01M3WTPGW/ref=sr_1_33?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490482519&sr=1-33&refinements=p_20%3AEnglish%2Cp_36%3A0-0
The Prince of Ravens (The Exile Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition ($0.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Ravens-Exile-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00A3U36NK/ref=sr_1_38?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490482695&sr=1-38&refinements=p_20%3AEnglish%2Cp_36%3A0-0
Wreckers Gate: An Epic Fantasy Series (Immortality and Chaos Book 1) Kindle Edition (0.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Wreckers-Gate-Fantasy-Immortality-Chaos-ebook/dp/B0058OK54Y/ref=sr_1_42?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490482695&sr=1-42&refinements=p_20%3AEnglish%2Cp_36%3A0-0
Uncommon Senses: Digital Fantasy Fiction Anthology (Digital Fantasy Fiction Short Stories Series One Book 1) Kindle Edition ($0.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Senses-Digital-Fantasy-Anthology-ebook/dp/B01I74T0FQ/ref=sr_1_76?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490483808&sr=1-76&refinements=p_20%3AEnglish%2Cp_36%3A0-0
The Grand Adventures of Jeff and Dan: The Dragon War Kindle Edition ($0.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Adventures-Jeff-Dan-Dragon-ebook/dp/B01B0AHPMO/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1490484592&sr=1-5&refinements=p_20%3AEnglish%2Cp_36%3A0-0
I own these on vinyl from the 1970s.
I was required to read it in 5th Grade. I was bored to tears until 3/4 of the way through. Then it clicked, and I was hooked.
The following year, I read the trilogy. I have now read it more than two dozen times. It is my all-time favorite book.
It is not for everyone, of course, but many give up on it before finishing enough of it to know for certain either way.
COOL!
The Lord of the Rings is WAY better than The Hobbit.
I’ve read LOTR dozens of times at least but can barely get through the Hobbit.
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