Happy Birthday, J.R.R.Tolkien

mfresa

A great author was born this day, January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Here is the link to his wiki page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien

TaylorJDutton

I’m glad someone posted this, he’s a legend! In the pipe world and the normal world. 

mfresa

Country Squire is having a sale on Middle Earth blends to celebrate.  Save me some Old Toby, please!!

thebadgerpiper

Here here, a happy birthday to a master of fiction.

I didn't get around to reading the LOTR trilogy until 2014. Growing up, my father was a huge Tolkien fan, which put me off of the series initially. However, all my College friends were fans, and as a writer, I figured I had to read them. I'm glad I did, because they're some of the best books I've had the pleasure to read.

KA9FFJ

Couldn't smoke today (had the grandkids) but this evening started reading a Christmas present given to me by my son and his wife... A copy of the original screenplay of Jackson's "The Fellowship of the Ring"... 
HAPPY BDAY JRR TOLKIEN!

judandhispipe

In the fall of my junior year in high school, the Scholastic Book Club offered the Ballantine edition of LotR at $.85 a volume. I had never heard of it, but for some reason splurged and bought it. We rode the train to St Louis to spend Christmas with my mom's family, and I took it with me. I was immediately hooked.For years,I re-read it at Christmas every other year. It has been many years since I last did - I recall sitting reading with my youngest daughter asleep in my arm at Christmas 1986. That may be the last time. I keep thinking about hauling them off the shelves for a reread...

motie2

J R R Tolkien on Beer and Pipe Smoking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWBiO9M7_Eo

Praider8

A master of fiction for sure. I ordered up some CS Second Breakfast as a gift for my brother who is also a huge Tolkien fan (he got me interested in LoTR in the first place). We’ve both read the trilogy, the Silmarillion, and other various works of Tolkien. I would have ordered myself some but I’m already pretty well stocked up on Second Breakfast, Rivendell, and Old Toby. Cheers to a legend!

KA9FFJ

@Praider8. My hat is off to anyone who has read the Silmarillion... I had to read it twice while taking and comparing my notes. The 3rd time I read it, it was much more enjoyable by not having to reference my notes quite so often... GREAT background book for LOTR...

mfresa

@KA9FFJ, Silmarillion has been described as Tolkien's "Old Testament".

Praider8

While reading it the thoughts “slow” and “text book like” came to mind. However, After finishing I don’t think that any longer and agree with your take on it as great background. I believe that I have a better understanding and appreciation for all Tolkien’s work because of that book. So much history in that vast world in his mind. 

motie2

I put Tolkien on a pedestal  until I encountered Donaldson and Rothfuss.

Not to denigrate Tolkien's monumental work in any way, nor his contribution to the genre, The Lord of the Rings is hardly the best fantasy trilogy available to readers today.

But that's just my opinion; I could be wrong.

motie2

Two tremendously obvious resources, beloved of college students everywhere......:

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/the-lord-of-the-rings/book-summary/the-fellowship-of-the-ring

http://www.sparknotes.com/film/lordoftherings/

AnantaAndroscoggin

Then, there's the Harvard Lampoon's parody, "Bored of the Rings." which one can't truly appreciate unless they've read the trilogy already.

jfreedy

Saw this thread a little late but smoking some Capstan Blue in his honor right now. The professor had good taste!

PappyJoe

@motie2 It’s always good to admit when you are wrong. (That’s a joke).  I liked the first 3 books of the Thomas Covenent series and hated the rest. For my money comparing Tolkien to modern fantasy writers is like comparing Michener to John D. Macdonald. They are both writers. 

That being said, my favorite fantasy writer is Modesitt. 

motie2

@Pappyjoe -- But have you read Patrick Rothfuss? Particularly The Name of the Wind (volume one of the trilogy.)

Best fantasy ever, again IMHO.

I agree that the first three Thomas Covenant books (Donaldson) were the best of the ten.

jfreedy

I enjoyed Name of the Wind but personally don’t think it holds a candle to LOTR. @PappyJoe and @motie2  you’ve both given me some good options I plan to check out. 

motie2

i'm really more into sci-fi. SWMBO is the fantasy fan.

PappyJoe

@motie2 - Never heard of him. Can't recall seeing him in either the Barnes & Noble store or Books-A-Million store I visit about twice a month. Certainly don't remember seeing his books in the used bookstores I browse. I don't buy digital books.

@jfreedy - I also recommend the Codex Alera series from Jim Butcher but its definitely a series you have to start with the first volume and read in order. Call me crazy, but I like to do that with all series. I have also seriously enjoyed the Recluse series from L.E. Modesitt, Jr. With those I recommend finding the oldest books and reading them first so you have a better understanding of the "mythology" behind the series. 

motie2

I never went for ebooks, either.

Look for The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss

Praider8

I’ll be seeing my brother for the first time since Tolkien’s birthday today. With both of us being huge fans we’ve got several tobaccos to smoke from The Country Squire in honor of this event. I have Old Toby, Rivendell, and Second Breakfast. I also bought him 2 oz of Second Breakfast to take home with him. Should be a good night. 

DerekJ

I'm about to start the The Silmarillion by Tolkein.  I guess I should get out my Capstan Blue to go along with it.  The books of Middle Earth are truly monumental in literature and have earned Tolkien a place in history.  I like how Catholic imagery is laced throughout them all. 

DerekJ

jfreedy

HAPPY TOLKIEN DAY! 

I think I’ll smoke a bowl of Capstan blue in his honor!

motie2

Detailed examination of Tolkein's "pipe-weed"........

http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/p/pipeweed.html

motie2

More generally....

http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/

motie2

Must read 
http://www.deathmetal.org/news/j-r-r-tolkien-on-pipe-smoking/

KA9FFJ

@DerekJ Taking my own notes along the way was the only way I could keep everything (well, almost everything) straight during the reading of the Silmarillion... Reading it twice didn't hurt either... 🤪

ghostsofpompeii

Holy Cow ... just enough time to pop in "The Hobbit" on DVD.

KA9FFJ

@ghostsofpompeii I have the extended DVD'S of the Hobbit Trilogy.  Watched #1 this AM. Watched #2 after lunch, and just wrapped up #3 about 15/20 minutes ago...
What a ride! 🥺
HAPPY BIRTHDAY J.R.R....