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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
A wonderful story, beautifully written. Was it just me or does it have a Kafkaesque feel to it?
An awesome faërie story that could be taken as an analogy of Tolkien's creative process. He was a genuine master.
I'll be rereading this book every month. The story is good - but there are so many levels to unpack that I look forward to savoring it throughout the year.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The poignancy captured in this succinct novella is rather astonishing. It's not only a commentary on friendship and art, but life, death, and achievement. Its bizarreness is somewhat grounded in the fact that it is a microcosm for Tolkien's own life and relationship with his work, but not entirely so - the coherence of the story leaves some to be desired. Nevertheless, it's a charming and thought-provoking read. Tolkien's knack for artistic mastery is not hindered by the story's limited page-count; allegory is out in force and the subtext between the lines is certainly worth seeking out and mulling over.
fast-paced
This is a nice little story that will make you think about your life, how you live it and what you want to do before you die.
My favorite of Tolkien’s short stories, and I love it even more each time I read it.
Lovely and whimsical, a lesson on understanding how to accept people, help and your limits.
Made all the better having it narrated by Derek Jacobi. Made for a lovely companion piece to my morning run!
Made all the better having it narrated by Derek Jacobi. Made for a lovely companion piece to my morning run!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes