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tarugani's review against another edition
4.0
Generally fascinating and a ton of interesting/touching tidbits, but also sometimes repetitive and incomprehensible to anyone without a philological background. Maybe the last is just a good reason to go learn something about philology.
fallingletters's review against another edition
5.0
Review originally posted 4 January 2013 on Falling Letters.
I thought I would breeze through this book and finish it in two days maximum. Not because it would be an 'easy' read, but because I had lots of time to read and I am highly interested in the subject matter. Not so! The book contains 430 pages of letters so dense and filled with so much that it took me much longer to read. This is not at all a complaint. I was absolutely delighted to have so much to sink my teeth into.
I don't read books about Tolkien to think 'Oh, so that's why he wrote it like this!' I agree with him (in this instance, at least) that an author's life should not be examined with intention of gaining insight with regards to authorial intent (have I phrased this sentence correctly?). I simply find him a fascinating person, for having created such a detailed and vast mythology. It really does delight me to read about someone so seemingly normal and yet so extraordinary. To be able to read hundreds of his letters, to read his thoughts, is a treat in itself. I would have read them even if they had been more dull! But this collection is not at all boring, it is a treasure trove. The letters cover so many topics, from troubles with translators, family matters, C.S. Lewis, religious debate, and of course, much on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Middle-Earth lore in general.
I didn't make any notes while reading this. I was wholly absorbed in letting Tolkien's words wash over me. Note taking will come on the reread. But there are a few letters that still stuck in my memory, such as an unsent response (Tolkien sent two versions to his publisher to forward; they did not use the one that appears in the book) to a publisher looking to do a German translation of The Hobbit inquiring if Tolkien is Aryan. He writes a clever and pointed response, not confessing any Aryan lineage and refusing publication. Of course, the lengthy letter he wrote to another publisher who expressed interest in publishing The LotR and The Silmarillion, was fascinating. I also especially enjoyed the letters he wrote to inquiring fans - I doubt there any authors today who would put so much thought into their responses (let alone have that much information to impart about their imaginary worlds). These letters are chockful of highly valuable information to any fan of Middle-Earth I do have to add a caveat - I've not yet read any of Tolkien's writings besides the LotR and The Hobbit, so I can't say how much of this information is exclusive but to read Tolkien's own words feels very special indeed.
This review consists mostly of me gushing...I might be a bit of a fangirl. But really, needless to say, this tome is a highly valuable read for anyone interested in Tolkien or his works.
[Originally read 20 Dec 2012 to 3 Jan 2013]
I thought I would breeze through this book and finish it in two days maximum. Not because it would be an 'easy' read, but because I had lots of time to read and I am highly interested in the subject matter. Not so! The book contains 430 pages of letters so dense and filled with so much that it took me much longer to read. This is not at all a complaint. I was absolutely delighted to have so much to sink my teeth into.
I don't read books about Tolkien to think 'Oh, so that's why he wrote it like this!' I agree with him (in this instance, at least) that an author's life should not be examined with intention of gaining insight with regards to authorial intent (have I phrased this sentence correctly?). I simply find him a fascinating person, for having created such a detailed and vast mythology. It really does delight me to read about someone so seemingly normal and yet so extraordinary. To be able to read hundreds of his letters, to read his thoughts, is a treat in itself. I would have read them even if they had been more dull! But this collection is not at all boring, it is a treasure trove. The letters cover so many topics, from troubles with translators, family matters, C.S. Lewis, religious debate, and of course, much on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Middle-Earth lore in general.
I didn't make any notes while reading this. I was wholly absorbed in letting Tolkien's words wash over me. Note taking will come on the reread. But there are a few letters that still stuck in my memory, such as an unsent response (Tolkien sent two versions to his publisher to forward; they did not use the one that appears in the book) to a publisher looking to do a German translation of The Hobbit inquiring if Tolkien is Aryan. He writes a clever and pointed response, not confessing any Aryan lineage and refusing publication. Of course, the lengthy letter he wrote to another publisher who expressed interest in publishing The LotR and The Silmarillion, was fascinating. I also especially enjoyed the letters he wrote to inquiring fans - I doubt there any authors today who would put so much thought into their responses (let alone have that much information to impart about their imaginary worlds). These letters are chockful of highly valuable information to any fan of Middle-Earth I do have to add a caveat - I've not yet read any of Tolkien's writings besides the LotR and The Hobbit, so I can't say how much of this information is exclusive but to read Tolkien's own words feels very special indeed.
This review consists mostly of me gushing...I might be a bit of a fangirl. But really, needless to say, this tome is a highly valuable read for anyone interested in Tolkien or his works.
[Originally read 20 Dec 2012 to 3 Jan 2013]
ekortunov's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This is a unique possibility to glimpse into Tolkien life and thoughs. The collection is not ideal and i would gladly learn more about his life and views, about his time at war and many other things instead of reading that Shire was in fact in England for fith time.
Some of his views of course are pretty wierd, his relativelly early letter to one of hos sine about women and love is cringworthy. From some of his letters you can think he is some english lord with tons of oldmoney and long bloodline, not in fact pretty poor orphan.
Tbc
Some of his views of course are pretty wierd, his relativelly early letter to one of hos sine about women and love is cringworthy. From some of his letters you can think he is some english lord with tons of oldmoney and long bloodline, not in fact pretty poor orphan.
Tbc
simazhi's review against another edition
5.0
Extremely insightful. I love how Tolkien was, just like all of us, fed up with admin work through most of his life. There is a better review here on goodreads, so go find that one for a more general feel of the book.
verbadanga66's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
davehershey's review against another edition
3.0
One night my wife looked over at me sitting on the couch and asked, “are you seriously reading that book?” She could not understand why anyone would want to read hundreds of pages of someone’s personal letters. Admittedly, it is rather odd. This book is certainly not for everyone. But for those who have enjoyed Tolkien’s stories, this set of letters offers an intriguing and enlightening glimpse into his mind. I most enjoyed seeing Tolkien speak of his Catholic faith as well as getting the window into his mind as he worked, for years and years, on writing the Lord of the Rings. Honestly, I found myself skimming more and more of the letters as I went as it did get a bit tedious. The verdict is, if you are a fan of Tolkien then this book might just be for you.
haljonesy's review against another edition
5.0
This was delightful. It provides a lot of cool information and explanations about Hobbit, LOTR, and Silmarillion that might be around elsewhere but it was nice having it in one place.
There was some information that got repeated, but it was interesting to see how Tolkien explained the same thing to different people, and what (if anything) changed in his explanations over the years.
This collection humanizes Tolkien (who obviously we know was human) and shows faults and graces in equal measure, ensuring a good portrait of the great creator.
There was some information that got repeated, but it was interesting to see how Tolkien explained the same thing to different people, and what (if anything) changed in his explanations over the years.
This collection humanizes Tolkien (who obviously we know was human) and shows faults and graces in equal measure, ensuring a good portrait of the great creator.
ariaslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
“Frodo deserved all honour because he spent every drop of his power of will and body, and that was just sufficient to bring him to the destined point, and no further. Few others, possibly no others of his time, would have got so far.”
You guys better start giving Frodo the respect he deserves.
This is a collection of letters written by our beloved author. We get to see some parts of his private life (he really loved his family
jbsweeting1's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0