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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
These short stories were a fun read, but not up to what I consider Tolkien.
Five truly exceptional ventures into the realm of Faerie, as can probably be expected of Tolkien. Each one was my favourite whilst reading it; though they all concern differing realms you are pulled into them seamlessly and don't want to leave.
Tolkien's essay 'On Fairy Stories' was of especial interest to this studier of literary function and history - I would recommend it to all with similar interests.
Tolkien's essay 'On Fairy Stories' was of especial interest to this studier of literary function and history - I would recommend it to all with similar interests.
Want to read a physical copy properly some day
This is a lot of his other writings. If you love Tolkien, then it is a must have.
This book contains four short stories by J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and features illustrations by Alan Lee. The illustrations are beautiful and accompany the stories very well.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Honestly I was mostly just bored while reading this.
Roverandom - 3
Farmer Giles of Ham - 3
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil - 3.25
Smith of Wootton Major - 3.5
Leaf by Niggle - 3.75
On Fairy-stories - DNF
Roverandom - 3
Farmer Giles of Ham - 3
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil - 3.25
Smith of Wootton Major - 3.5
Leaf by Niggle - 3.75
On Fairy-stories - DNF
I really enjoyed these short stories and to get a deeper look into Tolkien's world.
“But fat cat on the mat/Kept as a pet,/He does not forget.”
This definitely felt like a return to Middle-Earth, reading once again about elves, dragons, Tom Bombadil and hobbits. Tales from a Perilous Journey contains 4 short stories, published before separately, and a collection of poetry.
1. Roverandom (4/5) – is the story of a dog, Rover, that is cursed by a wizard because he was impolite and actually took a bite out of the wizard’s pants. After the wizard transforms him into a toy, we follow the wonderful journey of the dog in his quest to undo the wizard’s spell, travelling between the Moon and the dark depths of the Deep Blue Sea. This short story’s main theme revolves around the concept of home and being with your loved ones.
2. Farmer Giles of Ham (4/5) - this medieval fable is quite similar to The Hobbit. It’s about Giles, a farmer who enjoys a simple and comfortable life on his farm. Giles is no hero, but when a giant gets lost on his way home and trespasses on Giles’ land, the farmer manages to scare him away. His fame grows, reaching the ears of the King of the Middle Kingdom, who offers him a sword as a gift. But shortly after, Chrysophylax, the dragon, decides to roam once again the lands of the Middle Kingdom; and all eyes are on our accidental hero – Giles the farmer, who need to prepare to go on an adventure.
3. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (3/5) - this part contains 16 poems with different themes. Not my favorite part, but it still had some highlights here and there. I really liked “Cat” – about the ancestry of our ordinary house pet, “The Mewlips” – felt it like a horror poem, about a creature that dwells in dark and wet places, and it has a really interesting ending, “Shadow-Bride” – that could be a reinterpretation of the tale of Beren and Luthien.
”Beyond the Merlock Mountains, a long and lonely road,
Through the spider-shadows and the marsh of Tode,
And through the wood of hanging trees and the gallowsweed,
You go to find the Mewlips—and the Mewlips feed. (The Mewlips)”
4. Smith of Wootton Major (5/5) - this one is about faeries. Every 24 years, the people from Wootton Major celebrates The Feast of Good Children, where 24 children are invited to the party. The high point of the party is the cake and this time, there is something different about it. The cook’s apprentice, Alf, hid a faery star in the cake and one of the children swallowed it.
5. Leaf by Niggle (5/5) - this one is an allegory of Tolkien’s creative process and it talks about perfectionism in art and those many things that interfere during the creation, keeping us from reaching our true goal.
All in all, an interesting collection of stories, that will surely please die-hard fans of Tolkien. 4 stars for me.
This definitely felt like a return to Middle-Earth, reading once again about elves, dragons, Tom Bombadil and hobbits. Tales from a Perilous Journey contains 4 short stories, published before separately, and a collection of poetry.
1. Roverandom (4/5) – is the story of a dog, Rover, that is cursed by a wizard because he was impolite and actually took a bite out of the wizard’s pants. After the wizard transforms him into a toy, we follow the wonderful journey of the dog in his quest to undo the wizard’s spell, travelling between the Moon and the dark depths of the Deep Blue Sea. This short story’s main theme revolves around the concept of home and being with your loved ones.
2. Farmer Giles of Ham (4/5) - this medieval fable is quite similar to The Hobbit. It’s about Giles, a farmer who enjoys a simple and comfortable life on his farm. Giles is no hero, but when a giant gets lost on his way home and trespasses on Giles’ land, the farmer manages to scare him away. His fame grows, reaching the ears of the King of the Middle Kingdom, who offers him a sword as a gift. But shortly after, Chrysophylax, the dragon, decides to roam once again the lands of the Middle Kingdom; and all eyes are on our accidental hero – Giles the farmer, who need to prepare to go on an adventure.
3. The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (3/5) - this part contains 16 poems with different themes. Not my favorite part, but it still had some highlights here and there. I really liked “Cat” – about the ancestry of our ordinary house pet, “The Mewlips” – felt it like a horror poem, about a creature that dwells in dark and wet places, and it has a really interesting ending, “Shadow-Bride” – that could be a reinterpretation of the tale of Beren and Luthien.
”Beyond the Merlock Mountains, a long and lonely road,
Through the spider-shadows and the marsh of Tode,
And through the wood of hanging trees and the gallowsweed,
You go to find the Mewlips—and the Mewlips feed. (The Mewlips)”
4. Smith of Wootton Major (5/5) - this one is about faeries. Every 24 years, the people from Wootton Major celebrates The Feast of Good Children, where 24 children are invited to the party. The high point of the party is the cake and this time, there is something different about it. The cook’s apprentice, Alf, hid a faery star in the cake and one of the children swallowed it.
5. Leaf by Niggle (5/5) - this one is an allegory of Tolkien’s creative process and it talks about perfectionism in art and those many things that interfere during the creation, keeping us from reaching our true goal.
All in all, an interesting collection of stories, that will surely please die-hard fans of Tolkien. 4 stars for me.