A review by maedae4
Leaf by Niggle by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This was a real pleasure to read, and I'm glad that my brother told me beforehand that J.R.R. Tolkien disliked allegory in all forms. That challenged me to try to understand the story as its own thing, even if it paralleled Tolkien's life in some ways or bore some resemblance to life and death and the creative process. I'm intrigued by the idea that apparently everyone is bound for the mountains in time, and Niggle just needed time to prepare himself for his arrival there. I also like that he had to let Parish into his creative process in order to really get perspective and flesh out his painting. I like the meandering approach he took to his work and that he wasn't striving for greatness or for a legacy--he just felt dedicated to this one image he had in his mind. It gives me hope as I struggle to work on my own creative things and balk and lose steam and worry. I think that Niggle has a good relationship with his work and a vexed relationship with time, which unfortunately keeps passing.