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A review by penguin_emperor_of_the_north
Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien
4.0
Part of this just really appealed to nostalgia. I remembered reading Roverandom and Farmer Giles of Ham when I was younger but only recalled the most bare bones of details. And I'd never read Smith of Wooton Major or Leaf by Niggle before.
The first note I wrote down was that the stories are whimsical and charming. And they are. Roverandom journey's to and sees the strangest of places and things. The common sense of animals is a great driver of Farmer Giles. Smith of Wooton Major relates Smith's long exploration of Elfland and the wonders he sees there. But it'd be a disservice to leave it at 'whimsical' and 'charming'.
I really appreciate the style of narration where the narrator chimes in with his own commentary on events. Like remarking that it doesn't matter if whales sleeping on the bottom of the sea is scientifically inaccurate. This particular one doesn't care. Or that the only commonality between an immigrant to the ocean and the native fish is drinking . . . Or that one might get hubristic after a dragon grovels at your feet.
I appreciate that style. It's silly enough to just laugh at but they can still get caught in your mind for a while.
And Leaf by Niggle (the story I picked this up initially looking for) was great. Does a great job highlighting the things that are genuinely important and what a person's truly lasting contributions are. That's intentionally vague but I really liked it, solid read.
The first note I wrote down was that the stories are whimsical and charming. And they are. Roverandom journey's to and sees the strangest of places and things. The common sense of animals is a great driver of Farmer Giles. Smith of Wooton Major relates Smith's long exploration of Elfland and the wonders he sees there. But it'd be a disservice to leave it at 'whimsical' and 'charming'.
I really appreciate the style of narration where the narrator chimes in with his own commentary on events. Like remarking that it doesn't matter if whales sleeping on the bottom of the sea is scientifically inaccurate. This particular one doesn't care. Or that the only commonality between an immigrant to the ocean and the native fish is drinking . . . Or that one might get hubristic after a dragon grovels at your feet.
I appreciate that style. It's silly enough to just laugh at but they can still get caught in your mind for a while.
And Leaf by Niggle (the story I picked this up initially looking for) was great. Does a great job highlighting the things that are genuinely important and what a person's truly lasting contributions are. That's intentionally vague but I really liked it, solid read.