Chapter IX: Shelob's Lair It might be daytime at the top of the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, but it's still dark. Dark and smelly, and the stink gets worse as Frodo and Sam head toward the tunnel Gollum has been leading them toward. A few steps in and the darkness deepens, beyond anything they've known … Continue reading LotR Reread: Along Came a Spider
LotR ReRead
LotR Reread: “We’re in the Same Story”
Chapter VII: Journey to the Cross-Roads In the morning, Faramir bids the hobbits farewell. He gives them some provisions and a couple of walking sticks cut down to their size. The sticks have a virtue of finding and returning, and he hopes they will aid the hobbits in their journey. They walk together for a … Continue reading LotR Reread: “We’re in the Same Story”
LotR Reread: Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls
Chapter V: The Window on the West As the chapter opens, Sam wakes up from an accidental nap and finds Faramir questioning Frodo about their presence in Ithilien and what his business was with Boromir. Both are cagey in their responses; Frodo because he can't reveal the nature of the Quest, and Faramir because he … Continue reading LotR Reread: Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls
LotR Reread: You Can’t Get There From Here
Chapter III: The Black Gate is Closed At last, Frodo and Sam have reached Mordor. As promised, Gollum led them to the Morannon, the Black Gate that guards the most direct road into that dark country. It's been a bleak journey there, and the outlook gets worse with every step. The rocky cliffs are riddled … Continue reading LotR Reread: You Can’t Get There From Here
LotR Reread: The Darkening of Frodo Baggins
The Two Towers, Book IV Chapter I: The Taming of Sméagol When I hear people discuss The Lord of the Rings, they always seem to say the same thing: The Two Towers is the boring part. I have to assume they're talking about the second part because the first half with Aragorn, Merry, and Pippin is … Continue reading LotR Reread: The Darkening of Frodo Baggins
LotR Reread: ‘This is the hour when we draw swords together!’
Chapter VII: Helm's Deep As the chapter opens, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Theoden, Eomer, and a lot of other warriors are riding across the plains of Rohan toward the fortress of Helm's Deep. Why aren't they holing up in Edoras, where the king normally lives? Location, location, location. Edoras is in a great location if … Continue reading LotR Reread: ‘This is the hour when we draw swords together!’
LotR Reread: The Tree is Talking, Merry…
Chapter III: The Uruk-hai This is my least favorite chapter in The Lord of the Rings. It’s not just because Merry and Pippin, two of my favorite characters, have been captured and treated cruelly by the orcs. It’s the orcs themselves that make me hate this chapter. Of all of Tolkien’s bad guys, the orcs … Continue reading LotR Reread: The Tree is Talking, Merry…
LotR Reread: They Went Thataway
Here begins the second part of The Lord of the Rings. Notice how I said the second part and not second book? Why is that, you ask? It's because Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings as one long book broken up into six parts. Because it was published during the post-WWII shortages (food, paper, … Continue reading LotR Reread: They Went Thataway
LotR Reread: It’s Not You, It’s Me
Chapter X- The Breaking of the Fellowship In the shadow of Tol Brandir, above the falls of Rauros, the company must decide if they are going to turn toward the south and head for Gondor and Minas Tirith with Boromir, or if they will turn towards the east and go to Mordor. Aragorn has put … Continue reading LotR Reread: It’s Not You, It’s Me
LotR Reread: Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Gently down the Anduin
Chapter VIII: Farewell to Lorien Alas, it's time for the fellowship to leave Lothlorien. They may have had a nice vacation from the rest of the world, but the rest of the world didn't get the memo to slow down and smell the elanor. The only question is, who is going where? Aragorn had planned … Continue reading LotR Reread: Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Gently down the Anduin
Traveling in Books 