The Journey Begins!

Hi all!

First few words, first post, first blog.

The name is James and I’m a self-confessed Tolkienist (aka a J.R.R. Tolkien fan); or even a “Tolkienite”, “Tolkiendil” and even a “Ringer” (yes, I’m also a fan of the films) – scrutinizing every nut and bolt of this author’s magnificent range of literary works. I’m a young man in search of understanding my own perceptions towards the way I see and read the words on the page or the frames on a screen. In short, I’m hoping to introduce my thoughts and purposes for this blog as clearly as possible within a few short paragraphs …

An average fan might find himself or herself poring over ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (and possibly even ‘The Silmarillion’). Needless to say, there’s countless blogs out there on everything related to Tolkien (or fantasy for that matter). Anyone can read the books, watch the films and write about what they see. But there’s one thing you can’t replicate in any way – perceptions. Each individual makes up his or her own journey through Tolkien’s works (or any other work, for that matter) and the emotions generated by such an experience are unique in every way.

Which is why I’ve decided to set up this blog and relate my own emotions and expressions to other like-minded individuals.

My intention is to provide a background for anyone interested in Tolkien’s works, particularly those who have yet to embark on a journey of their own, through Middle-earth and beyond. I will be offering my own thoughts and reviews on the books to read (with the How and the Why) and also “branch off” into other general discussions (such as films and other fantasy books) that somehow find a link with anything “Tolkienistic” (I should add that to my vocabulary of self-created words) …

So what’s so attractive about Tolkien?

Anyone who asks an avid reader what they find so interesting and alluring about Tolkien’s works will promptly reply with a floodgate of emotions on the richness of detail (mainly in Middle-earth), the extreme complexities of the invented languages, the vast history behind even the smallest and insignificant aspect (there’s nothing “insignificant” in Tolkien’s writing, but you get my point) … etc, etc.

My own reason is due to the seemingly simplistic skill of writing fluently and in such a powerful and descriptive manner. I mean, for someone to write in such a way:

“All was dark about it, earth and sky, but it was lit with light. Not the imprisoned moonlight welling through the marble walls of Minas Ithil long ago, Tower of the Moon, fair and radiant in the hollow of the hills. Paler indeed than the moon ailing in some slow eclipse was the light of it now, wavering and blowing like a noisome exhalation of decay, a corpse-light, a light that illuminated nothing. In the walls and tower windows showed, like countless black holes looking inward into emptiness”

(The Two Towers, Chapter 8 Book IV)

… phew! I mean, in order to describe what is basically an evil fortress in such a way, that’s pure magic in words right there. The way Tolkien weaves his word-structure and creates something so vivid and powerful is what delineates him from other writers.

Of course, there are many other reasons (too many to mention) and anyone will be able to find their own particular motives as to why Tolkien is so alluring and (yes, I’ll say it) addictive …

– What to expect from this blog …

As said above, I’ll be commenting, reviewing and simply presenting anything Tolkien, to you, in a (hopefully) fun and versatile way.

Sorry for the long post, but I had to introduce all the stuff and be clear about the purpose behind this blog.

But that’s it for now! And keep reading …