I'm very excited to be participating in the Lord of the Rings Readalong over the next four months! I believe that the last time I read the books was right before the first Peter Jackson film came out in 2001. That was my second reading of the four books. The first time was in college in the early 90s because T (my boyfriend at the time, now my husband) had a set of the books and I was curious. Those, in fact, will be the books that I am reading again for a third time now! Eva, the host this month of The Hobbit reading, asked for a picture of the version each of us is reading so here is mine ... a little blurry because I took it on the iPhone.
These appear to have been printed in 1986. The edges are yellow (apparently on purpose as they are uniformly bright) and The Fellowship of the Rings is the only one that is a little worse for wear. It probably spent time in T's backpack at some point.
Although I didn't read these books until college, I watched the old films many times as a kid -- the 1977 animated Hobbit and, less frequently, the 1978 Lord of the Rings movie. Anyone who grew up in Southern California in the early 1980s couldn't have missed these since they were shown on many Saturday afternoons each year.
So, yeah ... I love Bilbo, am terribly creeped out by Gollum and love to imagine Smaug in all of his glittery splendor and I am definitely going to read this straight through -- probably in a week or two when I get some ARCs out of the way. Are any of you participating or have you read these before?
Booking passage to Middle Earth,
K
I think we have the same editions of Lord of the Rings, although the color of the Two Towers is different. My Hobbit doesn't match--it's a hardcover. I keep thinking I'm going to upgrade, but I've developed an emotional attachment to them. I suppose if they start falling apart, I'll give in and get new ones.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the readalong!
Your copy is the same age as me! hehe I'm so happy that you're joining us, and I think you're the second blogger who was introduced to LOTR via their future husband. Too cute. :)
ReplyDeleteI love LOTR.
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with Bilbo and the Dwarves when mum read the Hobbit to me as a little 'un. I graduated to LOTR in late primary (I think you call it elementary in the US).
I fell right back into the world of Middle Earth. Can I move there? Evil and all.
ReplyDeleteThose are wonderful editions! I love the covers. I think they might be the ones my dad has (along with the fancier gilt-edged ones he won't let me touch).
ReplyDeleteTeresa - I like that this is a nice box set. If I ever replace them, I will look for the same sort of thing. One of these is in marginal shape but I totally have the attachment too. :)
ReplyDeleteEva - You're cute! Thanks for deciding to run this. I needed the push to re-read these books I love.
Al - I wish that I had read them earlier in life but at least I knew the story from the films.
Beth - Seriously! I could find a nice corner of the shire and live quietly.
Anastasia - The drawings are very simple but perfect interpretations of the story. I love that your dad has private copies. :)
I liked "The Hobbit" better than I liked LOTR. And I totally remember that movie! Saw it on the big screen!
ReplyDeleteJenners - That's awesome that you saw that movie in the theater! I seriously must have seen it 4 or 5 times a year for most of my childhood so maybe twenty times or more! I can't wait for the new Hobbit movie.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the time to participate in this one! Oh well!! I did just re-read The Hobbit, actually listened to it this time. It's a multiple read and I just love it more and more every time! It's my favorite when compared to LOTR. I look forward to hearing your thoughts along the way!! Someday I will get my latest thoughts written on my blog!! :)
ReplyDeleteTif - I get to start this book in the next day or two and I'm getting more and more excited! I think it's going to be a different experience from the last time I read it. I'll let you know. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to it!
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