plaza read?

[Chrysophylax Dives]

This is a post I'd make in a OOC Lore thread stickied to the top of Lore, but there is none so we have a new thread.

There are few of us, but we are Lord of the Rings fanatics, and a return to the source cannot be bad. What about a plaza read through of LotR or some other of Tolkien's texts? We could maybe try weekly installments of something.

If anyone is up for the idea please post your reading preference. We could go for the classic stories, Silmarillion, LotR, The Hobbit (first edition!), one of the two scholarly classics, 'Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics' or 'On Fairy-stories', one of the lesser stories, like 'Farmer Giles of Ham', or sample from the vast History of Middle-earth series. And there is lots and lots more: they published so much Tolkien stuff over the last decade or so...

[Drífa]

Reading sounds like a good idea. There was a read-a-long back when the Nuplaza started up. How do you wish to proceed with it? I want The Hobbit first. I do not have a first edition.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

Reading would be a good idea. I take this thread as a barometer of health. Two of us is not enough. If we ever get to 5, or even 7, then we could begin - and more generally, that might also mean that we have restored a healthy plaza hub of Tolkien interest and discussion.

Beyond the Dwarf and myself, are there any readers in the house?

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Should a certain edition matter? I don't think the words have changed over later editions. Perhaps the publisher's introduction is a bit different, or the outside glossier? What should a longread be?

[Chrysophylax Dives]

There are curious and subtle differences between the 1st and 2nd editions of LotR, which I would like to explore, but probably not on a read through (it is a possibility). In practice, it would not matter which edition people had, and this goes for all texts that we might read with the exception of The Hobbit, where there are changes throughout and 'Riddles in the Dark' utterly reimagined (in the nulibrary i have some thread noting the original when it was changed in the 2nd edition, up to 'Riddles in the Dark'). With The Hobbit we would have to be on the same edition because the two editions are really two different stories.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Chrys: Oh I see. *nods* Understandable.

[Boromir88]

I'm up for attempting some Tolkien book reading. It appears to be quite dead here, but hey got to start somewhere. With the low amount of activity, The Hobbit would probably be a good one start with, but I'm fine with whatever. Hopefully, others who had been lurking like myself, will step out of the shadows a bit.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

It has been very dead, but I have some hope that there are still enough of us who enjoy talking about these things. It is good that you are posting again, @Boromir88. Some while ago I came to the conclusion that the only thing to do was to keep posting here and sooner or later others would return. But it is slow work. @Saranna is back again too, but she does not post so much these days. Aiks comments on Lore, and @Priya posts some amazing stuff.

Edit: I forgot that we now have also the amazing @VelvetineZone! So with your return, maybe we are approaching a critical turn.

This reading thread is my litmus test. Once there are enough of us that a collective read seems feasible I reckon that plaza Lore is back in business. At the moment there are still not enough of us, I think.

The fact is that the fashions come and go and the online forums come and go but the plaza is our home and so long as we keep plugging away, I have no doubt that there are enough other people out there who will find there way here for decent Tolkien discussion.

[VelvetineZone]

I'm already thinking about rereading LOTR so could go for that, for example.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

Hi @VelvetineZone, if you do start re-reading LotR you could just pen your thoughts here in Lore on each chapter as you go. That would actually be the sensible way of organizing a plaza read because it dispenses with the herding cats elements of organizing anything. If you did post thoughts on each chapter, however quirky, brief, or whatever, it would just be impossible for almost any member of this site not to respond. I'm trying to think of the appropriate analogy - not red flag to a bull, more like, for me, catching a sniff of bacon frying. Irresistable.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

My comments in Lore? And what is a litmus test? Never heard of it? Strange expression.

[VelvetineZone]

That's a good idea.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

Hello @VelvetineZone, a request if I may. If and when you start LotR and do some write ups here, would you be so kind as to begin with the Prologue (rather than chapter 1)?

(This is not a prompt to push you to begin! I am looking forward to your reading but am in no hurry - actually, I'll likely be offline much of the next ten days.)

[VelvetineZone]

Hi @Chrysophylax Dives, yes totally intending to begin with Prologue. And shall start soon but maybe wait till you're online again. Its been busy here trying new Autumn routines.

[VelvetineZone]

I have begun the rereading. On which board do you think I should start a new topic @Chrysophylax Dives and all?

[VelvetineZone]

Maybe in Lore?

[Chrysophylax Dives]

@VelvetineZone, I would say Lore.

@Pele Alarion, @Rivvy Elf, @Arnyn - where do you think is the best forum for a LotR read through with discussion?

PS. VelvetineZone, once you get to the first chapter you will be able to answer Drifa's trivia question!

PPS. I'm off on holiday for a week on Tuesday.

[Pele Alarion]

Hmmm, I think it looks like a Lore topic. That coming from someone who is not savvy in lore.

[Saranna]

@Chrysophylax Dives
@VelvetineZone
@ everyone in this thread;

I am deeply sorry for having been so inactive for most of this year. Most of it due to illness and recuperation, but also, to mention two random things; some work (not done by me) on my garden to improve it and also beginning to catch up on RL commitments, for example Oxonmoot at the beginning of September.

I will try to do better, and would like to see the plans above regarding reading and topics related to reading, worked out in Lore, and would hope to contribute to it. I did once get the chance to read the first edition of LOTR but don't own one (I probably couldn't afford it) but I do have the facsimile 1st ed. of the Hobbit. Also it's time I got back to Elostirion before the towers fall down...... 'Winter is coming,' as some other writer said, and I am more likely then to be huddled in my study than out admiring/tending my garden.

[Drífa]

Welcome back, @Saranna! Gardening is a noble hobby; one must enjoy it while it lasts. Gardening is far better, in my opinion than sitting in front of a computer on a sunny day.

Inside Bag End, Bilbo and Gandalf were sitting at the open
window of a small room looking out west on to the garden.
The late afternoon was bright and peaceful. The flowers
glowed red and golden: snap-dragons and sunflowers, and
nasturtiums trailing all over the turf walls and peeping in at
the round windows.
‘How bright your garden looks!’ said Gandalf...TFOTR, A Long-Expected Party

[Saranna]

@Drifa
Back to the computer just now as the weather has turned nasty. I love that extract about the garden at Bag End - it must have remained in Bilbo's heart as the Quest went on - and on - and it's wonderful that the Fellowship found gardens on the way to remind them of the one they had left behind - Goldberry, Elrond, Faramir amd Eowyn, all surrounded by gardens though in the throes of war. Then Sam bringing home the gifts of Galadriel to heal the gardenss and farmland of the Shire. Tolkien never lets them forget what they are striving for - the healing of the earth, and its restoration. His brother Hillary was of course a gardener, and Tolkien loved his own garden too. :)