tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post606899888898646895..comments2024-03-21T17:22:02.012-05:00Comments on Musings of an Elf: What Tolkien Means to MeChristine Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-20056756334798403952016-08-11T11:25:18.740-05:002016-08-11T11:25:18.740-05:00That's wonderful!!! YES. You put it into words...That's wonderful!!! YES. You put it into words! Formative to who we are now. Precisely! Thanks so much. It's great finding so many others who feel about Tolkien the same way I do. ^_^Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-62356486900825085592016-08-11T11:10:55.945-05:002016-08-11T11:10:55.945-05:00Tolkien means to me the same way it means to you. ...Tolkien means to me the same way it means to you. It isn't just a hobbit. It's part of me. Tolkien's books and the movies were formative to who I am now. Love this post. <3<br /><br />storitorigrace.blogspot.comVictoria Grace Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849013182543674707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-59771256008226162082016-08-06T21:05:21.676-05:002016-08-06T21:05:21.676-05:00I thought you might have, but I just wanted to mak...I thought you might have, but I just wanted to make sure. She's so cool! (Lol, no prob!)Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-49018343904873031602016-08-05T17:27:35.055-05:002016-08-05T17:27:35.055-05:00I have indeed! She's fantastic. I haven't ...I have indeed! She's fantastic. I haven't seen as much of her as I have The Piano Guys, though, so I'll check out more of her stuff. :D (sorry for the late reply, lolz)Mattskywalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08457853444985867028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-3432181320525356172016-08-01T16:50:13.621-05:002016-08-01T16:50:13.621-05:00Thank you! ^_^
Sadly, I wasn't introduced to ...Thank you! ^_^<br /><br />Sadly, I wasn't introduced to Narnia until I was a bit older (around 15 or 16 maybe? I can't remember exactly), but when I DID discover it I instantly became a rabid fan. But I totally get what you're saying about LotR bringing you to heavier fantasy. It was kind of that way for me too. Because I was OBSESSED with things like Peter Pan and stuff, but LotR opened up a whole new world of fantasy I never knew existed. And the rest is history. ;)<br /><br />That's awesome! XD Gotta love the girl and horse stories. And I also love the illogical plots of children's first stories. It's so great! XD<br /><br />Thank you! I think we fans can be too hard on each other. I mean, I can't help not having a good memory, or just not being much into studying things. But LotR is SO important to me regardless. And you are certainly not "less of a fan"! Like you said, it has made an impact on you and I know you love it, and that's what's important. Love is more important than knowledge. *nods*<br /><br />It has been a BLAST. I've just loved this whole thing!<br /><br />(Also, all the new Tracey comments today have made my day. ^_^)Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-53177385817029865202016-08-01T14:35:31.013-05:002016-08-01T14:35:31.013-05:00Love this post!!! For me, it was Chronicles of Nar...Love this post!!! For me, it was Chronicles of Narnia that introduced me to fantasy as a youngster, but LOTR introduced me to...darker fantasy? The heavier kind that deals with huge themes within a sweeping scope, with greater peril and darkness in the hero's way. So both series have really impacted me. <3<br /><br />Some of my first stories were about girls and horses too. Also talking pets, and mysteries with entirely illogical clues. XD<br /><br />I love how said that just because you may not know alllll the details and histories of Middle Earth, the series is still part of you! I sometimes feel like "less of a fan" with things like this because I can't quote long segments of the book, don't know all the family trees, and can't spout trivia about the plot and characters. But you're right, it doesn't mean that LOTR had any less of an impact on me!<br /><br />Anyway, love this! It's been so much fun to see how everyone first discovered LOTR, and to bask in all the Tolkien amazingness. :DTracey Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03445222618456673198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-68348078026282564772016-07-31T19:34:40.421-05:002016-07-31T19:34:40.421-05:00Sounds likes a plan! :D
YES, YES, YES. I've s...Sounds likes a plan! :D<br /><br />YES, YES, YES. I've seen that one many, many times. I'm OBSESSED with The Piano Guys. They're amaziiiing!!!<br /><br />Have you ever watched Lindsey Stirling? She's this epic, geeky violinist. This is a Zelda medley she did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3KUyPKbR7Q All her videos are just awesome!Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-37785433502375764422016-07-31T13:38:44.336-05:002016-07-31T13:38:44.336-05:00Indeed. Gotta do another marathon of them before s...Indeed. Gotta do another marathon of them before summer is over! And I think I will write one -- I'm kind of surprised I haven't already, lol. <br /><br />I'm glad you liked the video! Here's one more... know about The Piano Guys? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZNqs0YgWkMMattskywalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08457853444985867028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-45788535044777981702016-07-30T23:28:57.552-05:002016-07-30T23:28:57.552-05:00You can NEVER go wrong with The Princess Bride!!!You can NEVER go wrong with The Princess Bride!!!Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-45119830194491269792016-07-30T21:31:59.383-05:002016-07-30T21:31:59.383-05:00Yay, Princess Bride!! That's my all-time-forev...Yay, Princess Bride!! That's my all-time-forever favorite movie! :)Jenellehttp://jenelleschmidt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-36749715209617276832016-07-30T20:15:42.269-05:002016-07-30T20:15:42.269-05:00Oh wow, you were so young when you were first intr...Oh wow, you were so young when you were first introduced to it. How precious!! A+ to you parents. And A+++ for a family tradition of going to a book store on Friday nights. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS IDEA. That is so awesome how Tolkien's stories have been a part of your entire life!<br /><br />Oh man, The Princess Bride! That movie is the BEST. XD One of the most quotable movies ever. Also Disney's Robin Hood is amazing. You can never go wrong with that movie.<br /><br />Okay, I'll be nice and won't force you to choose. ;) I know it's hard!Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-32629187525164692592016-07-30T18:55:23.722-05:002016-07-30T18:55:23.722-05:00My parents read The Hobbit to me when I was very l...My parents read The Hobbit to me when I was very little, before I could read, and it was one of the first things I read when I could handle it (at the ripe old age of four). Then about two or three years later I asked Dad for something new to read, and he handed me the Fellowship of the Ring, and I read the rest of the book that same year. When I was ten we found the Silmarillion at Half Price Books on a Friday night (odd family customs --- every fortnight or so on Friday evenings we'd go to the bookstore, instead of watching movies or anything like normal people). The next day was the seminary's annual picnic we had to go to, and I brought the Silmarillion along and read it under a tree at the park (someone took a picture of me reading it, and Dad's still got it on his desk). After that it was just a step to getting my own copies, and then reading the Lost Tales and the Lays of Beleriand. . . and last year my college's bookstore had his translation of Beowulf, and I happened to have a Barnes and Noble gift card. . . so now that one's on my shelf too (and well worth the price).<br />I've never seen the movies and I don't care to, though that's not really saying much, considering that of the few movies I have seen, which number in the single digits, the only ones I've really liked are the Princess Bride and Disney's Robin Hood (and we quote those constantly. I grew up with lines like "have fun storming the castle" before I knew they were quotations).<br />Anyway, don't ask me to pick a favourite story. It's impossible.Sophia Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10393680730064003675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-47857794578781251502016-07-30T17:28:48.628-05:002016-07-30T17:28:48.628-05:00As much as I love LotR, I will admit it CAN be a h...As much as I love LotR, I will admit it CAN be a heavy read sometimes. Tolkien enjoyed describing things in great details. XD<br /><br />But yes, the movies are simply amazing, and my favorites as well! Power and beauty--a perfect way to describe them. And you should absolutely do a post on what HP means to you. That'd be awesome!<br /><br />OH MY WORD DAT VIDEO. o.o Nope, I'm not crying. Definitely not, uh-huh.<br />BUT WOW. I knew Howard Shore was an utter genius. But...but...WOW. That is astounding. Thank you so much for linking me to that. Just fascinating!Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-9761346402347777832016-07-30T16:54:24.903-05:002016-07-30T16:54:24.903-05:00While I definitely can't call myself a Tolkien...While I definitely can't call myself a Tolkienite, having struggled about 9 years to finish the LOTR books, I do adore the films. The Fellowship of the Ring is my favorite movie of all time. These stories possess such power and such beauty that I can't help but be floored no matter how many times I watch them. So I can't relate entirely to your experience, Christine, but it's awesome to hear about how Tolkien's stories helped shape you into who you are. That's beautiful. :D That's what Harry Potter was for me. Maybe I'll do a post on that sometime! <br /><br />Oh, and I thought you'd enjoy this video! I may or may not have welled up a couple of times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7BkmF8CJpQMattskywalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08457853444985867028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-78530159764036900722016-07-30T15:48:37.479-05:002016-07-30T15:48:37.479-05:00I just love how important these stories are to all...I just love how important these stories are to all of us. What would life be without them? I shudder to think!<br /><br />*blushes* Thank you!!! I'll take any excuse to pull out all my Tolkien things. ;)<br /><br />Hahaha! I love them all too! I'm constantly changing which one is my favorite. Currently The Two Towers is my fave, namely because of the Battle at Helm's Deep. But used to FotR was my top favorite. As you said, it was the first and holds so very many fond memories.<br /><br />Oh, but I LOVE the scenes with Sam, Frodo, and Gollum as well! I never found them boring. Like you said, it was inspiring watching them persevere like that. :')<br /><br />I'm the same way about The Hobbit! You put it perfectly. It's the most special book to me because it's the first one I read, and have continued to reread over and over and over again. But out of the LotR books I think RotK is my favorite. There was just so much epicness going on!<br /><br />You too? LOLZY. Hey, that sounds waaay more logical than my story. No joke. XD Mine didn't even have a plot. It was pretty much just random scenes between my girl and her horse that came out of NOWHERE. *shakes head* (And I love the girls building a cabin by themselves. XD)Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-40590065574633884742016-07-30T15:40:40.693-05:002016-07-30T15:40:40.693-05:00Oh, and my first story was about a girl and her ho...Oh, and my first story was about a girl and her horse, as well. Two girls... orphans... ran away from evil orphan keeper... ended up in the woods. Built a cabin (yes, by themselves... there was a handy-dandy hardware store nearby and the owner let them take "leftover" pieces of wood and things... conveniently for them) they found a wild horse in the woods... tamed him... and won the Kentucky Derby (followed by the Preakness and the Belmont) with him and became so rich and famous they never had to live in an orphanage again. The end. :) <br /><br />*facepalm*Jenellehttp://jenelleschmidt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-63919202553406496812016-07-30T15:34:57.079-05:002016-07-30T15:34:57.079-05:00"Because fantasy stories aren’t just a hobby...."Because fantasy stories aren’t just a hobby. They’re a part of me. The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings—those stories shaped me into who I am." YES! Just.... yes. Me too.<br /><br />I absolutely LOVED all your pictures! AhhhH!!! flails<br /><br />My favorite Middle Earth movie??!?!?! Um.. All of them. But seriously, I think probably... um... oh... Fellowship of the Ring. Because it was the first. Because it was magical. Because we went to see it seven times as a family... (my whole family consists of Tolkien-fans).<br /><br />Favorite Tolkien story... either The Hobbit or the Two Towers. They were the ones I read and reread the most growing up... and sometimes I'd just read it by itself. I loved following Sam and Frodo and Smeagol/Gollum through their adventures (my husband is confused by this, because he views that as the most boring part of the trilogy) but I don't know, it was compelling how they persevered when it would have been so much easier to just give up and go home. Take the Ring back to the Shire and let the world go to pieces. I also loved the Rohirrim, and the Battle at Helm's Deep. :)<br /><br />But then there's The Hobbit... and it is so intertwined with my childhood that it feels disloyal to name any other story as "favorite." :)Jenellehttp://jenelleschmidt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-19466841576856759542016-07-30T13:27:04.219-05:002016-07-30T13:27:04.219-05:00THAT'S OKAY. It's hard keeping up with all...THAT'S OKAY. It's hard keeping up with all this Tolkien stuff. All these books of his I have I hardly even know what are... It's so bad. BUT TOLKIEN BOOKS. I must buy them all when I find them!<br /><br />That's awesome you have all the stories in the Miscellany though! :D AND TOLKIEN FARYTALES. MUST READ.<br /><br />Wait...WAIT. I HAVE those essays DJ was talking about? Now it is my turn to facepalm! Like I said, I hardly know what all this Tolkien stuff is. XD BUT THIS IS AWESOME. I MUST READ ALL THESE THINGS.<br /><br />Being excited about these things is NOT weird. BECAUSE TOLKIEN. I'M EXCITED TOO.Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-69157983309890241922016-07-30T13:21:14.111-05:002016-07-30T13:21:14.111-05:00Thank you! That makes me happy to hear. I feel lik...Thank you! That makes me happy to hear. I feel like fandoms are a bit too hard on each other. If we don't know like every single quote and history, etc., etc. about our fandom, we're not TRUE fans. But that's silly. I can't help not having a good memory. I've read The Hobbit over 10 times and I STILL often forget things in it. I just...don't have a good memory. But I love deeply!<br /><br />Thank you so much! I had a blast pulling out my Tolkien things and photographing them. You've never seen that edition? Huh. It was our first copy, so it's such a huge part of my world I've never thought about if it's a rare edition or not. When I think of The Hobbit I think of that specific book. I do love it so. *huggles it*Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-45673633762554481252016-07-30T13:19:15.437-05:002016-07-30T13:19:15.437-05:00YES Tolkien brought us together toooo and my life ...YES Tolkien brought us together toooo and my life would be so much less wonderful without my Lauri! <3 ^_^<br /><br />Ohhh, it's a collection of his stories? *looks it up* OKAY I SEE. *facepalm* I don't know why I didn't know this. XD Apparently I own the stories in it, just in different collections. But OH! You totally must read it, then! :D Smith of Wooton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham are WONDERFUL and you must totally read them! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! <3 They're like mini fairy tales that Tolkien wrote, like The Hobbit, but not set in Middle-earth, and sooo whimsical and fun and delightful! ^_^ Also, I saw your above comment in reply to DJ, and Tolkien's Essay on fairy stories is actually apparently in your Tolkien Miscellany book! It's part of a collection called "Tree and Leaf" with an essay and a short story. *nods* But you MUST read that essay because it's wonderful! :D And The Adventures of Tom Bombadil has poems about Bombadil and other poetry, so it's fuuun. And I haven't read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight yet... I must do that. I think it's a translation he did of an Arthurian poem. *nods* ANYWAYS I'M SUDDENLY SO EXCITED! I had no idea those stories were in that collection or that you had it! :D I'm so silly, I get excited about the weirdest things. XD But Smith of Wooton Major and Farmer Giles of Ham and Tolkien's Essay on Fairy Stories are like CLASSICS and I loveth them so much! When you read them someday you'll have to let me know what you think of them! ^_^ *now wants to read them again so bad* (Not to mention Pauline Baynes' precious illustrations. <3)<br /><br />*creeps away from enormous rambly comment I just left as if nothing happened* AHEM. >.>Deborah O'Carrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05969896655321575875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-25663674277865022132016-07-30T13:17:18.508-05:002016-07-30T13:17:18.508-05:00Aww, thank you! ^_^
Oh, how wonderful! Isn't ...Aww, thank you! ^_^<br /><br />Oh, how wonderful! Isn't it amazing what a massive impact Tolkien made on this world? The world of literature would be entirely different if he had not written his beautiful tales. And it's so awesome how God has used Tolkien to shape us.<br /><br />Thank you! I probably had TOO much fun taking pictures of all my babies. XD<br />It blows my mind how many copies of those books there are! There are so very many. But I won't complain one little bit. ;)Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-34529873459689270232016-07-30T13:09:59.068-05:002016-07-30T13:09:59.068-05:00And your comment makes ME extraordinarily happy!!!...And your comment makes ME extraordinarily happy!!! THANK YOU.<br /><br />I do! And...haven't read it. ACK. What is wrong with me??? It's got a super gorgeous cover though, and is actually pretty thick. It's got 5 full stories in there I believe.<br /><br />CELTI. STAHP. I...I have no words! YOU ARE THE NICEST THANK YOU!!!!!<br />I'm super, super, SUPER grateful to Tolkien not only because he introduced me to my passion for fantasy, but because it's his stories that first brought us together! If I wasn't a LotR fan I might not have ever befriended my Celti WHICH WOULD BE A TRAGEDY BEYOND COMPREHENSION. Tolkien has just shaped my entire world so much! <3333<br /><br />I know what you mean! I was at work yesterday, so couldn't be too active with all the LotR stuff. But today I'm now catching up and just on a LotR high. It's so fun!<br /><br />*FLAILS* Thank you!!! Your comment has made my so happy. ALL THE HAPPY THINGS. <3333Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-4764891358732587662016-07-30T13:04:13.880-05:002016-07-30T13:04:13.880-05:00LET THE TORRENT OF TOLKIEN LOVE FLOW.
Type of a p...LET THE TORRENT OF TOLKIEN LOVE FLOW.<br /><br />Type of a potato! *CHOKES* That is the best Tolkien-discovery story I've ever heard. XDD And give your father an award for introducing you to those wonderful books!<br /><br />I watched FotR sooooo much before the other two movies came out. It's what first brought my awareness of these stories to light, and will always be special to me too. ^_^<br /><br />Oh wow, so you've read almost all of them? THAT IS AWESOME. Total respect. I really need to read more. I keep collecting all these Tolkien stories and yet not read them. IT'S SHAMEFUL.Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-48673254560483214232016-07-30T13:00:40.982-05:002016-07-30T13:00:40.982-05:00^____^ I couldn't pass up an excuse to write a...^____^ I couldn't pass up an excuse to write a Tolkien post!<br /><br />You first wrote a girl and horse story too? I LOVE IT! But you were ahead of the curve diving into fantasy right away!<br /><br />I loveth all my Tolkien things. *huggles them*<br />Do you mean the one in the far, FAR right corner? Because those are the extended editions of the movies. They come in such pretty boxes. *pets them* Or did you mean the copy of Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers beside those? It doesn't even matter. All the pretty LotR things!<br /><br />*cackles* I'm evilll! XD<br />Hahaha! Good answer. I totally get ya there.<br /><br />Cake! :D *throws confetti* Happy birthday, LotR!!!Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139091376044743904.post-45368348508064972172016-07-30T12:56:11.421-05:002016-07-30T12:56:11.421-05:00Lol! Same here! I will flail at ANY mention of Tol...Lol! Same here! I will flail at ANY mention of Tolkien. I'm just so grateful to him and the impact he made on this world.<br /><br />Thank you! I'm gonna be honest, it's my favorite book I have on my shelves. My parents got it for me for Christmas a couple years back and saying I was excited is an understatement.<br /><br />I have not! But oh my, that sounds amazing! If I ever come across a copy I will absolutely be snatching it up. Thank you for telling me about it! (And high-fiving the pages. XD I love books like that!)<br /><br />Thank YOU for co-hosting The Silmarillion Awards. I had such a fantastic time.<br />Happy Lord of the Rings Day (well, a day late now, whoops) to you too!Christine Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15859881278385314279noreply@blogger.com