Where are you in the trilogy right now? What do you think of the books so far?I'm afraid I'm still in the Fellowship of the Rings - I was set back by The Hobbit taking a month and a half to finish! I have absolutely loved Tolkien's descriptive writing - but I'm still not too keen on Frodo yet. He just seems slightly too pompous at the moment, but I think that will change after Rivendell.
I am, however, completely in love with Merry! (And Aragorn, of course, but I have always loved him - even when I only read the first half of FotR when I was 9, I remembered the tortured!rugged!Strider and fell in love.) Merry is just so cheery and smart - a know-it-all with a tongue-in-cheek manner. Totally adorable.
What’s your past experience with The Two Towers?
Does the movie count? Because I have never read a sentence of TTT!
What about the movie? If you’ve seen it, what did you think of it, and how much do you think it will color your experience with the book?
I am looking forward to reading the Tolkien version of Faramir, although I am afraid I will be disappointed. I know a lot of people took issue with Faramir's portrayal in the film - what with him almost giving in to the ring, and everything - but I loved it. Faramir was such a highlight for me when I first saw TTT, and again when I saw RotK (I still cry every time during that scene)... so I admit that, although I am kind excited to start TTT, I am also a bit nervous!
The films have - I admit - coloured how I read the book. But in a rather positive way, I think. If I get to a bit where I prefer the interpretation a-la-Peter Jackson, I just hold on to the thought of the movie while I read. But if Tolkien describes something that differs to Jackson - and I prefer the Tolkien version - I can pretty easily forget about the film! It is rather handy, actually.
I'm also listening to the extended soundtrack while reading - it is glorious and sends me straight to Middle Earth! I really need to press on with FotR - I hope to finish it by the end of the week, and start immediately on TTT.
I LOVE the soundtrack! You must listen to this song!
ReplyDeletehttp://flyawaywriting.blogspot.com/2010/02/in-dreams.html
I've found it so interesting to learn what people who saw the movies first think of Tolkien's version. I fell head over heels in love with Faramir in Tolkien's version, so he was the character I wanted to see in the movies. But the character in movies wasn't terrible--he just wasn't Faramir to me. (ROTK was an improvement on that score.) I'll be interested to see what you think.
ReplyDeleteAnd Merry's my favorite hobbit too :-)
Interesting what you said about Frodo -- I wonder if your thoughts have been colored by the way he was portrayed in the films.
ReplyDelete@Teresa - Merry was such a great surprise for me. I've really loved him so far.
ReplyDelete@Beth - The films probably have coloured my view of Frodo... but until I like book!Frodo as much as I do movie!Frodo, I'm going to stick with movie!Frodo when I picture him...!