J.R.R. Tolkien Epic Reads discussion

Alrighty, sorry it took longer to do this, things have been crazy at home still with the aforementioned family issues I brought up in my message to all of you last month, but here it is. Chapters 8 to 11 can be discussed in here. I spoke with James last night and we will be keeping to the 4 chapters per topic. So the next one will contain chapter 12 of the first book and the first three of book two of FotR.

Chapters as followed (for those who have different editions):

XIII: Fog on the Barrow-downs

IX: At the sign of the Prancing Pony

X: Strider

XI: A Knife in the Dark

Hope this helps those with an older copy.

How is everyone’s reading going this month? I’ve been busy and gotten behind a little, but I’d love to hear what everyone else thinks about this month’s read.

What are your thoughts on the Barrow Downs and Wights? What do you think of Bree or Butterbur? What’s you’re first thought about Strider?

I can understand the Hobbits cautiousness of him because at first glance he does look frightening to say the least (though maybe not so much the case with Viggo in the films) but underneath it all he's not too bad by the end of book one. Yes again I read ahead because of my nephews. As for Butterbur...the man needs a sticky note system.

Eileen wrote: "I can understand the Hobbits cautiousness of him because at first glance he does look frightening to say the least (though maybe not so much the case with Viggo in the films) but underneath it all ..."

The Aragon storyline is one that makes me wish I had encountered the books before the films, so I could have gone through the experience of unraveling Strider's layers, as the reader does, along with the hobbits.
Poor Butterbur. He must have some highly redeemable qualities if Gandalf trusted him with such an important message, and of course things work out as they were always supposed to, but still....
Now, the most important question from this section. Bob: hobbit or human?

Very true Tara and I wish the same as well. I saw the films about a year before I read the book(s) so it kind of robbed me a bit. As for your question, sadly my option is not there. Though they already appeared in the book and will again very shortly.

I remember first encountering Strider. I knew nothing of the story and found him frightening and mysterious watching them from the corner. Was he a black rider waiting for them? One of the southerners in league with Bill Ferny?
You can’t recreate that wonder now that the whole story has become part of popular knowledge. It’s fun to revisit and remember though.

Exactly James. But I try to pretend.

Yes, Eileen, pretending works well too!

Doesn't always work though. But you try.

fun fact, Strider was originaly a hobbit named Trotter, I am so happy Tolkien changed this character so much from his original idea.

So am I, Jowita! I’ve always liked the early Strider a lot. As he evolves into Aragorn, he becomes more important, but feels less interesting, less mysterious. A hobbit named Trotter just wouldn’t be the same

James wrote: "So am I, Jowita! I’ve always liked the early Strider a lot. As he evolves into Aragorn, he becomes more important, but feels less interesting, less mysterious. A hobbit named Trotter just wouldn’t ..."

I believe at one point he had wooden feet/shoes as a result of torture he suffered. I agree he works better in the published version, but that would have been an interesting story (and quite the epic hobbit!)

And, of course, in the movie, he's pretty good-looking from the get-go. Frodo has less grounds to criticize his looks.

Well Mary, you can thank a last minute replacement for that reason.

I'm not sure if it was the casting, or the way the script was written, but I feel like they leaned more towards Strider than Aragorn in their characterization than the books do. I never got the "I have never wanted to be king" vibe from Tolkien's version, but that is really where Viggo shines in the role.

Yeah. I remember this part in RotK where Aragon just walked into Minas Tirith the way a king would and that was that. He didn't even have a moment of hesitation before doing so in the book. Whereas I think he would've in the film if that moment had made it in.