![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Two
Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Two (The Hobbit)
Chapter III: A Short Rest
Chapter IV: Over Hill and Under Hill
Rules
I very much doubt we'll require much in the way of formal rules, but just for the sake of formality and clarity:
Chapter III: A Short Rest
Chapter IV: Over Hill and Under Hill
Rules
I very much doubt we'll require much in the way of formal rules, but just for the sake of formality and clarity:
- Discussion is welcome and encouraged, as is disagreement. Name-calling and personal attacks will be punished by a blind date with Gollum at the Mordor Fried Warg Emporium. I highly recommend the Mildewed Troll Innards (a deep, earthy dish, with plenty of flavour), and Boiled Nazgul Backside (light and airy, what it lacks in substance it makes up for in its sharp, stabbing taste that will stay with you long after you've left).
- There is no spoiler policy in place. Although we're reading the Hobbit, please feel free to bring in things from other Tolkien works, any of the films, the History of Middle Earth, the Letters of JRR Tolkien, and, if you should like, other literary sources.
- There is no such thing as too much geekery. Or taking the text too seriously.
- If you have any concerns at any point, I'm the closest thing this gong show has to a mod, so feel free to get in touch. I can be reached either by PM through this site, or directly by email at sigridhr.lokidottir@gmail.com.
no subject
I'd forgotten how ridiculously tricksy the road is to Rivendell. I wonder how Elrond came across it in the first place?
"Hmmm! it smells like elves!" thought Bilbo.
The valley reeked of Herbal Essences and weed.
Tra-la-la-lally. Oh, boy. I maintain that this was actually Lindir, pissed off his face, who was singing a positively obscene ditty, that Bilbo later politely edited for posterity. It's the only way I can cope with this.
"Well, well!" said a voice. "Just look! Bilbo the hobbit on a pony. Isn't it delicious!"
"Most astonishing and wonderful!"
The elves have to be stoned. Seriously. Elrond was clearly feeding them all special lembas.
"Elves know a lot and are wondrous folk for news." AKA. they gossip like bunch of little old ladies and they'll tell you all about who's doing what with who if you'll just stand still long enough. The White Council was just 90% Elrond, Celeborn and Galadriel reminiscing over that time Glorfindel got so pissed he was found naked by Turgon trying to sail to Valinor in a fountain.
I like the description of Elrond as embracing elements from all the races (save Hobbits) - fair as an elf-lord, wise as a wizard, venerable as a king of dwarves – and of course the nod to his human ancestry.
Chapter 4: Bad things always happen in the Misty Mountains. Always.
You know, the Mountains are weirdly sentient. Caradhras in LotR almost has a will of its own – it certainly ousts them from the mountain effectively, and here you have the stone giants that go frolicking in the thunderstorm. I haven't anything intelligent to say on that point - I just find it odd.
"We shall be picked up by some giant and kicked sky-high for a football."
Let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that the dwarves apparently play football. I WOULD WATCH THAT.
Dwarvish footy hooligan chants.
"Build a bonfire, build a bonfire,
put Thranduil on the top,
stick the elves all in the middle,
and burn the fucking lot!"
"T-H-O, R-I-N
Stuck in barrels and still we'll win,
with a nick nack paddywhack give your dog a bone,
Thranduil you can fuck off home."
"Then he dreamed that the floor of the cave was giving way, and he was slipping – beginning to fall down, goodness knows where to."
You know, I have to say, I was a bit annoyed with the fact that PJ took this for the films instead of just opening the back wall. I suppose it was probably more dramatic or whatever, but it was so damn implausible. To have them all fall down that chute, fight the goblins, fall down again, have a 200+ lb goblin fall on them, and all be totally okay just went beyond my ability to suspend disbelief. I know it's a film and yadda, yadda, but really. They should all be dead.
All the whipping just reminds me of this.
"in some parts wicked dwarves had even made alliances with them."
I wonder where this is?
Gandalf's babysitter headcount makes me so happy.
Cannot wait for Riddles in the Dark. :)
no subject
I have A LOT of feelings about Elrond and Elros, and that particular description is one of the reasons why. He just works SO HARD to keep all this shit in balance.
I am now picturing Bifur as a football hooligan. No one knows what he's chanting, and they're pretty sure they don't want to know.
"wicked dwarves" always makes me think of Nikabrik from "Prince Caspian." (gdi some day I will write that Narnia/ME crossover where Reepicheep ends up in Valinor and all the Elves throw a hissy fit)
no subject
I JOIN YOU IN THE ELROND AND ELROS FEELINGS. I have a lot of feelings about everyone, but I have especially a lot of feelings about Elrond. I had, for some reason, thought the 'kind as summer' description was in LotR and was pleasantly surprised to come across it here.
Hahahaha! As soon as that image popped into my head I just knew I had to share.
NARNIA/TOLKIEN CROSSOVER. YES. GOOD.
no subject
with a nick nack paddywhack give your dog a bone,
Thranduil you can fuck off home
OMG. You should win some kind of award for this, I swear. I'm sure Thorin would be incredibly proud of you.
Do you think there's any significance in Bilbo having a prophetic dream about what was about to happen in the goblin cave? Is he particularly tuned into that kind of thing? I can't really think if he demonstrates any similar skills to that later on.
no subject
Haha, I had way too much fun coming up with those.
I haven't time/brains for anything intelligent in response, right now, but I will add that Frodo has a prophetic dream (well, not really prophetic given he has the dream after it's happened, but before he hears about it) about Gandalf in FotR, where he sees Gandalf imprisoned at Isengard.
So, maybe it runs in the family?
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject