Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Four

[sigridhr]

  Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Four (The Hobbit)
Chapter VII: Queer Lodgings 
Chapter VIII: Flies and Spiders

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 forced attendance at the Vogon-Orcish Poetry Recitation Competition in Minas Morgul.  
  
• 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. 

Discussion on this post will officially run from Friday 1st February 2013 to Friday 8th February 2013. However, the post will remain open after that point, so you're more than welcome to continue discussions on. 

Comments

[halberdier]

Gandalf knows how to work his audience - ad breaks every five minutes to build up tension and introduce people :P

Also, how does *anybody* in Middle Earth not know Gandalf? (Well, I suppose he knows him now for the next time, lol)

[j_quadrifrons]

It is rather delightful to realize that we're actually seeing someone meet Gandalf for the first time. It can't happen very often. (One imagines Beorn telling this story later to the Beornings.) (I don't know if the Beornings are meant to be bear cubs, but that's what I always think, so.)

[sigridhr]

And I love that his first response to that is "Gandalf? Never heard of him."

Just kills me.

[j_quadrifrons]

I have always had a glorious mental image of Gandalf's face at that point, and I have full faith in Sir Ian's ability to reproduce it on screen.