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

[sigridhr]

Perhaps they went off to shepherd the old forest and then sort of tree-ified there?

Haleth's family and people were decimated by orcs while they were held up under siege for days, and she rallies them alone and leads them on a final desperate charge and is kicking orc but when Caranthir turns up. He offers her protection, but she refuses and marches her people through the Valley of Dreadful Death where Ungoliant used to hang out, and then is granted a place to settle by Thingol on lands that used to be within the girdle of Melian. She was elected chieftain and afterwards they called themselves the People of Haleth.

She is so badass and does not get enough appreciation.


GAGHEOAGJEAOW FINGON AND MAEDHROS MAKE MY HEART HURT.

[j_quadrifrons]

...Haleth is my new superhero. You may rest assured that I will give her all the credit she is due when I get to that part in the Rewrite.

FINGON AND MAEDHROS ALFKJEKSLJA I honestly cannot deal with them and the FEELINGS that they give me.

[sigridhr]

It's pretty much my mission in life to go around telling people about how awesome Haleth is. There are so many characters in the Silm it's easy to miss her - especially since he pretty much just narrates what happens to her and moves on, but when you actually look at it SHE IS SUCH A BAMF. And we don't get many human women BAMFs.

She's like a better version of Eowyn for me. I wish he'd written more about her. SOMEDAY I WILL WRITE MY EPIC HALETH FANFIC. Someday.

OH MY GOD MAEDHROS AND FINGON. I pretty much spend the entirety of the Silmarillion reading small passages and then putting the book down when I sob uncontrollably because Maedhros and Fingon, and then Fingolfin's death and oh geezus everything hurts.

[j_quadrifrons]

This is what I love about Middle Earth, it's so huge and there's so much going on that you can just miss awesome shit like that. And then, lo, one day you are going about your business and are just blindsided with awesome.

DON'T REMIND ME THAT FINGOLFIN DIES I am in the middle of a passionate love affair with Fingolfin, The Elf Who Just Would Not Fucking Lie Down And Die, and I cannot deal with him dying

*sob*

[sigridhr]

You. And. Me. Both.

If they ever made a film of the Silmarillion, that scene would have me in pieces.