FOTR for the ... first/umpteenth time.

I’ve just finished listening to the unabridged The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time. I read the books yearly for probably 10 years starting in 2001. I have listened to the BBC dramatization several times. And I’ve obviously seen the films countless times as well as all the documentary features. I spent my high school years and most of my adult life steeped in Tolkien.

I love this version of the audiobooks. Andy Serkis narrates, and as you might imagine, he’s great at voices and accents. He also sings very well, and I love the tunes that were picked for the songs. It’s nearly like a dramatized version as well.

I think if I were to pick up LOTR right now for the first time, I might find it fairly dry. Generally I prefer sci/Fi and don’t usually gravitate towards high fantasy. It’s very binary: not very nuanced as far and good and evil. The races of beings are very delineated and rarely mix. I much prefer the gray areas, moral dilemmas, character arcs, conflict resolution.  There are definitely some parts that have not aged well as our society has progressed. Specifically  all the baddies being described as “dark”, “swarthy”, “squint-eyed” and the like.

But it’s so nostalgic, so I still love it. I’m still enthralled by the world he created. I love the languages and the history and the songs. It’s idyllic and simple, and lovely.  

And I love, love, love Tom Bombadil. The most amazing thing about Tom Bombadil is that even though he’s ancient and has seen the comings and goings of civilizations and woods and rivers, he’s still ridiculously joyful. He goes about dancing and singing and caring for the land and animals and the people who he comes across. How do I find that joy? 

 

I read a lot. But not as much as I used to. I could blame the internet. I could blame my job. Or aging. Or whatever. I don't know the reason. Probably all of those things. I get distracted more easily now. I can hardly sit through a movie let alone read for two hours.

But I remember summers as a kid. Before I had a job or any responsibilities, I would wake up at a decent time- 8 or 9- and read until noon. At least. And then after breakfast/lunch, I'd read more. And then after dinner and chores and hanging out with the family, I'd read more late into the night. We didn't have cable. I was only allowed to watch movies on weekends. We didn't have internet until I was a junior in high school, and then only dial up. My mom thought I was a depressed kid, with how much time I spent alone in my room. I don't think I was. Just introverted and enthralled with fiction. I routinely won awards in school for most books/pages read over the summer. I also supplemented my reading with writing. Never anything long, but I was fairly prolific.

Both reading and writing carried on into college. Even with easy internet access and homework, and social activities, I still managed to read nearly as much as previously. And I think I wrote even more. Biology class seemed to become a great muse.

But now, eight years out of college, I don't write anymore. And though I still read, it's at a very slow pace. In fact, many of the book I complete are audiobooks that I listen to at work.

This is appalling to me, and yet...

I always have a yearly book goal and this year with the help of Habitica, I have a daily reading goal as well. So far, I've read at least a few minutes each day for the past couple of months. It's been really nice. I still don't read as much, but I think even this small step is an improvement. One that will hopefully get me back to writing as well.