I came across this defense of JRR Tolkien and his work and found it quite fascinating.
I’m a big fan myself, having first read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy as a teenager. And many times since. Including out loud to someone, which is a whole ‘nother to get into the story BTW.
After reading the books the first time me and my buddy Rod Headlee got it into our minds that we should have a Bilbo-like adventure as well. So we hitchhiked across the Pacific Northwest. Visited the 1974 Spokane World’s Fair and had an amazing time in Big Sky Montana. That was also the trip where I was not allowed to enter Canada. And I’ve never been back.
Ah, memories.
Great post, John.
Nothing like youthful adventure. I did a similar thing at 18, went to California from central Illinois for about six months.
I don’t know who wouldn’t like Tolkien, though. Did you know that he, C. S. Lewis and four or five other’s, when in university had a book reading/discussion group that met weekly in various Pub’s to debate/discuss their differing and emerging views – word is the brew enlivened the exchanges quite a bit. You know C.S. Lewis, right? The group was called, ‘The Inkling’s’.
But don’t get me started.