This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Jelena Filipovic’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

Peter Jackson’s movies introduced me to Tolkien in 2001 as the The Fellowship of the Ring came out. I was 9 years old. I remember very vaguely first seeing an ad for the movie (I’m guessing that was part of the trailer) on TV and there being something sublime and ‘otherworldly’ about the feel of the movie, even in those few seconds which I had seen the ad. This had drawn my attention, making me curious and wanting to see the movie at the cinema.

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

My favourite part of Tolkien’s work has changed, and no doubt will continue to change, throughout the years. Something which I didn’t fully perceive when I watched the movies as a child, but which has grown on me in the last 8 years, ever since I read The Silmarillion, is the Christian spirit in and of Tolkien’s work – and in the man himself. For this reason my love for him and his works has grown and continues to grow. Tolkien’s work has expanded my perception of Christianity. If the Old Testament is a difficult and maybe even somewhat tedious read, The Silmarillion is like a reading guide or introduction to it; The Lord of the Rings is like the New Testament (and I stress the word ‘like’). Tolkien is one particular author who has made me a better Christian.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

I cherished the moments I had watched the LOTR movies at the cinema throughout the years 2001-2004. I love the times I had read the LOTR books over the summer holidays (one book each summer) while also listening to Howard Shore’s musical score from the movies as I read. Sometimes I would also listen to other songs while reading any of Tolkien’s Middle-earth related texts and later these songs would always remind me of the atmosphere or scenes from that particular book. One memorable experience is when I was in Zakynthos (Greece) in summer 2016 and was reading The Lost Road and Other Writings. Whenever I was at the beach, looking out at the sea, walking along the shore, I thought of the story of Númenor and all its people and all that happened to it. On one particular day while I was still in Zakynthos it happened to be cloudy (just a little bit windy too) and I wrote in my journal, as I sat on the porch of the apartment where we were staying, how the moment I was experiencing then and there felt like it was the calm before a storm that the people of Númenor must have felt before its ultimate downfall.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

Very much so. It certainly has deepened and, I dare say, “matured” (whatever mature means), but the love with which I approach it is the same.

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

I would definitely recommend the movies to everyone and anyone who hasn’t seen them, primarily LOTR and The Hobbit more or less. As for Tolkien’s written work, I would not recommend them to just anyone, especially if I know a person well, who is not into this genre, this style of writing, etc., or not into reading in general. The texts aren’t perhaps readerly for everybody.

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You can find more from Jelena Filipovic on Twitter and Instagram!

This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Chris Stevens’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

It’s strange, I can remember almost exactly when a friend of mine recommended it. It’s a fairly vivid memory considering how long ago it was (1973). It was in Spanish class when I was a junior in high school (16 yrs old). I don’t think I’d read anything like it before. I typically read science fiction, mysteries, spy novels, although I did like stories of knights. I think I had read Ivanhoe not long before this. I started The Lord of the Rings but when I was partway through the prologue, I discovered there was an earlier book. As I like reading things in order, I went back to the bookstore to buy The Hobbit. I probably read the whole series 3-4 times per year through college. Although I don’t read them as frequently now, they are like old friends when I sit down to read them. Needless to say, they have made an impression on me.

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

Difficult question: The Fellowship is probably my favorite individual volume. However, I love The Silmarillion. A couple years before it came out, I had read something about this other book that Tolkien wrote, and I couldn’t find anything else about it. (no Wikipedia in those “elder days”) Therefore, I wrote to Houghton Mifflin for more information. They kindly responded telling me that his son was preparing it for publication, and it would be out in a couple of years. With all the anticipation, I bought it immediately when it appeared in a book club list. I was blown away.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

In 2010 I stumbled on Corey Olsen’s Tolkien Professor recordings of his Tolkien class. I continued to follow his podcast and was honored to participate in his Silmarillion Seminar. The seminar met weekly for most of 2011 and I learned so much that I never previously considered, and it was great fun. Several of us attended Mythcon in Albuquerque that summer. It was so much fun meeting the “Silmarillionaires” face to face.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

Very much so. Before I discovered Professor Olsen’s podcasts, I had read The Hobbit, The Silmarillion and the “Trilogy” * countless times. However, in retrospect my readings were quite superficial. Participating in the Silm. Seminar really opened my eyes to the depths of his work.

*(Don’t shoot me: I know it’s not a trilogy but that’s what everyone called it when I first started reading it. LOL)

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

Absolutely. I definitely recommend The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. They are great stories and Tolkien’s prose is first rate. They hold up for many, many readings. I get something out of them every time I read them even now.

As much as I love The Silmarillion, I only recommend it with a caution. You have to know what you’re getting into. If you are expecting something like the other published works, you will be disappointed. You also can’t expect to just read it once and “get it”. There is just too much there. I know I’m biased but reading through it along with the Silmarillion Seminar podcast, is a great way to get into it. I think Unfinished Tales should be read along with The Silmarillion.

The Histories should probably only be approached if you are REALLY, REALLY interested in the stories’ development. I have read a lot of the Histories but sometimes they can be difficult.  Volume 10 and 11 on the “later Silmarillion”  are my favorites.  I’ve yet to read volume 12,  The Peoples of Middle-earth.

This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Sean J’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

I was probably around the age of 8 when I discovered the shiny box set of Tolkien books belonging to my mother on a shelf in our living room. The gold box with the cool symbols on it finally lured me into checking out the books inside, and I loved the hand drawn appearance of the covers. I remember being struck by the picture of the author on the backs- “This OLD man wrote these? I bet they’re boring.” How very little did I know… I still credit my mom for introducing me as it was her set of books.

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

After starting it as a teen, being confounded by the language, and then abandoning it until years later, The Silmarillion stands today as my favorite of all his works. In particular, the Ainulindalë stands out for me. I became enamoured of Roman, Greek, and in particular Norse mythology from a very young age and so was drawn to the creation myth Tolkien describes there and enjoyed reading and discovering how this world I’d come to love so deeply came to be. To this day I find the depth and breadth of Middle-earth provides me with unending joy. I find something new upon nearly every reading.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

The way in which being immersed in his work led me towards other, similar interests. Falling in love with the Elves, the Numenorians, and dragons very much led me to discover Dungeons & Dragons, and roleplaying in general.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

Somewhat though not completely. I’m still primarily a fan of his Middle-earth writings, but I’ve read through the entirety of The History of Middle-earth (at least the 12 volumes I’m aware of) edited by Christopher Tolkien, and as I grew older and wiser, I’ve been able to glean more detail and information as to the creation of his world. I’ve always been fascinated by the languages he created but haven’t spent any time officially involved in academic study of Tolkien.

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

The Hobbit is one of the books I will always recommend to any reader, of almost any age, and while I know Tolkien isn’t for everyone, I tend to leave that choice up to the reader. Tolkien’s work is one of the things I enjoy most in the world, so I’m always glad to share my love of it with anyone who asks.

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You can find more from Sean J at his blog!

This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Courtney Petrucci’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

When The Fellowship of the Ring hit movie theaters, I was in fifth grade. My dad suggested we go see it, and based on the title alone I figured it would be boring (as only a ten year old would assume). I had no idea who Tolkien was and I had never heard of The Lord of the Rings, but I went to see the movie anyway.

I remember being entirely immersed in Middle-earth as Peter Jackson imagined it. I was completely in awe. I think it was then that I also learned not to judge a work by its title. I had always been an imaginative kid, but this film was really the catalyst for my lifelong love of fantasy fiction.

After the movie, my mom mentioned that it was based on a book, so I went on the hunt for a copy of Fellowship and buried myself in it. Seeing the film adaptation before reading the book definitely influenced my first reading of Tolkien, but I learned to see Tolkien’s Middle-earth in my own way over my many subsequent rereadings of The Lord of the Rings.

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

I’m torn between the epic battle scenes from the LOTR films and the beautiful images of the Shire from the text. I know these are two complete opposites, but both bring out an intense emotional reaction in me. Théoden’s Ride Now! speech gives me this huge adrenaline rush, and the Rohirrim facing certain death yet riding to meet it anyway makes my eyes water. It’s an equally powerful scene in the text. I remember seeing this battle scene in theaters and I can still feel those cries in my chest from the surround sound.

On the other hand, I find the Shire’s green, rolling hills and the slow, simple, way of life my ideal happy place. I enjoy retreating there while I daydream sometimes, and I can imagine myself living in a cozy hobbit hole, content to tend my garden and enjoy many meals and cups of tea with friends. To me, the Shire is the ideal place to make one’s home. Tolkien said he was “in fact a hobbit,” and maybe I would make a decent hobbit too.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

I wrote my undergrad thesis on Gollum as an “unexpected hero”. The bare bones of my argument were that it was Gollum who succeeded where Frodo failed; Frodo decides to keep the Ring instead of throwing it into Mount Doom, and at the last moment Gollum bites Frodo’s finger off to get the Ring and then falls into the fire with it.

My senior year of college orbited around this thesis. It was more important to me than my student teaching, and definitely caused me more stress and anxiety. Now I look back on that year and remember my hours sitting in the library reading and highlighting all the work on Tolkien I could get my hands on, and I miss it. Despite all the sleep lost over drafting, editing, and meeting deadlines, I wish I could go back to those quiet hours that were entirely dedicated to learning about Tolkien and his work. I miss talking out my scattered thoughts and questions with my classmates and the excitement we shared when we had some small epiphany. My undergrad thesis is my favorite experience with Tolkien’s work so far.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

I think my initial approach to any of Tolkien’s texts, especially his essays and letters, starts out as academic. I read with the purpose of answering a question. But when I reread his works once those questions are answered, I let myself slide into the world of Middle-earth to find the Escape he talks about in OFS [On Fairy-Stories]. Sometimes a new question will pop up while I revisit his stories, but for the most part I let myself relax and enjoy my subsequent readings.

I’ve always admired his artwork; I’ve never tried to interpret his art through a scholarly lens and I don’t think it’s supposed to be scrutinized or dissected the way his written work can be. I went to the Tolkien exhibit at the Morgan Library and Museum in 2019 to see his originals and how they developed, and I found such joy in simply being able to see them for myself.

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

Of course! I think anyone who loves reading should try out Tolkien’s work. His extensive world-building is perfect for readers who are looking for escape and immersion, and his use of languages and mythologies continue to provide scholars with academic material. I wouldn’t, however, recommend Tolkien to my students who don’t already like to read. Since most of Tolkien’s work, especially LOTR and The Silmarillion, is long and complex, people who aren’t big fans of reading might be turned off. For those readers, I might recommend The Hobbit, or at least a section of it to start.

This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Lisa’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

My father introduced me to Tolkien. He worked multiple jobs to support our large family and when he was home there was always a book near the loo. (I guess that was the only time he could relax and read in peace for 5 minutes haha.) I asked him about his book one day and that was when I learnt about LOTR.

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

I love the magic interweaved throughout Tolkien’s work. Elves, men, hobbits, dwarves, wizards and mythical beasts all working together. It brought me into a new world when I started reading.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

My fondest experiences (I have 2 sorry!) First was reading the LOTR trilogy at age 12 whilst on school holidays, I read them in ten days because I could not put down the books. It’s still to this day the most beautiful, immersive story I’ve ever read and I re-read every once in a while now I’m older. Second was reading the books with my son. Seeing a child find the amazement I was lucky enough to experience at a young age is so special.

When the first movie was screening Dad and Mum found the time in-between their crazy work schedules to take me to watch it together at the cinema. I cherish every moment I have with my Dad and LOTR really brought us together, it’s been a special bond ever since.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

Time has changed my appreciation for Tolkien’s work in the sense that I can see the next generation enjoying the magic of his storytelling that I enjoy so much. My dad probably felt the same when I was young.

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

I always recommend Tolkien’s work to anyone willing to listen, unfortunately people don’t seem to buy/read books much now but the movies are a great start for beginners and hopefully he will keep having an impact on those that choose to read.

This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Michael Fabrizio’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

I was but a young child so I can not speak with clarity as to my discovery but I have been reading Tolkien’s works since I was in 1st grade. This love grows yearly since then and each re-read brings discoveries and more understanding than I first had!

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

I have to go with The Two Towers and more specifically The Battle Of Helms Deep. This battle pushed my imagination beyond what was possible and when the Peter Jackson’s adaptation brought it to life that became solidified as my favorite moment from then on.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

My fondest experience of Tolkien’s work would be my cousin Ben letting me read his copy of the trilogy. I never forgot that little act of kindness from him even if he probably forgets. Being able to remember fondly a family member who I love with the works of my favorite author is a blessing I can’t be more thankful for.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

My approach to Tolkien would originally just be a yearly reading of the classic trilogy but has evolved with time to cross checking books through every journey into Arda! Between The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, The Lord of The Rings, and Unfinished Tales (plus more in my collection!) I grew from just reading simply to fully delving and immersing myself. I could spiel about my more specific progress and methodical learning style but I think it’s enough to say I am just more thorough as time moves on.

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

I can happily answer I always recommend Tolkien, at best you love him and at worst you gained a new experience with which to think about. Fully drawn out universes tend to attract enjoyment so I lead my recommendation with that.

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You can read more from Michael Fabrizio on Twitter!

This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Rebecca Davis’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

I got the The Hobbit as assigned reading from my homeschool curriculum when I was 8 and didn’t make it through the first chapter before setting it aside- I found the names silly and confusing. I was reintroduced to Tolkien when I did a study abroad in Oxford my junior year of college and that was when I really became a fan.

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

The characters and the richness of the story. There is a reality to his work, as if I’m getting a peak into a world that once was.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

My first extended edition marathon. 7 pm to 7 am. The jokes got sillier as the night got later- I may have said “Wheeeeeeeee!” when Denethor jumped off of the Pier.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

Very much. I have found the story richer the older I get. I used to consider Faramir a consolation prize for Eowyn before I really came to understand his character and outlook. I have also been able to have some really great discussions with other fans over different concepts that I wouldn’t have had when I first re-discovered him.

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

I do to all my students 🙂 There is a quality to his stories that more modern fantasy stories lack. Take Beren and Luthien for example- Luthien is a wonderful example of a subversion of the fairytale princess. I also need my students to be able to get my references and jokes, especially when I tell them their paper is as awesome as Fingolfin’s charge to the gates of Morgoth.

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You can read more from Rebecca Davis on Twitter!

This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Elena Davison’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

The very first time I heard of Tolkien and his work was in a summer camp in around 1998. A couple of people were saying how great The Hobbit is. I thought it was an odd name and didn’t come back to it until the 2001-2003 films were due to come out. After seeing the trailer for FotR, I sought the book out. I got as far as “The King of the Golden Hall” and I gave up. I found it hard to keep up and the language was difficult for the 13-year-old me. Two or three years later I watched all three films, caught the bug and devoured the book.

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

The King of the Golden Hall is now my favourite chapter in TTT. This bit always makes my hair stand on end:

Legolas gazed ahead, shading his eyes from the level shafts of the new-risen sun. ‘I see a white stream that comes down from the snows,’ he said. ‘Where it issues from the shadow of the vale a green hill rises upon the east. A dike and mighty wall and thorny fence encircle it. Within there rise the roofs of houses; and in the midst, set upon a green terrace, there stands aloft a great hall of Men. And it seems to my eyes that it is thatched with gold. The light of it shines far over the land. Golden, too, are the posts of its doors. There men in bright mail stand; but all else within the courts are yet asleep.’

Some of the songs, such as Nimrodel, The Road goes ever on, Beren’s Song, To the Sea, I sang of leaves, The song of Beren and Luthien – they are a delight to sing, hum or recite.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

There are so many to choose from! Meeting my friends and family at Tolkien Society events probably wins. Singing Tolkien’s songs and reading from his books with friends and family is also very high up on the list.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

Yes, my association with the Tolkien Society has opened many doors. I’d never have considered the academic approaches not only to the texts but also to the things, people and places within the texts without their influence.

The humour and the running gags between fans are a whole different universe to explore.

Mostly, over time, as I get more familiar with the works, read things I hadn’t read before, listen to people debate things, all of this gives me a sense of belonging to this world and its community.

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

Yes, because his works are varied. There is something for the escapist, something for the scientist, something for the serious person, something for the child.

As the adaptations and media multiply, there will be variations of his works which should be approachable and suitable for many.

Tolkien’s works fulfil a need similar to that of space exploration, even though they may seem very far apart. A need to dream, imagine and discover things, and it’s not all dragons!

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You can read more from Elena on Twitter!

This is one in a series of posts where the content is provided by a guest who has graciously answered five questions about their experience as a Tolkien fan.

To see the idea behind this project, or if you are interested in sharing your own, visit the project homepage. If you enjoy this series, please consider helping us fund the project using the support page.

I want to thank Donato Giancola for allowing me to use his artwork for this project. Prints are available on his website!

Now, on to Tobias Wilcke’s responses:

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1. How were you introduced to Tolkien’s work?

I was first introduced to Tolkien’s work through the films. I don’t remember the first time I watched it, but it was my dad that introduced me to them. I was a fantasy fan since I was little, fascinated in mythology and everything that was set between the times of ancient Greece to the ages of knights. So, it was natural that I would like these films too. Though my dad was made aware of them via a friend who just loves films and he recommended The Lord of the Rings to him because of Peter Jackson. I still remember loving The Two Towers the best, as The Fellowship was very slow for my young age and I hated the Shelob scene! But nothing beats the Charge of the Rohirrim!

From there I found the computer games and learned about the lore behind it, though at the time I didn’t know anything of the books or the lore behind it. Leading me to believe that Tom Bombadil in the game Battle for Middle-earth was just a silly man that talked funny. I thought that it was just a developer having fun.
Only when I was fifteen or so I learned of the books. At the time I was an exchange student in England, as my English skills were horrible, so being interested in learning more about The Lord of the Ring I got all three of the books for a fiver in a secondhand store. I read them and it blew my mind and killed the joy of the movies for a while, but not too long, don’t worry.

When I came back home my parents gifted me The Hobbit in German. I started reading it, but I couldn’t finish it, I never picked it up again and just listened to an audio book for it. I still blame the translation to kill it for me. From that on it was just a stop and go looking up different details of the lore when I stumbled across it or was interested in the word taters.

Now all this is a long way to say that the real introduction to Tolkien’s work I would say started in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. I live on my own and if you spend most of your time on your own, in your flat, in home office, you really want to hear some voices. So, I looked into podcasts and soon stumbled upon The Prancing Pony Podcast and I would say these two good gentlemen have really introduced me to the wonderful world we love so much

2. What is your favorite part of Tolkien’s work?

If you would have asked the young me, I would have blurted out Legolas or Gimli without a doubt. I still use those and other names of The Fellowship to call my computers, phones and other electronic equipment (E.g. my headphones are called Sam, as they never leave my side, wherever I go).

But right now, I would say that I am fascinated by the world creation. I would love to dig deeper in how Tolkien created this world. The reason behind it is I am running a DnD Campaign and created a world and am filling it with lore and populating it with many different characters. This experience made me appreciate what Tolkien has created even more.

If I had to pick a special part of the world building, I would say I love his contextual ruins. Like Weathertop or Galadriel’s gift to Gimli. Each of them has a deeper meaning and an explanation in the lore, but not all of them have. I love to use them in my world building too, though my players always want to learn more on them, leading them on a self-proclaimed mission, which sidetracks them for way too long.

3. What is your fondest experience of Tolkien’s work?

I am not sure I have a fondest experience of Tolkien’s work. I spent so many joyful hours with it. It made me laugh and cry at various times. It and The Prancing Pony Podcast did help me through the though times of 2020, though at the cost of my friends’ sanity. I guess you could call it the fondest memory.

4. Has the way you approach Tolkien’s work changed over time?

I guess the answer to this question is clear by now.

Yes, it did change over time. At first, I was focused on the heroism of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Then it shifted to the friendship between Legolas and Gimli and so on. It slowly shifted from single things to a grander picture of the whole as I slowly discovered more and more layers of the lore. I guess I fear the day when there is no more lore to discover, but I hope by the time that happens an old man with a long grey beard and a pointy grey hat comes by and I greet him: “Good morning.”, and I mean it.

5. Would you ever recommend Tolkien’s work? Why/Why not?

It depends. This is how I always start questions like this. As I don’t go out there telling people to read Tolkien. If I think they would like it, if they are into fantasy or that they were put off Tolkien because it is hard to read. I would recommend it to them in a heartbeat. On the other hand, I have quite a lot of friends that are not that much into fantasy and the like, so I do not recommend it to them.

I really enjoy Tolkien! I would love to share that love with anyone, though I also learned not to force it. Last year I might have been talking a bit too much about that good looking bloke that made a ring to Rule them all.