Where were you???

[Glorfindle]

Where were you when you finished reading the Trilogy? How did you feel? What were you thinking??

I think we all have a story in us about the exact time we closed the book after reading the last page. Please tell me yours. Here is mine:



I first came across Tolkien at a book fair in the 8th grade, circa 1971. I prided myself on my reading, having read most of Shakespeares plays by then, alot of the classics, and was looking for a BIG book to read. I found FotR and bought it for a song and a dance, which in 1971 was about 50 cents, paperback.

It was a little interesting, but I was into large novels at the time, and needed accomplishment. War and Peace took me 4 years more to master, lol. In any case, I bought the novel, and shelved it for a couple more years, until I became bored one day and looked in my shelves for something to read. I began to read it and was enthralled. That was not even the word for it.....I was OVERCOME.

In high school at the time, my grades suffered terribly, as I was consumed by the epic. Waking, sleeping, showering.....I could not put the book down. I had to finish it, and I remember distinctly to this day, the hour I did. It was late in 1972, and 'Laugh-in' was a popular show at the time, which I normally liked. I finished the last page....as Sam drew Rosie into his lap, and said "I'm home".

I closed the book, and walked across my room and put the TV on. "Laugh-in" was on. I stared at it a few seconds, then shut it off, I turned off all the lights in my room. I then sat at my desk and wept like a little girl. I wept long and hard, and never to this day, am embarassed by it. For I found something, that to this day, keeps me weeping....." A JOY...that pierces like COLD iron...GOOD BEYOND HOPE"!!

Glor

[Bonos-Girl]

aaawwwwwww!!!!!

[Pil]

I was on the train and i was crying SOOOOOO much...all these guys were like "What's wrong?" I couldn't talk i was so cut up! I agree with you though, i wasn't embarrased. I actually felt quite superior to those people all around me who hadn't read it, which was nearly all my mates at the time. I cried from the sadness of the story...but also cos i didn't want it to end...but then again i was relieved to have actually completed the reading cos then i knew i would be properly informed on middle earth. :p

[Algamesh]

Hey Glor,

To make your discovery of Tolkien a more permanent fixture ... go to the 'BOOKS' section (navigation up top or in the upper left on the main page) and click on the link "Find out what Tolkien means to our visitors and send your story in".

This is a relatively new section and we need to fill it up (my story is coming this week as well).

[Nessa]

When I finished reading the trilogy I was in my room, tears pouring down my face, naturally. It was waaaay after midnight, and I just couldn't understand the ending. I kept rereading it trying to find something in it that would comfort me or make me understand what happened. I tried to pretend that it was a happy ending, but its just not. "Well, I'm back." oh dear, mecry

[Pil]

Yup...even if you tried really hard to make it a happily ever after, it would be impossible. Life's not like that, which is why the book's so realistic. :p

[Nessa]

Exactly, Pil. Its what sets Tolkien apart. :)

[Nenya]

Hi Glor,

Takes a month to finish those books. I'm not fluent in English so I got to open my dictionary. Almost dawn when I finished reading. My nose turned to red and my eyes were tearing. Glor, your phrase is perfect for that moment. "Good Beyond Hope", I like it.
And Pil, I agree with you. Neither did I want it to end.

I came late to my office that day. I had to go to my boss office.:flamer:. He gave me a "Warrant # I" for being undicipline and breaking the company rule because I came late to the office almost everyday for a month:nono:. Lucky me he is a good man, so he didn't gave me The #III which mean "Fired".:grin:

[Black Rider]

it took me 1 1/2 years to read the first 3 books, and 8 days to read the last 3. i think i started reading it a bit too young because i didnt really get it, i was in 7th grade. then in the middle of freshman year, after poking a bit at it over that time, i just sat down and read the rest of it (the last 3 books) over winter vacation. (and yes i did cry at the end lol) thats when i knew i loved it. and i read the beginning 3 books again before the movie came out b/c if you read one chapter every 3 weeks or so you really dont get it at all.

[Ringwraith]

Originally posted by Glorfindle
Where were you when you finished reading the Trilogy? How did you feel? What were you thinking??

I was in my room, and, if I remember well, it was very late in the night, probably 3 or 4 am.

It was back in March of 2001. I read The Hobbit earlier in january and I only began to read Lord of the Rings books in March, after I had bought all the books.

I was completely mesmorized by the books and I would take them where ever I went. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. I remember it took me 2 weeks to read The Hobbit, 1 week to read the Fellowship of the Ring, 5 days to read The Two Towers and 3 days to read The Return of the King.

So, when I finished reading The Return of the King, I felt at the same time sad and happy. I was happy because I had opened my mind to an entire new world I didn't know of. I was sad because I was feeling as if I was losing best friends. I felt as if reaching the end of the story would mean never again feeling the excitement and wonder over the events and tales that were narrated in the books.

After that, I've read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings several times again and they continue to inspire and amaze me.

Reading Tolkien's Lord of the Rings was like giving my first kiss, it made me feel like the greatest person in the world. But momments later I realized that I'd never have that feeling again.

Just a last note, the part of the trilogy that I liked to read tha most two read is Book II in The Fellowship of the Ring.

[Nessa]

Originally posted by Ringwraith
So, when I finished reading The Return of the King, I felt at the same time sad and happy. I was happy because I had opened my mind to an entire new world I didn't know of. I was sad because I was feeling as if I was losing best friends. I felt as if reaching the end of the story would mean never again feeling the excitement and wonder over the events and tales that were narrated in the books.


Exactly the way I felt, Ringwraith (welcome, btw). I've now read the series several times and I still feel that, like its over. The only cure for it is to pick up Fellowship and start again. ;)

[Ringwraith]

Originally posted by Nessa


Exactly the way I felt, Ringwraith (welcome, btw). I've now read the series several times and I still feel that, like its over. The only cure for it is to pick up Fellowship and start again. ;)

And I can always read The Hobbit, which never makes me sad. :grin:

Still what makes me feel the saddest isn't really the last chapter or the end of the story, but the apendix B, where it's writen:

1541 - In this year on March 1st came at last the passing of King Elessar. It is said that the beds of Meriadoc and Peregrin were set beside the bed of the great king. Then Legolas built a grey ship in Ithilien, and saild down Anduin and so over the sea; and with him, it is said, went Gimli the Dwarf. And when that ship passed an end was come in Middle-earth of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Reading this small note in the apendix still hurts me like a deep stab in my heart.

[Nessa]

Oh goodness, Ringwraith! That quote above all others does it. Ouch.

I know what you mean about The Hobbit, it cheers me right up as well. In a much similar way the same first chapters of The Fellowship which I use to dimiss as rather pointless I now treasure..... A few happy, peaceful times before everything.

[TheRingBearer]

I was actually in Tenerife on holiday. It was a dull day so me and my friend were in the apartment, both reading the book. My friend was only on book one but I was nearing the end. I read from Mount Doom to The Grey Havens in that afternoon and I couldn't believe what I was reading. But the most annoying thing was that I wanted to tell everyone the ending, especially my friend on the sofa opposite but I knew I shouldn't so i had to wait till I got back home that I could talk to someone else who had actually read it. :)

[TheRingBearer]

Oh and by the way Ringraith - Nice Quote :boohoo:

[Ringwraith]

Thanks. :)

[Goldilocks]

Yes, Ringwraith. That quote is the end of the story, the end of all, and I think that is what is so sad. There is no more. That is their end.

I whipped through the books, like there was no tomorrow, taking it all in; inhaling it. I remember when I first finished ROTK, I was alone, sitting on the couch, and all was dark. I finished Appendix B, and sobbed my eyes out.

I'm a teacher, and last year I taught Grade 3. One of my little ones was actually bold enough to start reading it (he was gifted - had Grade 12 reading level), but before he did, he asked me what the story was about. He said that he had seen the previews for the film, and it looked really interesting. I told him that it was the ultimate story of friendship.

And that, I think, is why the ending breaks our hearts when we read it. And yet, it inspires and comforts me. I think of Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. And then I think of my own friends, all whom I know would have followed me into Mordor, or I with them.

[A! Elbereth]

I sobbed for literally an hour, because I couldn't keep my eyes off the last few paragraphs. I just kept reading it over and over and over. I was hoping they as friends could be together. But it wasnt meant to be. I just wanted to crawl in a dark corner and forget that ending. But the ending is magnificent at the same time. It claws at you to read it again. It is truly the perfect ending actually for such a reality. The book made me like to read, it made me more intellegent. There's no words to describe what I feel about this book, and this story, about everything!

[TheRingBearer]

I guess this was the first real big story without a happy ending. That's what makes it so different. mecry

[Pil]

I REALLY dislike happy endings! Think just how naff lotr would have been if the ending had been all jolly and happy...shudder...

[Dernhelm]

I'm embarrassed to say how long ago that was, but my very dear friend gave me his boxed set as a gift when we were in high school. I'm not sure what year it was but I would guess 1979 so I really don't recall the circumstances of when I finished reading it.
I can only remember that I devoured it in record time and was so sorry that the story was over. Truthfully, I did not have the same appreciation for it has I have now, now that I am older, (hopefully wiser) and with a different spiritual perpective than I had back then.

My obsession began as soon as I saw the movie I made my husband go down to the basement and retrieve my original set. The set was perfectly intact and that was a miracle in itself since our basement is more like an orc-den that's been flooded a few times. I have read the books many many times since then and I still cry at the end.

[Daughter of Finarfin]

Ringwraith that line I think is the saddest line I have ever read in literature. I have never felt so miserable after finishing a book. Atleast in the Silmarillian you know that the story is not over, but the end of LOTR is so definite. It is the END. It is sad because t is as if friends have left the very planet and you will never hear anything of them again, but I also feel glad that Legolas and Gimli, who have the best relationship in the book IMO were not forever assundered by there different fates. I am so glad that Gimli was not forced to have the separate fate of the dwarves and that he was allowed to be with his friend and with Galadriel that he loved and the others as well. I am also glad that wherever they went, Aragorn, Merry, Pippen and Sam were together, so no one really got left behind. Could you imagine how sad it would be if each had a different fate and they never got to see anyone in the Fellowship again?

I don't really have a great story about reading the book, except that this was the first book I actually read aloud, and now whenever I reread it I read it aloud. I think that the words are so beautiful and have so much poetry to them, they sound beautiful and powerful out loud. Plus, I can do some pretty funny accents.

[Sindarin]

I concluded reading the Trilogy at home in my bedroom during the winter of 1994. It was 5:45pm, and raining as I recall, and like many of you, I was deeply saddened. I didn't want the story to end.

I would be lying if I said I didn't once cry.

"And long there he lay, an image of the splendour of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world."

<Appendix A: The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen>

mecry

[Pil]

mecry oh now you've got me going mecry