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[rebness]

Speaking of Lord of the Rings, I was in an MSN conversation a while back with nyalko80 and therealycats casually talking about various films.

A confession: I've never read the Lord of the Rings books.

*Shock! Horror!*

I just couldn't get into them. I tried, seriously, I did, but the prose style? Not for me. I mean, I recognise that they're very well-written, they have great attention to detail-- but I put the first book down halfway through, and never picked it up again, which is rare for me.

Anyhoo, I did love and appreciate the films. I loved Jackson's dark take on them, and was determined that, no matter what, I would see all of them and Avoid Spoilers at All Costs.

That was until my two friends said something like "oh boy, I can't wait for the third instalment, and to see how they do the bit where [Insert spoiler about Gollum's fate here].

Becky: AIEEEEE! No! You didn't just reveal to me the ending which I had up to this point known absolutely nothing about!

nyalko80 Um... you haven't read it?

Becky: NO! =:-o

therealycats Oh.

nyalko80 Erm...er...well, maybe we knew that, and we were making it up! You don't know for sure if that happens to Gollum.

Becky: *Cries* It so does! You're lying-- I can see it in your smiley's eyes.

Cute RotK. That bit with Gollum happens. Wow, I think, okay, so the second part of it happened, but at least he didn't do that chomping thing. Ha! In your face, spoiler gits.

And then it did happen. Pah!

*crushes their heads a la Lenny*

Comments

[wiebke.livejournal.com]

Well, I kind of feel like the more pressure people put on me to read them, the most I don't want to. One thing that does make me feel better is that one of the people I most respect, Storm Constantine, loves the movies (has seen each on like 9 times) but hates Tolkien :)

[rebness.livejournal.com]

*Intrigued*

Why does she hate Tolkein? I'm not really au fait with the man himself...

And I hear you on the pressure thing. I was spitting feathers when it was voted The Best Book Ever in the History of the World for the BBC vote.

Obviously, it's all a matter of opinion, but I think there were much more deserving books out there...

[wiebke.livejournal.com]

Since she's such a fan of the films and I also value her opinion on books, I've chatted with her on the topic.

Basically it comes down to her finding Tolkien's writing much too boring (on and on and on and on for page and still they've barely managed to go over one hill) and fusty.

Also, she finds his views on the love (but not physical relationships) of comrades or be stifling and something that detracts from the overall story. Storm's books are full of flesh and blood, either sex or violence or both, on some level, and although she doesn't think all books must include same, she finds the lack of sex in Tolkien just sort of odd.

Storm actually doesn't read all that much fantasy, but what she does like is usually stuff that's more "out there" than Tolkien. I know two of her favorite fantasy authors are Tanith Lee and Jack Vance. I'd also speculated that she'd love Ricardo Pinto's two books if she ever reads them.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

...on and on and on and on for page and still they've barely managed to go over one hill...

Hahaha!

I know exactly what she means...

Am not really into sci-fi writing myself, but I really do mean to pick up one of her books at some point.

[wiebke.livejournal.com]

He he, actually Storm's book aren't much sci fi (well, a couple out of 20 are), they're literary fantasy. As stand-alones, as opposed to trilogies, which might be more intimidating, I'd strongly recommend Calenture or Sign for the Sacred. But damn, Wraeththu is really good and the revised editions are out now. Check out www.immanionpress.wox.org.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Thanks, W... will definitely check it out.

My birthday's coming up soon, anyway... I think it's time to blackmail my family and friends into some book-buying... ;)