“Non rivolgerti agli Elfi per un consiglio, perché ti diranno sia no che sì.”

(pp.130-131)

Quando si riagganciarono alle sue parole, scoprirono che si era inoltrato in strane regioni al di là della loro memoria e al di là del loro pensiero lucido, in tempi in cui il mondo era più vasto e i mari scorrevano diritti fino alla Costa occidentale; e poi Tom risalì cantando ancora più indietro fino all’antica luce stellare, quando soltanto i Padri degli Elfi erano desti.

(p.200)

Non tutto quel che è oro poi risplende,
Non si smarriscon tutti gli errabondi;
Il vecchio che ha la forza non s’arrende,
Non gelan le radici più profonde.
Rinascerà un fuoco dalle ceneri,
Una favilla dall’ombre sprigiona;
La lama infranta nuova vita ottiene,
Tornerà re chi è senza corona.

(pp.257-258) ( )

07/02/22

Serkis is fabulous. Fantastic to go back again guided by his versatile voice. ( )

I'm really glad that I finally decided to re-read this series, and equally glad that I decided to listen to Serkis' audiobook version. For one thing, this was a great way to experience the songs that Tolkien wrote; Serkis sings them (and sings well) and given that I had a habit of skipping them in the past, this was a refreshing experience.

This is the first time I'm revisiting the trilogy since the movies came out, I think. There are things I had forgotten about the books that were surprises... for one, even though I love all the hobbits in the movies, I had forgotten that Pippin is the best book hobbit. Also, I had forgotten that book-Boromir is really not a sympathetic character. Honestly, I think Sean Bean does a better job of portraying Boromir than Tolkien himself did.

Tom Bombadil was never a character I appreciated much before. I think it's partly because Tolkien's songs have always annoyed me in prior readings of the books... they've seemed pointless and boring. However, hearing the songs actually SUNG helped me appreciate them, and the characters, a lot more. And in this version, I have determined that Tom is a wonderful character, and though I understand why he was left out of the movies I greatly miss seeing him portrayed.

It's been amusing to me to see how many lines of dialogue from the movies were lifted straight from the books. I love that part. Even though the movies deviated from the books in a handful of ways, they really did remain true to the spirit. ( )

Lydbok i 2023