J.R.R. Tolkien would have been 122 today.
His writings enriched and continue to enrich my life (see my Best Reads of 2013 wherein The Silmarillion received a rare five star rating from me).
While I haven’t re-read The Hobbit for the umpteenth time, I did venture out last week to see The Desolation of Smaug at my local favorite movie theatre (I gave that movie 3.5 stars via Flixster, and don’t think it’s as well done as the first one, An Unexpected Journey).
If you haven’t read any of Tolkien’s writings, I highly recommend all of them. I rarely re-read books, but I will always return, again and again, to the master of epic fantasy storytelling.
Some previous posts I’ve shared at this blog that reference Tolkien’s legacy:
Tributes shared on the Internet today:
- Tolkien Went into the West, But Gave Us Middle Earth (at Tor.com)
- Eight Fun Facts about Tolkien (at Blastr.com)
Tweets from @JRRTolkien
The writing of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is laborious, because I have been doing it as well as I know how, and considering every word.
— JRR Tolkien (@JRRTolkien) December 20, 2013
‘On their deathbed men will speak true, they say.’ #theChildrenofHurin
— JRR Tolkien (@JRRTolkien) December 19, 2013
‘Without the high and noble the simple and vulgar is utterly mean; and without the simple and ordinary the noble and heroic is meaningless.’
— JRR Tolkien (@JRRTolkien) December 10, 2013
‘I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.’ ~Frodo
— JRR Tolkien (@JRRTolkien) August 1, 2013
“There is a place called ‘heaven’ where . . . the stories unwritten, and the hopes unfulfilled, are continued.”
— JRR Tolkien (@JRRTolkien) July 26, 2013
‘None knows what the new day shall bring him.’ ~Aragorn
— JRR Tolkien (@JRRTolkien) July 20, 2013
“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say”
He was a superb writer !
Tolkien influenced me a great deal as a writer, and I love his writings dearly. May he rest in peace.