[xzins]

Good article. The author wonders why 60’s hippies liked the book so much. I’d say it’s because in their hearts everyone knows that freedom, not government, is in the best interest of themselves, their nation, and humanity. Things can get spun lots of ways, but until they sell out to the dark side, freedom is easily seen as a natural gift from God.

[Biggirl]

Also, at a time when there is great division in this nation, J.R.R. Toakin and his books are a confort.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I read the Hobbit and the first LOR book years ago in the 1980s and that was it for me, it just got boring as hell and later on the movies were a million times worse, especially that annoying little twerp who couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag Elijah Wood, “Oh Saaam Oh Saam Oh Saaam” Oh shut up, ugh. I still don’t know what the big obsession is with that whole thing, especially now that they seem to be stretching it out for every last penny.

[GOPJ]

“But what’s interesting about Tolkien, one sign that’s there more economic message to these texts than people realize, is that the Soviet Union banned all of Tolkien’s writings. It’s not often known, but we tell the story at the end of the book about those great days during the collapse of the Soviet Union when thousands of civilians poured into Red Square and there was this question about what the tanks were going to do. And in the middle of those crowds a sign popped up that said: ‘Frodo is with us’.

“And that’s when a lot of Americans found out that in fact, the Soviets had been passing around this sort of contraband, mimeographed version, bad translation of The Lord of the Rings for decades.”

fyi

[Mercat]

My mother started reading them in the 60s and I believe read them every year until she died in 1999. She eventually became blind and although it was a poor substitution, she listened to the early audio version. There are now word for word and well done audio versions. I had a couple of college professors in the 60s who encouraged us to read all the Inklings. I have read them all several times. Right now I’m going through the trilogy and then will reread the Hobbit (all on Kindle this time since I’m going blind too) and then see the movie. When I sat and watched the opening scene of the Fellowship of the Ring, the shire, I started to cry. I wish my mom could have seen the movies.

[vladimir998]

I read The Hobbit Party recently. Not bad. A bit overpriced considering how ‘thin’ it is, but a worthwhile read nonetheless. A good corrective to the misconceptions about Tolkien’s view that are commonly thrown about.

[NewHampshireDuo]

ping for later

[Zionist Conspirator]

I don’t think Tolkien was a big fan of modern industrial capitalism, though (when you read his description of what Saruman did the the Shire).

[huldah1776]

“But he was also a monarchist. That’s something that makes him challenging, I think, to modern Americans.”

Do American Christians have issues with the King of Kings? I don’t. Can’t wait till the return of the King.

[MUDDOG]

Anti-Socialist, Pro-Liberty Message

Also anti-miscegenation. The elf/human and Numenorean/commoner marriages didn't work out too well.

[Cap Huff]

Bump for later.